arachnoid cyst with mass effect

[mamito4]

Hi I'm new to this site I just had a question. I was diagnosed with an arachnoid cyst back in 2011 I had a recent Mri in March wich showed the cyst was stable but it was causing mild mass effect on the cerebellum. My doctor referred me to a neurosurgeon I just wanted to know what to expect.                                                                          I would really appreciate it thank you

[mamito4]

Thank you so Much!! I feel a bit more at ease and thank you for such a fast response.

[Amiesue1]

Well what happened? I have the same thing?

[skydnsr]

It's a benign cyst; in other words, it's not cancer, and it won't spread to distant parts of your body.  But the term "mass effect" means that the very mass of it is pressing on surrounding tissues.  Sometimes people have symptoms as a result of the pressure.  Symptoms, when present, arise from the fact that the interior of the skull is a very limited space, and there is no room for anything "extra" inside it.  When a cyst develops, and especially when the cyst is growing, something has to give.  The neurosurgeon will give you an opinion as to whether it is time for a surgical intervention, such as draining the cyst or cutting it out entirely.  Either one of those options would reduce the pressure on the rest of your brain.  A decision about surgery might depend, in part, on whether you can continue to tolerate any symptoms that you may have.  If so, then you might be able to just monitor the cyst for a while longer.  You're smart to think in advance about your consultation with the surgeon.  Good luck.