Surgical Treatment of Intracranial Arachnoid Cyst by Excision

ABSTRACT

Arachnoid cysts are benign developmental cysts that occur between aachnoid layers, which represent approximately 1 percent of all intracranial space-occupying lesions, their most common location being the middle cranial fossa. Current surgical treatment options for intracranial arachnoid cyst are either craniotomy and excision of cyst or shunting of cyst contents extracranially. We treated 10 cases of intracranial arachnoid cyst by excision during last two years. For the best surgical curability, we have, not only removed the cyst wall and adhesive gliotic tissue as possible, but also made the opening to basal cistern for communication. During average 8.4 months follow up, we observed, not specific morbidity and mortality, but good clinical improvement and brain expansion. As above result, if haven't specific problem, the direct surgical removal may be the primary choice for intracranial arachnoid cyst, especially in children with noncommunicating type in sylvian.