Understanding Davina McCall's brain surgery and rare health condition

Davina McCall has revealed she has undergone brain surgery after being diagnosed with a "very rare" tumour known as a colloid cyst. The 57 year old television host discovered the benign brain tumour following a health check-up that was offered to her due to her menopause advocacy efforts. But what exactly are colloid cysts, and what treatment options exist?

Dr Karen Noble, director of research, policy and innovation at Brain Tumour Research, provided insight to the PA news agency regarding this specific health issue, its diagnosis, and the treatments available.

What is a colloid cyst and are they dangerous?

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Colloid cysts are typically slow-growing, non-cancerous brain tumours found in the third ventricle, which is a fluid-filled space at the centre of the brain. Although benign, colloid cysts require monitoring because their growth can lead to a condition called hydrocephalus, where fluid accumulates in the brain.

Dr Noble explained: "The thing with non-cancerous brain tumours that we tend to say is 'benign is not fine' because these cysts are a field with fluid that can cause swelling in the brain.

"Due to their location, some cysts can cause what we call hydrocephalus - a build-up of fluid in the brain which can lead to an increase in pressure. That's what the concern is with these types of cysts."

What are the symptoms of a colloid cyst?

"If they're small, these cysts don't cause any symptoms," Dr Noble stated.

"But once a cyst becomes large, then it will potentially lead to this increase of pressure in the brain that can cause symptoms like headaches, nausea, visual disturbances, and, as Davina McCall mentioned, memory problems and a bit of confusion."

They can also result in difficulty walking and changes in personality, added Dr Noble. Colloid cysts are often found unexpectedly during imaging for other conditions, using MRI or CT scans. "The issue is that those symptoms could apply to many types of brain tumours, but also lots of other potential conditions and that is why brain tumours are generally so difficult to diagnose," explained Dr Noble.

Although patients who do experience these symptoms are unlikely to have a brain tumour, those who do often tend to visit their GP "four or five times to their GP" before they are diagnosed. This is also why nearly 40% of brain tumour patients are diagnosed through A&E.

Commending McCall for her transparency about her diagnosis and for "raising awareness of brain tumours" after she posted about her health condition online, Dr Noble said: "This will absolutely help with others recognising potential symptoms and talking to their doctors."

Who is at risk of developing a colloid cyst?

Colloid cysts are rare and are believed to constitute less than 2% of primary brain tumours that is, tumours that form directly on the brain, as opposed to a tumour that appears when a cancer located somewhere else in the body spreads to other sites.

Dr Noble shared some critical figures, noting: "Between 12,000 and 16,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour in the UK each year. About 2% of those people so less than 300 a year will get diagnosed with a colloid cyst."

Despite this, Brain Tumour Research highlights that brain tumours don't discriminate and can impact anyone regardless of age. Colloid cysts are usually found in individuals aged between 30 to 60 years old, Dr Noble mentioned, yet the exact cause behind their formation remains a mystery.

"The causes of colloid cysts are not known but it is believed to be a hangover from embryonic development, but it's not certain," she explained. "It seems like people might be born with these cysts, and they could start causing problems by a certain age considering the symptoms we've talked about."

How do doctors treat a colloid cyst?

While treatment options for colloid cysts can vary, there are typically two main approaches depending on the individual case.

For smaller cysts, under 9mm, Dr Noble stated: "If the cysts are small that is less than 9mm in size doctors will monitor them over time with regular MRI scans to see if they grow and if there's any risk of resulting in increased brain pressure. Then the other option is surgery."

Davina took to Instagram to discuss her own health, describing her tumour as "big", measuring 14mm across, and stressed: "It needs to come out, because if it grows, it would be bad."

Davina has undergone a craniotomy, a significant surgical operation, to have the cyst removed. This involves temporarily removing a portion of the skull to allow surgeons to access the brain and extract the cyst.

Fortunately, the outlook following a craniotomy to remove a colloid cyst is "very good," according to Dr Noble. "If surgeons are able to completely remove the cyst, then it's excellent news", she added.