Ultrasound identification of midline cystic structures of the fetal brain: the verge cavity and the intermedius velum cavity

Diseases of the nervous system, incl. neuroinfections, brain cysts and arachnoiditis are the specialization of our clinic. We will clarify the reason for the formation of the cyst in your case, conduct an examination for neuroinfections and the necessary treatment of the brain cyst, etc. We will be happy to help you.

• Brain cyst is a consequence of the disease
• Do brain cysts grow?
• Symptoms
• Examination and diagnosis
• Brain cyst: treatment at the Echinacea Clinic

What is the danger of a retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst?

A long asymptomatic course of the disease in combination with the slow growth of the cyst is in itself dangerous.
Parents may not realize that their child has a tumor in the brain. Although the tumor is benign, if left untreated it can have life-threatening complications. For example, one of these complications is the rupture of a cyst, in which the cerebrospinal fluid filling it spills into the brain tissue, which leads to death. In addition, no one can give an absolute guarantee that the tumor will not degenerate into malignant.
And this is already a serious danger to life.

Etiology

The causes of this pathology depend on which group it belongs to. The etiological factors for primary and secondary cysts are different.

Causes of primary formations:

1. Anomalies of intrauterine development of the fetus.
2. Asphyxia of the child during childbirth. In this case, necrotic areas of tissue are formed that have died from oxygen starvation.

Reasons for the development of secondary cysts:

1. Traumatic brain injuries (skull fractures, concussion and bruises).
2. Acute cerebrovascular accident (hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke).
3. Inflammation in brain tissue.
4. Surgical intervention.
5. Tissue death as a result of stroke.
6. Viral diseases of the brain (meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis).
7. Hemorrhages from formed hematomas.
8. Neuroinfections.

Brain cyst in a child: treatment, consequences

Parents should be extremely attentive to the health and well-being of their children.

If your child periodically complains of blurred vision, or dizziness and headaches, then you cannot put off going to the doctor.

A brain cyst formed in a child causes a lot of anxiety and worry. But if proper measures are taken in a timely manner, serious neurological problems can be avoided.

Symptoms of cystosis

Pathology can affect any part of the brain. Depending on which area is damaged, certain symptoms occur. If the cystic cavity is localized:

• In the occipital zone, the child’s vision suffers.
• In the cerebellum there is a violation of stability and coordination of movements. The baby begins to walk later, has difficulty moving, and suffers from attacks of severe dizziness.
• Near the pituitary gland - as the child grows older, hormonal imbalances will begin, which will greatly affect his physical development.

Important! The rapid growth of a cystic tumor is always accompanied by high intracranial pressure. At the same time, the patient begins to complain of bursting pain in the head, morning sickness, weakness

Intensive growth of the formation can cause separation of the bone sutures on the skull, so treatment should not be delayed.

Children with a cyst in the brain constantly experience headaches that cannot be relieved by painkillers. Due to the pronounced signs of the disease, they cannot develop according to age. In severe cases, patients suffer from epileptic seizures. Some groups of cystic formations are prone to rupture, which can be fatal.

Diagnostic features

The disease can be diagnosed after the birth of a child using neurosonography. This ultrasound examination is carried out through the fontanel and provides reliable information without ionizing load on the body. Such a diagnosis can only be carried out on newborns and children up to the twelfth month of life, until the sutures of the skull finally fuse together.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TzJjeC342ew

Neurosonography is indicated for the following pathological conditions:

• Infant suffocation.
• Fetal hypoxia.
• C-section.
• Infectious diseases of the mother during pregnancy.
• Genetic abnormalities.
• Recession or bulging of the fontanel.
• Birth injuries.
• Lack of weight.
• Detection of pathology during intrauterine development.
• Profound prematurity.
• Prolonged labor.

Subsequently, MRI or CT is used for examination, which makes it possible to accurately determine the location of the cystic cavity, its size and shape. During these diagnostic measures, children under 6 years of age are in medicated sleep. Based on the results obtained, the doctor draws conclusions and determines further treatment tactics.

