Arachnoid Cyst - Surgery?

[JT_Seven]

I am a 38 y/o male that was diagnosed four weeks ago with a 4.1 cm x 2.6 cm cyst in the posterior fossa of the right cerebellum. I had been feeling nauseaus, had acute vertigo, blurred vision and concentration problems that brought me to the ER.  I thought I was having a stroke.  A CT Scan revealed the arachnoid cyst. The ER doc said the Radiologist felt that the cause of my symptoms was an inner ear infection and not the cyst.   I have had many sinus problems (but never inner ear) in the past but NEVER these acute symptoms like these in all my life.   To date, the vertigo, nausea and blurred vision has persisted (have in fact become milder) but now I seem to have small muscle spasms and tingling in my extremities.  

I have followed up with a Neurosurgeon who said that the cyst (given the MRI) was not life threatening but some of my symptoms (not all) were indicative that the cyst had become symptomatic and most possibly may become a a bigger problem in the long term given its location in the Brain.   He's recommended surgery and said the procedure was relatively simple for Brain surgery (easy for him to say) and produces favorable results in most people. He does fenestration of the cyst in a procedure that lasts about one hour.  

I have followed up with a second Neurosurgeon who reviewed my MRI and told me that the cyst would not grow any further and has not and was unlikely to cause any dangerous pressure to damage the Brain during my lifetime.   He was less inclined to recommend surgery.  However, he did say that he could not explain away my collective symptoms as non-cyst related because they did not indicate inner ear problems as first suspected and I have no other medical problems.  He said that if the symptoms persisted and negatively affected my lifestyle, surgery would be the way to go because the only way to definitively rule out the cause of the symptoms as cyst-related was to in fact have the surgery and see if the symptoms go away.  

I'm trying to do the cost-benefit analysis of getting the surgery.  I don't want to just jump into surgery and am nervous about the prospect of complications of having the procedure (however "simple").   However, I can't just grin and bear the symptoms that I am experiencing and wonder if i will in fact benefit by going under the knife.  

Can anyone tell me - when is it practical to consider surgery?  In most patients is it as simple as having the surgery and seeing how it goes?  How long is the recuperation? What has been the overall prognosis following the procedure? Do the symptoms gone away? Are there any secondary complications (besides the apparent risks of surgery)? Do the cysts generally return?

Any advice would be appreciated.  Thank you.

Jack

[Jeanean419]

Since my last post Tom I had another fenestration in December 2012,  I just had another MRIand my cyst has not shrunk at all from my first surgery. I started getting the headaches again this past July (2013)  my balance is unstable, blurred vision and my short temper has gotten worse, I am still waiting for the Nuerosurgeon (my second one the first left the practice and dropped my file in her lap) said at my last visit that if the cyst doesn't get smaller and the symptoms are still there that the only other option would be a shunt. I am tired all the time, gained way to much weight, the symptoms have not gone away and I can feel the pressure in the back of my head, I am light headed and dizzy when I make sudden moves. Some times I wish I could get back my old life.

[Tomr64]

I hope your fenestration worked and do not need a shunt.  I have since had two more operations (my fourth and fifth) in 14 months (1st surgery 4/1/12, 2nd surgery  surgery 6/1/12, third surgery 7/1/12).  After the third surgery, it took my about 4 months for the symptoms to go away headaches, speech issues, memory issues.  Then in January 2013 I had some stomach issues that took about a month to diagnose as complications from the shunt that was draining in my stomach.  The Dr removed the two shunts and replaced them with new ones in Feb 2013.  Then, in June the shunts were sticking out of the top of my head every time I move my head (really gross for my kids to see).  This last surgery (my fifth) has hopefully solved my symptoms.  The headaches are almost gone.  My speech issues (having difficulties finding the proper words) still linger.  I also have issues writing (which I did not have before).  I think that this is a complication from having 5 brain surgeries in a year.  I am going to a Nuero Phycholigist to help with these issues.  I am a Quality Engineer at a Robotics company and am having some issues with my job due to these communications.  However, I am very hopeful that  I will move through these issues and get better.  It will most likely take about a year for me to move through these issues.  I hope that you all will get into the same position as  am.
Tom            

[ugg_tiredofbeingtired]

I have had dizziness, tingling in my face, hands and feet, headaches and a general feeling of being wiped out for over 2 months now.  I went to the ER after I sort of passed out, but it was more of a seizure/episode of me coming in and out of consciousness, not a typical passing out.  Anyway, they admitted me and ran a bunch of tests. They did discover an arachnoid cyst but said they I have had it for awhile and it is fairly small.  They tested me for MS and was negative on the MRI and although I have Lupus, they said that was not the problem. I have an appointment with a neuro at U of Chicago next week, but I'm just wondering how often do doctors blow off the cyst as nothing? I mean if there is no other logical explanation, doesn't it seem like exploring the cyst further is a good idea? I have little faith in the medical professionals in my area, which is why I am opting to go a little out town. Just curious what others experiences have been.

[Bill54321]

i am 29 year old male. I was just told today I have a 6 cm AC in the back of my head.  My only symptoms are occular migraines (blurry vision).  I average one a month for the past year or so.  Do any of you suffer from migraines as well?  Do symptoms get worse the older you get, and the larger the AC gets?  I don't want to have surgery because of the risks involved with such little symptoms, (which dr. thinks is a coincidence)  but want to know what I have in store for me in the years ahead.  any advice would be great.  thanks

Bill

[jadeleanne]

Hi Jack,

I am very keen in contacting the nuersosurgeon that you dealt with in regards to your cyst.

Could you please take the time to send the name and contact number and location of the nuerosurgeon used. That would be very much appreicated.

Kind Regards

Jade
***@****

[Jeanean419]

Sorry for the delay in a reply, I ended up with a new neurosurgeon and had to have a second surgery because my cyst detached from the ventricles and closed up and started to fill up with protien and was growing again. I too have a short fuse and my short term memory is getting better, the problem since my surgery is the dropped foot that I woke up with after surgery and like the last time I am going through physical therapy again, I am happy that my headaches are gone for the moment. The neurosurgeon is waiting for the three month mark to do another MRI to see if the surgery worked if not a shunt will be placed, I am crossing my fingers that things are better, because I am suffering the effects from injuries from all the falling that went on before the diagnosis of the cyst-neck and lower back herniated disc and partial thickness tear in my shoulder that has become arthritic, I think I rather deal with my brain problems than be in all the pain from injuries, keeping my fingers crossed for a good follow-up