Background: Spinal intramedullary cysts present a radiological dilemma. We present a rare case of a conus intramedullary arachnoid cyst and report on its differentiating features and management.
Case Description: We report a case of a 30-month-old child who presented with decreased gluteal sensation and urinary dribbling for 6 months. Apart from some slowness in walking, the power was normal in all four limbs. Imaging showed a non-enhancing, T2-weighted hyperintense 12 × 8 mm conus intramedullary cyst without any edema. A T12-L1 laminotomy followed by marsupialization of the cyst was done. Histopathology was suggestive of an arachnoid cyst. The postoperative course was uneventful with improvement in muscle strength and achievement of regular milestones. We also present the pertinent review of the literature to date.
Conclusion: Intramedullary arachnoid cysts are a rare entity and should form the differential diagnosis for cysts presenting in the conus medullaris. Simple decompressive options may suffice for symptomatic cases and radical excision may be avoided. A high index of suspicion is essential considering the subtle nature of presenting symptoms.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8422414 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.25259/SNI_525_2021 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Intramedullary arachnoid cyst of the dorsal spine: Report of a rare spinal cord condition.
Radiol Case Rep
December 2024
Department of Neurosurgery, Trauma and Burns Center, Ben Arous, Tunisia.
Article Synopsis
- Arachnoid cysts are uncommon spinal tumors located either outside or within the protective membranes of the spinal cord, with intramedullary examples being extremely rare.
- Although considered benign, these cysts can lead to severe neurological problems if not treated, underlining the importance of early detection and intervention.
- A recent case study of a thoracic intramedullary arachnoid cyst highlights the successful use of MRI for diagnosis and surgical treatment, leading to significant recovery for the patient.
Spinal Arachnoid Cysts-Our Experience.
Asian J Neurosurg
September 2024
Department of Neurosurgery, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Article Synopsis
- Spinal arachnoid cysts are uncommon lesions typically found in the thoracic and thoracolumbar regions of the spine, with MRI being crucial for diagnosis and understanding their characteristics.
- A study of 22 symptomatic patients over an 18-year period revealed varied symptoms, with common issues being lower limb weakness and incontinence, and demonstrated effective surgical strategies including complete excision and marsupialization.
- One year post-surgery, patients showed significant improvement in symptoms without any recurrence of the cysts, indicating that surgical intervention is effective for symptomatic cases despite ongoing discussions about the best surgical methods.
Long-Term Recurrent Intramedullary Arachnoid Cyst: Case Report and Literature Review.
Asian J Neurosurg
September 2023
Departments of Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery, King's College Hospital London, Dubai, UAE.
Article Synopsis
- - A 32-year-old male experienced progressive lower limb weakness and spastic paraparesis due to an intramedullary arachnoid cyst (IMAC), prompting a case report and a review of related literature involving 26 patients from 23 articles.
- - IMACs generally occur in two age groups: under 10 years and over 30 years, but should still be considered in the differential diagnosis of intramedullary cystic lesions, even if rare.
- - The authors recommend early surgical intervention for symptomatic IMACs, emphasizing the importance of resecting the cyst wall and suggesting laminoplasty for younger patients to prevent long-term deformities; they call for further long-term studies to refine treatment
Thoracic Spinal Intradural Arachnoid Cyst With a Fulminant Course.
Ochsner J
January 2023
Department of Neurosurgery, RNZ Neurosciences, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
Spinal arachnoid cysts are rarely occurring benign cerebrospinal fluid-containing lesions that can occur anywhere along the spinal axis but are principally seen in the thoracic spine. They occur either ventrally or dorsally and can be extradural, intradural extramedullary, or intramedullary. They may be asymptomatic or can present with insidious pain and neurologic symptoms related to spinal cord and/or nerve root compression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDorsal cervical approach for recurrent intradural anaplastic ependymoma.
Neurosurg Focus Video
October 2023
Department of Surgical Neurology.
The video demonstrates an operative approach to a recurrent cervical anaplastic ependymoma. MYCN-amplified anaplastic ependymomas are locally aggressive, recurrent, and have a high risk of iatrogenic injury. In this case, the patient presented with local, aggressive tumor expansion, arachnoid adhesions, and pial invasion ventral to the spinal cord.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!