Congenital brain cysts | Brain cysts

Congenital brain cysts

Since congenital cysts in the brain often occur without specific symptoms, they are often diagnosed as a random finding even in adulthood. Many people live with these brain cysts without ever having problems with them. However, if the cyst is known, it should be checked regularly to notice a fast growth in time.

Despite their harmless character, congenital cysts can also lead to problems in the further course of life. This is usually the case when the cyst starts to grow and affects important structures. In this case, symptoms such as headaches, concentration disorders, targeted failures, personality changes, epileptic symptoms or even disorders of the cerebrospinal fluid flow can occur. The symptoms depend on the location of the cyst and need not be permanent. Depending on the localization, these symptoms then represent an indication for surgery.

Parasitic brain cysts

Cysts in the brain, which can be attributed to parasites, are rather rare in Germany. Main distribution areas are the Mediterranean countries. Typical pathogens are worms from the group of tapeworms.

Here above all the dog tapeworm. This can be transmitted especially in close contact with animals, especially dogs. The infection occurs through smear infection, through the dog excrement, which first reaches the hands and then the food, drinking water or mouth.

The cysts are then formed by the fins of the tapeworm. These form a fluid-filled bladder, which is then separated from the body by connective tissue, thus forming a cyst. As with all cysts, the diagnosis is made by imaging techniques.

The infection with the dog tapeworm, the so-called echinococcosis, usually affects not only the brain. Cysts can also form in the liver or lungs, which then cause symptoms. The infection itself is usually not noticed.

The symptoms then depend on which cysts are predominant. Brain cysts can lead to various neurological failures.During the therapy it is especially important to remove the cysts as a whole surgically, otherwise the fins can spread further. The whole procedure is then supplemented by drug therapy or radiation.