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A pineal gland cyst is a benign, non-cancerous lesion that develops in the pineal gland. Usually, the symptoms associated with the developing pineal gland cyst are not noticed by the patient and also in routine medical examinations. What are the causes of pineal gland cysts? How to detect it? How is the treatment going?
The pineal cystis usually asymptomatic, the patient himself usually does not feel any discomfort, nor even a routine visit to the family doctor who will order us a series of blood tests will not make a diagnosis.Pineal cystis usually detected accidentally during MRI or computed tomography in patients complaining of headaches, more often in women (3: 1) and around 30-40 years of age.
The pineal cystis a benign, non-cancerous lesion and, as the name suggests, is located in the pineal gland. The pineal gland is a single secretory structure within the endocrine system located between the upper mounds of the lamina of the lamina on the sublingual triangle.
Its length is 12mm, width is 8mm, and thickness is 4mm. Histologically, it is made of pineal cells, the so-called pinocytes, glial cells, and two types of nerve fibers, the first from the heal nucleus, and the second are sympathetic fibers from the upper sympathetic jugular ganglion. The microscopic image shows the sand of the pineal gland, which is yellow bodies up to 1 mm in cross-section, containing phosphates and calcium carbonates.
The main role of the pineal gland is the secretion of melatonin which regulates the circadian rhythm (sleep and wakefulness), and in childhood its hormones inhibit the secretion of gonadotropins and thus delay sexual maturation.
Pineal gland cyst - causes
The causes of cyst development are usually complex and, in most cases, unexplained. Most often, these are changes caused by birth or hormonal defects.
Pineal gland cyst - symptoms
The clinical picture of the patient withpineal cystwill correlate with the size of the lesion. Small cysts usually have no symptoms, while larger cysts can have a variety of symptoms. It is related to the mass effect and the fact that this change puts pressure on adjacent structures. Intracranial hypertension syndrome, whichis associated with hydrocephalus caused by blockage of the brain's water supply.
Often there are neuroophthalmological symptoms, such as reduced gaze upwards in damage to the dorsal part of the midbrain (Parinaud's symptom), diplopia, impaired eye accommodation, visual field defects (bipolar circumcenter scotoma), difficulty in reading.
There may also be less specific symptoms, such as:
- dizziness,
- sleep disorders,
- memory problems,
- vomiting,
- convulsions.
Pineal gland cyst - treatment
Asymptomatic cysts usually do not require treatment, only periodic inspection. In the case of hydrocephalus, neurosurgical intervention is necessary in the form of ventricular-peritoneal valve implantation or creation of a third ventricular fistula.
Large cysts may close the Monro foramen, in which case bilateral ventricular drainage is necessary. If, on the other hand, the cyst is not accompanied by hydrocephalus, no surgical intervention is needed. In special cases, it may be necessary to remove the cyst, which usually occurs via the subtentorial superebellar or subtentorial transtentorial route.
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