Arachnoid and Complex Pineal Cysts

[tcrain54]

My husband had a seizure about 3 weeks ago while at work, he is type 1 diabetic and thought the seizure was due to his blood sugar falling dangerously low. However; at the hospital a CT scan was performed and they found a cyst in his brain. He was told to follow up with his primary physician. Last week he had a contrast and no contrast MRI on his brain. Yesterday we went to his follow up appt, his doctor said he has not one, but two cysts in his brain, and they are different types of cysts at that. The one the first hospital found is and inch wide Arachnoid Cyst and the other is a 1cm long Pineal Cyst. He had a head injury in early 2008 and the scans then showed no cysts. Has anyone ever heard of something like this happening? We have an appt with a neurologist next week and waiting on a referral for a neurosurgeon for a second opinion. My husband is only 30 years old, he has 2 kids from a previous marriage and we have a little boy due in February. I need some information. We are terrified. Nobody has been able to tell us anything about symptoms, or treatment.

[rumpled]

There are quite a few pituitary centers in California - it really depends on the area if you mean San Diego or San Francisco! But at least there you have a lot of good choices. I actually traveled from the east coast to west for my surgery! Let us know how it goes.

[tcrain54]

My husband has a CT scan 3 years ago and no cysts were present then. We have an appt with a neurologist next week. I will look into a specialized dr at a university. Do you have any recommendations for California?

[Red_Star]

As your husband's pineal cyst is 1cm, the seizure can be due to the pineal cyst. Cysts smaller than 5mm (half a cm) rarely cause symptoms.

"Larger pineal cysts are rare findings that may cause a variety of symptoms (symptomatic). Symptoms may include headaches, increased pressure on the brain because of accumulation of excessive cerebrospinal fluid (hydrocephalus), and vision abnormalities. Large symptomatic pineal cysts may potentially cause serious conditions such as seizures and loss of consciousness. The exact cause of symptomatic pineal cysts is unknown." - webmd

[rumpled]

If you do research, arachnoid cysts form in the lining around the brain and often people are born with them. Location and size determine symptoms. They should be removed if they cause symptoms. Pineal cysts can interfere with melatonin production - has he had problems sleeping lately? The pineal gland is also very close to the optic chiasm so he needs to get a very good eye exam from a neuro-opthomologist as well as I would consult a pituitary center at a university as the gland is close to the pituitary and it would be the same type of surgeon who does pituitary surgery that should do the pineal surgery since they are close to each other and it would require the special instruments that they have - not just any surgeon will do. Symptoms can be subtle and that is why you may not have noticed so much but they probably are there.