Electroconvulsive therapy in a major depression patient with arachnoid cyst

Abstract

Arachnoid cyst develops when two layers of arachnoid membrane fail to unite in early fetal life causing cerebrospinal fluid accumulation and formation of a cyst. Arachnoid cysts constitute 1% of space occupying lesions in the brain. Diagnosis is made usually with regular medical examinations. They can cause epilepsy, increased intracranial pressure, neurological deficits, macrocranium and growth deficit in children, and subdural hematoma. It has been recommended to be careful when administrating Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to the patients with space occupying lesions. ECT can cause adverse effects in patients with arachnoid cyst by increasing intracranial pressure. Arachnoid cyst can rupture and give symptoms by causing subdural effusion, subdural hemorrhage or intracystic hemorrhage. In this case, we diagnosed major depression and arachnoid cyst. We administered ECT to the patient who had suicide ideation and was resistant to pharmacotherapy. Patient's complaints fully recovered with ECT. The size of arachnoid cyst didn't increase and we observed no complication. In this case, we aimed to show that ECT could be successfully administered to the patients with arachnoid cyst.