Re: Brain-Cyst

Posted By CCF Neurology MD - AY on October 24, 1998 at 13:59:00:

In Reply to: Brain-Cyst posted by Leonard Brunner on October 24, 1998 at 01:01:06:






  I'm wanting to find out what a cyst can do to the brain. I have epilepsy
and been taking med. for it for 35 year's. I've had MRI's before and nothing showed up on them but 2 week's ago I had a mri done and a scare tissue and a cyst beside it showed up on the MRI. My neuro isn't sure what caused it but I figure it's from hitting my head on hard object's when having the sz. I have an avg. of 4-6 sz a month. What all can a cyst do to the brain, can it get worse?? And what all can be done to help it??
               (Thank's)  
                              Leonard




Thanks for your question.  A cyst will usually cause compression and displacement
of the adjacent neuronal tissue, the degree of which is dependent on the
localition and size of the cyst.  The occurrence of clinical symptoms is
also dependent on the location of the cyst - cysts in "eloquent areas", such
as the motor, somatosensory, or visual cortex will be more prone to cause
symptoms when compared to others located, for instance, in the frontal
cortex.  Cysts can also cause early symptoms if they are compressing nerves
or other structures located in the base of the skull.  In your specific case,
cysts can also "irritate" the adjacent tissue, and be an additional focus of
epilepsy.  It is difficult to predict the evolution of a cyst, so periodical
neurological follow-up, and possibly imaging studies are necessary.
I hope this information is helpful.  Best of luck.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your doctor regarding diagnostic and treatment options.