What Are Brain Cysts in Children?
What Are Brain Cysts in Children?A brain cyst is a small, benign collection of fluid that develops when part of the brain’s membrane forms a pouch and fills with fluid. Cysts can occur in various brain locations and range in size and type. Some brain cysts form in a fetus before birth.
Brain cyst vs. tumor
While a brain cyst and brain tumor may appear similar from the outside, they are quite different in actuality.
A brain cyst is a hollow sac filled with fluid or tissue, while a tumor is a solid mass of tissue. A brain cyst does not arise from the brain's tissue itself and is generally noncancerous. Brain tumors can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous).
Types of Brain Cyst in Children
Types of Brain Cyst in ChildrenThere are five main types of brain cysts:
- Arachnoid cysts are the most common form of brain cyst. These can occur in various locations in the brain and seldom cause symptoms. They appear between the brain and the arachnoid membrane, a protective, transparent membrane that surrounds the brain. Arachnoid cysts appear most often in children but can rarely develop in adults.
- Colloid cysts are gel-filled and usually form in one of the ventricles of the brain. Unlike arachnoid cysts, colloid cysts usually present in adulthood. They can cause positional headaches — headaches that occur only when a person is in a certain position.
- Dermoid cysts are rare, and occur when tissue — often skin cells, sometimes even hair follicle cells — becomes trapped when the spine and brain form. These often occur in children.
- Epidermoid cysts, like dermoid cysts, are formed when tissue is trapped. Epidermoid cysts, however, contain only skin cells and the products of skin cells (such as keratin protein). They often form in adults and grow slowly.
- Pineal cysts occur on the pineal gland in the center of the brain. They rarely cause symptoms and are often noticed by doctors during imaging scans done for another reason.
Signs & Symptoms of Brain Cysts in Children
SymptomsSymptoms of a brain cyst depend on the cyst’s size and location. Many cysts are asymptomatic and are discovered only incidentally.
If a cyst does cause symptoms, these may include:
- Headache or increased intracranial pressure (pressure within the skull)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
- Vertigo
- Developmental delay
- Behavioral changes
- Decreased cognitive performance
- Hemiparesis (weakness or paralysis on one side of the body)
- Ataxia (lack of muscle control) or difficulties with balance and walking
- Hearing and vision disturbances
A brain cyst that causes any of these symptoms needs to be evaluated for possible treatment.
Since many of these symptoms can be caused by a range of other neurological disorders or conditions, an accurate diagnosis from a pediatric neurosurgeon or specialist is critical.
What Causes Brain Cysts in Children
CausesBrain cysts can occur both in vitro and later in children and adults. Most commonly, arachnoid cysts form while a fetus is in the womb. In most cases, the exact cause of a brain cyst is unknown.
Occasionally, brain cysts can form for other reasons, including:
- Traumatic injury to the brain
- Brain tumor
- Infection
- Developmental malformation
- Brain surgery complication
Risk Factors
Risk FactorsThere are no known risk factors for most brain cysts. People with some genetic disorders, including Gardner syndrome or Gorlin syndrome, may be at higher risk of developing epidermoid cysts, and some hormonal changes can increase the risk of developing a pineal cyst.
Complications
ComplicationsIf a brain cyst is allowed to grow, it can cause neurological damage as it puts pressure on surrounding brain tissue. Large cysts may cause cranial deformation or macrocephaly due to hydrocephalus, particularly among infants and young children whose skulls still have fontanels (soft spots between the bones of the skull where bone formation isn’t complete).
Some cysts can cause noncommunicating hydrocephalus — blockage of cerebral spinal fluid within ventricles, or large open structures, in the brain — by direct compression on the normal intraventricular circulation (circulation within the ventricles).
Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Brain Cyst Care for Children
Brain cysts in children need specialized care. At NewYork-Presbyterian, expert pediatric neurosurgeons collaborate with other pediatric specialists to determine the root cause of the problem and create a comprehensive cyst treatment plan that gives your child the best chance to live to their fullest potential.
We have the most innovative diagnostic and therapeutic tools available to ensure optimal brain and spinal cord care for all of our pediatric patients.