A vascular plexus cyst is called a formation in the brain, which is detected by ultrasound in the fetus at 6-7 months of its development. After which she should disappear and never remind herself of herself again. However, after receiving the results of the study, the pregnant woman begins to worry and consider this a deviation. This is actually not the case. Such a cyst, which arose in the brain during intrauterine development, has no threat to the child. Neither his health nor development is in danger.
It is necessary to differentiate it with a cyst, which has a vascular origin. Namely, it is formed in the substance of the brain after a stroke, aneurysm, infection. That is, this is a consequence of the pathology that has occurred in the body. In this article, we will understand what a vascular plexus cyst is.
Education Description
A cyst in the vascular (choroid, choroid, villous) plexus is formed not so often. In general, this is only 1-3% of all pregnancies that are monitored. This formation should disappear by 27-28 weeks of gestation. Half of the cysts are bilateral. But there are times when a cyst is visualized before birth. There is nothing wrong with that either.
The fetus is not in danger. In addition, if it is later found in a newborn or in an adult (in very rare cases, it is present in a person throughout life), it does not matter. The cystic plexus cyst may be several, this does not affect the prognosis.
What is this vascular plexus cyst? Liquor or cerebrospinal fluid, which is produced in it, accumulates inside the plexus. It nourishes the brain and back of the fetal brain. The vascular plexus is a sign of the early formation of the central nervous system in the embryo, and there are two of them, as well as the cerebral hemispheres (right and left).
Science does not know why the accumulation of fluid is localized in a particular place. Understanding this makes no sense. After all, this cyst of the vascular plexus in the fetus does not have much significance. It is called so, because on ultrasound, the cluster is visualized in this form.
Is there a connection with the pathology of intrauterine development?
Medical literary sources sometimes provide such information that there are connections between the vascular plexus cyst and any intrauterine pathology. This can lead, for example, to a genetic mutation.
Where the cystic plexus cyst is located (on the right side, on the left or on both sides) does not matter. It is important to note that there is a connection, but it is the opposite. That is, the cystic vascular plexus does not lead to developmental abnormalities, but rather, a congenital malformation of the fetus causes the formation of cysts in the vessels. But these formations are not necessarily accompanied by anomalies and pathological processes.
What accompanies a vascular plexus cyst in a newborn?
Consider the most commonly diagnosed genetic defect, accompanied by the presence of a cyst. We are talking about Edwards syndrome or trisomy 18. With this anomaly 18, the pair of chromosomes does not diverge, one more chromosome 18 is added to it. Thus, there are normally two of them, and with this ailment three are obtained. In the embryo, as a result, the genotype consists of 47 chromosomes.
A copy of chromosome 18 can cause the death of the embryo, or at birth, the baby will have multiple defects and abnormalities. This leads to:
- neural tube defect;
- hammer feet;
- twisted fingers;
- hygroma of cysts;
- hydrocephalus;
- micrognathia;
- rocker foot;
- limited growth.
There is still trisomy 21 or Down's disease, but for some reason, the cystic vascular plexus of the brain with this disease is formed less often.
The significance of the cyst is zero even in the presence of Edwards syndrome, since it is the deviations accompanying this developmental anomaly that become important.
Features of the vascular plexus cyst
So, according to the above, we can draw the following conclusions:
- no value, right cyst or left;
- it doesn’t matter if it is single or represented by several small entities;
- while it is safe;
- she has no function;
- not involved in any vital processes;
- not growing and not reborn.
Pregnant women should not be afraid of the diagnosis of cerebral vascular plexus cyst or consider it another cystic formation. Names may be similar, but they have a different arrangement and genesis.
Other vascular cysts
It is important to note that at later stages of pregnancy, other formations in the vessels can be detected. Ultrasound of the fetal brain does not visualize a cystic plexus cyst at all. What can it talk about?
In this case, such cystic formations indicate that the mother had an infection or she still has it. These diseases include cytomegalovirus and herpes virus.
But these are not cysts of the vascular plexuses of the brain in the fetus.
A vascular and ramolithic (located in the substance of the brain) cyst, which is found in the later stages, suggests that the brain is already formed and cystic cavities appear in it due to the defeat of the virus.
