Arachnoid cyst

[Sue Sue]

Ok, I can deal with that....:jump3: Arachnoid cysts...well, that's another thing. Thanks, SS

 

[Sue Sue]

Well, step two is completed with my Arachnoid saga. The MRI confirmed a benign Arachnoid cyst. My next step is a neurosurgeon consult to check out options. Monitor- leave it alone or address it and go ahead with a procedure, I just don't know yet. Again, my concern is the size of this thing and the symptoms I am possibly experiencng from it. Most importantly vertigo. However, the vertigo could be a hormone thing as I am at "that age" and these things do happen.......I'll say no more in that department..... Anyway, Regardless, I hopefully have some time to decide as my eldest son is gettng married June 1 and, well, enough is enough right now. Then after June 1, I can get myself fixed up and get ready for son #2's wedding next April. Hey, maybe while they are prodding around my brain, I could have that chin liposuction and face lift I have been wanting?????? This warped thought for some folks is not funny I'm sure, but it is to me, and if I don't laugh right now all I do is cry...so, there is the update.

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

Well, step two is completed with my Arachnoid saga. The MRI confirmed a benign Arachnoid cyst. My next step is a neurosurgeon consult to check out options. Monitor- leave it alone or address it and go ahead with a procedure, I just don't know yet. Again, my concern is the size of this thing and the symptoms I am possibly experiencng from it. Most importantly vertigo. However, the vertigo could be a hormone thing as I am at "that age" and these things do happen.......I'll say no more in that department..... Anyway, Regardless, I hopefully have some time to decide as my eldest son is gettng married June 1 and, well, enough is enough right now. Then after June 1, I can get myself fixed up and get ready for son #2's wedding next April. Hey, maybe while they are prodding around my brain, I could have that chin liposuction and face lift I have been wanting?????? This warped thought for some folks is not funny I'm sure, but it is to me, and if I don't laugh right now all I do is cry...so, there is the update.

Good news. From an armchair perspective, I would do a vertigo workup and be sure there was no other source, such as primary ear patholgy (so called peripheral vertigo). Also, if vertigo is the only symptom and there is no tumor, no hydrocephalus, no papilledema (swelling of the optic disc visible through an opthalmoscope) and no other brainstem findings, then surgery (shunting) is palliative only. In other words, if vertigo is not bothersome or responds to meds, then there is no point to it. The liposuction might help your quality of life more. Personally, I never shunted people or messed with arachnoid cysts unless there was a darn good reason to do so. The first rule of surgery: no matter how symptomatic someone is, we can always make them worse.

Incidentally, when I was operating, I never "piggy backed" two surgeries together. Certainly if a shunt is involved, you never want to do anything else for fear of contaminating a permanently implanted device.

I predict that they will just want to follow this with scans every 3 to 6 months (CTs are easier, quicker, cheaper and will yield the same info). Perhaps some brain stem evoked potentials might yield some information (an easy test from your perspective, like an EEG with earphones).

 

[Sue Sue]

Thanks SBS, all information that I will keep for future use. For now, I will just have to see what will come of this if anything at this time. At least the MRI is over with and I at least know more of what's up. It's not been a stressful week waiting for the confirmation. Again, thanks for your advice. SS

I am not serious about other piggyback surgery. If I would need any type of procedure I would want all focus on one thing, as I'm sure my surgeon would, plus, as a nurse, I do understand the potential for contamination especially with a shunt. BTW, What are your thoughts about the Endoscopic Fenestration procedure?

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

In this case, fenestrate to where? In my experience, endoscopic fenestration is used to open the third ventricle to the basal cisterns for hydrocephalus. In the posterior fossa, to open this cyst would simply require a bur hole in the occipital area, the same magnitude of surgery as an endscopic approach. In other words, given the superficial nature of cerebellar cysts, endoscopic technology would not add much.

 

[Sue Sue]

Well, the final report is in. A confirmed Arachnoid cyst, 19 mm X 22 mm. Small in the Arachnoid world. However, it is pressingo n the facial nerves and this explains why I get occasional right sided facial numbness and vertigo. However, at this point in time, the plan is to monitor it with CT and/or MRI in 6 months, then, if no changes occur, monitor this annually. So, for now, I will table this problem, monitor symptoms and go on with whatever I need to go on with. Therefore, it's back to wedding preparations for my son's and planning the next dive trip. I did get a diving release from my neurosurgeon so I am all set to go. Thanks to all for your thoughts and advice. SS

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

Excellent...that is indeed a small cyst as cysts go.