Incidence of spinal perineurial (Tarlov) cysts among East-European patients

PLoS One. 2013 Aug 1;8(8):e71514. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071514. Print 2013.

Abstract

The spinal perineurial cyst (Tarlov) is a dilatation between the perineurium and endoneurium of spinal nerve roots, located at level of the spinal ganglion and filled with cerebrospinal fluid but without communication with the perineurial subarachnoid space. The aim of the study was to evaluate it incidence among East-European patients. The retrospective data collected during various magnetic resonance spinal examinations and stored on the picture archiving and communication system was analyzed for an incidence of perineurial cysts. From among 842 patients that underwent examination, 75 cases perineurial cysts were revealed. In 22 cases single anomalies were found. In remaining 53 cases, multiple uni- or less frequently bilateral changes were noted. The most common position was the sacral canal, particularly the level of S2 and S3. Occasionally, cysts were also visible on the cervical, thoracic and lumbar level. Incidence of sacral perineurial cysts was significantly higher in females than in males. Similar data was found for single and multiple changes despite of their localization. Insignificant changes were seen for patient age and cyst size. Perineurial spinal cysts were the most frequently observed on the sacral level and such changes were more common in females.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Spinal Nerve Roots*
  • Tarlov Cysts / diagnosis
  • Tarlov Cysts / epidemiology*

Grants and funding

The study was supported by Medical University of Lublin and St. John’s Hospital. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.