An epiphysis or pineal gland is a small gland located in the hemisphere of the brain and related to the system of regulation of endocrine processes in the body. She is responsible for the production of the hormone melatonin, which regulates sleep. Cyst of the pineal gland of the brain is a hollow formation filled with fluid that forms in one of the lobes of the gland. The pineal gland cyst is a benign neoplasm that does not grow into a malignant tumor.
Causes of the Pineal Gland Cyst
This disease is quite rare and is observed in about 1.5% of the total number of patients with brain disease. The causes of pineal gland cysts are not exactly established. The most probable causes include congestion of the outflow channel, in which the outflow of the produced fluid from the gland is blocked, and it begins to accumulate. Another cause can be the defeat of the gland by echinococcus, which provokes the emergence of parasitic cysts in various organs.
Symptoms of the Pineal Gland Cyst
As a rule, especially if the pineal gland cyst is small, it does not manifest itself at all, and no specific symptoms are observed. Most often, the cyst is detected accidentally, when performing an MRI or CT scan of the brain for other reasons. However, in some cases, the cyst can be taken for a heavier brain tumor, which entails its incorrect treatment.
If the pineal gland cyst is large enough, then a number of common symptoms can be observed:
- sudden headaches ;
- nausea and vomiting ;
- impaired visual perception (double vision);
- lack of coordination;
- hydrocephalus due to compression of the duct cyst and disturbance of circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid.
The severity of symptoms depends solely on the size of the cyst and on what pressure it exerts on the adjacent areas of the brain.
Treatment of thyroid cyst
If the cyst is small and does not grow in size, then, as a rule, it does not require specific and any drug treatment. The exception is the parasitic cyst, which in the early stages is well influenced by special drugs. With a large cyst size and severe symptomatic treatment is assumed to be exclusively surgical.
The parasitic cyst is always treated. For other reasons for its occurrence and absence of indications for surgery, a survey is performed once a year to make sure that the cyst does not grow.