The pineal cyst of the brain is a neoplasm, which in structure resembles a sac. In most cases, such a disease should not cause special fears, because the cyst does not directly affect the brain activity. But a regular increase in its size can lead to some adverse consequences.
Until now, there are no precisely identified causes provoking the formation of cysts. Therefore, specialists can only speculate about the veracity of which it is not necessary to judge. In addition, often the patient does not feel a deterioration in the condition or any other signs, that is, a cyst of the pineal gland of the brain can occur with a complete absence of symptomatic manifestations. An exception is the neoplasm, which is increasing in size. In this case, a person is tormented by a serious malaise.
A cyst is formed in the location of the pineal gland, that is, in the middle of the two main hemispheres of the brain. This gland is directly connected with the endocrine system and is responsible for the production of the hormone melatonin, the purpose of which is to ensure normal quality sleep. It is this center of the brain that responds to light, so people want to sleep at night and stay awake during the day.
Pineal Cyst of the Brain: Symptoms
As noted above, most often the presence of a cyst cannot be detected by external signs. Therefore, the presence of symptomatic manifestations indicates a significant increase in its size. As a rule, such neoplasms reach 0.5 centimeters or more. Then the patient is overcome by nausea, headaches, and vomiting. He painfully reacts to bright light, and even to a large crowd of people.
Among the complications, it is customary to attribute hydrocephalus, which occurs in connection with a significant increase in the size of the cyst. This disease involves the accumulation of fluid in the ventricles of the brain, which increases blood pressure in the vessels. Then the patient at first experiences a slight malaise, then the headache intensifies, nausea and vomiting appear. Inaction in such a situation is extremely dangerous, because a person can fall into a coma or lethargic sleep. But if the bubbles with fluid are accompanied by the formation of a cyst, then we can say that there is an arachnoid cyst of the brain. Her treatment, as a rule, is not performed, since it does not represent harm to human health and life.
Not dangerous in most cases, but causing parents to panic, is a pseudocyst of the brain in a newborn. Under the concept of "cyst" and "pseudocyst" experts mean the same thing. The only difference is the lack of lining in pseudocysts. With this diagnosis, the baby can live, and does not even require special intervention, since over time the neoplasm must resolve.
The pineal cyst of the brain is diagnosed after undergoing a scanning procedure, which accurately determines the location of the tumor and its size. Since it is benign in nature, a cyst cannot have a negative effect on health or threaten the life of a cyst, which means that there is no need for treatment.
But if there are prerequisites for the development of hydrocephalus or other forms of disease progression, it is possible to use surgical intervention in order to prevent the patient's health from deteriorating. Unfortunately, brain surgery is still considered one of the most difficult, therefore, in itself is a risky event. This factor forces specialists to resort to a more conservative medication method of treatment.