Arachnoid cyst mimicking intramedullary spinal cord tumour

ABSTRACT

Arachnoid cysts are intra-arachnoid collections of cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] that produce neurologic symptoms either by compressing adjacent neural tissue or by obstructing CSF flow. This is a case of symptomatic arachnoid cyst at C5-C6 level in a 20-year-old man with intradural tumours suspected as neuroenteric cyst, epidermoid cyst or low grade glioma. The past medical history of this patient was non-contributory. There was no cervical spine trauma and no causative factors of arachnoiditis. The cyst was widely fenestrated and postoperatively the patient experienced progressive improvement of weakness, numbness and sensory deficits. The authors report this case and discuss the rarity of such a lesion, the mechanism of formation, clinical significance and radiological features