Arachnoid cyst

Arachnoid cyst
An MRI of a 25-year-old woman with left frontotemporal arachnoid cyst.
Specialty	Neurosurgery

Arachnoid cysts are cerebrospinal fluid covered by arachnoidal cells and collagen ^[1] that may develop between the surface of the brain and the cranial base or on the arachnoid membrane, one of the three meningeal layers that cover the brain and the spinal cord. ^[2] Primary arachnoid cysts are a congenital disorder whereas secondary arachnoid cysts are the result of head injury or trauma. ^[3] Most cases of primary cysts begin during infancy; however, onset may be delayed until adolescence. ^[2]

Signs and symptoms

Patients with arachnoid cysts may never show symptoms, even in some cases where the cyst is large. Therefore, while the presence of symptoms may provoke further clinical investigation, symptoms independent of further data cannot—and should not—be interpreted as evidence of a cyst's existence, size, location, or potential functional impact on the patient.^{[ citation needed ]}

Symptoms vary by the size and location of the cyst(s), though small cysts usually have no symptoms and are discovered only incidentally. ^[2] On the other hand, a number of symptoms may result from large cysts:

• Cranial deformation or macrocephaly (enlargement of the head), particularly in children ^[4]
• Cysts in the suprasellar region in children have presented as bobbing and nodding of the head called bobble-head doll syndrome. ^[4]
• Cysts in the left middle cranial fossa have been associated with ADHD in a study on affected children. ^[5]
• Headaches. ^[2] A patient experiencing a headache does not necessarily have an arachnoid cyst.
  • In a 2002 study involving 78 patients with a migraine or tension-type headache, CT scans showed abnormalities in over a third of the patients, though arachnoid cysts only accounted for 2.6% of patients in this study. ^[6]
  • A study found 18% of patients with intracranial arachnoid cysts had non-specific headaches. The cyst was in the temporal location in 75% of these cases. ^[7]
• Seizures ^[2]
• Hydrocephalus (excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid) ^[2]
• Increased intracranial pressure ^[2]
• Developmental delay ^[2]
• Behavioral changes ^[2]
• Nausea
• Dysdiadokinesis
• Hemiparesis (weakness or paralysis on one side of the body) ^[2]
• Ataxia (lack of muscle control) ^[2]
• Musical hallucination ^[8]
• Pre-senile dementia, ^[9] a condition often associated with Alzheimer's disease
• In elderly patients (>80 years old) symptoms were similar to chronic subdural hematoma or normal pressure hydrocephalus: ^[10]
  • Dementia
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Hemiparesis
  • Headache
  • Seizures

Location-specific symptoms

• A supratentorial arachnoid cyst can mimic a Ménière's disease attack. ^[11]
• Frontal arachnoid cysts have been associated with depression. ^[12]
• Cysts on the left temporal lobe have been associated with psychosis. ^{[13] [14]} A left fronto-temporal cyst showed symptoms of alexithymia. ^[15]
• Cyst on the right sylvian fissure resulted in new onset of schizophrenia-like symptoms at age 61. ^[16]
• A patient with a cyst on the left middle cranial fossa had auditory hallucinations, migraine-like headaches, and periodic paranoia ^[7]
• Patients with left temporal lobe cysts had mood disturbances similar to manic depression (bipolar disorder) and were known to show outward aggression ^[17]

Causes

The exact cause of arachnoid cysts is not known. Researchers believe that most cases of arachnoid cysts are developmental malformations that arise from the unexplained splitting or tearing of the arachnoid membrane.^{[ citation needed ]}

In some cases, arachnoid cysts occurring in the middle fossa are accompanied by underdevelopment (hypoplasia) or compression of the temporal lobe. The exact role that temporal lobe abnormalities play in the development of middle fossa arachnoid cysts is unknown.^{[ citation needed ]}

There are some cases where hereditary disorders have been connected with arachnoid cysts. ^[18]

Some complications of arachnoid cysts can occur when a cyst is damaged because of minor head trauma. ^[19] Trauma can cause the fluid within a cyst to leak into other areas (e.g., subarachnoid space). Blood vessels on the surface of a cyst may tear and bleed into the cyst (intracystic hemorrhage), increasing its size. If a blood vessel bleeds on the outside of a cyst, a collection of blood (hematoma) may result. In the cases of intracystic hemorrhage and hematoma, the individual may have symptoms of increased pressure within the cranium and signs of compression of nearby nerve (neural) tissue.^{[ citation needed ]}

