Summary
The clinical and radiological findings in six extradural and nine intradural arachnoid cysts are discussed in relation to previous reports. Only two cysts failed to opacify during positive contrast myelography; in both cases Myodil was used and in one of them contrast medium had entered the cyst on delayed films taken at 24 h. Pain was always improved and generally cured by operation, only two patients having some residual backache. There was permanent improvement of neurological function in only eight cases. The factors associated with poor permanent recovery after surgical treatment were: 1) very marked thinning of the spinal cord by the cyst, and 2) relatively longer duration of paresis-only one case had paresis for under 2 years (mean 4.8 years) compared with only two cases for over 1 year (mean 2 years) in those with good recovery.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cloward RB, Bucy PC (1937) AJR 38:681–706
Dastur HM (1963) The radiological appearances of spinal extradural arachnoid cysts. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 26: 231–235
Duncan A, Hoare RD (1978) Spinal arachnoid cysts in children. Radiology 126:423–429
Gortvai P (1963) Extradural cysts of the spinal canal. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 26:223–230
Gortvai P, El-Gindi S (1967) Spinal extradural cysts. J Neurosurg 26:432–435
Hoffman GT (1960) Cervical arachnoidal cyst. Report of a 6 year old negro male with recovery from quadriplegia. J Neurosurg 17:327–330
Lehman RAW, Fieger HG Jr (1978) Arachnoid cyst producing recurrent neurological disturbances. Surg Neurol 10:134–136
Long RW, Rachmaninoff N (1967) Spinal adhesive arachnoiditis with cyst formation; injection of cyst during myelography. J Neurosurg 27:73–76
Palmer JJ (1974) Spinal arachnoid cysts. Report of six cases. J Neurosurg 41:728–735
Perret G, Green D, Keller J (1962) Diagnosis and treatment of intradural arachnoid cysts of the thoracic spine. Radiology 79: 425–429
Rafa IA, Hankinson J (1970) Congenital spinal arachnoid cysts. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 33:105–110
Shapiro R (1975) Myelography, 3rd ed. Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago, pp 177–179
Teng P, Papatheodorou C (1966) Spinal arachnoid diverticula. Br J Radiol 39:249–254
Teng P, Rudner N (1960) Multiple arachnoid diverticula. Arch Neurol (Chicago) 2:226–234
Valiki H (1967) The spinal cord. International Medical Book Corporation, New York, pp 75–93
Wyler AR, Loeser JD, Killien FC (1975) Septum posticum cysts: an uncommon cause of chronic back pain. Pain 1:271–275
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kendall, B.E., Valentine, A.R. & Keis, B. Spinal arachnoid cysts: Clinical and radiological correlation with prognosis. Neuroradiology 22, 225–234 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342069
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342069