migraine

My 15 year old son had an MRI for Migraines. They found a small polyp on the base of his brain. Can this be causing his migraines? What exactly is a polyp and should I bring him to a neurologist?

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine your son and obtain a history, and review his MRI, I can not tell you what the findings of his MRI are or what they mean. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

I am not sure what exactly is meant by the term polyp; usually the term polyp i used to describe an outpouching that occurs into a body cavity, such as in the sinuses or in the colon. The term polyp is not usually used to describe brain lesions. I can guess that it is possible by polyp your doctor meant an arachnoid cysts. These are benign cysts filled with cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. Most are developmental: present since the development of the nervous system in utero. They can occur anywhere in the brain or spine. The vast majority do not cause symptoms. Arachnoid cysts are of little to no consequence in the vast majority of cases, and rarely require treatment. Should they in rare cases be the cause of pressure on surrounding brain structures, or otherwise be causing symptoms or complications, treatment includes fenestration (drainage). However, again, in the vast majority, they are best left alone as they are of no consequence.

Arachnoid cysts do not in the majority of cases cause headache; arachnoid cysts are common, so they are often found on MRI of the brain done to search for some other cause for a headache. If your son's migraine symptoms are typical of a migraine based on his doctor's opinion, then the arachnoid cyst is likely entirely unrelated. Again I can not comment on exactly what is meant by polyp, and without knowing its size or exact location, I can not be sure it is not causing his symptoms. I recommend you discuss further with the doctor who ordered his MRI what the findings exactly mean and whether or not he would benefit from referral to a neurologist.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.