Clinics in diagnostic imaging (181). Cervical spine perineural cysts

A 47-year-old woman who underwent resection of known spinal meningioma at the T1 level returned for postoperative magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine. Incidentally, thin-walled structures with signal intensities that are similar to those of cerebrospinal fluid were found to be present in the left neural exit canal at the C7-T1 level and bilateral neural exit canals at the C6-7 level. Imaging findings were in keeping with perineural cysts. Cervical spine perineural cysts are likely underreported, as most of them are asymptomatic. The imaging features and differential diagnoses of perineural cysts are discussed in this article.

Quiste de Tarlov bilateral, presentación de un caso / Tarlov cyst bilateral, case report

Los quistes de Tarlov, son crecimientos quísticos benignos sub diagnosticados y no reportándose ningún caso en Bolivia. Son clasificados como quistes meníngeos tipo II, infrecuentes (incidencia estimada de 4,6% - 9%), de características benignas, en su mayoría localizados en región sacra. Asintomáticos, en su gran mayoría diagnosticados de manera incidental. Se presenta el caso de una paciente con dolor crónico de tipo radicular en fosa iliaca izquierda sin mejoría ni explicación del mismo. Se le realizó tomografía computarizada y resonancia magnética por las cuales se llegó al diagnóstico. Posteriormente se da tratamiento conservador sintomatológico con mejoría evidente de las misma. No requiriendo tratamiento quirúrgico.

Tarlov cyst is a benign cystic growth usually underdiagnosed. No case has been reported so far in Bolivia. Classified as a Type II meningeal cysts, rare (estimated incidence of 4,6% - 9%), of benign characteristics, most commonly located in the sacral region. Asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally most of the times. The patient comes with a chief complaint of chronic radicular back pain in the left iliac fossa with no improvement or explanation thereof. The patient underwent CT and MRI leading us to the diagnosis. The patient is managed with conservative treatment targeting the symptoms, with notorious improvement not requiring surgical treatment.

Cervical Perineural Cyst Masquerading as a Cervical Spinal Tumor

Tarlov (perineural) cysts of the nerve roots are common and usually incidental findings during magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral spine. There are only a few case reports where cervical symptomatic perineural cysts have been described in the literature. We report such a case where a high cervical perineural cyst was masquerading as a cervical spinal tumor.

Delayed Diagnosis of Cauda Eqina Syndrome with Perineural Cyst after Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia in Hemodialysis Patient

Symptomatic Tarlov (perineural cysts) are uncommon. In the following hemodialysis case, cauda equina syndrome was not detected after combined spinal-epidural anesthesia untilthe patient reported a lack of sensation in the perianal area 14 days postoperatively. She had normal motor function of her extremities. A laminectomy and cyst irrigation was performed. After the operation, her sphincter disturbance subsided gradually and her symptoms had disappeared.

Lumbar Epidural Varix Mimicking Perineural Cyst

Lumbar epidural varices are rare and usually mimick lumbar disc herniations. Back pain and radiculopathy are the main symptoms of lumbar epidural varices. Perineural cysts are radiologically different lesions and should not be confused with epidural varix. A 36-year-old male patient presented to us with right leg pain. The magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cystic lesion at S1 level that was compressing the right root, and was interpreted as a perineural cyst. The patient underwent surgery via right L5 and S1 hemilaminectomy, and the lesion was coagulated and removed. The histopathological diagnosis was epidural varix. The patient was clinically improved and the follow-up magnetic resonance imaging showed the absence of the lesion. Lumbar epidural varix should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of the cystic lesions which compress the spinal roots.

Clinical Experience of Symptomatic Sacral Perineural Cyst

Tarlov or perineural cysts are nerve root cysts found most commonly at the sacral spine level arising between covering layers of the perineurium and the endoneurium near the dorsal root ganglion and are usually asymptomatic. Symptomatic sacral perineural cysts are uncommon but sometimes require surgical treatment. A 69-year-old male presented with pain in the buttock. He was diagnosed as having a sacral cyst with magnetic resonance imaging. For the nonoperative diagnosis and treatment, caudal peridurography and block were performed. After the treatment, the patient's symptom was relieved. We suggest a caudal peridural block is effective in relieving pain from a sacral cyst.

