Porencephalic Cysts?

My girlfriend was recently diagnosed with a Porencephalic Cyst and we can not find much information about them. Can anyone help me with what treatment options there are for this? Also any information you could give me would be greatly appreciated. It is causing her alot of stress since she cannot find much information about this and her neurologist appointment is not for another week or so.

Porencephalic Cysts?
The good news is that if the cyst was only recently found, your girlfriend is probably going to be one of the lucky people who have them without having problems from them.





The cysts usually happen during fetal development, so are most often a neonatal issue.





A pornecephalic cyst is a specific category of a larger group called arachnoid cysts. The "arachnoid" part refers to the composition of the cysts -- which are fluid-filled pockets. "Pornecephalic" refers to the location, which is the central nervous system (the brain, more-or-less on top of the spine.)





If it is not causing problems, the doctors will probably leave it alone, out of fear of causing more damage. If it's causing seizures that can't be controlled, the doctors will consider removing it.





I found this on the site of a neurologist from India:


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More appropriate term may be 'hole in the brain'


Porencephalic cysts, characteristically, communicate with the ventricles or subarachnoid space and are covered on the outside by arachnoid.


These are congenital (primary) intracranial cysts and may arise as a leptomeningeal cyst.


It is possible that a failure of development of a part of the cerebral mantle may result in a cyst.


In addition to their congenital origin, porencephalic cysts may also arise as a result of trauma specially during birth or infancy when following loss of cerebral tissue adjacent to the ventricles a cyst forms and communicates with the ipsilateral dilated ventricle.


Puncture porencephaly is the development of a cystic cavitation along the track of a ventricular needle, manifesting in course of time, following rise in intracranial pressure due to nonfunctioning of the shunt in cases of hydrocephalus.


This may also follow prolonged ventricular drainage or repeated ventricular punctures.


Surgical excision may be considered in cases where these cysts are found to be the cause of intractable epilepsy. The area of excision should include the surrounding gliosed cerebral tissue as well.


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Good luck.
Reply:I researched a website:


http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/neurology...


A porencephalic cyst is an extremely rare disorder of the central nervous system ( CNS ) involving a cyst or cavity inside the brain tissue. The cysts or cavities are usually the result of some injury to the brain following an illness or trauma, but they can also be the result of abnormal development. The condition can occur before or after birth, the diagnosis is usually confirmed by CT Scan or MRI or Ultrasound. The exact cause is unknown. The prognosis ( determination of the patient's long-term effects) for individuals with porencephaly varies according to the location and extent of the cyst. Some patient's with this disorder may develop hardly any noticeable problems and be able to lead a relatively normal life. Since I am not aware of her symptoms, this is what I was able to research. I hope that this helps and Good Luck.