Before you realize what it is - a lacunar cyst of the brain, you need to understand that there are many types of neoplasms of this type, and each of them, to one extent or another, threatens human life. The question is very serious, because it is the brain.
Lacunar cyst of the brain - what is it?
Lacunar cyst is a neoplasm that appears between the lining of the cerebral cortex and lacunae, which, in turn, arise due to the inflammatory process. This type of cyst during growth exerts pressure on the vessels surrounding the brain and its soft tissues, causing pathologies of various severity.
Types of Cysts
With lacunar cysts of the brain, the size, norm and location determine their type. But first of all, they take into account how they began to develop - in utero, which means they are congenital - or in the process of ordinary life, here the reasons for their appearance are much more diverse.
Moreover, there is a difference between one type of cyst from another at the place of their appearance in the brain. A retrocerebellar cyst is a neoplasm that occurs under the arachnoid membrane of the brain.
If the tumor appeared on the outer arachnoid membrane, then it is called, respectively, an arachnoid cyst. Lacunar cerebrospinal fluid cysts arise between the meninges. A vascular cyst is a tumor that occurs in the plexus of cerebral vessels. A lacunar cyst of the basal nuclei is found in the cerebellum, warolium bridge or in the subcortical node.
You got only the initial concept of what it is - a lacunar cyst of the brain. This topic is being studied at medical institutes to this day, which is why there are quite a lot of types and types of this neoplasm, and new tumors and cysts are added to the list annually.
Causes of the appearance of a lacunar cyst
It must be understood that if a cyst was discovered in a patient that developed during the period of intrauterine growth, then it is most likely a hereditary disease. It is impossible to insure yourself against this type of tumor. There are cases when a person did not know about the presence of a congenital cyst until it was accidentally discovered during a routine medical examination. At the same time, the tumor had a diameter of 10 cm and absolutely did not prevent a person from living. What is a lacunar cyst of the brain? This is an education that creates problems, but not in every case of its appearance.
If the cyst is diagnosed as an acquired pathology, then this means that it has become a consequence of some somatic disease. For example, it appeared as a complication after meningitis or traumatic brain injury. Diabetes, thrombosis, and hypertension can lead to cysts.
Often, frequent concussions can cause neoplasms in the brain. This phenomenon occurs in professional sports, where an athlete often gets traumatic brain injuries, for example, boxing or other martial arts.
Postischemic lacunar cyst became widely known in medical circles. From the name it is clear that it was the result of coronary artery disease of the brain, which, in fact, leads to chronic hypertension. Postischemic lacunar cysts of the brain are studied and treated simultaneously with a stroke. Often, they become the cause of craniotomy and brain surgery. But the lacunar cerebrospinal fluid cyst is amenable to radiation therapy, and surgery in this case is not always required.
Signs of a cyst in the brain
Lacunar cyst of the brain symptoms may not appear for many years. At the same time, it grows and develops. The first signs that a person has it appear only when an overgrown neoplasm begins to put pressure on nearby blood vessels, thereby violating the bloodstream or creating pressure on certain parts of the brain. And depending on what kind of shares, characteristic signs appear:
- The patient has hallucinations.
- Severe headache, and the location of the pain is opposite the cyst.
- For no apparent reason, a person begins to feel sick or vomit.
- In severe cases, seizures with convulsions and loss of consciousness are possible.
- The coordination of movements is disturbed.
- Speech and human ability to write texts are disturbed.
- If the cyst appeared in the frontal lobe, then a person's vision may be impaired or completely lost.
- If the tumor is in the temporal lobes, then the sense of smell is broken and the ability to distinguish tastes is lost.
But not always the neoplasm has at least some manifestation. Often, a lacunar cyst of the brain does not receive any treatment at all, because during the whole life of a person it has not shown itself. There were no pains or any impairment of brain functions.
Diagnosing the presence of cysts in the brain
Treatment of lacunar postischemic brain cysts is prescribed only after a full comprehensive diagnosis. The same applies to any type of cyst - it is important to know its size and location.
After all, if the cyst does not pose a danger to the vital functions of the brain, does not grow, then it is simply observed, without any attempt to cure it - there is no need. But if it begins to grow, press on the surrounding vessels and brain tissue, then urgent therapy begins.
The main method for diagnosing tumors in the brain is computed tomography. She most clearly and accurately determines the presence, size and location of the cyst.
In order to understand whether its contents are dangerous, that is, whether it can turn into a malignant tumor, a histological analysis of cells obtained from a cyst as a result of a biopsy is performed.
You can clarify the diagnosis by examining the vessels of the head and neck by dopplerography. At the same time, the patient’s blood condition and the presence of high cholesterol in it are studied in order to exclude the possibility of cholesterol plaques.
Blood is also examined for the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in it that can cause inflammation.
Diagnosis may include daily monitoring of spikes in blood pressure. For this, special sensors are attached to the patient, which accompany all his activities during the day.
