Spinal extradural arachnoid cyst: A rare cause of thoracic myelopathy

Alexander J Savage; Mina Asaid; Catriona McLean; Patrick Chan

doi:10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100415

Spinal extradural arachnoid cyst: A rare cause of thoracic myelopathy

eNeurologicalSci. 2022 Jun 20:28:100415. doi: 10.1016/j.ensci.2022.100415. eCollection 2022 Sep.

Authors

Alexander J Savage^{1

2}, Mina Asaid², Catriona McLean³, Patrick Chan²

Affiliations

¹ Monash Medical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia.
² Department of Neurosurgery, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC 3181, Australia.
³ Department of Anatomical Pathology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC 3181, Australia.

Abstract

A spinal extradural arachnoid cyst (SEAC) is a rare condition which can lead to back pain, radiculopathy, and compressive myelopathy. It accounts for approximately 1% of spinal tumours. The exact aetiology of SEACs is not well understood; however, this study is supportive of a traumatic aetiology of this disease in addition to supporting a uni-directional valve as a mechanism of CSF accumulation. The purpose of this study is to review the presentation, work-up, treatment and postoperative course of a patient with SEAC. We present the case of a 40-year-old male with a history of trauma who developed a SEAC and was treated surgically at our unit. Although a rare disease, we highlight the importance of early diagnosis and surgical treatment as it is a surgically curable disease with a good postoperative prognosis.

Keywords: Extradural arachnoid cyst; Spinal surgery; Thoracic myelopathy.

Publication types

Case Reports