Some scientists debate whether arachnoid cysts are a true congenital condition or if this should be separated from secondary cysts. ^[20] A recent study shows differences in communication between the arachnoid cyst and the subarachnoid space by CT cisternography. ^[21] A comparison of arachnoid cyst fluid and CSF in a series of patients show differences in chemical composition. ^[22]

Arachnoid cysts can also occur secondary to other disorders such as Marfan syndrome, arachnoiditis, or agenesis of the corpus callosum.^{[ citation needed ]}

Diagnosis

Arachnoid cyst as seen on a CT image of the brain

Axial CT showing a typical arachnoid cyst left temporal

Diagnosis is principally by MRI. Frequently, arachnoid cysts are incidental findings on MRI scans performed for other clinical reasons. In practice, diagnosis of symptomatic arachnoid cysts requires symptoms to be present, and many with the disorder never develop symptoms.^{[ citation needed ]}

Additional clinical assessment tools that can be useful in evaluating a patient with arachnoid cysts include the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), a brief questionnaire-based test used to assess cognition. ^[9]

Classification

Arachnoid cysts can be found on the brain or on the spine. Intracranial arachnoid cysts usually occur adjacent to the arachnoidal cistern. ^[23] Spinal arachnoid cysts may be extradural, intradural, or perineural and tend to present with signs and symptoms indicative of a radiculopathy. ^[23]

Arachnoid cysts may also be classified as primary (congenital) or secondary (acquired) and have been reported in humans, cats, and dogs. ^[24]

Arachnoid cysts can be relatively asymptomatic or present with insidious symptoms; for this reason, diagnosis is often delayed.^{[ citation needed ]}

Treatment

Most arachnoid cysts are asymptomatic and do not require treatment. Treatment may be necessary when symptomatic. ^[2] A variety of procedures may be used to decompress (remove pressure from) the cyst.

• Surgical placement of a cerebral shunt: ^[25]
  • An internal shunt drains into the subdural compartment. ^[26]
  • A cystoperitoneal shunt drains to the peritoneal cavity. ^[27]
• Fenestration:
  • Craniotomy with excision ^[28]
  • Various endoscopic techniques are proving effective, ^[29] including laser-assisted techniques. ^[30]
• Drainage by needle aspiration or burr hole.
• Capsular resection ^[10]
• Pharmacological treatments may address specific symptoms such as seizures or pain.

Prognosis

Most arachnoid cysts are asymptomatic, and do not require treatment. Where complications are present, leaving arachnoid cysts untreated may cause permanent severe neurological damage due to the progressive expansion of the cyst(s) or hemorrhage (bleeding). ^[2] However, with treatment most individuals with symptomatic arachnoid cysts do well.^{[ citation needed ]}

More specific prognoses are listed below:

• Patients with impaired preoperative cognition had postoperative improvement after surgical decompression of the cyst. ^{[31] [32]}
• Surgery can resolve psychiatric manifestations in selected cases. ^[33]

Epidemiology

Arachnoid cysts are seen in up to 1.1% of the population ^{[34] [35]} with a gender distribution of 2:1 male:female. ^[36] Only 20% of these have symptoms, usually from secondary hydrocephalus. ^[34]

A study that looked at 2,536 healthy young males found a prevalence of 1.7% (95% CI 1.2 to 2.3%). Only a small percentage of the detected abnormalities require urgent medical attention. ^[37]

See also

• Acoustic neuroma
• Arachnoiditis
• Brain tumor
• Dandy–Walker syndrome
• Empty sella syndrome
• Porencephaly
• Syringomyelia
• Hyperprolactinemia
• Panhypopituitarism
• Arnold–Chiari malformation
• Hydrocephalus