Sacral Perineural Cyst Accompanying Disc Herniation

Although most of sacral perineural cysts are asymptomatic, some may produce symptoms. Specific radicular pain may be due to distortion, compression, or stretching of nerve root by a space occupying cyst. We report a rare case of S1 radiculopathy caused by sacral perineural cyst accompanying disc herniation. The patient underwent a microscopic discectomy at L5-S1 level. However, the patient's symptoms did not improved. The hypesthesia persisted, as did the right leg pain. Cyst-subarachnoid shunt was set to decompress nerve root and to equalize the cerebrospinal fluid pressure between the cephalad thecal sac and cyst. Immediately after surgery, the patient had no leg pain. After 6 months, the patient still remained free of leg pain.

Perineural Cyst in Upper Lumbar Spine: A Case Report / 대한척추외과학회지

Spinal perineural cyst rarely appears in the upper lumbar spinal region as compared it occurrence at other spinal region. These cysts seldom cause radiating pain and neurologic symptoms because the majority of these cysts involve the sacral portion of the spine. Spinal perineural cyst can be recognized incidentally on magnetic resonance imaging while differentiating other diseases that cause back pain. The differential diagnosis of symptoms is needed to rule out whether or not the intraspinal cystic mass is the actual cause of radiculopathy. We report here on a case of perineural cyst at a left neural foramen of L2-3 and the patient displayed neurologic manifestations. The patient had progressively aggravated low back pain and sciatica of two years duration. MRI well demonstrated neural compression of the left 2nd lumbar neural root. Relief of symptoms were achieved by performing posterior decompression (hemilaminectomy, fascectomy & decompression of the ligamentum flavum), excision of the cyst and posterolateral fusion of L2-3.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Secondary Piriformis Syndrome by Perineural Cyst on the Sciatic Nerve: A Case Report

Secondary piriformis syndrome may develop under several conditions. We report on the method and usefulness of arthroscopic treatment of the piriformis muscle and benign perineural cyst of the sciatic nerve. Arthroscopic assessment was performed to a perineural cyst on the sciatic nerve seen through EMG and hip MRI. Through the posterior and posteroinferior portal, the lesion below the piriformis muscle was confirmed following release of the tendon. The incision and drainage of the perineural cyst was done so as to achieve decompression. The excision of the lesion was not carried out so as to avoid injury to the sciatic nerve. Symptoms did not recur during 10 months of follow up appointments.

Sacral Perineural Cyst: A Case Report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

A sacral perineural cyst is composed of an arachnoid membrane of the nerve root at the sacral region. We performed a wide posterior decompression and cystectomy in a patient who suffered from back pain with pain radiating in both lower extremities, and whose MRI findings coincided with those of a sacral perineural cyst. Clinical improvement was observed during the follow-up review. We report the surgical treatment with a review of the relevant literature.

Sacral Perineural Cyst: Another Cause of Sciatica

About 25% of intrasacral perineural cyst cause sciatica resembling lumbar disc herniation or lumbar stenosis. We report a case of sacral perineural cyst in a 38-year-old female who complained of sciatica and neurogenic intermittent claudication. Delayed X-ray after 3 hours from initial myelogram revealed round cyst at the sacral canal. CT and MRI revealed a cystic mass which has cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) signal intensity. The patient underwent surgery via sacral laminotomy and ligation of cyst including S2 nerve root. The patient returned to work with complete relief of symptoms.

Sacral Perineural cyst: report of 3 cases / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Sacral perineural cyst is one group of extradural meningeal cyst at the sacral region. These lesions are distinguished from other spinal cysts because perineural cyst does not communicate with subarachnoidal space. Fluid filled cysts may compress adjacent nerve roots causing low back pain and sciatica which are dramatically improved by surgical excision. Differential diagnosis from other cysts can be accomplished by failure of collection of dye into cyst by initial myelography. C-T myelography rules out other mass lesions and often reveals communication of perineural cyst that filled with contrast medium. Magnetic resonance imaging well demonstrates three dimensinnal configures of an intraspinal cystic mass in initial study. However it is important to recognize that these cysts are one of causes of radiculopathy. We report three cases of sacral perineural cysts with radiculopathy.