A brain cyst is a noncancerous growth that contains tissue, blood, cerebrospinal fluid or minerals. The American Brain Tumor Association points out that brain cysts can cause problems if they are located in regions responsible for essential functions. For example, a brain cyst located on the cerebellum, a region of the brain towards the back of the head, may cause problems with balance. The treatments for brain cysts depend on the type of cyst that the patient has.
Watchful Waiting
Not all brain cysts get treated as soon as the doctor finds them. The American Brain Tumor Association explains that the doctor will watch for changes in size using imaging scans, like a CT scan or an MRI scan. The doctor will compare the most recent scan to previous ones and look for changes in size. If the brain cyst does grow, then the doctor will recommend the appropriate treatment option. Examples of brain cysts in which a doctor will watch before treating include an arachnoid cyst, a cyst found in the subarachnoid space of the brain, and a pineal cyst, which is found in the pineal gland.
Draining of Excess Fluid
If the brain cyst causes a build up of cerebrospinal fluid, the doctor will drain the excess fluid. When too much cerebrospinal fluid accumulates, it results in a condition called hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus can lead to increased intracranial pressure, which can damage the brain. Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure include headaches, vomiting, seizures and behavioral changes. The Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch notes that the doctor will use a shunt to remove the build up of the cerebrospinal fluid. To install the shunt, the surgeon drills a hole in the skull and passes a catheter into a ventricle in the brain. The surgeon also puts another catheter elsewhere in the body, such as the peritoneal cavity, for the fluid to drain to. A valve connects the two catheters and when it opens, the excess fluid in the brain drains out. A doctor may recommend a shunt for treating an arachnoid cyst or a colloid cyst, a cyst found in the third ventricle of the brain.
Surgery
The doctor may need to perform surgery to treat the brain cyst. If the walls of the brain cyst partially remain, regrowth may occur. The Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch explains that less invasive surgical options are available for colloid cysts, called stereotactic aspiration and endoscopic aspiration. These techniques remove the tissue with a needle, using either a stereotactic frame or endoscope, two types of medical devices. Other cases may require a more invasive surgical procedure that involves a craniotomy. With a craniotomy, the surgeon pulls up the scalp and removes a part of the skull, allowing him access to the cyst. Brain cysts that may need surgical removal include arachnoid cysts; Rathke's cleft cysts, which are on a region of the pituitary gland; colloid cysts; dermoid cysts and epidermoid cysts, which originate from cells meant to develop into skin. Dermoid cysts are more common in the spine, while epidermoid cysts are more common in the brain.
Other Options
Some brain cysts may need radiation or chemotherapy if they are associated with a tumor. The American Brain Tumor Association notes that while rare, epidermoid cysts may become squamous cell cancer. In those cases, the patient may need radiation with surgery.
