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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Teenager Brain Cyst Pineal Gland/Head Injury
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Teenager Brain Cyst Pineal Gland/Head Injury
by JM500, Nov 12, 2002 12:00AM
My 14 yr. old son had head injury playing football 6 wks. ago and had a CT scan. Minor concussion & no damage but CT found brain cyst near pineal gland. Pediatrician stated could have been there all his life. (I suspect might have occurred at age 12 mos. while with babysitter and fell down steps in walker with egg sized bump on skull that doc told me not to worry about.) Doc told me cyst appears to be soft tissue, not fluid, so 2nd MRI scheduled end of December and another next Summer. Should I request 2nd opinion from neurologist or just do the wait and see with follow up MRIs with pediatrician and person reading scans at Vanderbilt in Nashville? Doc said my son can continue playing sports, do you agree this is safe? What is the prognosis for a cyst like this near pineal gland for a teenager? Are we going to have to worry about this his entire life? Can it possibly just go away without surgery? I am terrified of future problems such as seizures, blocked drainage near brain stem, weakness of arms and legs, etc. (My father died 8 yrs. ago from deadly brain cancer where the tumors grew back immediately after surgery?) In September, my son had some nausea and vomiting for about six weeks that I thought was caused by football out in the severe heat but the doc never did figure out. It went away. He has headaches only occasionally that I suspect are sinus. I don't want this cyst diagnosis to cause my son to miss out on a happy life playing sports if he wants to, but I don't know what is safe to do with this situation. I appreciate your assistance so very much. JM500
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Nov 12, 2002 12:00AM
It's impossible to accurately comment on an MRI that I have not personally seen, especially without a formal report. Although it's unlikely that the "cyst" has any relation to the recent head injury or even the fall at the age of 1, consider bringing the films to a pediatric neurologist at a major academic center where there are also neuroradiologists at hand to take a look at the films as a team approach. Cysts are typically fluid filled rather than soft tissue masses and mean different things, so the words used to describe the lesion are very important. As I don't know exactly what kind of lesion this actually is or where it is in the brain, I cannot make any recommendations as to clearance for athletic activities. Talk to your doc about your concerns and consider the neuro referral. Good luck.