Prevention

Many unfavorable factors lead to the occurrence of cystic formations. Since the abnormal process often begins during the development of the fetal nervous system, preventive measures mainly concern pregnant women. They need:

• Categorically give up bad habits.
• Do not abuse medications.
• Treat chronic diseases in a timely manner.
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• Regularly consult a gynecologist and follow his recommendations.

Sometimes injuries, including birth injuries, lead to the growth of cysts, so you need to take the choice of a clinic and a doctor who will deliver the baby very seriously in order to reduce all possible risks to nothing.

Parents who do not ignore the first symptoms of the disease in their children and seek medical help in a timely manner can count on a successful treatment outcome.

After all, the sooner the disease is detected, the better for the patient.

Types and times of examinations

To identify dysfunction of brain tissue, all babies undergo neurosonography. Such a study can be performed before the child reaches one year of age. In older children, the large fontanel, as a rule, is already closed, and it is like a window through which you can see the state of the brain. You can also perform an ultrasound when the baby reaches the age of 3, 6 and 12 months. Particular attention should be paid to premature babies, as well as to those born with weight problems. Newborns who were injured during childbirth or suffered from hypoxia in the womb should not be overlooked.

How does a cyst form?

The source of intracerebral cyst creation is ependyma. It is neuroepithelium. Ependymal cells are a thin membrane lining a narrow canal that is central to the spinal cord and the walls of the cerebral ventricles.

During a pathological process that leads to the appearance of a new formation, the activation of cellular hyperplasia begins. Cell division also slows down. The cyst can develop on top of the ependyma (that is, in the gastric cavity) or grow under its layer.

Various negative effects can disrupt the normal blood flow of some brain areas. Lack of nutrients and oxygen leads to the formation of a necrosis zone. As a result, after the tissue dies, a cavity appears that fills with liquid. This is how a cyst is formed.

What's happened

A cyst is a special cavity that is filled with a liquid mass. This fold is made up of connective tissue containing nerves and blood vessels.

This formation is located in the upper part of the third cerebral ventricle. It usually occurs in utero, that is, a newborn is born with this pathology.

Treatment is usually not required, however, if there is expansion of the cistern velum intermedius, leading to strengthening of the formation, this can lead to constructive hydrocephalus.

Features of treatment

You don’t need to despair at all if your baby has a vascular cyst. Its spontaneous disappearance is usually observed after a short amount of time. However, you should not leave the child’s condition uncontrolled. It is imperative to identify the infection that caused the deviation, and do not forget to do an ultrasound scan every two months.

If a subendymal cyst is detected, then special therapy is also not required. Over time, the problem will go away, but you will still have to do an MRI twice a year and periodically visit a specialist.

The greatest danger, especially for a premature baby, is an arachnoid cyst. It is characterized by rapid growth and progression, causing various disorders in the functioning of the brain. The doctor decides how to treat the tumor on a case-by-case basis. The tumor does not go away on its own, and conservative or radical therapy can be used to remove it. Drug treatment involves the use of drugs to eliminate the cyst and severe symptoms. The doctor may prescribe:

• antibacterial agents;
• antiviral drugs;
• drugs to improve immunity and blood circulation.

But in some cases, treatment is carried out using surgery, endoscopy, and craniotomy. If a newborn has a cyst in the head, then the use of traditional methods is strictly prohibited, since this can only aggravate an already difficult condition, even leading to death.

Possible danger

Signs of a cyst discovered during the examination should necessarily alert the doctor, although this is not dangerous. But its presence still increases the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities. If there are no abnormalities in clinical tests, the presence of a cyst does not give reason to suspect any abnormalities in the brain tissue. But in some cases, the mother's amniotic fluid is analyzed to check for the absence of genetic changes.

If the fetus has brain damage, the consequences can be quite serious, for example, Edwards or Down syndrome. However, this effect has not been proven by scientific research.

