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Suggest Remedy For Pain And Vomiting When Suffering From Arachnoid Cyst
Question: My son has a 3cm arachnoid cyst. He has sever pain right over the location of the cyst. He vomits, gets dizzy, has constant pain, has memory loss and losses the ability to walk and hold his head up. The neurologist said all of these symptoms are caused by a migraine not the cyst. We have been told that he is fine and even though the cyst is putting pressure on part of the brain he doesn't need it removed. All the research I have done says differently. How do we get someone to look past the "headache" and talk to us about the cyst.
Brief Answer:
Please find observations below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail and understand your concern.
In the last few years I have dealt with about 138 patients having arachnoid cysts in their head and none of them had a serious concern. Some of the patient did have occasional headaches and discomfort but all of them were managed by medications. Rarely symptoms are directly linked to the presence of arachnoid cyst.
Since your son has got an arachnoid cyst, it will help to know the exact location and any recent growth in the appearance of the cyst. All arachnoid cysts are benign but should a cyst grow in a strategic location then only it can be held responsible for the symptoms that your son is having.
It does make me think about his recent increase in symptoms in the last 6 months. To have a more clear understanding I would call for a repeat MRI scan brain if it has been more than 6 months since the last one. I also am keeping in mind that the doctors had earlier mentioned that there was pressure on the brain due to the cyst.
Doing a non invasive investgation like an electroencephalography might also throw some light on the migraine headaches and memory problems. This will map the electrical activity in the brain and tell us if it has anything to do with increased activity at or near to the arachnoid cyst.
May I suggest a detailed review of your son with the available brain scan image reports and doing a new scan if required.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please find observations below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail and understand your concern.
In the last few years I have dealt with about 138 patients having arachnoid cysts in their head and none of them had a serious concern. Some of the patient did have occasional headaches and discomfort but all of them were managed by medications. Rarely symptoms are directly linked to the presence of arachnoid cyst.
Since your son has got an arachnoid cyst, it will help to know the exact location and any recent growth in the appearance of the cyst. All arachnoid cysts are benign but should a cyst grow in a strategic location then only it can be held responsible for the symptoms that your son is having.
It does make me think about his recent increase in symptoms in the last 6 months. To have a more clear understanding I would call for a repeat MRI scan brain if it has been more than 6 months since the last one. I also am keeping in mind that the doctors had earlier mentioned that there was pressure on the brain due to the cyst.
Doing a non invasive investgation like an electroencephalography might also throw some light on the migraine headaches and memory problems. This will map the electrical activity in the brain and tell us if it has anything to do with increased activity at or near to the arachnoid cyst.
May I suggest a detailed review of your son with the available brain scan image reports and doing a new scan if required.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have a disk with the MRI. Is there a way to upload it to this site? We had the MRI done about a month ago. Can i ask to have another one done?
The report says: CFS isointense collection consistent with an arachnoid cyst conforming to the medial and anterior aspect left middle crainal fossa measuring 2.9x1.3x2.xcm exerting mild mass effect upon the anterior adjacent left temporal pole.
Small retrocerebellar CFS collection with little to no mass effect upon the adjacent vermis favoring a magna cisterna magna over an arachnoid cyst.
The report says: CFS isointense collection consistent with an arachnoid cyst conforming to the medial and anterior aspect left middle crainal fossa measuring 2.9x1.3x2.xcm exerting mild mass effect upon the anterior adjacent left temporal pole.
Small retrocerebellar CFS collection with little to no mass effect upon the adjacent vermis favoring a magna cisterna magna over an arachnoid cyst.
Brief Answer:
Please upload disc contents to Dropbox and send me the download link
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
You can upload entire disc contents to a file upload service like Dropbox and send me the link in your next query. I will be glad to see the MRI images once uploaded.
If MRI was done a month ago then there is no requirement for another scan. I will view the images and confirm with the report findings above.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please upload disc contents to Dropbox and send me the download link
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
You can upload entire disc contents to a file upload service like Dropbox and send me the link in your next query. I will be glad to see the MRI images once uploaded.
If MRI was done a month ago then there is no requirement for another scan. I will view the images and confirm with the report findings above.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am having trouble getting dropbox to work. I will try again tomorrow. In the meantime, he had a rough weekend. Friday his pain level was an 8 out of 10. The pain just never goes away. Can you tell me if it is possible to have more than one cyst? The pain he feels on the left side, he is now on week 3 of having the same pain in the back on the right side.
