Retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst of the brain is a pathological formation that often occurs in deep tissues. Among clinicians, it is believed that this tumor has a benign character, however, the likelihood of its oncological degeneration is not excluded.
Causes of occurrence
The reasons for the development of retrocerebellar arachnoid cysts of the brain are quite diverse, ranging from trauma or multiple bruises to the head and ending with a stroke or ischemia of the brain. Negative factors include a genetic predisposition. The severity of clinical symptoms is directly affected by the size of the retrocerebellar cyst of the brain.
Provocative factors
A neoplasm of this type can manifest itself without obvious reasons, which significantly complicates its diagnosis. The factors provoking its development are quite diverse. These include:
- circulatory disturbance;
- concussions, head injuries;
- inflammatory processes caused by an infectious effect;
- serious adverse changes in the brain;
- surgical interventions on the brain;
- previous stroke;
- genetic predisposition;
- birth injuries, negative effects on the fetus of medications taken by the mother during pregnancy;
- hormonal disorders in the body.
People with the above pathological conditions are at risk. The high probability of cyst formation requires regular monitoring by a specialist. You must visit it at least once a year to minimize the risk of unexpected development of this disease.
Classification
The retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst of the brain is a small benign tumor that develops at the place where the death of the brain tissue began. Initially, the affected area is gradually expanding, and then the formed cavity begins to fill with cerebrospinal fluid. In certain cases, the formation may dissolve on its own, however, if the cyst begins to increase in size, this increases the risk of serious health problems.
The cyst has two forms at the same time: arachnoid and retrocerebellar. The first involves the formation of a tumor that affects the gray matter. Features of the second manifestation are a direct effect on the arachnoid membranes of the brain. Such a combination causes vivid symptoms and high complexity of the treatment of this pathological phenomenon.
The retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst of the brain is local in nature and, as a rule, does not extend to healthy tissues. At the same time, any part of the brain tissue can be a localization site. Most often, benign neoplasms of this type appear in the occipital and frontal lobes. At the place of their formation, doctors subdivide this disease into two types: upper and lower cysts.
Primary and secondary
The main division into varieties implies two variants of the development of the disease:
- primary, which is congenital, is found in the maternity hospital;
- secondary, which can develop at any moment of life.
Adults are less susceptible to this pathology, since most often such cystic formations belong to the first type.
Consider the normal size of the retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst of the brain.
Dimensions
A small tumor may be present in the patient for many years without showing any negative symptoms. If it is detected, then therapy, as a rule, is not required. The patient will only have to see the doctor more often and check with the help of a picture if the formation has begun to grow. While maintaining the small size of the cyst can be considered the norm, and the patient can lead a familiar lifestyle. However, with an increase in the tumor or serious reasons for its occurrence, therapy is still required. What is the norm?
Dimensions of retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst of the brain:
- Up to 2 mm - the cyst is a small seal that does not require treatment.
- Up to 10 mm - such dimensions are considered moderate, and pathology for the patient is an average degree of danger.
- A cyst from 10 mm - is considered a dangerous pathological formation that causes severe symptoms.
The size of the retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst of the brain is dangerous - this is the first thing that interests patients who learn about the presence of such a neoplasm. A cyst up to 10 mm requires attention only in cases where its increase is observed. Only tumors that have a thickness of 10 mm or more can be classified as dangerous. With intensive growth, such a neoplasm in a couple of months can increase several times. A similar phenomenon is characteristic of infectious diseases that provoked the appearance of a cyst.
How does the retrocerebellar arachnoid cerebrospinal fluid cyst manifest itself?
Symptoms of the disease
Small cysts, as a rule, do not cause any negative symptoms, however, with a dynamic tumor growth, a person gradually begins to feel all the unpleasant manifestations. When the neoplasm grows to critical sizes, the patient's well-being can be extremely difficult. The following symptoms are characteristic of a brain cyst of this type:
- a change in the psychoemotional state in a negative direction, in which the patient has depressive thoughts, apathy, sleep disturbances, fatigue;
- headaches, severe dizziness and a feeling of pronounced pressure on the skull, which in the later stages can manifest itself in the form of severe migraine;
- impaired functioning of the senses - impairment of auditory functions, noise in the head, double vision;
- slowdown of brain activity, deterioration of mental processes and concentration of attention;
- paralysis, which is often local in nature, affecting only a certain part of the body, but in certain cases affects all the limbs of the patient and can be combined with the development of epilepsy and seizures;
- the development of a pathology such as hydrocephalus, together with feelings of nausea, nervousness, drowsiness, and fainting.
