Multiple Symptomatic Spinal Intradural Arachnoid Cysts: A Case Report

Asian J Neurosurg. 2023 Sep 13;18(3):696-697. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1774376. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Abstract

A spinal arachnoid cyst is a rare entity representing only 1 to 3% of spinal canal lesions. Very few of them are reported to be symptomatic. Moreover, occurrence in multiples is even rarer. Extradural type is more common than intradural. In the spine, it is rare in the sacral region. Other common pathologies, such as a dermoid or epidermoid cyst, are often considered at presentation. Even magnetic resonance imaging can miss the diagnosis sometimes. We report a case with symptoms of paraparesis and incontinence at presentation, initially misdiagnosed as a dermoid cyst, later found to be multiple intradural arachnoid cysts located in the sacral region. Spinal arachnoid cysts may cause debilitating symptoms. The disease is completely curable if the detection and classification are early as in our case.

Keywords: arachnoid cyst; dermoid; intradural; multiple; spinal.