Drug treatment of lacunar cyst
If the cyst does not bother the patient, does not increase in size and is not dangerous, then it is not subjected to special treatment. In this case, therapy is aimed at eliminating the causes of its occurrence. For example, if a patient has suffered a severe viral disease such as meningitis or encephalitis, then he is undergoing treatment with antibiotics and immune-strengthening drugs. The specific type of drug, its dosage and regimen is prescribed individually depending on the general condition of the patient.
A neurologist can prescribe a drug that destroys adhesions in the connective tissue, blood thinners and antioxidants. All this allows you to restore impaired blood flow in the vessels of the brain and stabilize the pressure.
Surgery
If the cyst is a danger to the patient's condition, then he is shown a surgical operation. It can be carried out by various methods - bypass surgery, endoscopy and craniotomy.
Each method has both positive and negative sides. Endoscopy is able to get only those cysts that are located directly under the skull bone. Before the neoplasms lying in the depths of the brain substance, the instrument, which is a thin tube, does not reach.
Cyst bypass surgery involves aspirating the fluid filling the cyst with a thin needle. As a result of such a procedure, the cyst decreases until one shell remains from it. The negative side of this procedure is the risk of introducing an infection into the brain that will cause complications.
Trepanation of the skull involves opening the cranium in order to provide access to the cyst at any depth. This type of operation provides an absolute opportunity to completely remove the neoplasm, but has a long postoperative period.
The type of operation is chosen by the attending physician, based on the patient’s condition, location and size of the cyst, and many other medical indicators. The wishes of the patient in this situation are not taken into account.
Postoperative rehabilitation
Time for postoperative rehabilitation is given depending on the complexity of the surgical intervention and the severity of the disease that caused the cyst.
For example, after removal of a congenital cyst, which did not complicate the patient’s condition, by shunting, rehabilitation takes 10-15 days.
And if the tumor was caused by an infectious disease such as meningitis, the cyst violated some functions in the body, eyesight, hearing or musculoskeletal work, trepanation was required to remove it, then it may take 5-6 months to completely cure it.
Special diet
During treatment and in the postoperative period, the patient adheres to a special diet. To reduce blood cholesterol, which can cause a blood clot, dishes with fatty, fried meat are removed from his diet. Meat products suitable for consumption in this situation are boiled fish, chicken and veal.
To normalize blood pressure and strengthen the immune system, fresh fruits and vegetables are included in the diet. The patient's nutrition is adjusted so that he ate 6-7 times a day, but in small portions. This reduces the burden on the stomach, but allows all beneficial substances from food to be fully absorbed into the intestines.
It is strictly forbidden to drink coffee and alcoholic beverages.
Possible complications
If some type of lacunar cyst remains untreated, then the patient may develop various complications.
So, a pineal cyst leads to encephalitis or hydrocephalus - the accumulation of fluid in the brain. A arachnoid cyst can lead to epilepsy. In colloidal cysts, complications are even more dangerous - cerebral hernia, hydrocephalus and death.
If an untreated cyst remains in the brain of a child, this can delay its intellectual and even physical development. The most dangerous complication is rupture of the cyst. In this case, a person is waiting for a quick and painful death.
Traditional medicine treatment
Despite the severity of the disease, lacunar cysts have several methods of treatment with folk remedies. In general, it, like conservative therapy, is aimed at eliminating the causes of a tumor. Therefore, alternative methods should be used in conjunction with drug therapy and only with the permission of the attending physician.
Medicinal plants that can positively affect the human condition in this situation are hemlock, elecampane, wormwood, chamomile, calendula, yarrow, raspberries, corn stigmas, Caucasian dioscorea.
From these plants, you can make decoctions or alcohol tinctures. The broth is done simply - 1 tbsp. a spoon of the plant is poured with a glass of boiling water and simmer for no more than 15 minutes. After the broth has cooled, it must be filtered and taken in a glass half an hour before meals.
Alcohol infusion takes longer - a dry, crushed plant is poured with alcohol in a ratio of 1 to 3, that is, per 100 g of plant - 300 ml of alcohol, and infused for 2 months in a dark place. Shake the infusion once a week. After filtering, the drug is taken 1 teaspoon per day, half an hour before meals.
Prevention
To prevent the occurrence of cysts in the brain, a number of measures should be taken aimed at protecting a person from situations in which a cyst begins to develop:
- It is necessary to avoid stress and nervous tension.
- In time to treat viral diseases, preventing their transition to a chronic form.
- Protect your head from injuries at work or in sports. That is, wear a safety helmet or helmet.
- It is necessary to monitor blood pressure and take measures to reduce it during periods of increase.
- It is necessary to abandon bad habits - smoking and drinking alcohol, because they become the cause of many diseases. A smoking person is several times more likely to get cancer.
Doctors Recommendations
For the normal functioning of the brain, doctors recommend observing a sleep pattern - at the same time, go to bed and get up, follow a proper diet, without an abundance of sweet and fat in it. Drink pure non-carbonated water instead of various drinks. Go in for sports and temper the body.
Reviews
Reviews about the treatment of lacunar cysts of the brain are different. The operation helped someone completely get rid of the negative manifestations of the disease, others recommend that doctors observe the growth of education, and treatment is not required at all. In the advanced stages after ischemic strokes, surgery is often the only way to save a person’s life.