Brian Cyst

My name is Kathy, and this is regarding my son Noah 3 1/2 yrs old.  

Case:  Displayed what seemed to be Headaches not often 4 times in 3 months.  Saw Peds doc said common since family history recommneded tylenol/advil.  

Noah then started doing head tilts with hold breath.  Took back to Peds Doc.  He suggested MRI to rule out anything nuerological. But he felt as though it was a tic.  We had MRI and it showed 1.5 cm cyst on top of brain midline right lobe. Their advise was that this was coincidence and should not be causing any symptoms.

Refered to Peds Nuerologist:  We did eeg which was neg, she feels as though the cyst is outside the brain, its located where the soft spot was.  And that is should not cause any symptoms and we should repeat MRI in 6 months.  Since MRI about 6 weeks ago he has quit the head tilting and holding breath.  But I forgot to mention he will say to me he wants to feel better, and I will ask him where he feels bad at??  And he will say his head hurts??  Now since the MRI we  have stopped talking about it and asking him if he feels ok, and he has stopped saying he wants to feel better!  I am so confused about this, is it common to have a cyst on the top of the head by the skull?  And what has caused this, do you see any of these progress or just remain?  And what type of surgery would take place if it was to cause him problems?

The peds nuero said if it would start growing or pressing on any thing he would have seizure like activity in his legs or problems walking?

He is a very bright and normal child.....I am so scared

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Glad that your son is better (no more head tilt or breath-holding). Unfortunately, I'm not quite sure where the cyst is by your report or what kind of cyst it is (very important to know exactly where it is in relation to the brain - in/outside, over the covering?, etc). Many times, when we do an MRI of the brain we see what's called incidental findings. This means there is something in or around the brain that really does not have any clinical significance such as an arachnoid cyst. If this is what your doc is talking about, then for the most part it's true. The arachnoid cyst is a pocket of cerebrospinal fluid that in many cases does not have any clinical significance. Many of them remain that way for life, but some do grow causing neurological problems depending on where they are. It can cause seizures if near the surface of the brain and it can cause weakness/sensory changes of an arm/leg, both again, depending on where they are.

Stay in touch with your peds neurologist. As long as your son continues to grow and develop normally and is the "bright and normal child" you describe, then it is likely that the cyst was just an incidental finding and that his headaches were just migraines or somthing that was transient and not serious. I agree with the followup MRI in 6 months. If your son develops any problems or worsening/recurrence of headaches, don't hesitate to bring him back to the neuro ASAP> Best o luck,.

[mellie1019]

Recently they told me I might have had a stroke......so MRI was done......there was a white mass in the brain stem area where the image should of been black.  Now they say they don't know what it is...either a stroke or a tumor. A new MRI and MRA are scheduled this new MRI will be with a contrast injected in my veins.  I have blurr'd vision...balance problems...over exhaustion, pain in what I call joint areas...slurring of speech...headaches (0f which I've always gotten)...numbness or tingling of hands and legs and feet. An yes I am Diabetic as well II..oral medication.  I Feel DRUNK!!! In hopes this is strictly a diabetic thing, and NOT a brain tumor on the brain stem.  Curious to know what can be done.

[first_step]

A related discussion, sore bumps on head was started.