Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 12/30/2008

Question
Dear Dr,

Last year I have been diagnosed with the pineal gland cyst 10mm 14mm 16mm I am really confused as I am reciving various informations from doctors. Some say that the cyst is nothing to worry, some say mine is big and when it grows it will couse sympthoms and that the surgery is very difficult-on the other hand my 'closed' dr said he will do the surgery without problem...how I found out about the cyst? I was feeling dizzy and I had headaches and any dr could say what is going on..they were saying I am stressed..and I am but just becouse of this bad sypthoms...recently I developted migranes which I have a week before and I day before my period, also durning a fool moon if it makes sense. After I find my cyst I was depressed and my dr gave me cipralex which helped a bit with my dizzyness, and headaches but now when I stoped I am really emotional, my dizzyness is back...also I am having very weired dreams and I can feel at night my body is shaking..on top of that recently I have pain above my right eye....my dr says i don t have sypthoms yet..but I feel they are coming...my all blood tests are OK (cancer markers as well) I only have a muscle spasm around my neck and my neck is straight insted of having a curve shape due to work...Please advice what to do? Is the surgery possible and how difficult it is?How long is the recovery?Are my sypthoms due to the cyst or I am just stressed?How I can check that...(I had 2 MRIs for now without changes 1 in jan 2008 and 1 in may 2008
I would be very grateful for your advice!

Thank you.

Best Regards.

Answer
I'm not a neurosurgeon but a medical oncologist and radiation therapist with experience of treating brain tumors. Your question should really be directed to a neurosurgeon (or maybe to a neurologist) especially as a cyst is not really a tumor (it may have been there all your life). If you do want it removed but not by surgery it MAY be possible to do that radiologically with concentrated radiation from the so called GammaKnife. At least its size is right for that. But I do strongly suggest that you discuss this matter with yet another neurosurgeon. Good luck!