Titre du document / Document title

Syringomyelia associated with intradural arachnoid cysts

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

HOLLY Langston T. ⁽¹⁾ ; BATZDORF Ulrich ⁽¹⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Division of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, California, ETATS-UNIS

Résumé / Abstract

Object. Intradural arachnoid cysts are relatively uncommon pouches of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) found within the subarachnoid space. The authors present a series of eight symptomatic patients in whom syrinx cavities were associated with arachnoid cysts, and they discuss treatment strategies for this entity. Methods. The population comprised eight men whose mean age was 50 years (range 35-81 years). All patients experienced gait difficulty, and it was the chief complaint in seven; arm pain was the primary complaint in one. No patient had a history of spinal trauma, meningitis, or previous spinal surgery at the level of the syrinx cavity or arachnoid cyst. In each patient imaging revealed a syrinx cavity affecting two to 10 vertebral levels. Posterior thoracic arachnoid cysts were found in proximity to the syrinx cavity in each case. There was no evidence of cavity enhancement, Chiari malformation, tethered cord, or hydrocephalus. All patients underwent thoracic laminectomy and resection of the arachnoid cyst wall, and postoperative neurological improvement was documented in each case. The mean follow-up duration was 19 months (range 4-37 months). Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the disappearance of the arachnoid cyst and a significant decrease in syrinx cavity size in each patient. Conclusions. Spinal arachnoid cysts can be associated with syringomyelia, likely due to alterations in normal CSF dynamics. In symptomatic patients these cysts should be resected and the normal CSF flow restored. The results of the present series indicate that neurological improvement and reduction in syrinx cavity size can be achieved in patients with syringomyelia associated with intradural arachnoid cysts.

Revue / Journal Title

Journal of neurosurgery. Spine   ISSN 1547-5654 

Source / Source

2006, vol. 5, n^o2, pp. 111-116 [6 page(s) (article)] (15 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Charlottesville, VA, ETATS-UNIS  (1999) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Central nervous system disease ; Spinal cord disease ; Intradural ; Dura mater ; Arachnoidal cyst ; Syringomyelia ; Nervous system diseases ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Système nerveux central pathologie ; Moelle épinière pathologie ; Intradural ; Dure mère ; Kyste arachnoïdien ; Syringomyélie ; Système nerveux pathologie ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Sistema nervosio central patología ; Médula espinal patología ; Intradural ; Duramadre ; Quiste aracnoideo ; Siringomielia ; Sistema nervioso patología ;

Mots-clés d'auteur / Author Keywords

syringomyelia ; arachnoid cyst ; intradural lesion ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 6023 S1, 35400013342564.0010