ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate and evaluate the effectiveness of neuroendoscopic therapy for arachnoid cysts of middle cranial fossa.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2004 to June 2009, 32 patients with arachnoid cysts of middle cranial fossa who were treated with endoscopic cystocisternal fenestration were retrospectively analyzed. There were 21 male patients and 11 female patients, aged from 6 months to 39 years. The clinical and neuroradiological presentation, indications, surgical technique, complications, and clinical and neuroradiological follow-up were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cysts were reduced in size in 20 patients and completely disappeared in 4 patients. For the 27 patients with symptoms before operation, the symptoms disappeared in 8 cases and improved in 17 cases after operation. There were asymptomatic subdural hydroma in 4 patients, intracranial infection and incision cerebro-spinal fluid leakage in 1 patient respectively. The complication incidence rate was 18.8%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Endoscopic fenestration is an effective treatment for symptomatic arachnoid cysts of middle cranial fossa and could be performed as the first surgical choice for these patients.</p>