The arachnoid cyst is a benign lesion formed by cerebrospinal fluid, which develops between the arachnoid membrane and the brain; in rarer cases, it can also form in the spinal cord.
These cysts can be primary or congenital when they form during the baby’s development during pregnancy, or secondary, when they are formed throughout life by trauma or infection, being less common.
- The arachnoid cyst is usually neither severe nor dangerous and should not be confused with cancer and may even be asymptomatic.
- There are three types of arachnoid cysts:.
These cysts are usually asymptomatic and the person only discovers that they have the cyst when they undergo a routine exam or diagnosis of a disease.
However, there are cases where arachnoid cysts present certain risks and cause symptoms that depend on where they grow, their size, or compression of a nerve or sensitive area of the brain or body. spinal cord:
Primary arachnoid cysts are caused by abnormal growth of the brain or spinal cord during the baby’s development.
Secondary arachnoid cysts can be caused by a variety of conditions, including injuries or complications in the brain or spinal cord, infections such as meningitis or tumors.
If the arachnoid cyst has no symptoms, no treatment is necessary, however, it should be monitored periodically with a CT scan or MRI to see if it increases in size or if there is a change in morphology.
If the cyst causes symptoms, it should be evaluated for surgery, which is generally safe and produces good results. There are 3 types of surgeries:
Therefore, it is necessary to talk to your doctor to understand which procedure is best suited for the type of cyst and symptoms you have, as well as factors such as age, location, or size of the cyst, for example.