title: Arachnoid cysts in children: a European co-operative study.
abstract: The data on arachnoid cysts in children (0-15 years) operated upon between 1980 and 1988 were analysed in a retrospective, co-operative study. The results from 285 patients indicate a predominance of these lesions in boys (64%) more than girls (36%) and a mean age of 6 years at onset of symptoms. Focal EEG patterns corresponding to the cyst's location were encountered in 32%. About 40% of all cysts were located along the midline, the sylvian fissure representing the predominant location. Open surgery, i.e. total excision or marsurpialization (together 43.3%), emerged as the first-choice surgical procedure. The type of surgery switched somewhat to shunting procedures in cases of lesions in deeper locations (22.8%). Morphological results on follow-up revealed a reduction of the size of the cyst in a significant majority (61%); in 18% the cyst had disappeared completely on CT scans. There was an obvious correlation between postoperative morphological findings and clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Neurochirurgie, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Oberbauer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pucher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001099:Arachnoid / Q000473:pathology; D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed