Adult symptomatic and growing arachnoid cyst successfully treated by ventriculocystostomy: a new insight on adult arachnoid cyst history

Abstract

Background: Adult arachnoid cysts are known to be stable and asymptomatic but their history remains undefined.

Case description: The authors report the case of an 81-year-old woman with progressive hemiplegia and aphasia. CT scan revealed a voluminous left frontotemporal arachnoid cyst with a major mass effect on the midline and contralateral blocked hydrocephalus. Endoscopic ventriculocystostomy was performed with a spectacular neurological improvement.

Discussion and conclusions: Symptomatic adult arachnoid cysts are extremely rare. To our knowledge, no similar clinical case of a growing arachnoid cyst in elderly patients has yet been reported in the literature. The mechanisms of cyst enlargement and decompensation still remain undefined and debated. The possibility of adult arachnoid cyst growth has to be considered in clinical practice. Endoscopic ventriculocystostomy is as effective as in paediatric cases.

Keywords: Adult; Adulte; Arachnoid cyst; Croissance; Endoscopic; Endoscopie; Enlargement; Growth; Kyste arachnoïdien; Symptomatic; Symptomatique; Ventriculocystostomie; Ventriculocystostomy; Évolutif.