References

1. Ariai S, Koerbel A, Bornemann A, Morgala M, Tatagiba M (2005). "Cerebellopontine angle arachnoid cyst harbouring ectopic neuroglia". Pediatr Neurosurg. 41 (4): 220–3. doi:10.1159/000086566. PMID   16088260. S2CID   34344350.
2. "Arachnoid Cysts Information Page". NINDS . Retrieved April 7, 2017.
3. Gelabert-González M (2004). "Intracranial arachnoid cysts". Rev Neurol (in Spanish). 39 (12): 1161–6. PMID   15625636.
4. Barker RA, Scolding N, Rowe D, Larner AJ. The A-Z of Neurological Practice: A Guide to Clinical Neurology Cambridge University Press 2005 Jan 10, p61. ( ISBN   0-521-62960-8)
5. Millichap JG (May 1997). "Temporal lobe arachnoid cyst-attention deficit disorder syndrome: role of the electroencephalogram in diagnosis". Neurology. 48 (5): 1435–9. doi:10.1212/wnl.48.5.1435. PMID   9153486. S2CID   28361288.
6. Valença MM, Valença LP, Menezes TL (September 2002). "Computed tomography scan of the head in patients with migraine or tension-type headache". Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 60 (3A): 542–7. doi: 10.1590/s0004-282x2002000400005 . PMID   12244387.
7. Cameron AD. "Psychotic phenomena with migraine and an arachnoid cyst", Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry 2002 Mar-Apr 6(2) http://www.escriber.com/Progress/Features.asp? Action=View&Archive=True&ID=67&GroupID=&Page=11 Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
8. Griffiths TD (October 2000). "Musical hallucinosis in acquired deafness. Phenomenology and brain substrate". Brain. 123 (10): 2065–76. doi: 10.1093/brain/123.10.2065 . PMID   11004124.
9. Richards G, Lusznat RM. "An arachnoid cyst in a patient with pre-senile dementia", Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry, 2001 May–June;5(3) http://www.escriber.com/Progress/Features.asp? Action=View&Archive=True&ID=29&GroupID=&Page=18 Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
10. Yamakawa H, Ohkuma A, Hattori T, Niikawa S, Kobayashi H (1991). "Primary intracranial arachnoid cyst in the elderly: a survey on 39 cases". Acta Neurochir (Wien). 113 (1–2): 42–7. doi:10.1007/bf01402113. PMID   1799142. S2CID   24540942.
11. Buongiorno G, Ricca G (September 2003). "Supratentorial arachnoid cyst mimicking a Ménière's disease attack". J Laryngol Otol. 117 (9): 728–30. doi:10.1258/002221503322334602. PMID   14561365. S2CID   26032192.
12. Cummings JL, Mega MS. Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Oxford University Press, USA; 2Rev Ed, 2003 Jan 23;208. ( ISBN   0-19-513858-9)
13. Alves da Silva J, Alves A, Talina M, Carreiro S, Guimarães J, Xavier M (2007). "Arachnoid cyst in a patient with psychosis: a case report". Annals of General Psychiatry. 6 (1): 16. doi: 10.1186/1744-859x-6-16 . PMC   1933420 . PMID   17598903.
14. Vakis AF, Koutentakis DI, Karabetsos DA, Kalostos GN (2006). "Psychosis-like syndrome associated with intermittent intracranial hypertension caused by a large arachnoid cyst of the left temporal lobe". Br J Neurosurg. 20 (3): 156–9. doi:10.1080/02688690600776986. PMID   16801049. S2CID   28934276.
15. Blackshaw S, Bowen RC (November 1987). "A case of atypical psychosis associated with alexithymia and a left fronto-temporal lesion: possible correlations". Can J Psychiatry. 32 (8): 688–92. doi:10.1177/070674378703200809. PMID   3690485. S2CID   30229064.
16. Cullum CM, Heaton RK, Harris MJ, Jeste DV (October 1994). "Neurobehavioral and neurodiagnostic aspects of late-onset psychosis". Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 9 (5): 371–82. doi:10.1093/arclin/9.5.371. PMID   14589653.
17. Heinrichs, RW. In Search of Madness: Schizophrenia and Neuroscience Oxford University Press, USA (March 29, 2001); p129. ( ISBN   0-19-512219-4)
18. Schievink WI, Huston J, Torres VE, Marsh WR (December 1995). "Intracranial cysts in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease". J. Neurosurg. 83 (6): 1004–7. doi:10.3171/jns.1995.83.6.1004. PMID   7490613.
19. De K, Berry K, Denniston S (July 2002). "Haemorrhage into an arachnoid cyst: a serious complication of minor head trauma". Emerg Med J. 19 (4): 365–6. doi:10.1136/emj.19.4.365. PMC   1725893 . PMID   12101165.
