arachnoid cyst: posterior fossa with mass effect

Specialties PICU

Published

Specializes in Adult Critical Care- MICU/SICU.

I am an adult ICU nurse with a twelve year old dtr recently diagnosed (after c/o headaches) with an arachnoid cyst in the posterior fossa. First neurosurgeon says she needs a crani, no vp shunt. I would really appreciate any insight from my peds peers. A few questions:

* Is a minimally invasive endoscopic approach possible in this area? It is 3x3x2.5 cm.

* Anyone familiar with neurosurgeons at Shands Gainesville (going to him for second opinion on Friday)?

* What is the recovery course like?

* 1st doc blaming HA on migraines, not the cyst. Any thoughts?

* How much hair will they shave?

With much respect and thanks! :bow:

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

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keepemsnowed, it could be that your little girl won't lose any hair in this process, if they're able to use the endoscopic approach. Our neurosurgeons only remove as much hair as is absolutely necessary, only a strip a couple of cm wide and maybe twice as long. They move the rest of it out of the way and use Ioban to hold it out of the field.

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