Results of surgical treatment in patients with arachnoid cysts

Object Quadrigeminal arachnoid cysts (QACs) are rare, comprising approximately 5%–10% of all intracranial arachnoid cysts. The management of these cysts is challenging, and their optimal surgical treatment is controversial. This study evaluates the role of endoscopy in the treatment of QACs in children, focusing on some factors or technical aspects that might influence the outcome. Methods Eighteen children with symptomatic QACs were the subject of this study. The group included 10 boys and 8 girls, with a mean age of 2.5 years. All patients had hydrocephalus. Surgical treatment included ventriculocystostomy (14 cases), endoscopic third ventriculostomy (14 cases), ventriculocystocisternostomy (2 cases), cystocisternostomy (2 cases), and removal of preexisting malfunctioning cystoperitoneal shunt (4 cases). Results Significant clinical improvement occurred in 15 cases (83.3%). Postoperative MRI showed a reduction in the cyst size in 14 cases (77.8%), whereas in the remaining 4 cases (22.2%) the cyst size was unchanged. A postoperative decrease in ventricular size was encountered in 16 cases (88.9%). Minor intraoperative bleeding occurred in 1 case (5.6%), which stopped spontaneously without any postoperative sequelae. Postoperative subdural hygroma occurred in 3 cases (16.7%) and required a subduroperitoneal shunt in 2 cases. During follow-up (mean 45.8 months), a repeat endoscopic procedure was performed in 7 patients (all 4 patients with a prior shunt and 3 patients without a prior shunt), and new shunt placement was required in 5 patients (all 4 patients with a prior shunt and 1 patient without a prior shunt). Thus, none of the patients with a prior shunt was able to become shunt independent, whereas 92.9% of patients without a prior shunt were able to avoid shunt placement. Conclusions Arachnoid cysts of the quadrigeminal cistern and the associated hydrocephalus can be effectively treated by endoscopy. The procedure is simple, minimally invasive, and associated with low morbidity and mortality rates. The fact that all patients who previously received shunts required a repeat endoscopic procedure and that none of these patients was able to become shunt independent makes it clear that endoscopic treatment should be considered the first choice in the management of patients with arachnoid cysts in the quadrigeminal cistern.

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Surgical Treatment of 95 Children with 102 Intracranial Arachnoid Cysts

Pediatric Neurosurgery ◽

10.1159/000121119 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 165-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Matthew E. Fewel ◽

Michael L. Levy ◽

Gordon McComb

Keyword(s):

Surgical Treatment ◽

Arachnoid Cysts

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Surgical management of intracranial arachnoid cysts in pediatric patients: radiological and clinical outcome

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics ◽

10.3171/2020.10.peds20839 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Matthias Schulz ◽

Yasin Oezkan ◽

Andreas Schaumann ◽

Miriam Sieg ◽

Anna Tietze ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Surgical Treatment ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Pediatric Population ◽

Mass Effect ◽

Reoperation Rate ◽

Arachnoid Cysts ◽

Cyst Volume ◽

Intracranial Cysts ◽

Intracranial Lesions

OBJECTIVE Congenital intracranial cysts account for a significant portion of intracranial lesions in the pediatric population. The efficiency of surgical treatment in a pediatric cohort with intracranial arachnoid cysts (ACs) at different locations regarding clinical symptoms and mass effect was evaluated. METHODS A retrospective study of all children who underwent surgical treatment of an intracranial AC during an 11-year period (2007–2018) was performed. Demographics, clinical symptoms, and radiological cyst size pre- and postoperatively, as well as the reoperation rate and possible treatment complications, were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 116 intracranial cysts at 8 different anatomical locations were surgically treated in 113 children (median age 5 years and 10 months) predominantly by endoscopic technique (84%). The complication rate was 3%, and the reoperation rate was 16%. Preoperative cyst enlargement was significantly more common in infants (p < 0.0001), as was the need for reoperation (p = 0.023). After a median radiological follow-up of 26 months, > 50% reduction of cyst volume was seen in 53 cysts (46%), and 47 cysts (40%) showed a 10%–50% reduction. Acute clinical symptoms improved: nausea and vomiting, accelerated head growth, and headaches improved at 100%, 92% and 89%, respectively. However, chronic symptoms responded less favorably after a median clinical follow-up of 26 months. CONCLUSIONS The strategy of predominantly endoscopic treatment with navigation planning is efficient to alleviate clinical symptoms and to significantly reduce the mass effect of pediatric intracranial cysts at different anatomical locations. The subgroup of infants requires close pre- and postoperative monitoring.

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Surgical treatment and outcome of posterior fossa arachnoid cysts in infants

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics ◽

10.3171/2021.5.peds21119 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Jehuda Soleman ◽

Danil A. Kozyrev ◽

Shlomi Constantini ◽

Jonathan Roth

Keyword(s):

Surgical Treatment ◽

Posterior Fossa ◽

Revision Surgery ◽

Arachnoid Cysts ◽

Study Patient ◽

Younger Age ◽

Additional Surgery ◽

Age At Surgery ◽

Permanent Morbidity

OBJECTIVE The aim of this cohort study was to describe and analyze the surgical treatment and outcome of posterior fossa arachnoid cysts (PFACs) in infants. METHODS Patients presenting with a PFAC at infancy or prenatally, between the years 2000 and 2019, and who were surgically treated before the age of 2 years, were included in this study. Patient data were retrospectively collected including baseline characteristics and surgical variables. Factors related to revision surgery were analyzed through uni- and multivariate analysis. RESULTS Thirty-five patients, of whom 54.3% were male, were included. The cyst was diagnosed prenatally in 23 patients (65.7%). Surgery was typically recommended after a mean cyst follow-up of 3.4 ± 3.9 months, with a mean age at surgery of 6.1 ± 5.1 months. In 54.3% of patients (n = 19), surgery was performed before the age of 6 months. The PFAC was treated purely neuroendoscopically in 57.1% of patients (n = 20), while 28.6% of patients underwent open cyst procedures (n = 10), 5.7% (n = 2) were treated with a shunt, and 8.6% (n = 3) underwent a combined procedure. Additional surgery was required in 31.4% of patients (n = 11; mean 2.36 ± 2.11 surgeries per patient). At the last follow-up (61.40 ± 55.33 months), no mortality or permanent morbidity was seen; radiological improvement was apparent in 83.9% of the patients. Those patients treated before the age of 6 months (p = 0.09) and who presented before surgery with a stable cyst size that was maintained throughout preoperative monitoring (p = 0.08) showed a trend toward higher revision rates after surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS PFACs in infancy may require surgical treatment before the age of 6 months. Navigated endoscopy was a valid surgical option. Overall mortality or permanent morbidity was rare. Additional surgery was required in up to 30% of the patients; younger age and a preoperatively stable cyst might be risk factors for revision surgery.

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