Treatment methods

Ultrasound is the safest method for diagnosing cysts in children

Neurosonography, an ultrasound examination of the brain, is considered the most reliable diagnostic method for newborns and infants. This procedure is also performed for children with prematurity, as well as for infants after a difficult pregnancy and delivery (in cases where hypoxia was observed).

To determine the location, shape and size of formations, the following diagnostic methods are often prescribed:

1. CT scan.
2. Magnetic resonance imaging.

Before surgical intervention and conservative treatment, it is necessary to undergo a set of tests: general urine and blood tests and other diagnostic methods.

If a child is diagnosed with a small cyst, and it does not cause changes in his behavior, then only observation and control by a specialist is required. At the initial stages of development, the neoplasm is treated conservatively with several groups of drugs:

• antiviral and antibacterial;
• immunomodulatory;
• nootropics (Picamilon, Pantogam) to supply the body with glucose and sufficient oxygen;
• medications Longidaza and Karipain to improve blood supply.

If the cyst enlarges, surgical treatment is required. In practice, two types of intervention are used: palliative or radical. The first method involves removing the contents of the tumor while preserving the walls of the bladder, which poses a risk of relapse. There are two types of such an operation:

• Shunting. A channel is created in the brain to drain cystic fluid. A significant drawback of the method is the possibility of infection.
• Endoscopic surgery. The contents of the tumor are removed through a puncture in the head. The method is not applicable to all cysts due to the inaccessibility of some areas of the brain to the endoscope.

Radical removal of a cystic bladder is an operation accompanied by craniotomy, as a result of which the formation is removed along with the walls. The procedure is traumatic and is accompanied by a long rehabilitation period.

Surgery is not necessary for all types of cysts:

• subependymal requires regular monitoring and examination, removal is necessary only when neurological symptoms progress;
• new formation of the intermediate sail is the least dangerous anomaly, requiring only monitoring of the baby;
• a choroid plexus cyst, as a rule, disappears on its own in the first year of a child’s life;
• the need to remove a retrocerebellar cyst depends on its size;
• arachnoid and dermoid are necessarily removed.

Possible complications

If treatment is refused or the intermediate velum cyst is not detected in a timely manner, complications may arise. The deterioration concerns:

• disturbances mental state;
• delays ;
• paralysis of some limbs or the entire body as a whole;
• damage to the tactile, speech, and auditory functions of the body.

Do I need to remove an ovarian cyst if it doesn’t bother me?

When deciding on radical treatment of a cystic formation, it is necessary to take into account factors such as the patient’s age, the size of the tumor, and its type.

However, even if the operation was successful, the risk still remains.

There may be cases of relapses, especially if the formation in the brain was not completely removed, but only the cystic fluid was removed. In this case, the same symptoms are observed, which are characteristic of the third stage, when the cyst is increased in size.

The essence of pathology

The fact that, according to statistics, the disease has become much more common than before is not due to the fact that the pathology has become more frequent, but to the improvement of diagnostic methods. They have become more accurate and accessible.

A cyst is a pineal-shaped cavity that contains fluid inside. It can be found in almost any part of the body. Do not be afraid that this tumor has appeared on the brain of a newborn. Often it disappears on its own, simply dissolving.

Very often, small bubbles with liquid resolve on their own. Not only newborns, but also adolescents, adults, and the elderly can suffer from this phenomenon. In general, this is a multifaceted pathology.

A vascular cyst in a child’s brain can be detected in the womb. It is normal and often resolves on its own. Despite this, the disease is considered dangerous, since if it is poorly located or large in size, it can interfere with the brain’s ability to properly perform its functions.

Today, diagnostic methods have reached amazing heights. They have become very accurate and accessible. Even during pregnancy, you can determine the presence of a cyst. Most often it is a choroid plexus cyst (CPC).

Diagnosis can also be carried out in a newborn. It is recommended to carry out a study of the newborn’s brain if a birth injury has occurred, the pregnancy has been problematic, or suspicious signs have appeared. These tiny bubbles can be unmistakably detected immediately after the baby is born.

