Colloidal cyst of the III ventricle
Colloidal cyst of the III ventricle is a rounded tumor formation located in the thickness of the III ventricle of the brain. This neoplasm is not malignant, is not capable of spreading metastases, affects only the growth of the tumor itself. The disease is dangerous because it entails the possibility of blocking the path of circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid with the further development of hydrocephalus syndrome. If the cyst is small, then the symptoms, as a rule, do not manifest, which means that it is difficult to identify the neoplasm.
The content of the article:
Causes of colloidal cyst formation of the III ventricle
Pathogenesis of colloidal cyst of the III ventricle
Symptoms of colloidal cyst of the III ventricle
Diagnosis of colloidal cyst of the III ventricle
Treatment of colloidal cyst of the III ventricle
Prognosis and prevention of colloidal cyst of the III ventricle
Colloidal cyst of the III ventricle
If the growth of a colloidal cyst is characterized by its progressive nature, then it is also accompanied by severe headaches, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, lack of sharpness of vision, poor memory. Colloidal cyst can be diagnosed using CT and MRI. Treatment of the disease is most often operative. The doctor usually removes the entire cyst until the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid is restored.
The colloidal cyst of the III ventricle, located in its anterior-upper part, is surrounded most often by a capsule of dense consistency, which is formed by connective tissue. The contents of the cyst usually consist of a jelly mass having a green-gray color. Such a mass is a product of cyst cell secretion. The size of the cyst itself will depend on how long the ongoing pathological process was. It happens that the cyst grows throughout the thickness of the III ventricle of the brain.
This type of non—malignant cyst is observed very rarely among patients – about 1-2% of the total number of tumors. Pathology can be detected in any person, regardless of his age, gender and other signs.
Causes of colloidal cyst formation of the III ventricle
The true causes of the formation of a colloidal cyst of the III ventricle in medicine are still unknown. Some scientists associate education with a violation of the functionality of the nervous system itself during the period of intrauterine development.
As is known, the beginning of the formation of the nervous system in the embryo is preceded by an outgrowth, which is called the rudiment of the nervous system. Such an outgrowth resolves in the future when the development of the future nervous system occurs, and at the time of the birth of the child, it is no longer there at all.
In the future, the normal growth of the brain may be disrupted due to the negative effects of external signs during pregnancy:
bad ecology;
a set of bad habits;
systematic stress;
toxicosis;
the development of an infection of the intrauterine type or as a result of rhesus conflict (this is usually characteristic of the early stages of pregnancy).
Interestingly, the site of the germ tissue itself may be present, while its cells begin to produce a jelly-type liquid with a dense shell of connective tissue, which leads to the formation of a colloidal cyst of the III ventricle.
At the initial stage, the size of the neoplasm is several millimeters. If various provoking factors begin to influence the cyst, it rapidly increases in size. There is no need to talk about the true cause of the growth of such a tumor yet — the reasons have not been clarified.
Some scientists are of the opinion that stress, obesity, alcohol abuse, smoking, lack of sleep and so on have a direct impact on the formation of a cyst.
Pathogenesis of colloidal cyst of the III ventricle
As you know, the brain is not just a collection of nerve cells, but it is also a cavity in which voids are located, called ventricles in medicine. In these ventricles there is a circulation of cerebrospinal fluid – cerebrospinal fluid.
In neurology, there are 4 ventricles: I, II, III IV. These ventricles are mandatory “elements” of the central nervous system, since they are the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid. All the ventricles are connected by holes.
Where does the liquor come from? This type of fluid arises as a product of the activity of accumulated thin blood vessels that are located on the walls of the ventricles of the brain. In a healthy state, the liquor has a consistency that allows it to flow well between the ventricles. If the colloidal cyst increases in size, then the circulation channels overlap, and it is difficult for fluids to get from one ventricle to another. Thus, the fluid begins to accumulate, which leads to an increase in intracranial pressure.
If an increase in the cyst is observed not in the direction of the channels, then intracranial pressure increases gradually, and the symptoms manifest for a long time (over the next 10-12 years). In the case of rapid cyst growth, symptoms of blockage of the cerebrospinal tract begin to appear, which is clearly visible in the area of anatomical circulation openings.
Localization of the colloidal cyst of the III ventricle, which also increases in size over time, entails compression of the brain vault, which leads to cognitive failures, and hence to the ability to remember recently received information. There may be a constant fluctuation of body temperatures, a violation of the sleep regime. It happens that a colloidal cyst leads to a loss of hunger, which subsequently develops anorexia.
Symptoms of colloidal cyst of the III ventricle
This disease usually does not pose a danger to human health. The symptoms of a colloidal cyst of the III ventricle will depend on the size of the cyst itself. Those insignificant “brushes” that a person has even at birth do not have a negative impact on the state of health. They become dangerous as soon as they begin to increase in size.
All the symptoms of this disease are divided into three groups:
Symptoms of acute blockage of cerebrospinal fluid circulation pathways;
Clinic of slow hydrocephalus syndrome (increased intracranial pressure);
Manifestations of malfunctions in the functioning of higher brain functions (for example, deviations in short-term memory or impaired mental abilities, there may also be a deviation in the metabolic process).
The first group is symptomatic of an acute form of blockage of the cerebrospinal tract: it is represented by an excessive increase in intracranial pressure. Such a group is characterized by:
severe headache, sometimes even leading to loss of consciousness;
tinnitus;
convulsions;
coma.
