Rapid expansion of a ventral arachnoid cyst after syringo-subarachnoid shunting in the thoracic spinal cord: case report.
BACKGROUND
Intradural spinal arachnoid cysts have rarely been reported in association with intramedullary cysts. These associated lesions most commonly occur in the thoracic spine.


METHODS
We reported an unusual balance of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics between an initially occult arachnoid cyst and syringomyelia. The arachnoid cyst was not allowed to express itself until the syrinx was decompressed with a syringo-subarachnoid shunt.


CONCLUSIONS
Only one other report in the literature described a similar case; however, our case is the first to be confirmed by intraoperative ultrasound.
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Lois Pope LIFE Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Andrew
A
Jea
Ramon
R
Navarro
Barth A
BA
Green
D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography