Arachnoid Cysts

Introduction: Arachnoid Cysts

Arachnoid Cysts: Arachnoid cysts are cerebrospinal fluid-filled sacs that may develop between the surface of the brain and the cranial base or on the arachnoid ... more about Arachnoid Cysts.

Arachnoid Cysts: A rare disorder involving a fluid-filled cysts on the arachnoid membrane which is one of the thin layers of tissue that form a membrane which covers the spinal cord and brain. The type and severity of symptoms is determined by the size and location of the cyst. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Arachnoid Cysts is available below.

Symptoms of Arachnoid Cysts

• No symptoms - small cysts have no symptoms
• Cranial deformation
• Macrocephaly (head enlargement)
• Headaches
• Seizures

See full list of 27 symptoms of Arachnoid Cysts

Wrongly Diagnosed with Arachnoid Cysts?

• Misdiagnosis of Arachnoid Cysts
• Underlying causes of Arachnoid Cysts (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Misdiagnosis and Arachnoid Cysts

Undiagnosed stroke leads to misdiagnosed aphasia: BBC News UK reported on a man who had been institutionalized and treated for mental illness because he...read more »

Dementia may be a drug interaction: A common scenario in aged care is for a patient to show mental decline to dementia. Whereas this can, of course, occur due to various medical conditions, such as a stroke or...read more »

Mild traumatic brain injury often remains undiagnosed: Although the symptoms of severe brain injury are hard to miss, it is less clear for milder...read more »

MTBI misdiagnosed as balance problem: When a person has symptoms such as vertigo or dizziness, a diagnosis of brain injury may go overlooked. This is particularly true of mild traumatic brain...read more »

Brain pressure condition often misdiagnosed as dementia: A condition that results from an excessive pressure of CSF within the brain is often...read more »

Post-concussive brain injury often misdiagnosed: A study found that soldiers who had suffered a concussive injury in battle often were misdiagnosed on their return. A variety of symptoms can occur in post...read more »

Children with migraine often misdiagnosed: A migraine often fails to be correctly diagnosed in pediatric patients. These patients are not the typical migraine...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Arachnoid Cysts

Causes of Arachnoid Cysts

Read more about causes of Arachnoid Cysts.

More information about causes of Arachnoid Cysts:

• Arachnoid Cysts as a symptom

Treatments for Arachnoid Cysts

• Symptomatic treatments
• Surgical shunt

Read more about treatments for Arachnoid Cysts

Videos for Arachnoid Cysts

Patient Surveys for Arachnoid Cysts

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• Survey about the symptoms of your Arachnoid Cysts
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Prognosis for Arachnoid Cysts

Prognosis for Arachnoid Cysts: Untreated, arachnoid cysts may cause permanent severe neurological damage due to the progressive expansion of the cyst(s)or hemorrhage (bleeding). With treatment most individuals with arachnoid cysts do well. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Arachnoid Cysts Information Page: NINDS)

More about prognosis of Arachnoid Cysts

Medical Guidebooks and Ebooks for Arachnoid Cysts

• Icon Health Sourcebook for Arachnoid Cysts

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Arachnoid Cysts, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

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• Tell us your medical story.
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• What is the best treatment for this?
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Article Excerpts about Arachnoid Cysts

Arachnoid cysts are cerebrospinal fluid-filled sacs that may develop between the surface of the brain and the cranial base or on the arachnoid membrane — one of the 3 membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Arachnoid Cysts Information Page: NINDS)

Definitions of Arachnoid Cysts:

Intracranial or spinal cavities containing a cerebrospinal-like fluid, the wall of which is composed of arachnoidal cells. They are most often developmental or related to trauma. Intracranial arachnoid cysts usually occur adjacent to arachnoidal cistern and may present with HYDROCEPHALUS; HEADACHE; SEIZURES; and focal neurologic signs. Spinal arachnoid cysts may be extradural, intradural, or perineural and tend to present with signs and symptoms indicative of a RADICULOPATHY. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1994, Ch44, pp105-115) - (Source - Diseases Database)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Arachnoid Cysts as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet