The most common type of brain cyst, arachnoid cysts are usually congenital, or present at birth. These cysts are called primary arachnoid cysts. Arachnoid cysts that develop later in life are called secondary arachnoid cysts. These are not brain tumors, but are rather benign sacs usually filled with clear cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

There are three layers of tissue that surround the brain and spinal cord. The middle layer is called the arachnoid membrane, and this is where arachnoid cysts develop. Arachnoid cysts usually occur in the brain, but arachnoid cysts can appear in the spinal cord as well.

The walls of an arachnoid cyst block CSF from draining naturally into your brain, causing the fluid to remain inside the sac. If they continue to retain this fluid, they have the potential to grow to a large size and put pressure on the brain and lead to several issues.

Why Choose UF Health?

There are many ways to treat arachnoid cysts, from simply watching them over time to placement of a drainage shunt tube, and various types of surgery to eliminate the cyst or prevent its growth. UF’s neurosurgeons have specialized training in these operations and can even offer the latest in minimally invasive arachnoid cyst surgery using tiny cameras and other technical advancements.

Symptoms

Arachnoid cysts are typically asymptomatic, but they do present symptoms in some cases. These signs depend on the location and size of the cyst.

Those located in the brain may produce one or more of the following symptoms:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Seizures
• Problems hearing, seeing or walking
• Balance issues
• Developmental delay
• Dementia

Those located in the spinal column may cause the following symptoms:

• Back pain
• Balance problems
• Scoliosis
• Muscle weakness or spasms
• Lack of feeling or tingling in your arms or legs
• Problems controlling your bladder or bowels

Arachnoid cysts can also bring on other conditions. Hydrocephalus, an accumulation of excessive cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, can produce increased cranial pressure. Macrocephaly, an abnormally enlarged head, can occur in rare cases due to a malformation of certain cranial bones, especially in children.

Neurological symptoms can also appear, such as developmental delays, behavioral changes, inability to control voluntary movements (ataxia), difficulties with balance and walking, cognitive impairment, and weakness or paralysis on one side of the body (hemiparesis).

Causes

The exact cause of a primary, or congenital, arachnoid cyst is unknown. It arises from an abnormal growth of the arachnoid membrane in a fetus during pregnancy. There’s a possibility they may be genetic, although they rarely run in families.

Secondary arachnoid cysts, also known as noncongenital arachnoid cysts, can be caused by a few things:

• Injury to the head or spinal cord
• Complications from brain or spinal surgery
• Meningitis
• Tumors

Exams and Tests

Diagnosis of an arachnoid cyst can come from imaging tests such as a CT or MRI scan, which help doctors pinpoint the location and traits of the cyst. Since most arachnoid cysts do not cause symptoms, they are also frequently discovered by accident when a person undergoes a brain scan for an unrelated reason (i.e., after a car crash or a stroke).

Treatment

Some arachnoid cysts, even large ones, may not cause symptoms or put pressure on the brain or spinal cord. In those cases, your doctor may advise you to leave it untreated. Instead, the cyst will likely be monitored over time to watch for any growth or other changes. If problems develop, treatment options will be explored.

Treating an arachnoid cyst mainly revolves around draining fluid from the cyst and relieving pressure, and this can be achieved through a number of treatment options. If the cyst resides in the brain, your doctor will likely drain it. In this case, one of two procedures can be performed:

• Fenestration – A procedure in which a small incision near the cyst is made where the doctor can insert an endoscope with a small camera on the end. The endoscope will be used to carefully open the cyst and allow the fluid inside the sac to drain into the CSF system, and consequently throughout the body. This procedure can also be done without a camera by making a small “window” in the skull and operating with a traditional surgical microscope.
• Shunt – A procedure in which a shunt, or hollow tube, is inserted into the cyst and then placed under the skin. This technique allows the fluid to drain to another part of the body, usually the space around the intestines in the belly.

Symptomatic cysts in the spinal column may be removed entirely with surgery. If not, one of the two aforementioned procedures can be applied to drain it.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Those with an asymptomatic cyst will likely enjoy a normal life, and may not even require treatment. Your doctor may only require regular check-ups to observe the cyst for changes.

Those with a symptomatic cyst can be treated by draining or removing it completely, which should address any symptoms. There are rare cases in which untreated, expanding arachnoid cysts can lead to permanent neurological damage as it puts pressure on surrounding brain tissue.