
In other cases, there may be links between a brain cyst and a benign or cancerous tumor. Rarely, an arachnoid cyst might form because of a head injury or other trauma to the brain. Many brain cysts form during the first few weeks when a baby is growing in the womb. If they do grow large, they can sometimes affect vision. This type of cyst usually only shows up during an imaging scans done for another reason.
A pineal cyst happens on the pineal gland in the middle of the brain. These cysts usually first appear when a person is an adult. Epidermoid cysts do not contain sweat glands or hair follicle cells. Like a dermoid cyst, it forms from a bit of tissue that gets trapped when the brain and spinal cord form. An epidermoid cyst is also called an epidermoid tumor. These cysts may even contain sweat gland cells or hair follicle cells. It forms when a few skin cells get trapped when the brain and spinal cord form before birth. A dermoid cyst is a rare type of cyst. These are headaches that happen when a person is in a certain position. The cysts can lead to blockage of CSF flow off and on, and cause positional headaches. Colloid cysts usually happen in the third ventricle. The ventricles are the CSF reservoirs in the brain. It often forms in one of the 4 ventricles of the brain. This type of cyst happens more often among males than females. These appear most often in children, but they may also happen in adults. This membrane is one of the protective coverings around the brain. This is a cyst between the brain and the arachnoid membrane. An arachnoid cyst is also known as a leptomeningeal cyst. There are different types of brain cysts: In some cases, if the cyst is small and not growing and is not likely to cause symptoms, your healthcare provider may advise watching it instead of surgery. If this happens, you may need surgery to remove the cyst. The cyst may press against brain tissue and cause symptoms, such as headache, vision problems, or nausea.
Often, brain cysts begin before birth.Įven if a brain cyst is not cancer, it can still cause problems. CSF normally bathes and cushions the brain and spinal cord. In the brain, cysts sometimes contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A cyst may contain blood, pus, or other material.
Benign also means that the growth does not spread to other parts of the body. A brain cyst is a type of abnormal fluid-filled sac in the brain.