Did you also have a brain tumor on your scan? Don't be afraid of Rathke's Cleft Cyst, let's find out about it!

Maybe you've had an MRI scan of your head for a different reason, maybe for something like frequent headaches. When you read the report, you probably saw a name like “Rathke's Cleft Cyst” and were terrified. It's normal to have a thousand questions running through your mind, like, 'Oh my God, is this a brain tumor? Is this cancer?' But before you panic, read this article. Today, we're going to talk about this condition that many people have, but most of the time, it's harmless.

What is Rathke's Cleft Cyst? Let's understand it simply.

Okay, let's start at the beginning. Underneath your brain, right behind your nose, is a small, pear-shaped gland. It's called the pituitary gland . It's small, but it's a mastermind that controls a lot of important things in your body. It's the one that controls your body's growth, thyroid function, and sex hormones in both men and women.

Rathke's cleft cyst is a small, fluid-filled cyst that forms on or near the pituitary gland. It's like a water blister. The most important thing you need to remember here is that this is not cancerous . These are just harmless cysts that develop.

Why does a tumor like this form?

The reason for this is a very strange story. When we are all fetuses in our mothers' wombs, a small sac-like part called 'Rathke's Pouch' forms as our pituitary gland develops. Normally, this sac closes when the pituitary gland is fully developed.

But in some people, this sac does not close completely, leaving a small space. Over time, this remaining space fills with a fluid like mucus, which forms this cyst. So this is not something you did wrong, or something you ate or drank, or something you did. This is a small change that is present at birth.

Does this happen to many people?

It's hard to say exactly how common this is. That's because many people don't even know they have this type of tumor. Because it doesn't cause any symptoms. But doctors believe that between 1% and 5% of the general population may have these tumors. That means between 1 and 5 out of every 100 people have it.

Most often, these are discovered incidentally during MRI scans of adults between the ages of 30 and 50. This condition is very rare in young children.

What are the symptoms? Does everyone get symptoms?

No. The majority do not show any symptoms.They live a normal life. But sometimes, if this tumor gets a little bigger, it starts pressing on the important parts around it. That's when problems arise.

Imagine, what would happen if this tumor pressed on the optic nerve that goes from your eyes to your brain? Then you could have vision problems. And if it pressed on the pituitary gland itself, hormone production could be disrupted, causing a variety of symptoms.

See the table below for what symptoms may occur.

How does a doctor find this?

There are usually several tests to find this out.

• MRI scan:This is the most important and accurate method. It can obtain clear images of the brain and pituitary gland, allowing you to see exactly where the tumor is and its size.
• Blood Tests: A blood test will be done to check if the levels of hormones released by your pituitary gland are normal. This can help determine if the tumor is affecting your hormones.
• Vision Tests: Have an ophthalmologist check your vision, especially your visual fields.

Do these tumors really need to be removed?

Absolutely not. This is the best news for you. If you have no symptoms and the tumor is small, your doctor will often say , "Let's just wait and see." That means they'll just do an MRI scan every year or two to see if the tumor gets bigger.

Surgery is only necessary for those who are symptomatic. That is, surgery is only considered if the tumor is affecting vision, causing unbearable headaches, or severely affecting hormones.

How is the surgery performed?

With today's advanced technology, this does not require major surgery. Most of the time, it is done endoscopically .

In this procedure, a neurosurgeon inserts a small camera and delicate instruments through the nose to reach the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. The tumor is then opened, the fluid is drained, and as much of the tumor wall as possible is removed. Since the head is not opened in this procedure, recovery time is shorter and complications are fewer.

How successful is the surgery? Can it regrow?

Many studies have shown that after surgery , the majority of patients experience significant or complete improvement in their symptoms , especially those who have had vision problems.

However, for a small number of people, there is a small chance that the tumor will recur a few years after surgery. That is why even after surgery, you should have MRI scans from time to time, as your doctor recommends.

When should you seek immediate medical advice?

If you know you have a Rathke's Cleft Cyst, there is usually nothing to worry about. However, if the symptoms below appear suddenly, it may be an emergency. If this happens , go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.

• Sudden change in vision or sudden loss of vision.
• A very severe, unbearable headache.
• Confusion, altered consciousness, or a major change in behavior.

Questions to ask your doctor

It's normal to have a lot of questions when you receive a diagnosis like this. Don't forget to ask these questions when you go to see your doctor.

• Doctor, can you be 100% sure that this is not cancer?
• How big is my tumor?
• Are the symptoms I have now caused by this tumor?
• Will I need surgery? Or can I just watch it?
• What symptoms should I be especially aware of?
• If this is being monitored, how long will it take to have another MRI scan?
• When should I come see the doctor again?