20. Westermaier T, Schweitzer T, Ernestus RI (2012). "Arachnoid Cysts". Neurodegenerative Diseases. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Vol. 724. New York, NY: Springer. pp. 37–50. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-0653-2_3. ISBN   978-1-4614-0652-5. PMID   22411232.
21. Wang X, Chen JX, You C, Jiang S (July 2012). "CT cisternography in intracranial symptomatic arachnoid cysts: classification and treatment". J. Neurol. Sci. 318 (1–2): 125–30. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2012.03.008. PMID   22520095. S2CID   36127070.
22. Berle M, Wester KG, Ulvik RJ, Kroksveen AC, Haaland OA, Amiry-Moghaddam M, Berven FS, Helland CA (June 2010). "Arachnoid cysts do not contain cerebrospinal fluid: A comparative chemical analysis of arachnoid cyst fluid and cerebrospinal fluid in adults". Cerebrospinal Fluid Res. 7 (1): 8. doi: 10.1186/1743-8454-7-8 . PMC   2898803 . PMID   20537169.
23. Arachnoid cyst. (n.d.). Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders. Retrieved September 10, 2006, from Answers.com Web site: http://www.answers.com/topic/arachnoid-cyst
24. Reed SD, Cho DY, Paulsen D (2009). "Quadrigeminal Arachnoid Cysts in a kitten and a dog". J Vet Diagn Invest. 21 (5): 707–710. doi:10.1177/104063870902100519. PMID   19737770. S2CID   28289664.
25. Strojnik T (2006). "Different approaches to surgical treatment of arachnoid cysts". Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. 118 (Suppl 2): 85–8. doi:10.1007/s00508-006-0540-2. PMID   16817052. S2CID   45788859.
26. Helland CA, Wester K (July 2006). "Arachnoid cysts in adults: long-term follow-up of patients treated with internal shunts to the subdural compartment". Surg Neurol. 66 (1): 56–61, discussion 61. doi:10.1016/j.surneu.2005.12.032. PMID   16793443.
27. Park SW, Yoon SH, Cho KH, Shin YS (June 2006). "A large arachnoid cyst of the lateral ventricle extending from the supracerebellar cistern--case report". Surg Neurol. 65 (6): 611–4. doi:10.1016/j.surneu.2005.07.069. PMID   16720186.
28. Gangemi M, Colella G, Magro F, Maiuri F (June 2007). "Suprasellar arachnoid cysts: endoscopy versus microsurgical cyst excision and shunting". Br J Neurosurg. 21 (3): 276–80. doi:10.1080/02688690701339197. PMID   17612918. S2CID   46128402.
29. Greenfield JP, Souweidane MM (December 2005). "Endoscopic management of intracranial cysts". Neurosurg Focus. 19 (6): E7. doi:10.3171/foc.2005.19.6.8. PMID   16398484. S2CID   24488862.
30. Van Beijnum J, Hanlo PW, Han KS, Ludo Van der Pol W, Verdaasdonk RM, Van Nieuwenhuizen O (May 2006). "Navigated laser-assisted endoscopic fenestration of a suprasellar arachnoid cyst in a 2-year-old child with bobble-head doll syndrome. Case report". J. Neurosurg. 104 (5 Suppl): 348–51. doi:10.3171/ped.2006.104.5.348. PMID   16848093. S2CID   35236043.
31. Wester K, Hugdahl K (September 1995). "Arachnoid cysts of the left temporal fossa: impaired preoperative cognition and postoperative improvement". J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry. 59 (3): 293–8. doi:10.1136/jnnp.59.3.293. PMC   486033 . PMID   7673959.
32. Wester K (August 2008). "Intracranial arachnoid cysts--do they impair mental functions?". J. Neurol. 255 (8): 1113–20. doi:10.1007/s00415-008-0011-y. PMID   18677648. S2CID   792144.
33. Kohn R, Lilly RB, Sokol MS, Malloy PF (1989). "Psychiatric presentations of intracranial cysts". J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1 (1): 60–6. doi:10.1176/jnp.1.1.60. PMID   2577719.
34. Flaherty AW. The Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Neurology 2000 Jan 1;105. ( ISBN   0-683-30576-X)
35. Vernooij MW, Ikram MA, Tanghe HL, Vincent AJ, Hofman A, Krestin GP, Niessen WJ, Breteler MM, van der Lugt A (November 2007). "Incidental findings on brain MRI in the general population". N. Engl. J. Med. 357 (18): 1821–8. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa070972 . hdl: 1765/35140 . PMID   17978290.
36. Pradilla G, Jallo G (February 2007). "Arachnoid cysts: case series and review of the literature". Neurosurg Focus. 22 (2): E7. doi: 10.3171/foc.2007.22.2.7 . PMID   17608350.
37. Weber F, Knopf H (January 2006). "Incidental findings in magnetic resonance imaging of the brains of healthy young men". J. Neurol. Sci. 240 (1–2): 81–4. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2005.09.008. PMID   16256141. S2CID   27917253.