Where is the pineal gland located? This is a common question. Let's look into it in more detail.
The red gland that produces melatonin and is partly responsible for the maturation of sex hormones is called the pineal gland. The functions of this region of the brain have not yet been fully studied, but today there are several diseases that affect the quality of life. One of them is the appearance of a cyst of the pineal gland of the brain. This disease can pass without obvious signs, it is diagnosed only as part of a thorough examination of the brain. Usually, its presence causes symptoms similar to signs of vascular damage, cancer growth, and damage to the cervical spine.
The appearance of a cyst
Not everyone knows where the pineal gland is located.
The first emotion of patients who are diagnosed with cysts of this gland isusually panic. But compared with other pathological neoplasms of the brain, this disease is not dangerous. A cyst located in the brain is a benign tumor that cannot transform into a malignant formation. It is also often referred to as a pineal cyst. In ninety percent of cases, this disease can be slow and does not affect endocrine functions.
To put it simply, living with such a cyst is possible, but not desirable. The fact is that it serves as a kind of time bomb that will make itself felt at the most inopportune moment. In the event that it is not cured, then cerebrospinal fluid will gradually accumulate in the ventricular sectors of the brain, and such a factor is a direct path to the development of dropsy.
A pineal cyst forms at the location of the pituitary gland. Its main difference is abundant blood circulation. At night, the flow of blood can almost double. The cells of the pituitary gland at the same time receive nutrients and individual substances. In the process of metabolism, melatonin is produced, after which this hormone enters directly into the cerebrospinal fluid and blood.
Where is the pineal gland in the photo can be seen (it is also called the epiphysis).
What is the function of this gland?
Specialists are sure that it is this gland that regulates the activity of the entire endocrine system. The pineal gland is extremely closely connected with some part of the visual apparatus responsible for perception. This is expressedin its response to light, the fact is that the work of the pineal gland begins immediately after dark.
Then the pineal gland is activated.
At night, blood supply increases in this part of the brain, the secretory activity of the gland increases, and at the same time, much more hormones are released than during the day. By the way, the main one is melatonin. After midnight and up to six in the morning, the pineal gland works at its maximum. The functional direction of the hormones of the gland is as follows:
- Produces a direct effect on the pituitary and hypothalamus, within which their work is inhibited.
- The normalization of the daily routine is being carried out. That is, thanks to this, people are awake during the day and sleep at night.
- There is an increase in immunity.
- Nervous excitability decreases.
- The aging process of the body slows down.
- The vascular tone stabilizes.
- Sugar levels decrease.
- Blood pressure normalizes.
- Suppresses sexual development in childhood.
- The growth of cancerous tumors is inhibited.
Thus, the pineal gland, located in the brain, is a very important part of the body. Without the pineal gland, not only the production of melatonin can be disrupted, but the processing of the hormone of happiness, which is called serotonin, will be carried out in a much smaller amount.
Causes of cyst formation
Now it is clear where the pineal gland is (photo shown).
The resulting cyst is oftenis determined by chance, as a rule, it is established during the performance of a magnetic resonance study. At the initial stage, there is no clinical manifestation. The cause of cystic formation is the failure of CSF circulation, which occurs due to the following changes:
- Appearance of blockage of the excretory lumen. This usually happens due to trauma or surgery. The resulting scars can prevent the passage of cerebrospinal fluid, which accumulates in the lumen between the meninges and soft tissues.
- Presence of infectious lesions of the membranes. For example, most often echinococcus acts as a catalyst for inflammatory processes. The collection of anamnesis along with the clinical sampling of cerebrospinal fluid through a puncture will help doctors determine the pathogen.
Obstruction of the channel, as a rule, occurs among patients who have a genetic predisposition to this. Cystic transformations of the pineal gland occur due to deviations in the anatomical structures of the cerebrospinal fluid lumen, and the increased viscosity of the cerebrospinal fluid may also have an effect.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
As already noted, such a pineal cyst rarely reveals itself with the help of any clinical signs or manifestations. In the early stages, this formation is discovered only by chance.
The formation of a cavity filled with CSF is usually indicated by the results of magnetic resonanceresearch. In the event that the tumor expands to one centimeter, then the patient experiences unpleasant symptoms that are associated with a violation of the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid, and the pressure of the surrounding tissues may also increase. These are the main signs. Pineal gland cystic formation is manifested, as a rule, in the following symptoms:
- The appearance of headaches. We are talking about migraine seizures that do not go away under the influence of standard analgesics. It is very difficult to remove such a pain syndrome, sometimes it is possible only after a drug blockade.
- Presence of impaired coordination of movements.
- Appearance of visual and hearing impairments.
- Occurrence of nausea and vomiting.
The consequences of such a cyst can also manifest itself in the occurrence of neurotic disorders and epileptic seizures. Of course, it depends on its size. The pineal gland is very important, and in the event that this neoplasm interferes with the patient's normal life, then doctors prescribe a course of treatment and a decision is made to remove the brain cyst.
What is the danger?
In itself, such a cyst is not life-threatening. The threat is borne by signs of volumetric cystic lesions of the pineal gland (pictured), which manifest themselves in epileptic seizures, hydrocephalus and other disorders. But this neoplasm rarely reaches large sizes. This cyst is genetically predisposed to benign and is therefore considered harmless.
The dangerous size of a cyst is consideredwhen it exceeds one centimeter in its diameter. As a rule, such a formation develops as a result of damage to the cerebrospinal fluid by gonococcus. The source of this infection are farm animals along with dogs. The maximum size of this formation can reach two centimeters in length.
Let's look at what the treatment of the pineal gland is.
When and how to treat pathology?
So, the therapy of the disease directly depends on the size of the formation and the indicators of its growth. After establishing the diagnosis, doctors monitor the dynamics of the growth of the neoplasm. In the event that for a couple of months its size remains the same, then medication is prescribed. A late-detected pineal cyst on MRI with a large size usually does not respond to conservative therapy, and therefore it can only be removed. Indications for surgery is also the establishment of the effect of the tumor on the adjacent structure of the brain, which is usually expressed in the following symptoms, which significantly reduce the quality of life of patients:
- The appearance of violations in coordination.
- Frequent pressure surges.
- The occurrence of migraine attacks.
- Occurrence of nausea and vomiting.
- Disturbance of visual functions.
The factors that provoke an increase in cysts have not yet been determined, so it is simply impossible to talk about effective preventive measures. At present, experts agree that the most correcta way to minimize the risk is regular monitoring using magnetic resonance imaging. Such a study should be carried out every six months.
Performing medication
During conservative treatment, drugs are selected that do not affect the cyst itself, but directly on the organ, the disease of which contributed to the development of the tumor. It should be noted that medications do not reduce the size of the formation, but only relieve its symptoms in the form of migraine, blurred vision, and so on. This is usually enough to ensure a normal quality of life for the patient, and the cyst, in turn, will continue to be small. A drug therapy plan is usually developed individually, based on the results of the study and analyzes. Doctors may additionally prescribe drugs in the following categories:
- Treatment with venotonics and diuretics. These drugs generally regulate the flow of cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricular sectors, thereby preventing the development of hydrocephalus.
- The use of substitution drugs. These are necessary to compensate for the deficiency of melatonin.
- Using adapters. They are usually prescribed to stabilize the wake-sleep cycle.
- The use of pain medication. They are used to relieve migraine pain.
During periods of seasonal infections, patients are additionally prescribed antiviral drugs along with immunomodulators.
Surgical removal of the cyst
Treatment of thisdisease in a radical way is a serious step that is taken only after a thorough diagnosis of the body. Such an operation is associated with a certain risk to life, and therefore it is recommended only in extreme cases, when the risk of dropsy of the brain is extremely high. There are only three types of radical treatment of pathology:
- Performing a complete removal. During the operation, the skull is opened, and the tumor is excised along with the shell. This technique allows you to get rid of the formation once and for all without the risk of relapse, but this method is very traumatic, so it has been used very rarely lately.
