[Intracranial arachnoid cysts].
BACKGROUND
Arachnoid cysts are intra-arachnoid collections of cerebrospinal fluid; congenital in origin, they account for about 1% of all atraumatic intracranial mass lesions. They cause neurological deficit through expansion that can compress normal neural tissue and obstruct cerebrospinal fluid flow.


METHODS
We review the pertinent literature of the formation and evolution of congenital arachnoid cyst and the epidemiological, clinical, neuroradiological aspects and treatment of intracranial arachnoid cyst.


CONCLUSIONS
Arachnoid cysts are benign congenital collections of cerebrospinal fluid. They usually arise in areas that are rich in arachnoid, and 50% are located in the sylvian fissure. Symptoms depend on size and location. Seizures and headache are said to be the most common symptoms of middle cranial fossa cysts. The definitive treatment for arachnoid cysts is surgery and the indications for surgery most likely are the presence of progressive hydrocephalus or intracranial hypertension.
Gelabert-González
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Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Neurológicas Pedro Barrié de la Maza, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain. cimigego@usc.es
D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology