A cyst in the head is quite common in medical practice. This is not an oncological disease, which is a cavity in which, like in a bubble, fluid accumulates. It can form in any region of the brain, in the singular or plural, on one or both sides at the same time.
Types of cysts in the head
Arachnoid cyst is a bubble of fluid formed between the stuck together rows of the meninges, in all cases it is located on the surface of the brain. The cause of its occurrence may be hemorrhage, an inflammatory process in the meninges or injuries.
If the pressure of the resulting fluid exceeds the intra-head pressure, compression of the cerebral cortex may occur, which will entail the emergence of a number of unpleasant symptoms.
Intracerebral or cerebral cyst in the head - fluid accumulates in the place of the dead part of the brain, that is, it fills the space of the lost volumes of the brain substance. It is located in the thickness of the brain.
The cause of the death of the sites in this case should be clarified. The main causes of the formation of cerebral cysts are injuries, a stroke, insufficiency of intracranial circulation, encephalitis, surgical interventions in the cranial cavity.
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on the underlying disease that affected cyst formation. All of them are very diverse and optional. Basically, a cyst in the head in an adult is determined by the presence of the following symptoms: pain, feeling of tightness and throbbing in the head, tinnitus while hearing is preserved, hearing impairment, visual disturbances, partial limb paralysis, episodic loss of consciousness, imbalance, epilepsy.
Reasons for the growth of formations
The cyst in the head is easily controlled by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. If an increase in size is observed over time, then the brain continues to respond to the acting damage factor. In this case, it is necessary to identify the cause of the disease and carry out the necessary treatment.
The growth of an arachnoid cyst is affected by:
- increase in fluid pressure in the cyst;
- progressive inflammation of the meninges (infections, arachnoiditis);
- concussion with a previously formed cyst in a patient.
Causes of intracerebral cyst growth (as well as the appearance of new formations):
- the continuation of intracranial circulatory disorders, which creates new foci of micro strokes;
- the continuation of the destruction of the brain substance (neuroinfection, multiple sclerosis and encephalomyelitis).
The causes of education in newborns are:
- head trauma received at birth (improper mother behavior during childbirth, improper obstetric care), which can lead to intracranial hemorrhage;
- infectious diseases and inflammation obtained in the womb.
Diagnostics
Modern medicine easily reveals the causes of the emergence and growth of formations. For this, the patient is examined with the appointment of MRI tomography, blood test and blood flow in the vessels. Based on the results, further treatment is based.
A cyst in the head of a newborn is easily diagnosed by ultrasound. An effective examination is facilitated by the still not overgrown fontanel of the newborn and unclosed bones of the skull. In most cases, the cyst in the head goes to one year old.
Treatment
Intracranial circulation disorders are treated by three components: normalization of blood pressure, lowering blood cholesterol, and reducing blood coagulation. At the same time are appointed:
- antioxidants that increase cell resistance to increased intracranial pressure;
- Nootropic drugs that provide cells with glucose and oxygen.
Surgical treatment of cysts with surgery can be done in three ways:
- craniotomy with further removal of the formation. This is the most radical, but also the most traumatic way of treatment;
- shunting, where a tube is inserted into the cavity, through which a gradual emptying of the formation occurs, which contributes to the subsidence and further overgrowing of the walls. The disadvantage of this method is too long finding the drainage tube inside the skull. This can lead to unwanted infection of the cavity;
- endoscopic operations - are carried out through punctures with further emptying of the cavity. This method allows you to minimize the possibility of complications and recover quickly after surgery. The only minus of the method - a cyst in the head is not always available for summing up the device.