Infantile arachnoid cyst compressing the sacral nerve root associated with spina bifida and lipoma--case report

Congenital Spinal Cysts: An Update and Review of the Literature

Congenital spinal cysts are rare and encompass a wide variety of diseases including arachnoid, enterogenous, teratomatous, neurenteric, foregut, bronchogenic, epithelial, ependymal, dermoid, and epidermoid cysts. Here, we elucidate the epidemiology, pathology, pathogenesis, and diagnostic findings of the most common congenital spinal cysts, followed by a discussion of their presentation and treatment options. Differentiating the cause of each lesion is crucial for targeted clinical and surgical management for the patient. Our review describes how arachnoid cysts can be observed, fenestrated, percutaneously drained, or shunted; however, the primary goal for neurenteric, dermoid, and epidermoid cysts is removal. Further, we discuss how patient presentation is dependent on the rate of growth and location of compression on the spinal cord and nerve roots. However, although many of these lesions are discovered incidentally on imaging, the spectrum of possible symptoms include pain, weakness, ataxia, bladder incontinence, and progressive or acute neurologic deficits. We present and review the histology and imaging of a variety of cysts and discuss how although the goal of treatment is resection, the risks of surgery must be considered against the benefits of complete resection in each case.

Congenital Spinal Lipomatous Malformations. Part 1. Spinal Lipomas, Lipomyeloceles, and Lipomyelomeningoceles

Background: Lumbosacral spinal lipomas and lipomyeloceles are usually identified in early childhood. Terminology, histopathology, and diagnosis for these malformations can be confusing. Materials and Methods: This is a PubMed review with comparison of embryology, gross, and histopathology, and reporting requisites for these and related closed spinal malformations. Results: The spinal lipoma group (congenital spinal lipomatous malformations) includes subcutaneous, transdural, intradural, and noncontiguous malformations stretching through the entire lower spinal region. This lipomyelocele trajectory overlaps the embryonic tail's caudal eminence. Histopathologically, the lipomyelocele spectrum is a heterogeneous, stereotypical set of findings encountered from dermis to spinal cord. Diagnosis requires detailed correlation of images, intraoperative inspection, and histopathology. Conclusions: Appropriate terminology and clinicopathologic correlation to arrive at a diagnosis is a critical activity shared by pathologist and clinician. Prognostic and management differences depend on specific diagnoses. Familial and genetic influences play little if any role in patient management in closed spinal malformations.

[Epidemiology and classification of arachnoid cysts in children]

The prevalence of arachnoid cysts in children is 1-3%. They are more frequent in boys. They can be located intracranially or in the spine. Intracranial cysts are classified as supratentorial, infratentorial, and supra-infratentorial (tentorial notch). Supratentorial are divided into middle cranial fossa, convexity, inter-hemisferic, sellar region, and intraventricular. Infratentorial are classified into supracerebellar, infracerebellar, hemispheric, clivus, and cerebellopontine angle. Finally spinal arachnoid cysts are classified taking into account whether they are extra- or intradural, and nerve root involvement.

Symptomatic idiopathic noncommunicating intradural arachnoid cyst of the S1 nerve root: a case report

STUDY DESIGN

A case report of a rare symptomatic, idiopathic, noncommunicating intradural arachnoid cyst (IAC) of the proximal part of the S1 nerve root (NR).

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the possible pathophysiology, clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) presentation, intraoperative findings, and follow-up of IAC of the proximal part of the S1 NR.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Rare variety of the Nabors's Type 3 spinal IAC. The etiopathogenesis are uncertain. Surgical NR decompression with extirpation of the cyst is the treatment of choice.

METHODS

A 37-year-old woman clinically presented as monoradiculopathy with a 9-month history of progressive, posture-dependent radicular pain, paresthesia and hypoesthesia in the right S1 dermatome, and mild weakness of the ipsilateral plantar flexors. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a noncommunicating IAC of the proximal part of the S1 NR on the right side. Surgical exploration through the ipsilateral L5-S1 hemilaminectomy was performed with microsurgical arachnolysis of the compressed and stretched S1 NR fascicles that surrounded the cyst, during which the cyst spontaneously collapsed. The remnant of the cyst wall was extirpated and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis.

RESULTS

After surgery an excellent clinical outcome was archived: the leg pain was no longer present and the paraesthesia, hypoesthesia, and motor weakness were resolved within 3 months. At 12 months of follow-up, the patient continues to be completely asymptomatic with no evidence of recurrence on MRI.

CONCLUSION

A rare case of symptomatic, idiopathic, noncommunicating IAC of the proximal part of the S1 NR has been presented. Early recognition and treatment resulted in complete symptom resolution, with preservation of the full working capacity and good quality of life. Isolated monoradiculopathy with progressive, posture-dependent radicular pain seem to be typical clinical findings for such a lesion. Attending physicians should always be mindful of this fact in the total clinical evaluation of such cases.

Spinal lipoma associated with terminal syringohydromyelia and a spinal arachnoid cyst in a patient with cloacal exstrophy

CASE REPORT

A 2-year-old girl presented with repaired cloacal exstrophy and a subcutaneous mass at the midline of the lumbosacral region. Neurological examination revealed mild paraparesis with bilateral lower-extremity hyperreflexia and sensory disturbance below the level of L4. A CT scan showed asymmetrical spina bifida on the right side extending from L2 to L5, and symmetrical spina bifida below S1. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a low-set conus with terminal syringohydromyelia, lumbosacral lipoma, and the extradural arachnoid cysts at Th12-L4 compressing the spinal dural sac from behind. Surgical removal of the arachnoid cyst and lipoma relieved spinal dural sac compression and the tethered spinal cord. The patient showed an improvement in the lower-extremity hyperreflexia postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

The rare association of the cloacal exstrophy with the multiple spinal cord abnormalities as shown in the present case indicates that detailed routine screening of the spinal cord is necessary for the careful planning of treatment in patients with anorectal anomalies.