4 October 2023
Arachnoid cysts are congenital benign formations filled with cerebrospinal fluid, localized in the brain and arising in the fetal period as a result of splitting of the arachnoid membrane. In a small percentage of cases of arachnoid cysts, their cause can be head injuries and infectious diseases of the meninges.
Clinical manifestations of an arachnoid cyst are symptoms associated with increased intracranial pressure: headache, nausea, vomiting; convulsive attacks (epileptic attacks); sharp deterioration of the general condition (in connection with complications of the arachnoid cyst). Sometimes arachnoid cysts do not have clinical manifestations (under the conditions of small sizes) and are an accidental finding during examination for other reasons.
Retrocerebellar cysts are always congenital, are localized in the posterior cranial fossa, do not have walls, can be combined with other malformations of the brain - absence/underdevelopment of the cerebellum.
Treatment tactics include dynamic observation in the absence of general brain symptoms or focal neurological symptoms, and in their presence - microsurgical intervention (microinvasive techniques, endoscopic interventions, shunting).
The prognosis is favorable with timely application for specialized neurosurgical assistance. The quality of life of a patient with a retrocerebellar cyst after surgical treatment depends on the degree of reduction/loss of functions of neighboring structures (cerebellum, occipital regions of the brain).
