Husband's Aarachnoid cyst is 6.8 x 9.3 x 10.5 cm Frontal Region

[Jacia]

My husband has a huge arachnoid cyst:

His cyst is 6.8 x 9.3 x 10.5 cm
Frontal Region


Diffusion weighted images reveal no areas of diffusion restriction to suggest acute or subacute stroke. There is a large extra-axial CSF signal collection which fills and expands the right middle cranial fossa and then extends superiorly into the right sylvian fissure and right posterior frontal region, consistent with a large arachnoid cyst.

A drain or catheter enters the cyst from a lateral approach, an Ommaya reservoir by history. The cyst remodels and deforms the overlying right temporal and frontoparietal bones. It also produces remodeling of the lateral wall of the right orbit with creation of mildright proptosis.

The third and right lateral ventricle are compressed by the arachnoid cyst and there is about 4 mm of leftward midline shift at the level of the third ventricle and 5 mm leftward midline shift at the level of the septum pellucidum.

There is no abnormal signal intensity identified in the brain parenchyma. Post contrase sequences reveal normal meningeal and vascular enhancement. There are no enchancing parenchymal lesions. Gradient echo images show no areas of blooming to suggest hemorrhage.

Multiplanar MR imaging of the brain was performed with a 1.5 T system. Sagittal, axial and coronal sequences were performed through the brain, including diffusion and gradient sequences.

Post contrast imaging was performed following the administration of 20 cc of intravenous gadolinium. There were no immediate complications.

Surgery made him much worse. Any advice or support you could give me I would appreciate. Thanks so much!  I have heard about doctors putting people on Dialox for draining the fluid but I can't find much information about that.  Is it dangerous?  

[Jacia]

Thank you Dr. for responding!  Is surgery the only answer?  His surgeon is afraid it would kill him.  Anything else we can do?  Thanks!  We are seeing a neurologist next Tuesday.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi, Thank you for your question. Arachnoid cyst is a brain cyst that may remain asymptomatic for long years. But if it is large it can cause headache, paralysis, seizures and gait disorders. Therefore, surgical intervention is essential to remove the large cyst and if permanent damage needs to be avoided.  Craniotomy, needle aspiration and cerebral shunts are common surgical treatment that may help.  Please consult a neurologist right away in this regard. Hope this helps.