Arachnoid cysts in adults: experience with internal shunts to the subdural compartment

Surgical decompression of arachnoid cysts leads to improved quality of life: a prospective study-long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND

In a previous study, we reported a short-term (6 months) postoperative improvement of health-related quality of life (Qol) in patients operated for an arachnoid cyst (AC). The aim was to investigate whether this initial improvement was permanent.

METHODS

A long-term (5 ± 2 years) prospective study comparing Qol and complaints before and 5 ± 2 years after surgical fenestration for AC in 76 adult patients, using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) scores, Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) questionnaires, and Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) for headache and dizziness, similarly to what they did at short-term follow-up.

RESULTS

At short-term and long-term follow-ups, 73.4% and 82%, respectively, of the patients were better from their headache compared with preoperative scores. The corresponding improvement rates for dizziness were 61.7% (short-term) and 67.9 (long-term). Preoperatively, the mean headache VAS score was 45.6; at short-term follow-up, this was reduced to 25.7, and at long-term follow-up, this further reduced to 24.8. The preoperative mean VAS score for dizziness (35.2) was reduced to 12.2 (short-term) and 13.9 (long-term). The significant postoperative improvement of patient-reported Qol at short-term follow-up remained at long-term follow-up across seven out of eight SF-36 dimensions and three out of four GBI subscale scores. Similar to at short-term follow-up, the Qol improvement is correlated to improvement in headache and/or dizziness.

CONCLUSIONS

The previously reported postoperative, short-term improvement in Qol and complaints appears stable, as the improvement remains at long-term follow-up. This suggests that the beneficial effects of surgical treatment are long-lasting.

Stereotactic Internal Shunt Placement in Congenital Intracranial Cysts

INTRODUCTION

Treatment of symptomatic intracranial cysts remains a controversial issue. We present a risk/benefit profile of a minimally invasive, not yet described, stereotactic internal shunt implantation technique. The provided data might serve as a reference against which other treatment modalities could be compared.

METHODS

From our prospective database, we identified a consecutive series of patients with symptomatic, untreated cysts who had undergone internal shunting from 2009 to 2017. We estimated the rates of clinical symptom improvement (RCSI), cyst reduction, total complications, and long-term complications. A minimal follow-up of 6 months was required. The prognostic factors were obtained from logistic regression models. Cyst recurrence-free survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The outcomes data were compared with those from reported alternative treatment strategies using χ² statistics.

RESULTS

We included 38 patients. The cyst locations differed greatly and included the cerebellum (n = 2), brainstem (n = 5), and pineal area (n = 4). Cyst-associated hydrocephalus (n = 6) resolved after treatment. The 2-year cyst recurrence-free survival rate was 97%. The RCSI and rate of cyst reduction, total complications, and long-term complications was 91%, 97%, 11%, and 2.6%, respectively. We did not find any risk factors associated with the rate of total complications. The RCSI and rate of total and long-term complications compared favorably (P < 0.01) with the corresponding estimates of alternative treatments (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The described stereotactic internal shunt implantation technique is safe and can be successfully applied for treatment of cystic formations in any location in the brain.

Neurological Fallacies Leading to Malpractice: A Case Studies Approach

A young woman presents with an intracranial arachnoid cyst. Another is diagnosed with migraine headache. An elderly man awakens with a stroke. And a baby delivered vaginally after 2 hours of questionable electronic fetal monitoring patterns grows up to have cerebral palsy. These seemingly disparate cases share a common underlying theme: medical myths. Myths that may lead not only to misdiagnosis and treatment harms but to seemingly never-ending medical malpractice lawsuits, potentially culminating in a settlement or judgment against an unsuspecting neurologist. This article provides a case studies approach exposing the fallacies and highlighting proper management of these common neurologic presentations.

Surgical Decompression of Arachnoid Cysts Leads to Improved Quality of Life: A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND

There is no previous prospective study on the outcome of surgical decompression of intracranial arachnoid cysts (AC).

OBJECTIVE

To investigate if surgical fenestration for AC leads to change in patients' health-related quality of life.

METHODS

Prospective study including 76 adult patients operated for AC. Patients responded to Short Form-36 and Glasgow Benefit Inventory quality of life questionnaires, and to visual analogue scales, assessing headache and dizziness pre- and postoperatively. Patient scores were compared with those of a large sample of healthy individuals.

RESULTS

Preoperatively, 84.2% of the patients experienced headache and 70.1% dizziness. Mean pre- versus postoperative Visual Analogue Scale scores for headache and dizziness dropped from 45.6 to 25.7 and from 35.2 to 12.2, respectively. Preoperative Short Form-36 scores were significantly below age norms in all subscales, but improved after surgery into normal range in 7 out of 8 subscales for middle-aged and older patients. Younger patients' scores remained lower than age norm in 6 out of 8 subscales. A significant postoperative improvement was seen in 3 out of 4 Glasgow Benefit Inventory subscales. Improvement in headache and/or dizziness, but not preoperative cyst size or reduction in cyst volume, correlated with improvement in 6 out of 8 Short Form-36 subscales and 3 out of 4 Glasgow Benefit Inventory subscales. Only 1 patient experienced a severe complication causing permanent invalidity.

CONCLUSION

Surgery for AC can be performed with a fairly low risk of complications and yields significant improvement in quality of life correlated to postoperative improvement in headache and dizziness. These findings may justify a more liberal approach to surgical treatment for AC.

Microsurgical fenestration and cystoperitoneal shunt through preauricular subtemporal keyhole craniotomy for the treatment of symptomatic middle fossa arachnoid cysts in children

INTRODUCTION

The optimal surgical treatment for symptomatic middle fossa arachnoid cyst is still controversial. The most leading therapeutic options include cyst shunting and fenestration (endoscopic, microsurgical). We present our experience on surgical treatments of arachnoid cysts.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective data review of 16 children who underwent keyhole craniotomy for microsurgical fenestration and shunting of middle fossa arachnoid cysts between 1999 and 2012 was performed after institutional review board approval. The average patient age was 6.1 years. The average follow-up period was 36.5 months. There were ten male and six female patients in the series. Indications for surgery included intractable headaches (50%), increasing in cyst size (18.75%), and seizures (31.25%). All patient records were reviewed for their clinical presentation, classification, cyst resolution, symptom resolution, and cyst outcomes. After surgery, all patients underwent assessments of clinical and radiological improvement.

RESULTS

Postoperative complications were observed in two cases: progressively resolving monoparesia in one case and resolving epileptic seizure with monotherapy in the other. All patients had a satisfactory clinical outcome, and in 87.5%, there was either a decrease in the size or a complete disappearance of the MFAC. Nevertheless, three (18.75%) of all patients needed shunt revision because of shunt dysfunction. Complication related to surgical technique was cerebrospinal fluid leak which spontaneously resolved in one patient.

CONCLUSION

Microsurgical fenestration with keyhole craniotomy to provide passage between cysts to basal cisterns together with cystoperitoneal shunting during the same operation is still an effective and safe method in cases with symptomatic middle fossa arachnoid cysts in children.

Cyst-ventricle stent as primary or salvage treatment for posterior fossa arachnoid cysts

OBJECT

The optimal treatment of symptomatic posterior fossa arachnoid cysts is controversial. Current options include open or endoscopic resection, fenestration, or cyst-peritoneal shunt placement. There are potential drawbacks with all options. Previous authors have described stenting a cyst into the ventricular system for supratentorial lesions. The current authors have used a similar strategy for posterior fossa cysts.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective review of 79 consecutive patients (1993-2010) with surgically treated intracranial arachnoid cysts.

