Spinal arachnoid cysts - 10 cases

ABSTRACT

The authors report their experience of 10 patients with spinal arachnoid cyst at the Hopital des specialties in Rabat. There were 5 females and 5males. The mean age was 27 years [range 6 to 70 years]. Eight patients had sings of spinal cord compression and the other two were admitted with severe sciatica. All patients had computed tomography-myelography or magnetic resonance imaging. The lesion involved the thoracic spine in 7, lumbar in 2 and cervical in 1 patient. The cysts were intradural in 6 an extradural in 4 patients. Treatment consisted of complete removal in 5 patients, marsupalisation in 3 and perforation aspiration in 2 patients. Follow-up ranging between 2-7 years, showed total improvement in 6 patients, partial recovery in 3 patients and 1 patient remained unchanged. Recurrence of the cyst was seen in 2 patients. The authors discuss the aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical, radiological and therapeutic aspects of this benign condition