If there are no direct indications, then newborns do not undergo brain ultrasound. Certain symptoms may indicate that there is a cyst.

Impaired blood circulation, abnormalities in metabolic processes, or lack of oxygen during intrauterine development are currently known causes of cysts in the brain in infants. Depending on the provoking factor, a number of tumors are distinguished:

• arachnoid (forms as a congenital pathology or due to an inflammatory process; the help of a surgeon may be required to eliminate it);
• formation of choroid plexuses (occurs in response to infection with the herpes virus and rarely requires surgical intervention);
• choroidal (its appearance is provoked by infections or compression of the skull during childbirth; therapy is carried out with medication or surgery);
• subependymal (formed due to lack of oxygen and removed surgically);
• periventricular (occurs due to infection, developmental problems, or complications during pregnancy; surgery or conservative treatment may be performed to eliminate it).

Relationship with other abnormalities

Some sources sometimes contain information about the existence of some connection between the presence of a cyst and congenital pathologies that are caused by mutations in genes. In this case, the localization of the site of formation does not matter, because this cystic cavity is not capable of causing an abnormality in the development of the child. Everything is just the opposite: it is anomalies or infections that can lead to the development of pathology.

The genetic abnormalities in which the presence of a cyst is most often detected include trisomy 18, known as Edwards syndrome. Even trisomy 21, called Down's disease, does not have such a strong effect on the incidence of cystic cavities in the blood vessels of the brain.

If other fetal diseases are detected, the main role here is played not by the cyst, but by the abnormalities that accompany it. Women expecting babies should know this. And you should not be afraid of such a diagnosis.

Treatment

First of all, with such a diagnosis, parents need to cope with their feelings and proceed to therapy as calmly as possible. Proper treatment most often leads to complete recovery. If the cyst is small and does not grow, and the baby does not change his behavior, it may not require treatment at all. It is enough just to show it to the doctor regularly.

The safest is considered to be a choroid plexus cyst. They do not treat it, but only observe the dynamics. The brain does not suffer in any way. But this does not mean that everything should be left to chance. It should be understood that the cyst appeared for some reason: an inflammatory process, an infectious lesion. This means that the doctor must identify what specific infection led to the death of brain cells and urgently eliminate it. After a few months, even if the child’s condition does not cause any concern, you still need to repeat the ultrasound.

For subependymal cysts, it is necessary to conduct an examination several times a year using MRI (done under general anesthesia in a closed circuit) or MR. Treatment is not required if the cyst does not grow. Most likely, the brain tissue will recover on its own. Such cysts most often resolve without outside intervention, but they can cause serious complications if the cystic cavity enlarges. This leads to a lot of fluid accumulating inside it, and pressure increases. Over time, the cavity begins to put pressure on adjacent brain tissue.

Sometimes the tumor can grow quickly. At the same time, it has a negative effect on tissues and blood vessels. A large cyst in a newborn compresses the tissues and changes their position. Because of this, the baby may experience seizures, which, if left untreated, quickly progress. Neurological symptoms in such cases increase, the child’s condition worsens, and a hemorrhagic stroke may even occur.

It is especially important to treat arachnoid cysts. It does not go away on its own, so surgery will be required.

If such a neoplasm occurs, the child must be constantly monitored by a neurologist.

If the tumor is detected at an early stage, conservative treatment will be sufficient. Three main groups of drugs are used:

1. antiviral;
2. to strengthen the general condition of the immune system;
3. to improve blood circulation in the brain.

Medicines must be taken strictly according to the schedule until the doctor stops them

It is important to choose the dose accurately, since it is very easy to overdose on drugs for a newborn. To improve blood circulation and better lymphatic drainage, massage is recommended

If it is definitely established that the cyst in a newborn continues to grow, the help of a surgeon may be required. He will have to remove the tumor. There can be two types of operation:

1. Palliative. The surgeon will remove the contents of the cyst without removing its walls. The disadvantage of this method is the high probability of relapse. For surgery, bypass or endoscopic intervention may be used. When a shunt is performed, the surgeon creates a channel in the child's head through which fluid is drained. Due to the shunt, brain tissue can become infected, which is a big disadvantage of such operations. With the endoscopic method, a tiny puncture is made in the head, through which the contents of the cyst are removed. This method cannot always be used, since some areas of the brain simply cannot be reached with an endoscope.
2. Radical. This is an open brain surgery in which the bones of the skull are opened (the bone is drilled). Through the resulting hole, the cyst and adjacent tissue are removed. This is a traumatic method, after which a long recovery is required.

What and how to treat

Vascular cystic cavities usually found do not require treatment. The formation of a cyst rarely causes degenerative consequences and the appearance of symptoms of its presence. That’s why parents often panic unjustifiably.

Specific therapy for the cyst is not carried out even if its size does not change over time. It does not affect the baby's development.

But in case of a sharp increase in the cyst and its growth, it is necessary to reduce the formation. However, this is very rarely necessary. The cyst begins to grow at the 24th week of intrauterine development, and already at the 28th week it completely disappears. It is extremely rare that a cystic cavity persists until the baby is born. Many cystic cavities appear more often as a result of an infectious disease. Therefore, therapy in this case should be aimed at treating the consequences of the infection. Cysts do not play a dominant role here.

To reduce the risk of disorders at the genetic level, after a unilateral cyst is detected, an examination is prescribed, and then treatment procedures are designed to eliminate any deviations in the development of the baby.

Only a neurologist should decide whether treatment for a given cavity is necessary. Treatment of the cyst with medication should be aimed at eliminating liquorodynamic dysfunctions, helping to reduce fluid production, and improving intracranial circulation.

Treatment begins with the use of Cinnarizine. This medicine has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, helps stabilize the body and destroys unwanted growths.

In case of circulatory problems in the vessels of the brain, Cavinton is prescribed. This medication, like Cinnarizine, is well tolerated and has no side effects or reactions. But nevertheless, you can take medications only after consulting a specialist.

There are no special methods for treating these cystic formations. Experts recommend repeating an ultrasound examination every two to three months so that you can monitor the development or gradual disappearance of the vascular cyst cavity inside the skull.

If a diagnosis of a subependymal type cyst is made, it becomes necessary to conduct an MRI examination or MR diagnostics at least twice a year. Although doctors consider the formation of cystic growths of this type to be a positive process. But it is still possible for a sharp increase in pressure to appear inside the cavity of an enlarged cyst due to any complications.

To reduce the risk of genetic abnormalities, after detecting a unilateral cyst, the doctor prescribes an examination, and after it, a therapeutic course is determined, which is designed to prevent any deviations in the development of the child’s body. It must be remembered, however, that in nine cases out of ten, the detected cysts of the choroid plexus of the brain are not life-threatening, they should not cause alarm.

Symptoms

A newborn cyst has certain signs. Symptoms are affected by tumor size, type of pathology, location and complications. Small cysts may not show themselves at all. But if there are certain abnormalities in the baby’s body, a disease can be suspected.

Large cysts under the influence of increased pressure on surrounding tissues have certain symptoms:

• very frequent regurgitation;
• sleep disorders;
• mental retardation;
• the child is excessively whiny and restless;
• convulsions;
• does not feel pain;
• presence of limb tremor;
• swollen or pulsating fontanel;
• muscle hypertonicity or hypotonicity;
• disturbances in coordination of movements;
• numbness of the limbs.

Read more about the signs of a cyst in the head here.

A large cyst in a newborn can cause pathological disorders in the newborn’s organs. A cyst in the head of a newborn may increase due to the following factors:

• with increasing fluid pressure on the walls of the cyst;
• with inflammatory processes in the children's body;
• head injuries of any nature - concussion, bruise, etc.

Even if a child has a cystic tumor, it may not manifest itself until adolescence. But even in this case, the child needs regular medical supervision.