RESULTS

The authors identified 3 patients who underwent placement of a stent from a posterior fossa arachnoid cyst to a supratentorial ventricle. In 2 patients the stent construct consisted of a catheter placed into a posterior fossa arachnoid cyst and connecting to a lateral ventricle catheter. Both patients underwent stent placement as a salvage procedure after failure of open surgical fenestration. In the third patient a single-catheter cyst-ventricle stent was stereotactically placed. All 3 patients improved clinically. Two patients remained asymptomatic, with radiographic stability in a follow-up period of 1 and 5 years, respectively. The third patient experienced initial symptom resolution with a demonstrable reduction of intracystic pressure. However, he developed recurrent headaches after 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Posterior fossa cyst-ventricle stenting offers the benefits of ease of surgical technique and a low morbidity rate. It may also potentially reduce the incidence of shunt-related headaches by equalizing the pressure between the posterior fossa and the supratentorial compartments. While fenestration is considered the first-line therapy for most symptomatic arachnoid cysts, the authors consider cyst-ventricle stenting to be a valuable additional strategy in treating these rare and often difficult lesions.

Location, sidedness, and sex distribution of intracranial arachnoid cysts in a population-based sample

Object

The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of intracranial arachnoid cysts in a large and unselected patient population with special emphasis on sidedness and sex distribution.

Methods

In total, 299 patients with 305 arachnoid cysts were studied. These patients were consecutively referred to our department during a 20-year period from a well-defined geographical area with a stable population.

Results

There was a strong predilection (198 patients [66.2%]) for intracranial arachnoid cysts in the temporal fossa. Forty-two patients had cysts overlying the frontal convexity, 36 had cysts in the posterior fossa, and 23 patients had cysts in other, different locations. Of 269 cysts with clearly unilateral distribution, 163 were located on the left side and 106 on the right side. This difference resulted from the marked preponderance of temporal fossa cysts on the left side (left-to-right ratio 2.5:1; p < 0.0001 [adjusted < 0.0005]). For cysts in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA), there was preponderance on the right side (p = 0.001 [adjusted = 0.005]). Significantly more males than females had cysts in the temporal fossa (p = 0.002 [adjusted = 0.004]), whereas in the CPA a significant female preponderance was found (p = 0.016 [adjusted = 0.032]). For all other cyst locations, there was no difference between the 2 sexes.

Conclusions

Arachnoid cysts have a strong predilection for the temporal fossa. There is a sex dependency for some intracranial locations of arachnoid cysts, with temporal cysts occurring more frequently in men, and CPA cysts found more frequently in women. Furthermore, there is a strong location-related sidedness for arachnoid cysts, independent of patient sex. These findings and reports from the literature suggest a possible genetic component in the development of some arachnoid cysts.

Phase-contrast cine MRI versus MR cisternography on the evaluation of the communication between intraventricular arachnoid cysts and neighbouring cerebrospinal fluid spaces

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of phase-contrast cine magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) in detecting possible communications between intraventricular arachnoid cysts (IV-ACs) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces based on MR cisternography (MRC) comparison.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-one patients with IV-AC were examined by PC-MRI and MRC. In order to determine the communication of IVAC with its neighbouring CSF spaces, PC-MRI was employed. The communication of IV-ACs with the ventricular system was examined on at least two anatomic planes. Precontrast images and PC-MRI were followed by the intrathecal administration of 0.5-1 ml gadopentetate dimeglumine. Early and delayed MRC were then carried out. Results of PC-MRI were compared with findings of MRC (McNemar's test).

RESULTS

In seven IV-ACs, no communication was detected by PC-MRI. In 14 IVACs, a pulsatile CSF flow into the IV-ACs was observed. All the IV-ACs, which have been determined as non-communicating (NC) on the PC-MRI, showed NC character on MRC as well. Six cases suggesting a communication on PC-MRI showed no communication on MRC. MRC revealed eight communicating (38%) and 13 NC (62%) IV-ACs among a total of 21 cases. The sensitivity and specificity of PC-MRI imaging in demonstrating the communication between the IV-ACs and the CSF were 100% and 54%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

PC-MRI is an effective method for evaluating NC IV-ACs. In order to decide about the management of IV-ACs, which are communicating according to the PC-MRI, the results should be confirmed with MRC if suspected jet flow is depicted.

Management of intracranial arachnoid cysts: Institutional experience with initial 32 cases and review of the literature

Surgical indications and modalities in treatment of intracranial arachnoid cysts still remain controversial owing to limited understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms and natural history of this pathology. Current literature favours endoscopic interventions for arachnoid cysts. We retrospectively reviewed 32 intracranial arachnoid cysts managed over 11-year period in our institution. Post-therapeutic results were clinically and radiologically assessed. Supratentorial location of cysts was noted in 75% cases (n=24) while 25% cysts were located infratentorially (n=8). The mean cyst size was 54mm in largest dimension (range 10-100mm; median 50mm). Hemiparesis was noted in 37% cases, raised intracranial pressure and seizures in 34% cases each, while cranial nerve dysfunction was noted in 16% cases. Seventy five percent cases were surgically managed: excision and marsupialization was done in 53% cases (n=17), stereotactic aspiration in 12.5% cases (n=4), endoscopic fenestration in 6.25% cases (n=2) and cystoperitoneal shunting initially in 1 case (3%) and after recurrence of primarily excised cysts in 2 cases. Conservative treatment with regular clinical and imaging control was done in 25% cases (n=8). The mean follow-up was 72 months (range: 12-108 months). Good outcome was noted in 72% cases, 16% cases remained unchanged while only one case with giant suprasellar cyst worsened. With excision and marsupialization, 65% of cysts reduced in size (n=11/17), 17% cysts resolved completely (n=3/17). The overall recurrence rate was 29%. Surgery excision and marsupialization of symptomatic cases provided good results.

A population based study of intracranial arachnoid cysts: clinical and neuroimaging outcomes following surgical cyst decompression in adults

BACKGROUND

We have gradually adopted a liberal attitude towards surgical decompression of arachnoid cysts. This study describes the results from our institution.

METHODS

Long term clinical and neuroimaging results of 156 adult patients (aged > or = 16 years) operated on for arachnoid cysts in our department during the period January 1987 to September 2004 were assessed based on their medical and neuroimaging records, and on a questionnaire.

RESULTS

The clinical and/or neuroimaging results indicated that the cyst was successfully decompressed in all patients. 82% of patients were asymptomatic or had insignificant complaints at follow-up. 12% reported no symptom relief whereas 6% experienced worsening of symptoms. The cyst disappeared after surgery, or was reduced to < 50% of the preoperative volume, in 66% of cases. In another 24%, the postoperative volume was also reduced, but was larger than 50% of the original cyst volume. No reduction in fluid volume was observed in 10% of cases. There was no association between volume reduction and clinical improvement. A complication occurred in 26 patients (17%), all with temporal cysts, leading to reoperation in 11 patients (7.1%). In only two patients did the complication cause a permanent slight disability.

CONCLUSION

Decompression of arachnoid cysts yields a substantial clinical benefit with a low risk of severe complications.

A population-based study of intracranial arachnoid cysts: clinical and neuroimaging outcomes following surgical cyst decompression in children

OBJECT

If, when, and how children with arachnoid cysts should undergo surgery has been a matter of debate. In the present study the authors describe long-term clinical and neuroimaging results in children with intracranial arachnoid cysts, treated in accordance with the authors' policy of performing surgery in most of these cases.

METHODS

The study included 48 pediatric patients (age < 16 years of age) who underwent surgery for treatment of an arachnoid cyst at Haukeland University Hospital between January 1987 and September 2004. Forty-one patients underwent cyst fenestration to the basal cisterns and posterior fossa. Long-term results were assessed retrospectively on the basis of medical and neuroimaging records. Additional information was obtained by means of a check-box questionnaire completed by the patients and their parents. At their follow-up examinations, 82% of the patients had no or insignificant complaints, 14% reported no improvement, and 4% noted a worsening of symptoms. In 56% of the patients with appropriate imaging for analysis, the cyst was no longer visible on neuroimaging studies. In 23%, the postoperative fluid volume was reduced to less than 50% of the original cyst volume, and in another 19%, the volume was reduced but was larger than 50% of the original. The cyst was unchanged in only 2%. There was a significant association between a volume reduction greater than 50% and clinical improvement. Three patients (6%), all with temporal cysts, had minor complications that led to additional surgery in one patient. No complications caused permanent disability. Eight patients (17%) underwent additional surgery due to suspected or demonstrated treatment failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Most children who underwent cyst fenestration via a craniotomy experienced a good long-term outcome with no severe complications.

A population-based study of intracranial arachnoid cysts: clinical and neuroimaging outcomes following surgical cyst decompression in children

Object

If, when, and how children with arachnoid cysts should undergo surgery has been a matter of debate. In the present study the authors describe long-term clinical and neuroimaging results in children with intracranial arachnoid cysts, treated in accordance with the authors' policy of performing surgery in most of these cases.

Methods

The study included 48 pediatric patients (age < 16 years of age) who underwent surgery for treatment of an arachnoid cyst at Haukeland University Hospital between January 1987 and September 2004. Forty-one patients underwent cyst fenestration to the basal cisterns and posterior fossa. Long-term results were assessed retrospectively on the basis of medical and neuroimaging records. Additional information was obtained by means of a check-box questionnaire completed by the patients and their parents.

At their follow-up examinations, 82% of the patients had no or insignificant complaints, 14% reported no improvement, and 4% noted a worsening of symptoms. In 56% of the patients with appropriate imaging for analysis, the cyst was no longer visible on neuroimaging studies. In 23%, the postoperative fluid volume was reduced to less than 50% of the original cyst volume, and in another 19%, the volume was reduced but was larger than 50% of the original. The cyst was unchanged in only 2%. There was a significant association between a volume reduction greater than 50% and clinical improvement. Three patients (6%), all with temporal cysts, had minor complications that led to additional surgery in one patient. No complications caused permanent disability. Eight patients (17%) underwent additional surgery due to suspected or demonstrated treatment failure.

Conclusions

Most children who underwent cyst fenestration via a craniotomy experienced a good long-term outcome with no severe complications.

Arachnoid cysts in adults: long-term follow-up of patients treated with internal shunts to the subdural compartment

BACKGROUND

We have previously presented an alternative method for surgical decompression of intracranial arachnoid cysts. This minimally invasive method, with insertion of an internal shunt from the cyst to the subdural compartment, seemed to be an efficient and simple, and hence promising technique. The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term results of this procedure.

METHODS

This study is a questionnaire-based retrospective study that includes 31 adult patients (>18 years) who were operated on in our department for an arachnoid cyst in the temporal fossa or overlying the frontal convexity with the internal shunt technique between April 1990 and October 2003. Follow-up ranged from 15 months to 14.8 years (mean = 8.2 years).

RESULTS

Of the patients, 83% were asymptomatic or had insignificant complaints at follow-up. A total of 17% reported no reduction of the preoperative complaints. No patient experienced worsening of the symptoms. The cyst was no longer visible on postoperative radiologic examinations in 37% of the patients. In 37%, the postoperative fluid volume was less than 50% of the original volume. In 13%, the cyst volume was reduced but the postoperative volume was greater than 50% of the original cyst volume. Thus, the cyst was unchanged in only 13% of the patients. There was no correlation between volume reduction and clinical improvement. A complication (subdural hygroma or hematoma) occurred in 7 patients, all with temporal cysts, leading to reoperation in 4. None of the complications caused permanent neurologic deficits or invalidity. Seven patients were reoperated on because of suspected or established treatment failure.

CONCLUSIONS

The internal shunt technique is a relatively simple, safe, and efficient alternative method for treatment of arachnoid cysts. It should be considered a valuable alternative in the treatment of arachnoid cysts.

Microsurgical Keyhole Approach for Middle Fossa Arachnoid Cyst Fenestration

OBJECTIVE

The optimal surgical treatment for symptomatic temporal arachnoid cysts is controversial. Therapeutic options include cyst shunting, endoscopic fenestration, and craniotomy for fenestration. We reviewed the results for patients who were treated primarily with craniotomy and fenestration at our institution, to provide a baseline for comparisons of the efficacies of other treatment modalities.

