Outcome in children with space-occupying posterior fossa arachnoid cysts.
While prognostic information for Dandy-Walker syndrome and non-progressive cerebellar ataxia/cerebellar hypoplasia is available, surprisingly scant literature reports are found for space-occupying posterior fossa arachnoid cysts (PFAC). We describe the outcome of patients with symptomatic PFAC shunted as infants. Only 11 children were seen over a 20-year period (1980-1999). Cyst location was retrocerebellar (n = 8), supravermian (n = 2) and in the cerebellopontine angle (n = 1). Motor and cognitive impairments in one child were interpreted as the result of neurosurgical complications (intraventricular and intracerebral haemorrhage). One 6-year-old boy had mild truncal ataxia and mild cognitive delay. The 9 other patients had no evidence of ataxia or clumsiness and had average, some even above average, cognitive ability and scholastic achievements. Epilepsy was not a feature. We conclude that the prognosis of PFAC for cognitive development and neurological signs is favourable.
University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. eugen.boltshauser@kispi.unizh.ch
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Boltshauser
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Martin
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Altermatt
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt