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Arachnoid Cyst

Scott A Drummond, Jr., D.O. Reviewed 06/2022
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Histologically benign, CSF-filled, space-occupying lesion of the central nervous system

  • May be intracranial (most are supratentorial), spinal, or perineuronal

  • Classification (1)

    • Primar...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Most cases are asymptomatic, and the cyst is an incidental finding.

  • Presenting symptoms depend on the size and location of the cyst and are often nonspecific (1,4):

    • Intracranial arachn...

TREATMENT

Most patients are asymptomatic or have symptoms that are best managed by observation. Treatment is indicated when cysts cause mass effect or become symptomatic—often regardless of size or lo...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Repeat CTs or MRIs are recommended, no more than yearly, for patients being managed by clinical observation.

  • For incidentally discovered arachnoi...

REFERENCES

1
Cincu  R, Agrawal  A, Eiras  J. Intracranial arachnoid cysts: current concepts and treatment alternatives. Clin Neurol Neurosurg.  2007; ...

CODES

ICD10

  • G93.0 Cerebral cysts

  • Q04.6 Congenital cerebral cysts

SNOMED

  • 33595009 arachnoid cyst (disorder)

  • 19276002 congenital cerebral cyst (disorder)

  • 253162003 Cerebral arachnoid cyst

  • 253163008 spinal arac...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Most arachnoid cysts are asymptomatic and do not require treatment.

  • The degree of symptoms produced by an arachnoid cyst, not the cyst's location or size, is the most important factor i...

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