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A population based study of intracranial arachnoid cysts: clinical and neuroimaging outcomes following surgical cyst decompression in adults
  1. Christian A Helland,
  2. Knut Wester
  1. Section for Neurosurgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Bergen, and Department of Neurosurgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
  1. Dr Christian A Helland, Department of Neurosurgery, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway; chhe{at}helse-bergen.no

Abstract

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 ⩾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.

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Abbreviations:
    COG
    clinical outcome group
    NOG
    neuroimaging outcome group
    SDH
    subdural haematoma