Brief Answer:
Unlikely to find two cysts as single given in report finding
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
It is rare to have more than once cyst as the report clearly specifies the finding of a single cyst on the left side temporal lobe.
The pain he is having is understandable. It will help to see which areas in his brain are getting compressed. The change in the pain from the left to right side is not clearly understandable and many times the structures in the brain can cause symptoms irrespective of the side of problem.
I suggest that with pain medication you try and help your son get mentally relaxed and take his mind away from his pain. I know it is difficult but we need to make his pain as less possible in other ways if it is not reducing with medicine. I was wondering if you have ever seen a neurosurgeon for his problem.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Unlikely to find two cysts as single given in report finding
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
It is rare to have more than once cyst as the report clearly specifies the finding of a single cyst on the left side temporal lobe.
The pain he is having is understandable. It will help to see which areas in his brain are getting compressed. The change in the pain from the left to right side is not clearly understandable and many times the structures in the brain can cause symptoms irrespective of the side of problem.
I suggest that with pain medication you try and help your son get mentally relaxed and take his mind away from his pain. I know it is difficult but we need to make his pain as less possible in other ways if it is not reducing with medicine. I was wondering if you have ever seen a neurosurgeon for his problem.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
He is having the pain in both spots at the same time. That is why i was wondering if it was possible to have two of them.
The second Neurologist we saw said a Neurosurgeon was the only one who could determine if it needs to be removed. Unfortunately, we are south of Reno, Nv in a small town. She did say one comes to the area once a month but didn't feel as though we needed to see one.
I am waiting to see if we get into UC XXXXXXX It didn't sound like his case was bad enough though.
Thanks for tip about helping him mentality. I will talk to him about doing some deep breathing when it gets bad.
Thanks for all your help. I have gotten more answers from you than i have from either Neurologist we have seen.
The second Neurologist we saw said a Neurosurgeon was the only one who could determine if it needs to be removed. Unfortunately, we are south of Reno, Nv in a small town. She did say one comes to the area once a month but didn't feel as though we needed to see one.
I am waiting to see if we get into UC XXXXXXX It didn't sound like his case was bad enough though.
Thanks for tip about helping him mentality. I will talk to him about doing some deep breathing when it gets bad.
Thanks for all your help. I have gotten more answers from you than i have from either Neurologist we have seen.
Brief Answer:
I still insist on having a neurosurgery opinion because of his severe pain
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for your appreciation and writing back with an update.
In my opinion, an arachnoid cyst can always grow slowly over time and might rarely cause symptoms in patients who have them. This thought cannot be neglected when your son says that he is having a headache on 8 on 10 recently and which started 6 months back. There can be a rise in the pressure within the cyst recently and that causes the headache.
Consulting a neurosurgeon will help analyze the case in greater detail as they are better in relating symptoms in the head with changes of intracranial pressure that is inside the head. Though my opinion on a neurosurgery reference might be confirmed once I view the images, as your son is having severe headache, you can take a step forward and arrange for a consultation with the neurosurgeon visiting your area in the coming month.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
I still insist on having a neurosurgery opinion because of his severe pain
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for your appreciation and writing back with an update.
In my opinion, an arachnoid cyst can always grow slowly over time and might rarely cause symptoms in patients who have them. This thought cannot be neglected when your son says that he is having a headache on 8 on 10 recently and which started 6 months back. There can be a rise in the pressure within the cyst recently and that causes the headache.
Consulting a neurosurgeon will help analyze the case in greater detail as they are better in relating symptoms in the head with changes of intracranial pressure that is inside the head. Though my opinion on a neurosurgery reference might be confirmed once I view the images, as your son is having severe headache, you can take a step forward and arrange for a consultation with the neurosurgeon visiting your area in the coming month.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you so much for your help! I will work on getting the MRI uploaded today
I haven't used dropbox before. I have the photos on it. Do i send them to you? Or give you my log in?
I haven't used dropbox before. I have the photos on it. Do i send them to you? Or give you my log in?
Brief Answer:
Your son might have symptoms due to the left temporal arachnoid cyst
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
The pictures have been viewed by me.