The most dangerous period for the development of a cyst is adolescence, since it is during this period that even the most inconspicuous and harmless cyst can begin to rapidly develop to enormous sizes.

If a child has a large cyst, it can put pressure on the brain tissue, causing the following negative consequences:

• constant headaches accompanied by nausea and vomiting;
• decreased hearing, impaired vision, sense of smell;
• lack of healthy sleep;
• poor coordination in space;
• high intracranial and blood pressure;
• seizures, loss of consciousness;
• epilepsy attacks;
• numbness of arms and legs.

Symptoms largely depend on where the cyst is located. If the tumor is located closer to the back of the head, it is fraught with poor vision, double vision, and the appearance of a “blurred” look.

A cyst-like formation in the cerebellum area negatively affects the child’s coordination in space. If the tumor is located in the area of ​​the pituitary gland, the functioning of the endocrine system is disrupted. With the most severe types of cysts, the child may lag behind in development, both mental and physical.

As the cyst grows in a newborn, it compresses the brain tissue and causes mental disorders in the baby. Cysts continue to grow for the following reasons:

• An increase in pressure inside the cavity formation.
• Development of inflammatory and infectious diseases in the body of a newborn.
• Concussion in a child against the background of existing cystic formations and injuries.

Physiological cysts do not increase and do not manifest themselves in any way. But, despite the apparent safety, they must be monitored.

Main symptoms of the pathology:

• The newborn burps constantly and profusely.
• The baby refuses breastfeeding.
• Motor coordination is impaired.
• Mental reactions slow down against the background of a sharp decrease in motor activity.
• Developmental disorder, the child is lagging behind in height and weight.
• Muscle spasms.

Symptoms of the disease depend on the location of the cystic cavity. A cyst in the occipital part of the brain in newborns provokes visual disturbances. When the cerebellum is damaged, coordination and speech development are impaired. If the formation is localized at the base, then mental disorders occur.

As a result of the enlargement of the cavity, the ventricles of the brain are displaced, resulting in attacks of severe vomiting and lethargy. If the disease continues to progress, the cranial sutures separate and the fontanel does not heal. This condition provokes the following symptoms:

• Increased muscle tone.
• Trembling of limbs.
• Headache.
• The baby becomes restless and cries often.
• The fontanel bulges and pulsates.
• Pain sensitivity decreases.

If the symptoms described above occur, it is recommended to contact a neurosurgeon who will conduct a comprehensive diagnosis and identify the location of the cyst. After the examination, treatment is necessary.

Causes of growth and education.

The formation of a cyst is not yet a disease; it does not have a negative effect on the functioning of the cerebrospinal fluid. A person does not suspect them throughout his life.

The growth of the tumor occurs for certain reasons:

• Suffered a stroke.

• Inflammatory processes of the lining of the brain.

• Multiple sclerosis.

• Parasitic infestations.

• Surgical intervention.

• Injuries after accidents, blows, bruises, concussions.

• Hemorrhages.

• Infectious effects.

• Cerebrospinal fluid dysfunction.

Reasons for increasing the size of the formed cyst:

• Violation of safety regulations.

• Passion for dangerous (extreme) sports.

• Failure to comply with personal hygiene rules (unwashed hands before eating).

• Eating infected meat, unwashed fruits and vegetables.

• Negligent attitude towards one's own pregnancy and childbirth.

• Violation of the functional activity of any systems and internal organs of a person.

• Previous infectious diseases at the time of pregnancy.

Symptoms and diagnosis

As already mentioned, a head cyst in newborns is determined in the first year of life using ultrasound. This diagnosis is effective as long as there is an “exit to the brain” through the soft tissue of an unovergrown fontanel.

Neurosonography

For older children, examinations are carried out using a magnetic resonance imaging scanner and computed tomography. The advantage of these methods is that, thanks to them, it is possible to determine whether we are dealing with a cyst or a tumor.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=wXlOR0xt5J4

Diagnosis of brain cysts in newborns does not always occur on time. The reason for this is the fact that to diagnose it it is necessary to carry out neurosonography, and the latter is not performed on all newborns.

