desperate for answers about arachnoid cyst in left posterior fossa

hi i am new here and have had this posted on the wrong forum. can someone please help me. I have severe pain in my neck and back, as well as my left leg, which I have had 3 surgery's on. My MRI is below but it seems that they found a small arachnoid cyst. what are the treatments for arachnoid cysts? I am going to neurologist soon. But I am terrified that this is serious. Here is what the MRI results says;

There is a a very mild kypothic curvature at c5 through c7 levels which is probably
positional during the exam. The
alignment of the verebral body and disc space heights and signal form the osseous
marrow elements are normal.There is
very minimal subligamentous protrusion atc5-6 perhaps borderline, very mild left
ventrul cord deformity. The spinal cord
is of normal signal. The remainder of the disc levels are normal in the foraminal
areas and forsmen magnum is normal.

At the left side of the posterior fossa, there is prominence of the subarachonoid
space and its measures 1.9 cm
in AP diameter. This is asymmetric compared to the right side and could
be related to a left sided posterior fossa arachnoid cyst.
There may be very mild mass-effect upon the anterior lateral margin of the left
cerebellar hemisphere.

I appreciate any feedback.
Thanks so much,


LeeLee

[Dr_Smita_S]

Hi.
Arachnoid cysts are developmental malformations in the brain, which usually remain asymptomatic even if the cyst is quite large. However, minor head trauma can damage the existing cyst, leading to some complications. This gives rise to symptoms of raised intracranial pressure and nerve compression such a headache, visual disturbances, seizures, weakness or paralysis (on one half of the body) and loss of muscle control. Frontal arachnoid cysts have been associated with depression.
They are generally incidental findings on MRI scans. Some other tests could be mini mental state examination (MMSE) and cognitive questionnaires. Treatment is however controversial. There is difference of opinion among clinicians whether to treat only patients with symptomatic cysts or even asymptomatic patients also require treatment.
You should discuss treatment options with your neurosurgeon, which may include anything from no intervention to surgical decompression to excision of the cyst to provide relief from symptoms.
Hope this gives you some insight.
Regards

[leelee529]

Thanks for answering my post. I really appreciate it.  

I do have double vision and sometimes my eyes hurt. They are constantly watery to the point it just drives me crazy, it looks like I'm sobbing!!! I have many more problems as well.

Would my type be considered frontal, I assumed it was the posterior fossa type just what the MRI says.

Thanks for your time,
Leigh Ann