What provokes a disappearing arachnoid cyst? – Case study and literature review
Loading...
Files
Date
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier Inc.
Abstract
Objective: Intracranial Arachnoid cysts (AC) are stable cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)-filled sacs that can rarely undergo progressive shrinkage or disappearance throughout life. In this manuscript, we present a case of post-traumatic complete resolution of an AC, review the possible triggers of this phenomenon, and discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms behind them. Methods: After presenting our case, we performed a literature review using the PubMed Database of all the reported cases of AC reduction or resolution (last updated in February 2021). Spontaneous cases were excluded. An analysis of the remaining cases (1985–2021) according to their inciting event, demographical, and clinical characteristics was then presented. Results: 58 patients were identified, 33 of which spontaneously resolved. The remaining 25 were included in the survey in addition to the case we presented. The mean age was 20.2 years, average time to resolution was 25.3 months, with only two third of the cases showing complete disappearance of the AC. A central nervous system infection was the inciting cause of resolution in one infant (4%), a history of head trauma in 16 (62%) patients and an intracranial procedure in 9 (35%) patients. Discussion: AC disappearance is a rare phenomenon that can occur spontaneously or after an inciting event. The cyst wall rupture and CSF flow perturbation theories seem to be the most applicable pathophysiological mechanisms in triggered AC resolution. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.
Description
Keywords
Congenital abnormality, Head trauma, Intracranial arachnoid cyst, Neuroimaging, Neurosurgery, Adult, Arachnoid cysts, Craniocerebral trauma, Humans, Infant, Rupture, Young adult, Cerebrospinal fluid, Perturbation techniques, % reductions, Case-studies, Cerebral spinal fluids, Clinical characteristics, Fluid-filled, Literature reviews, Pathophysiological, Arachnoid cyst, Article, Brain surgery, Central nervous system infection, Cerebrospinal fluid flow, Clinical feature, Clinical observation, Congenital malformation, Cyst rupture, Data collection method, Demography, Disease duration, Disease exacerbation, Dizziness, Epidural hematoma, Family history, Female, Groups by age, Headache, Hearing impairment, Hospital discharge, Human, Incidence, Major clinical study, Male, Multiple trauma, Nausea, Neurologic examination, Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, Parietal cortex, Pathophysiology, Patient monitoring, Publication, Remission, Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Symptomatology, Tinnitus, Transformed migraine, Vertigo, Vomiting, Case report, Diagnostic imaging, Head injury