Also, the reason for conducting neurosonography is the presence of the following symptoms in a newborn:

• convulsions;
• insufficient development of the baby’s psyche and motor skills;
• increased drowsiness;
• increased lethargy;
• constant tremor of the limbs;
• frequent cases of vomiting;
• causeless loss of consciousness;
• causeless hearing and vision impairment;
• detected paresis of the limbs;
• cases of epileptic seizures;
• sleep disorders.

All of the above symptoms should alert parents and force them to contact a pediatrician for an examination for the formation of abnormal cavities.

A cerebral vascular cyst refers to accumulations of cerebrospinal fluid circulating within their plexus. It is produced to nourish the brain cells and tissues of the future baby, and the plexuses are early signs of the development of the central nervous system of the fetus.

If the brain develops too quickly, free space appears between the vessels and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid. And then a cyst appears. Why this accumulation of fluid occurs in some places, none of the experts can say for sure.

And there is no urgent need to understand this, because it does not affect the baby’s health. These accumulations look like a cyst during ultrasound examination, which is why they are designated as such in the reports.

Changes are detected by ultrasound or sonography. According to the recommendation of the World Health Society, these studies are performed on all children under one year of age. Neurological disorders are determined using ultrasound.

Sonography is prescribed if there is a history of:

• birth trauma in a baby;
• infectious disease of the mother during pregnancy;
• difficult pregnancy;
• fetal prematurity;
• deviations in size at birth;
• pronounced disturbances in the shape of the head;
• a defect in the structure of the baby’s organs.

According to research, such cysts are found not only in children who are developmentally delayed. These formations are equally found in normally developed children.

Signs of a cyst

Cystic formation can become a provoking factor in disturbances in the functioning of various organs and destruction of their tissues. The volume of the cyst, as well as its predisposition to enlargement, are very important indicators in this case.

A cerebral vascular cyst can grow for several reasons:

• free space with increasing fluid pressure inside the cyst;
• progression of infection or inflammation;
• brain injuries and head contusions with a cyst already present;
• the presence of cysts in brain tissue.

As a child’s body develops, especially during adolescence, cysts that have previously behaved calmly can suddenly increase in size.

Symptoms of a brain cyst: how does it manifest itself?

Large cystic cavities can cause:

• aching or acute headache;
• disturbances in the functioning of the organs of hearing and vision;
• double vision or blurred vision;
• sleep pattern disorder;
• noise in the head;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• high cranial pressure;
• weakening of muscle tone;
• fainting, seizures, or tremors;
• frequent belching;
• increased pulsation in the fontanel area;
• epilepsy attacks;
• sometimes numbness of the limbs, up to their temporary paralysis.

The growing cyst puts pressure on the tiny child's brain, causing strange behavior and disruption of the overall course of development.

In newborns and infants in the first months after birth

the cyst manifests itself as follows

• Excessive regurgitation after each feeding
• Impaired coordination of movements
• Slow psychomotor development
• Lagging behind normal height and weight
• Recurrent seizures

The final diagnosis is made after an ultrasound of the child’s brain. The use of modern equipment eliminates the negative impact on the baby’s brain and his body as a whole.

If the progressive nature of the pathology is detected, magnetic resonance imaging is prescribed, which is repeated several times a year.

The rapid growth of a cyst in the brain poses a huge danger to the child due to tissue compression, increased pressure inside the skull and the subsequent manifestation of even more severe symptoms.

An increase in the intensity of seizures and even the development of a hemorrhagic stroke is likely.

Mothers do not always suspect that something is wrong with their baby. Often, the brushes in the baby’s head do not manifest themselves in any way and do not bother the newborn. However, there are some signs that suggest that the baby has cysts:

• swelling of the fontanel or its pulsation;
• frequent causeless vomiting, regurgitation;
• developmental delay, motor skills;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• blurred vision.

