The cost of intracranial cyst surgery is determined by the nature of the cyst and the type of surgery. For example, for arachnoid cysts, most patients do not require treatment. If surgery is performed, there is the option of direct cyst drainage surgery, which can cost about $10,000. If a cystic abdominal shunt is performed, the surgery may cost about $30,000, because the cost of the shunt tube is almost $20,000 or so. For cysts in other locations, direct excision of the cyst may be required, such as a pineal cyst, and the cost of the surgery is around $20,000-30,000. Different intracranial cysts are operated in different ways, so the cost of surgery may also vary, and the cost varies somewhat from hospital to hospital.