Spinal Cord Compression Caused by Extradural Arachnoid Cysts

OBJECTIVE: Extradural arachnoid cysts (EACs) are rare causes of spinal cord compression and cauda equina. These benign lesions appear in the literature mainly as single case reports. In this article, we present the largest series found in literature, with four new cases of spinal extradural arachnoid cysts. The characteristic imaging features, details of surgical steps and strategies to prevent postoperative kyphosis in this cystic pathology will be discussed.

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Multiple extradural arachnoid cysts as a cause of spinal cord compression in a child

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/spi.1999.91.1.0116 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 91 (1) ◽

pp. 116-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Lynn M. Myles ◽

Nalin Gupta ◽

Derek Armstrong ◽

James T. Rutka

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Surgical Technique ◽

Spinal Cord Compression ◽

Surgical Planning ◽

Cyst Formation ◽

Cord Compression ◽

Arachnoid Cysts ◽

Content Type ◽

Sacral Spine ◽

Fine Print

✓ Symptomatic arachnoid cysts of the spine are uncommon in children and have only rarely been reported to occur extradurally. The authors report a case of multiple extradural spinal arachnoid cysts in a 9-year-old child who presented with signs of spinal cord compression. The extent of the disease, which affected the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine, and the number of independent cysts make this case unique and suggest an underlying defect in the dura of the spinal canal that is predisposed to the formation of cysts. The investigations of choice, surgical planning, and surgical technique are considered. The literature is reviewed and mechanisms of cyst formation discussed.

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Spinal cord compression caused by idiopathic intradural arachnoid cysts of the spine: review of the literature and illustrated case

European Spine Journal ◽

10.1007/s00586-009-1156-9 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (S2) ◽

pp. 124-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Athanasios K. Petridis ◽

Alexandros Doukas ◽

Harald Barth ◽

Hubertus Maximilian Mehdorn

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Compression ◽

Cord Compression ◽

Arachnoid Cysts ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Intradural Arachnoid Cysts

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Multiple spinal extradural arachnoid cysts occurring in a child

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/foc.2007.22.2.11 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 158-161

Author(s):

Wihasto Suryaningtyas ◽

Muhammad Arifin

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Surgical Technique ◽

Spinal Cord Compression ◽

Thoracic Spine ◽

Spinal Canal ◽

Surgical Planning ◽

Cyst Formation ◽

Cord Compression ◽

Arachnoid Cysts ◽

Imaging Examination

✓Symptomatic multiple extradural arachnoid cysts of the spine are extremely uncommon in children and have only rarely been reported. The authors report a case of multiple extradural spinal arachnoid cysts in a 14-year-old child who presented with signs of spinal cord compression. The disease affected the thoracic spine and extended from T-5 to T-10 with an underlying defect in the dura of the spinal canal that was predisposed to the formation of cysts. The authors describe the imaging examination, surgical planning, and surgical technique, and they review the literature. They also discuss the possible mechanisms of cyst formation.

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