brain cyst

[feramea]

I recently had a brain MRI looking for MS.  They did not find any evidence of MS but they did find a 1-2mm cyst on the left ventricle.  They doctor said this was normal variation but I am still worried about it.  How common are these cysts and will it get bigger?  Because it is so small so I not worry about it?   Once in a while I do get dizzy and I wonder if it could be caused by this since the doctors could find no other cause of my dizzyness.  

[[e-mail]]

they found white matters in my brain, lessions I heard. now they are gone but white matters are still there. I was diagnosed with MS and now lyme disease
my brain is better though forgetfull.

my friend had dizzy headaches  was forgetfull
sesizers
all gone now with 2 years of antibiotics
now back to work
but still tired
it was lyme disease...hm what's up with this m,sdiagnoses
of other disease when Ticks are growing wide out here.

[huggie bear]

My young son was born with congenital hypothyroidism, which has affected his eyesight hearing speech and co-ordination, just over a year ago he had an MRI scan on his brain , of which has shown a cyst of 6cm on his left temporal lobe,  i have been trying to do some research to see if there are any possible links between the two conditions !!!


I have found some information on temporal lobe cyst on web sites of which has been helpful , my only hope now  is that my sons neurology consultant will listen ,  as my son also has developemental delay and behavioural problems, of which I have found through research that temporal lobe cyst can cause these symptons!!!

I am new here, hello to all bewildered parents like myself , who don't know which way to turn !!!!

[Joanna Fong, MD]

I am happy to answer your questions.  However, my impression is based entirely on the information you have provided in your posting and is by no means a replacement for an office visit with a neurologist.  Diagnosis is contingent on detailed history and physical exam and as such, the following information should be considered solely for educational purposes.

The cyst found on MRI is likely an incidental finding.  They're mostly benign.  There are several types of cysts found in the ventricular system, e.g. colloid, arachnoid, and ependymal cyst.  Your cyst is very small (1-2mm).  However, it can sometimes cause hydrocephalus (enlargement of the ventricle) when the cyst obstructs the flow of the cerebral spinal fluid.  Your MRI should be able to pick up hydrocephalus.  Therefore, it's reassuring that your MRI didn't show hydrocephalus.

Several signs/symptoms that are suggestive of hydrocephalus:
1)  Headache
2)  Nausea, vomiting
3)  Decrease level of consciousness
4)  Visual changes (double vision, blurry vision)

You mentioned about dizziness.  Dizziness can be due to many things:

The cause of dizziness - vertigo, presyncope, disequilibrium, or nonspecific dizziness.
Most patients with dizziness have vertigo. Most patients experience vertigo as an illusion of movement, not necessarily spinning, of themselves or the environment. Presyncope is usually experienced as a sensation of impending faint. This diagnosis is suggested by the occurrence of dizziness only in the upright posture, in patients with cardiac disease, and when associated pallor is described by onlookers.  Dizziness that represents disequilibrium or a sense of imbalance may be the presenting symptom of a peripheral neuropathy, parkinsonism, and cervical myelopathy.
Nonspecific dizziness is ill described and has a wide differential diagnosis that may include milder forms of vertigo, presyncope, and disequilibrium, as well as medication side effects, psychiatric disease, and metabolic derangements.  Elderly patients often have multiple etiologic contributors to their dizziness.

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Good luck.