brain cyst

Hi. My 5 year old daughter had an MRI done and they found that she had 2 brain cysts. Her doctor sent her to a neurosurgeon who we saw today. He said that we should just watch and wait. I've done a lot of reaseaching on cysts and I asked him what type of cysts she had. He told me that you can not determine the type of cyst unless it is taken out. I've heard of a lot of people who know what type of cyst they have. So my question is, can you determine what type of cyst it is by reading the MRI? And also, how likely is it that a cyst will pop? Are there precautions that need to be taken so they don't pop; should she not particpate in sports, or spin around or go on rollar coasters, etc? Thanks for the help.

[dcalisin]

If it makes you feel any better I to have a cyst on my spine at the base of my skull. It actually warps my brain a little to make room for it. I am 40 years old and was a gifted student in school, practically ever sport possible and have suffered several huge impacts to my head. I'm just letting you know that I hope it can relieve a small amount of your worry and I have it monitored every 6 months and it is still the same as it always has been. Come to find out it is more common than you probably  think for a baby to be born with them and they are just there for life, causing no ill effects, as if they don't even exist. Every case is different and initially it scared the hell out me when they found it, but now it's just there and I go about my life without any effects or problems. I wish you and your daughter well and keep the faith. dcalisin;~)

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. Brain cysts are small sacs filled with air, liquid or other material. it causes symptoms or doesn’t depending on the location in the brain. Some brain cysts arise in uterus like arachnoids cyst, dermoid, epidermoid cyst also due to abnormality in brain development, pineal cysts grow on pineal gland in fetal stage or puberty, cysts caused due to tumors, secondary arachnoid cysts etc. It is difficult to comment on the type of a cyst on an MRI though the location can provide some idea. This would be diagnosed only on excision and pathological evaluation. Brain cysts can be left untouched if they are not causing any pressure symptoms, not increasing in size as depicted on timely serial MRIs.Your child must avoid brain trauma or injury and sudden head jolting of any kind to prevent the cysts from rupture. Hope this helps. Take care.