Intracranial arachnoid cysts: radiological study of the incidental, the symptomatic and the complicated.

This poster is published under an open license. Please read the disclaimer for further details.

Congress:

ECR 2015

Poster Number:

C-1092

Type:

Educational Exhibit

Keywords:

Cysts, Cerebrospinal fluid, Diagnostic procedure, MR, CT, Neuroradiology brain

Authors:

C. Ospina Moreno, I. Montejo, A. C. Vela Marin, A. Castan, M. A. Marin, J. González Gambau, C. Sebastián, D. Marquina, M. Cozar Bartos; Zaragoza/ES

DOI:

10.1594/ecr2015/C-1092

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/ecr2015/C-1092

Fig. 1: T2-weighted MR images show different locations of arachnoid cysts. A) Right...

Fig. 3: A 12 year old boy who was admitted in our hospital with diplopia. The CT scan...

Fig. 2: Galassi classification

Learning objectives

To assess the main radiological features of intracranial arachnoid cyst. To know the clinical presentation, evolution and complications that are associated with the arachnoid cyst.

Background

Arachnoid cysts (AC) are benign lesions that are formed between the inner and outer layers of the arachnoid. They are ﬁlled with clear cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and they do not have direct communication with the ventricular system. The origin of these cysts is thought to be congenital by dysgenesis in embryological development of subarachnoid space. Other causes have also been attributed to trauma, mastoiditis, meningitis, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. AC account for 1% of all intracranial space occupying lesions. The size varies, from small and...

Findings and procedure details

RADIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS: Computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard for diagnosis. CT imaging of an AC will show a noncalcified homogeneous extra-axial cystic lesion, similar to LCR attenuation that does not enhance with contrast administration and produces remodeling of adjacent bone structures. MRI is a useful tool for diagnostic complementation. On MRI AC has the same signal intensity as CSF at all sequences. AC will suppress completely on fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging and will not demonstrate restriction on diffusion-weighted images, therefore are hypointense...

Conclusion

Most arachnoid cysts remain asyntomatic. Nevertheless, they may have symptoms and complications. Therefore it is necessary to know well their typical and atypical sites, as well as the symptoms and complications depending on their size and location.

Personal information

References

Yildiz H, Erdogan C, Yalcin R, Yazici Z, Hakyemez B, Parlak M, et al. Evaluation of Communication between Intracranial Arachnoid Cysts and Cisterns with Phase-Contrast Cine MR Imaging.AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2005;26:145–151. Vega SA, Obieta CE, Hernández RM. Intracranial arachnoid cyst. Cir Cir 2010;78:551-556. Pillai P, Menon S, Manjooran R, Kariyattil R, Pillai A, Panikar D. Temporal fossa arachnoid cyst presenting with bilateral subdural hematoma following trauma: two case reports. Journal of Medical Case Reports 2009, 3:53. Sprung C. Armbruster B, Koeppen D, Cabraja M....