An arachnoid cyst presenting as an intramedullary tumour
- aDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Utrecht, G03.124, PO Box 85500, NL-3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands, bDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit, PO Box 7057, NL-1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dr P W A Willems, Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Utrecht, G03.124, PO Box 85500, NL-3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands email p.willems{at}neuro.azu.nl
- Received 30 April 1999
- Revised 14 October 1999
- Accepted 26 October 1999
Abstract
A case of thoracic intradural extramedullary arachnoid cyst is presented in which an intramedullary low grade glioma was suspected preoperatively. The cyst was widely fenestrated and postoperatively, the patient experienced considerable improvement in her symptoms. As postoperative MRI studies also showed resolution of the intramedullary changes we regard the intramedullary changes as a result of the cyst, without the existence of primary medullary pathology. To our knowledge an arachnoid cyst, to date, has not been described as the cause of syringomyelia. As radiological findings can be misleading, extramedullary pathology, located more cranially, should be ruled out when treating cystic medullary changes.
