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What Causes Seizures And Arachnoid Cyst On Right Side Of Brain?
Question: Roughly 3 weeks ago I had two seizures within two days of each other. After going to the emergency room they ran a lot of test and found a arachnoid cyst on the right side of my brain. Since the seizures I still seem to get confused at times, really dizzy, headaches and more seizures and my left eye twitches a lot. I have terrible balance problems for example while I'm walking I often fall to the left. The balance problem started roughly 7-9 months before the seizures and the finding of the cyst on my brain. I can't see my neurologist for two months is this something I should be concerned about? How are cyst corrected if they are symptomatic
Brief Answer:
Surgical treatment works best of large and symptomatic cysts
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail and would like to help you out with your health related concern.
Being a radiologist I have diagnosed and come across many patients having problems similar to the one you have. It is important to know the exact size and location of the arachnoid cyst in your brain. It will be nice if you can attach your brain scan report to your query and this will help me to have a detailed discussion.
As arachnoid cyst is a fluid filled sac and not a tumor. It is a benign condition and in most situations is harmless and does not cause any symptoms. In few people the arachnoid cyst might be located in a strategic location and can grow to a large size which causes pressure effects on the surrounding brain structures. This leads to triggering of seizures and balance related problems. The balance mechanism is controlled by the cerebellum and cysts closer to it can cause balance related symptoms.
Small asymptomatic cysts are left alone and watched for increase in size. Larger cysts can be removed through surgery and the neurosurgeon decides the best surgical approach and technique.
To know if there are any other causes for your seizure, your neurologist might request for an electroencphalogram (EEG) to study any abnormal electrical activity in your brain.
Please do not worry and continue taking your seizure medications. Avoid activities requiring a high degree of alertness like swimming or driving unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
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
Surgical treatment works best of large and symptomatic cysts
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail and would like to help you out with your health related concern.
Being a radiologist I have diagnosed and come across many patients having problems similar to the one you have. It is important to know the exact size and location of the arachnoid cyst in your brain. It will be nice if you can attach your brain scan report to your query and this will help me to have a detailed discussion.
As arachnoid cyst is a fluid filled sac and not a tumor. It is a benign condition and in most situations is harmless and does not cause any symptoms. In few people the arachnoid cyst might be located in a strategic location and can grow to a large size which causes pressure effects on the surrounding brain structures. This leads to triggering of seizures and balance related problems. The balance mechanism is controlled by the cerebellum and cysts closer to it can cause balance related symptoms.
Small asymptomatic cysts are left alone and watched for increase in size. Larger cysts can be removed through surgery and the neurosurgeon decides the best surgical approach and technique.
To know if there are any other causes for your seizure, your neurologist might request for an electroencphalogram (EEG) to study any abnormal electrical activity in your brain.
Please do not worry and continue taking your seizure medications. Avoid activities requiring a high degree of alertness like swimming or driving unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
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'm sorry I guess I forgot to mention the location but it's is on the right side of my cerebellum is what they told me and is something like 3x2 if that makes sense
Brief Answer:
The cyst is small and medications can be tried for sometime
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
In the last 3 years I have seen over 37 patients with arachnoid cysts and most of them having seizures or headaches. Few had balance related problems. The size of the arachnoid cyst in you is relatively small but can cause balance related problems due to pressure on the cerebellum.
However an EEG is required to study the pattern of electrical activity in your brain. This will tell if there is any other focus of seizure other than the arachnoid cyst.
A surgery might not be required immediately but complete neurological clinical examination is important. You might continue the medications for seizure and closely watch for any seizure or frequency of falls and discuss that in detail with your neurologist.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
The cyst is small and medications can be tried for sometime
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
In the last 3 years I have seen over 37 patients with arachnoid cysts and most of them having seizures or headaches. Few had balance related problems. The size of the arachnoid cyst in you is relatively small but can cause balance related problems due to pressure on the cerebellum.
However an EEG is required to study the pattern of electrical activity in your brain. This will tell if there is any other focus of seizure other than the arachnoid cyst.
A surgery might not be required immediately but complete neurological clinical examination is important. You might continue the medications for seizure and closely watch for any seizure or frequency of falls and discuss that in detail with your neurologist.
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
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