Arachnoid cyst of the craniocervical junction: case report.
OBJECTIVE
An arachnoid cyst at the craniocervical junction presenting with obstructive hydrocephalus as a result of blockage of the outflow of the fourth ventricle is described. This is a very rare anatomic site, with only five other cases described in the literature.


METHODS
A 37-year-old woman presented with a 9-month history of severe neck pain, persistent vomiting, visual disturbances, and numbness of the nose, cheek, and lips. She had severe bilateral papilledema on ophthalmoscopy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a midline cystic lesion extending down to C2.


METHODS
The patient underwent posterior fossa craniectomy and excision of the arachnoid cyst. She made a full recovery and was asymptomatic at follow-up examination.


CONCLUSIONS
The symptomatology of these rare craniocervical arachnoid cysts and their development are discussed.
Price
S J
SJ
Department of Neurosurgery, Oldchurch Hospital, Romford, Essex, England. sjp58@medschl.cam.ac.uk
David
K M
KM
O'Donovan
D G
DG
Aspoas
A R
AR
D000328:Adult; D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D003399:Craniotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery*