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Does Benign Pineal Cyst In Brain Cause Insomnia?

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Posted on Fri, 27 Mar 2015
Question: Can a 1cm pineal cyst that is not impacting any part if the brain cause insomnia?
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Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
It may be the cause.Please upload the MRI image.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.

If you would have presented to me as an outpatient, I would have told you that we don't observe small pineal cysts(<1cm) to be usually symptomatic,not even causing the sleep symptoms.

However, larger cysts(>1cm) may cause symptoms depending upon the pressure effect. Among symptoms, insomnia is not a frequent symptom of pineal cysts, but still reported by some worldwide.Though, Pineal cyst is not a classical cause of insomnia, but the possibility can't be negated at at all.

Please upload your Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) Brain images, so that I can see if this cyst is causing significant pressure effects or not. I shall be able to answer your query in a better way then.

You have a feature to upload the image/report by yourself on the right side of this query page. Please utilize it.
Waiting for your follow-up question.

Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (12 minutes later)
I do not have image but was told by neuro no pressure effects, just floating in fluid. Cyst is 1cm x 1cm. Neuro says my insomnia due to anxiety/stress but how can I know for sure?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
There is no confirmatory test for the same.This cyst is less likely a cause

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.

A pineal cyst without pressure effects is not the likely cause of these symptoms.Furthermore, Pineal cyst is not even a theoretically proven cause of insomnia.Clinically,its not seen as a cause for the same.However,there have been rare reports worldwide documenting pineal cyst with sleep abnormalities.
There is no confirmatory test however,to establish whether your pineal cyst is the cause of insomnia or not.Practically,I don't take it to be one.

You should focus on managing your reversible factors like anxiety/stress and see if your sleep improves.I hope it will.If everything(no stress,no anxiety) is fine,and even then your sleep disturbances persist,then the pineal cyst may be considered to have some contribution but not at present.At this point,I would rather say,that it is asymptomatic and you should not worry for it.

Actually,no test can prove the issue and it is a kind of trial and error.

Hope I have answered your query.If you have some follow-up questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review.

Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta
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Answered by
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Dr. Ajay Panwar

Neurologist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 1827 Questions

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Does Benign Pineal Cyst In Brain Cause Insomnia?

Brief Answer: It may be the cause.Please upload the MRI image. Detailed Answer: Hi XXXX, Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com. If you would have presented to me as an outpatient, I would have told you that we don't observe small pineal cysts(<1cm) to be usually symptomatic,not even causing the sleep symptoms. However, larger cysts(>1cm) may cause symptoms depending upon the pressure effect. Among symptoms, insomnia is not a frequent symptom of pineal cysts, but still reported by some worldwide.Though, Pineal cyst is not a classical cause of insomnia, but the possibility can't be negated at at all. Please upload your Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) Brain images, so that I can see if this cyst is causing significant pressure effects or not. I shall be able to answer your query in a better way then. You have a feature to upload the image/report by yourself on the right side of this query page. Please utilize it. Waiting for your follow-up question. Dr.Ajay Panwar, MD,DM(Neurology)