A newborn baby can become infected with the virus while passing through the birth canal of the mother. Then the cystic mass, most often multiple and located in the temporal and frontal areas of the brain, will be detected after birth. If the cyst originated from foci of necrosis, then it is called ramolitic.
Nerve tissue is deadened due to the defeat of herpes or cytomegalovirus. The cystic plexuses of the lateral ventricles do not form this way.
Neurosonography
The microcyst of the vascular plexus can be detected by ultrasound, during neurosonography. Every baby up to a year is supposed to undergo such a diagnosis. Ultrasound determines neurological disorders.
Neurosonography is required in the following cases:
- With birth injury.
- In case of suspected intrauterine infection.
- In severe pregnancy.
- In case of premature birth.
- With deviations of the newborn in weight and size.
- In the presence of severe violations of the structure and shape of the head, in the presence of abnormalities in the anatomy of organs.
Forecast
The cause, location and size of the cyst affect the prognosis of the pathology. Most often, PCR diagnostics are prescribed in order to identify a viral agent. If the analysis is positive, then certain therapy and further monitoring are required.
At three months, then at six months and a year, it is necessary to do an ultrasound of the brain (neurosonography) to the baby. The prognosis is most often favorable regardless of the identified viral lesion. This education disappears about a year and does not remind of itself. There are no relapses.
If we talk about a ramolation cyst, then it can also disappear without a trace in infancy. Otherwise, if it occurs for other reasons, it behaves differently. But then you can’t call her a cyst. This formation occurs due to a violation of the vascular wall, and is located in the brain tissues.
Provocative factors
A pathological cyst can form due to other factors:
- Infections.
- Birth and other injuries.
- Microstroke.
- Hemorrhagic stroke (a cyst replaces a hematoma formed as a result of vascular damage).
- Ischemic stroke (a vascular-origin remission cyst just occurs as a result of necrosis).
- Aneurysms.
Most often, if the vascular wall is damaged, then it will be arterial. Indeed, veins do not participate in such a process.
Clinical signs
Hematoma, stroke, aneurysm can trigger a cyst in the brain. In some cases, there are no signs of this formation, and it can be detected only after the death of a person. But together with the cyst formed from the virus, it can give some symptoms:
- Signs of hypertension in newborns.
- Sense of compression of the brain, headaches .
- Some impaired hearing and vision.
- Minor disorder of coordination of movements.
- Epileptic seizures, which are considered the most serious consequences.
Cysts of the vascular plexus of the ventricle do not give such symptoms.
Additional symptoms
In addition, constantly squeezed brain tissue can lead to other symptoms:
- aching constant pain in the head of different intensity and duration;
- disturbed work of organs providing hearing, smell and sight;
- drowsiness or, conversely, insomnia;
- problems with motor coordination;
- muscle hypotension; sensation of pulsation and noise in the head, increased pressure inside the skull;
- sudden frequent fainting and seizures;
- tremor;
- spitting up;
- pulsation felt in the fontanel, swelling;
- local paralysis of the arms or legs, complete numbness of the limbs.
The appearance of these clinical signs is provoked by compression of neighboring tissues. Normal functioning is disturbed in the brain. This happens when a cyst is large or if it is too close to the important centers of higher nervous activity. Crushing leads to impaired blood circulation and hypoxia.
Treatment methods
Any special treatment for a brain cyst, as well as for a vascular plexus cyst, is not required. But with the detection of herpes, cytomegalovirus or other infection, antiviral therapy is prescribed. If there are epileptic seizures, then the administration of drugs with anticonvulsant properties is indicated.
It should also be noted that in the case when conservative treatment does not bring results (the cystic plexus of the fetal brain is too large, for example), they resort to surgical intervention. The focus is eliminated by the operation. After this, as a rule, all the symptoms go away.
With mild symptoms and rare complaints of the patient about dizziness, headache, which has a compressive character, he is prescribed a long course dose of Cinarizine and Cavinton. Drugs can significantly improve the supply of oxygen to the brain, establish impaired blood circulation, and normalize well-being. Mostly tolerated well, do not cause side effects. But individual intolerance is possible.
We examined in detail the cyst of the vascular plexus, as well as its main differences from other cystic formations.