I confirm the presence of the arachnoid cyst in the left temporal region. It is causing mild pressure on the underlying left temporal lobe. I can relate the symptoms of headaches and up rolling of eyes that XXXXXXX is experiencing at times. It requires an opinion from the neurosurgeon and the symptoms may be logged in a diary so that they can be elaborately discussed when you meet the neurosurgeon. Also if possible please record a video clip of the moments when your son has up rolling of eyes and have it seen by the neurosurgeon.
There is a remote possibility of another fluid area in the back of the head. It is small and just over a centimeter in size. It cannot be said with confirmation at the moment if it is another arachnoid cyst because there are otherwise normal areas in that location which show fluid appearance. However, this area can be looked in to at a later scan for any changes in the appearance of the fluid area at the back of his head.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Your son might have symptoms due to the left temporal arachnoid cyst
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
The pictures have been viewed by me.
I confirm the presence of the arachnoid cyst in the left temporal region. It is causing mild pressure on the underlying left temporal lobe. I can relate the symptoms of headaches and up rolling of eyes that XXXXXXX is experiencing at times. It requires an opinion from the neurosurgeon and the symptoms may be logged in a diary so that they can be elaborately discussed when you meet the neurosurgeon. Also if possible please record a video clip of the moments when your son has up rolling of eyes and have it seen by the neurosurgeon.
There is a remote possibility of another fluid area in the back of the head. It is small and just over a centimeter in size. It cannot be said with confirmation at the moment if it is another arachnoid cyst because there are otherwise normal areas in that location which show fluid appearance. However, this area can be looked in to at a later scan for any changes in the appearance of the fluid area at the back of his head.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Any chance it cld be a tumor? Do you think he shld have another mri done?
Brief Answer:
It cannot be a tumor and is confirmed to be fluid containing cyst
Detailed Answer:
Hi XCXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
There is no tumor and this is confirmed to be arachnoid cyst in the left temporal region. It is fluid filled and the symptom might be due to pressure inside the cyst. It does not carry any risk of tumor or cancer transformation. Please be assured about that.
Another MRI is not required immediately. It might be required after a year or more depending on the progress of symptoms and recommendation of the treating doctor.
The small suspicious cyst like structure in the occipital region (back of the head) is also a fluid area and that can be left alone for now but surely needs to be followed up over years.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
It cannot be a tumor and is confirmed to be fluid containing cyst
Detailed Answer:
Hi XCXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
There is no tumor and this is confirmed to be arachnoid cyst in the left temporal region. It is fluid filled and the symptom might be due to pressure inside the cyst. It does not carry any risk of tumor or cancer transformation. Please be assured about that.
Another MRI is not required immediately. It might be required after a year or more depending on the progress of symptoms and recommendation of the treating doctor.
The small suspicious cyst like structure in the occipital region (back of the head) is also a fluid area and that can be left alone for now but surely needs to be followed up over years.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you for your input! It does make me feel better knowing they are not tumors.
What i have learned so far is, this is a slow process. What should i be looking for in a neurosurgeon? I don't want to just pick anyone.
I can't thank you enough for all your help.
What i have learned so far is, this is a slow process. What should i be looking for in a neurosurgeon? I don't want to just pick anyone.
I can't thank you enough for all your help.
Brief Answer:
Please consult a neurosurgeon at UC XXXXXXX if possible
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for your appreciation and writing back with an update.
Earlier you had mentioned about consulting doctors at UC XXXXXXX Medical Center. I went through the website of UC XXXXXXX Medical Center and found they have a 5 doctor panel and you can choose to consult a neurosurgeon over there.
The website information can be found at the link below
http://physicians.ucdavis.edu/medicalcenter?index=1&specialties=70
A center such as UC XXXXXXX has a team of doctors and it is also an academic research center and they would have seen many similar cases in the past.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please consult a neurosurgeon at UC XXXXXXX if possible
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for your appreciation and writing back with an update.
Earlier you had mentioned about consulting doctors at UC XXXXXXX Medical Center. I went through the website of UC XXXXXXX Medical Center and found they have a 5 doctor panel and you can choose to consult a neurosurgeon over there.
The website information can be found at the link below
http://physicians.ucdavis.edu/medicalcenter?index=1&specialties=70
A center such as UC XXXXXXX has a team of doctors and it is also an academic research center and they would have seen many similar cases in the past.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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