Although cysts most often do not change in size, they can sometimes become larger. This is evidenced by the following symptoms:

• disturbances in the functioning of the sense organs;
• headache;
• change in intracranial pressure;
• epileptic seizures or fainting;
• lack of coordination.

Large cysts under the influence of increased pressure on surrounding tissues have certain symptoms:

• very frequent regurgitation;
• sleep disorders;
• mental retardation;
• the child is excessively whiny and restless;
• convulsions;
• does not feel pain;
• presence of limb tremor;
• swollen or pulsating fontanel;
• muscle hypertonicity or hypotonicity;
• disturbances in coordination of movements;
• numbness of the limbs.

Read more about the signs of a cyst in the head here.

Symptoms and clinical manifestations

Like any other volumetric formation of the brain, a cyst may not manifest itself for a long time, or even a lifetime. But if there is an intensive growth of such a formation, then the symptoms will not keep you waiting.

At first, the symptoms of a brain cyst cannot be distinguished from those of an aneurysm or tumor. Characteristic is the appearance of general cerebral symptoms, which develop as a result of increased intracranial pressure and slight swelling of the brain substance; focal (local, local, nest) symptoms, which arise due to compression of adjacent brain structures by the cyst; and the so-called “neighborhood” symptoms that occur when swelling of the brain substance increases and spreads beyond the boundaries of the cyst.

General cerebral symptoms

General cerebral symptoms include:

• bursting, paroxysmal, sometimes pulsating headache, which is practically not relieved by analgesics;
• persistent nausea, the appearance and increase of which does not depend on food intake;
• vomiting: appears most often at the height of the headache, in most cases in the morning and does not bring relief;
• sometimes photophobia,
• lacrimation;
• decreased visual acuity;
• sleep disturbance: insomnia, drowsiness;
• decreased intelligence, memory, concentration;
• mood lability;
• Periodic syncope (fainting) is possible.

Focal symptoms

Focal and neighborhood symptoms are:

• partial Jacksonian seizures (in other words, focal seizures). They arise as a result of irritation of the cerebral cortex cyst. They can appear in an arm, leg or half of the body, and sometimes manifest as auditory or visual hallucinations - it all depends on the location of the cyst in the brain. A distinctive feature is that the patient is conscious during an attack;
• hemiparesis and paralysis. Unilateral decrease in strength in the limbs, often accompanied by loss of sensation;
• dysfunction of the cranial nerves. Hearing loss in one ear, loss of visual fields, severe facial asymmetry, etc.;
• loss or impairment of speech perception;
• dizziness, unsteadiness while walking;
• sometimes generalized epileptic seizures accompanied by loss of consciousness. They occur in patients with increased convulsive readiness of the brain.

These are the main and most common focal symptoms. In fact, there are many more of them, since the appearance of one or another symptom depends on the location of the cyst in the brain. Sometimes a large brain cyst can lead to deformation of the skull bones or suture dehiscence. This symptom occurs mainly in children, since their bones are quite soft and not fully formed. If such symptoms appear, do not delay your contact with a specialist (in this case, a neurologist). Only a doctor using specific research methods is able to establish the correct diagnosis.

Difference from other types of cysts

This pathology should be distinguished from a cyst that forms in the medulla. The appearance of these formations is often caused by infections suffered by the fetus. To identify a cyst and eliminate it, PCR diagnostics are prescribed. This is done to determine the causative agent of the infection. After the examination, treatment is prescribed, and after its completion, the examination is repeated.

Cystic formations of the brain are divided into subependymal and arachnoid. Formations of the first type appear when there is insufficient nutrition of the brain in the area of ​​the ventricles. This entails tissue death and the appearance of empty cavities.

Arachnoid cysts develop inside the meninges. This cavity occurs as a result of infection. This pathology requires medical treatment, and sometimes surgical intervention. If the subcutaneous cyst is not removed, it will lead to disruption of the motor system and damage the visual and other areas of the brain.