May 25, 2012
Topics A-Z Brain and Nervous System Brain cysts and Chiari Malformation
Brain cysts and Chiari Malformation |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: I have a cyst in my brain thats aproximately 1.6cm X .5cm in the midline adjacent to the pineal gland ( findings from MRI report) Does a cyst of this size cause headaches or problems with CSF Flow? My symptoms currently and for many years are severe chronic headaches, so much so that i am disabled. The headaches a times feel like a strong pressure, and often feel like sharp pains. A few years ago I was diagnosed w/ a chiari brain malformation. I had decompression surgery in an attempt to relieve my headaches, which unfortunately did not. No doctor has ever given me a straight answer about this cyst. Im not sure if it could be causing my headaches. Any advice is greatly appreciated!! Dear Laura: The adult skull is confined cavity with no room for expansion. Therefore most brain masses tend to cause some pressure resulting in headaches. So it is possible that the cyst is causing your headaches or at the very least making them worse. The cardinal symptom of Chiari Brain Malformations is headache so removal of this cyst is unlikely to completely eliminate your headaches. Since you are in severe distress it may be worth it to have the cyst removed. |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 05 May 2010 ) |
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