For the second group — a slow (or gradual) increase in intracranial pressure, such manifestations are inherent:
headache;
nausea;
vomiting;
convulsions;
visual impairment.
It should be noted that a characteristic headache with hydrocephalus syndrome can occur at any time of the day, in any position of the body. At the same time, it is almost impossible to remove such pain even with the strongest painkillers. Headache is accompanied by characteristic nausea and vomiting. There is also a manifestation of oppressed consciousness.
In the case of increased intracranial pressure, vomiting happens unexpectedly and has an uncontrollable character. After vomiting, the patient’s condition does not improve, as for example, after vomiting during food poisoning.
Another characteristic symptom will be edema of the optic nerve disc, which develops due to the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid accumulating in the so-called subarachnoid space, which entails a noticeable violation of visual function: there are “flies” in front of the eyes, flashing flashes of light. At the initial stage of the disease, visual acuity almost does not change, however, if intracranial pressure increases systematically, then optic nerve atrophy develops, which is most often expressed in a severe drop in vision, sometimes even to complete blindness.
There are seizures:
generalized character (accompanied by shaking of the whole body);
partial character (convulsive twitching can be traced in individual muscles, most often in the arms and legs).
If intracranial pressure increases for a long time, then this negatively affects the state of the cortical substance of the brain, entailing a violation of higher-order brain functions (partial or complete loss of short-term memory, decreased intelligence).
Occlusive crises, that is, short-term blockage of the cerebrospinal fluid pathways, are considered a very common symptom of a colloidal cyst of the III ventricle. The reason for the latter may be a sharp displacement of the cyst itself into the ventricular cavity of the brain. Also, this condition can be explained by the overlap of the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid. After a while, normal fluid circulation will be restored, and the symptoms will completely disappear.
As for occlusive crises, their main manifestations will be severe headache, which is accompanied by a violation of the rhythm of the heartbeat, redness of the skin (especially the face), fever or chills, rapid breathing, arrhythmic pulse, sudden jumps in blood pressure. This symptomatology unfolds against the background of already existing physical weakness, expressed in the loss of muscle tone of the upper and lower extremities.
Diagnosis of colloidal cyst of the III ventricle
In case of suspicion of the development of a colloidal cyst of the brain, the patient is shown to undergo an MRI and CT scan of the brain, consultation with a neurologist and an ophthalmologist. This is enough to make a correct diagnosis.
In the CT images, it is quite easy to identify a colloidal cyst of the III ventricle: it has a rounded shape, whitish color and is located, respectively, in the cavity of the III ventricle of the brain, which looks like a black spot on the X-ray. The color of the cyst itself is usually much more intense than the color of nearby brain tissues. In the pictures, it is represented by a grayish tint.
Consultation with an optometrist is mandatory and is carried out in conjunction with ophthalmoscopy, which allows you to assess the condition of the fundus with the greatest accuracy, the presence of swelling of the optic nerve disc, as well as the nature of the condition of the retina itself.
It is also necessary to say about the differential diagnosis. It is carried out with pituitary adenoma, chiasmal glioma, germinoma, pineal tumors and various formations of metastatic processes of similar localization.
Treatment of colloidal cyst of the III ventricle
Usually, with a colloidal cyst of small size and without pronounced symptoms, no treatment is prescribed. Patients only need to undergo regular examination, MRI, CT to assess the nature of the formation, as well as its size.
If the cyst has acquired large dimensions, as also evidenced by the characteristic clinical symptoms, then they turn to the help of a neurosurgeon who prescribes treatment in order to stop the progressive nature of the neoplasm. Most often, a neurosurgeon prescribes surgical intervention, which can be in the form of complete removal of a cyst, in the form of elimination of the cerebrospinal tract and high intracranial pressure syndrome.
Among the most common surgical techniques are the following:
craniotomy is a type of opening of the cranium for the purpose of surgical intervention on the open brain; this technique allows you to finally eliminate the cyst and examine the condition of the III ventricle well, while restoring the normal functioning of the cerebrospinal tract; the main drawback is excessive trauma during surgery and the acquisition of a cosmetic defect after it;
endoscopic removal is an operation that involves a small hole in the skull, which is achieved with the help of a special device that allows not only to examine the condition of the III ventricle, but also to remove the tumor formation itself.
Prognosis and prevention of colloidal cyst of the III ventricle
The prognosis of a colloidal cyst of the III ventricle with its insignificant size is usually favorable, but only if there is no growth of the neoplasm. A small cyst does not manifest itself symptomatically and does not harm human health.
In the case of a growing cyst, the prognosis may be unfavorable if treatment is not started in a timely manner. Due to the lack of treatment, hydrocephalus may develop, which can cause death due to a violation of the proper functioning of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The latter is explained by the state of pressing the brain into certain anatomical openings of the skull, which leads to pinching of vital centers of the nervous system.
A complication of colloidal cyst of the III ventricle may be the development of dementia and memory impairment. In more severe cases, coma and death are possible (in the case of acute blockage of the cerebrospinal tract).
After the operation to remove the cyst and the complete restoration of the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid, doctors note 100% recovery of patients. However, in some individual cases, a relapse may occur, requiring another operation.
As a prevention of colloidal cyst of the III ventricle during pregnancy, it is necessary to avoid the use of any medications, especially if they were prescribed by a non-attending physician. In addition, you should always lead a healthy lifestyle, get enough sleep, take vitamins.