If the tumor affects the back of the head and puts increased pressure on the cerebellum, the patient may have problems with the functioning of the vestibular apparatus.
What is the danger of retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst of the brain for children?
Features of the tumor in children
A child who has begun the development of this pathological formation will have the same symptoms as an adult. However, they are often more pronounced, which will cause suspicion of the occurrence of cysts at an early stage and significant health problems. The most common cause of this problem in childhood is past meningitis. With this in mind, after recovery, it is necessary to regularly check to eliminate the risk of the formation of a tumor of this type.
Retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst of the brain in a child is often observed in infancy. If it is not noticed in a timely manner, then there is a high risk of divergence in the infants of bone sutures. In this case, the development of hydrocephalus can begin, and in the future the child will have many problems with physical and mental development.
If a child has a similar brain cyst, it is important to confirm the diagnosis with the help of special diagnostic techniques and carry out intensive therapy, which includes surgical intervention.
How is the retrocerebellar cyst of the brain detected in a child and an adult?
Diagnostic measures
Diagnosis is one of the most important components of tumor therapy. With the wrong approach, there is a high probability of death. Thus, in the case when a cancer tumor is confused with a similar cyst, surgery may be prescribed, which in no case should be done when dangerous tumors occur.
First, the specialist interviews the patient, compiling a complete picture of the clinical symptoms of the patient. After this, MRI, CT and ultrasound are mandatory, and an ultrasound examination is necessary with intravenous administration of contrast agents, which helps to determine whether a patient is benign or malignant. The specialist also prescribes other examinations to reliably determine the cause of the formation of the pathological neoplasm. It is important to do this right away to begin treatment and to eliminate the negative impact of the root cause of the disease.
Additional treatments
Additionally, the following diagnostic procedures may be prescribed to the patient:
- Blood tests. Coagulability and cholesterol levels will help to clarify the state of blood vessels and existing blockages, because of which such a tumor often begins to grow. In addition, the presence of autoimmune and infectious pathologies is checked.
- Diagnosis of the heart. This procedure is necessary to identify disorders related to heart health, which is extremely important during surgery under prolonged general anesthesia.
- Doppler ultrasound. Detection of areas of vasoconstriction in the brain and spinal cord will mean that insufficient blood flows to the brain, and this deficiency leads to the death of brain tissue cells and the appearance of pathological neoplasms.
- Pressure monitoring. A change in blood pressure can provoke micro strokes, as a result of which brain tumors begin to develop.
Immediately after determining the expansion of the retrocerebellar space and establishing the diagnosis, patients are prescribed the necessary treatment. It is necessary to proceed to it quickly to exclude the subsequent deterioration of the patient's condition and the possible risk of complications.
Treatment of retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst of the brain
The approach to the treatment of this disease should be serious. This is the only way to achieve positive results. No less important is the experience of the doctor involved in the treatment. Therapy involves two main approaches: surgical and drug.
The effectiveness of the use of drugs is observed only in the initial stages of the disease. In most cases, after taking all the necessary medications, the neoplasm itself decreases or resolves. When prescribing drugs, the main goals are to normalize the blood supply to the brain and ensure the process of resorption of scars.
Medicines
The following funds are assigned:
- antiplatelet agents;
- antioxidants;
- nootropics;
- anticoagulants;
- antihypertensive drugs.
Surgery
In the absence of positive dynamics after conservative therapy, the patient is prescribed surgery. Several types of surgical treatment are used:
- endoscopic surgery;
- shunting;
- removal of the neoplasm.
So, what is the danger of retrocerebellar cyst of the brain?
Forecast, possible complications
In the absence of therapy, the patient's condition, if the tumor progresses, will worsen. As a rule, this leads to severe pain, which often ends with a rupture of brain tissue. The patient will begin bleeding, which is accompanied by inflammation, which in the end becomes the cause of death. This is the main danger of retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst of the brain.
However, even with proper treatment and surgery, the patient may experience complications. The prognosis of the disease is usually positive if the patient meets all the requirements of specialists. Complications may include the following:
- high blood pressure;
- headache;
- decreased immunity, malaise;
- violation of the functions of the senses, motor and speech functions;
- epilepsy, convulsions;
- hyperactivity or developmental delay in children;
- psychological disorders.