- Performing shunting. This method involves drilling a small hole in the skull box, through which a drainage hose is inserted inside. This makes it possible to pump out the contents of the formation without the risk of damaging the surrounding tissue. This method has its drawbacks. The body of the build-up can be removed incompletely, or an infection can enter through the drainage.
- Endoscopy. This technique is very similar to shunting, but the difference is that a special device called an endoscope is inserted through the hole along with the drainage pipe. It makes it possible to illuminate the walls of the tumor, and, in addition, the nearest tissues from the inside, which minimizes the risk of damage to them. This is the least dangerous method of surgical removal of the formation, which has earned positive reviews. The only disadvantage of endoscopy is that it is only suitable for large formations.
How else is the pineal gland treated?
Is it possible to carry out treatment with folk methods?
As noted earlier, drug therapy is aimed at eliminating concomitant symptoms, and does not treat the disease itself. None of the folk remedies is able to act directly on the disease itself, therefore, it is impossible to expect an absolute cure with the help of alternative medicine recipes. Thus, it will not work to stimulate the functions of the pineal gland with folk methods, but you can take care of increasing immunity. Next, consider the features of the treatment of the pineal gland of the brain in children.
Features of the treatment of pathology in children
It is extremely difficult to diagnose the formation of a gland in young patients at an early stage. There are no specific signs that give out this disease, and you can see the growth only on an ultrasound scan. As a rule, children complain of pain in the head or the presence of drowsiness, but very often parents, along with the local therapist, correlate these complaints with other ailments or stressful conditions. Against the background of the development of such a tumor in a child, visual acuity may decrease, but, of course, the first thing parents will do is take the baby to an ophthalmologist, and not to an endocrinologist.
Another sign that may indicate a cystic pineal gland is accelerated growth. This is directly related to an increase in the concentration of a particular hormone. In the event that the height and weight of the child significantly exceeds the norm for his age, then thisserves as a reason to contact an endocrinologist to prescribe magnetic resonance imaging.
But even this type of diagnosis is not able to determine this pathology with absolute accuracy. The next step, after magnetic resonance imaging, is a biopsy of the formation in order to exclude a malignant nature. Only after confirming the nature of the growth, the attending physician will draw up a therapy plan. Next, find out what are the possible risks and complications if this disease is not treated.
Possible complications and risks
Calcification of the pineal gland may occur. This is a process in which calcium s alts are deposited on the surface of the secret, they do not dissolve in the liquid. In another way, this disease is called calcification. This can happen at different ages and usually the size of such formations is not more than 1 cm. Experts say that they do not cause much harm to the body, but the pathology should be treated.
Because the pineal gland in the brain is responsible for the production of melatonin, the occurrence of a cyst can significantly disrupt its functioning. At the same time, sleep may worsen in a person, irritability will appear and delusional states will occur. In the event that the doctor recommends undergoing treatment, and the patient refuses, then he should be prepared for the following possible complications:
- Most likely, there will be violations in coordination.
- Possible paralysis along with paresis of arms and legs.
- Probable complete loss of hearing and vision.
- Dementia may develop along withmental retardation.
When a patient is diagnosed with a small cyst (up to one centimeter in diameter), and the formation does not grow at all and does not manifest itself as external symptoms, then therapeutic treatment is not prescribed. But it should be borne in mind that against the background of adverse conditions, increased tumor growth is possible. This usually happens when too much melatonin is produced and the lumen of the tubule narrows. Hormonal stimulation along with pregnancy is also capable of provoking growth.
Therefore, if a woman has been diagnosed with such a disease, and she plans to have a child, she should definitely consult with her doctor to eliminate possible risks. To improve performance, the following rules should be observed:
- Sleep in complete darkness, no nightlight required.
- On no account should you be awake after midnight.
To avoid the development of multiple cysts of this brain organ, it is required to prevent infection with echinococcus. And for this you should not touch stray animals. Immediately after contact with those, you should immediately wash your hands with soap and water. In addition, you should not feed pets from human dishes. In the event that a person has been diagnosed with a cyst of the pineal body of the brain, then it will be enough for him to follow medical recommendations. The prognosis for this disease is positive.