METHODS

A retrospective review of data for 50 children who underwent keyhole craniotomy for fenestration of temporal arachnoid cysts between 1994 and 2001 was performed after institutional review board approval. During that period, the first-line treatment for all symptomatic middle fossa arachnoid cysts was microcraniotomy for fenestration. Microsurgical dissection to create communications between the cyst cavity and basal cisterns was the goal. All patient records were reviewed and numerous variables related to presentation, cyst size and classification, treatment, cyst resolution, symptom resolution, follow-up periods, and cyst outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

Fifty temporal arachnoid cysts in 50 treated patients were identified. The average age at the time of surgery was 68 ± 57.2 months. The follow-up periods averaged 36 months. There were 34 male and 16 female patients in the series. Twenty-six cysts were on the left side. Indications for surgery included intractable headaches (45%), increasing cyst size (21%), seizures (25%), and hemiparesis (8%). The symptoms most likely to improve were hemiparesis (100%) and abducens nerve palsies. Headaches (67%) and seizure disorders (50%) were less likely to improve. Nine patients exhibited progressive increases in cyst size in serial imaging studies. Those patients were monitored for a mean of 40 ± 23 months before intervention. In the entire series, 82% of patients demonstrated decreases in cyst size in serial imaging studies. Of those patients, 18% demonstrated complete cyst effacement. Overall, 83% of patients with Grade II cysts and 75% of patients with Grade III cysts exhibited evidence of decreases in cyst size in long-term monitoring. Two patients required shunting after craniotomy (4%). Hospital stays averaged 3.4 days. Total surgical times averaged 115 minutes. No significant blood loss occurred (5–50 ml). Complications included spontaneously resolving pseudomeningocele (10%), transient Cranial Nerve III palsy (6%), cerebrospinal fluid leak (6%), subdural hematoma (4%), and wound infection (2%).

CONCLUSION

A microsurgical keyhole approach to arachnoid cyst fenestration is a safe effective method for treating middle fossa cysts. This procedure can be performed with minimal morbidity via a minicraniotomy. Compared with an endoscopic approach, better control of hemostasis can be obtained, because of the ability to use bipolar forceps and other standard instruments. The operative time and length of hospital stay were not excessively increased.

[Intracranial arachnoid cyst. Report of 9 operated cases]

Analysis of nine patients with intracranial arachnoid cysts surgically treated from 1974 to 1995. The treatment consisted of cystoperitoneal shunt in seven patients and craniotomy with excision of cyst membrane in the other two cases. After surgery, bacterial meningitis and failure shunt device were observed in three cases. Both the infectious process and the shunt device were respectively treated and corrected at once. It has been observed total clinical improvement in all nine cases. A review of the literature has been made and some pathophysiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects are discussed.

Arachnoid cysts: how do postsurgical cyst size and seizure outcome correlate?

Arachnoid cysts (ACs) are congenital cystic brain malformations associated with epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of surgical intervention of ACs on cyst size and seizure outcome. We reviewed the world's medical literature dealing with surgically treated ACs in epilepsy patients. Our study included only cases, in which the relationship between pre-and postoperative CT-size of the AC and seizure outcome was described. We also included six patients with ACs and epilepsy treated surgically at the University of Mainz. We analyzed postoperative AC size and seizure outcome with respect to mode of operation, cyst location, and patients' age. A total of 76 patients was reviewed. Sixty (79%) patients had a smaller AC postoperatively. Forty-six of those 60 (76.6%) experienced seizure improvement. Thirteen patients (21.6%) remained unchanged and one patient (1.8%) worsened. In 16 of the 76 patients (21%) the postoperative AC size was unchanged. Eight of those 16 patients improved. Six patients (37.5%) remained unchanged and two (12.5%) worsened. A positive correlation between postoperative AC size and seizure outcome was well demonstrated among patients treated by cyst fenestration, needle aspiration, or internal shunting. Among patients treated by cystoperitoneal shunting this direct correlation was less clear. Seizure outcome correlates directly with postoperative AC size. Seizure reduction is associated with decreased AC size postoperatively and depends on the mode of operation. Based on these data we would expect that patients with epilepsy secondary to ACs would demonstrate improved seizure control with lower AC volume. Conversely, we might expect increasing AC size to correlate with worse seizure control. This relationship may guide physicians in efficacy and timely patient management.