Extradural arachnoid cysts in children.
BACKGROUND
Extradural arachnoid cysts in the spine are uncommon causes of spinal cord compression in the pediatric population that are thought to arise from congenital defects in the dura mater. Most reports describe such cysts as communicating with the intrathecal subarachnoid space through a small defect in the dura. Excision of the cyst with obliteration of the communicating dural defect is the mainstay of treatment in symptomatic patients. Solitary extradural arachnoid cysts have been reported in several studies, but multiple extradural arachnoid cysts are very rarely reported in children.


METHODS
The authors report a case of multiple extradural spinal arachnoid cysts in a 14-year-old boy who presented progressive lower extremity weakness, myelopathy, and severe gait ataxia. Magnetic resonance (MR) of the spine demonstrated four extradural arachnoid cysts extending from T-1 to T-9. The patient underwent a thoracic laminoplasty for en bloc resection of the spinal extradural arachnoid cysts. Postoperatively, the patient's motor strength and ambulation improved immediately.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiple spinal extradural arachnoid cysts are rarely reported in the literature. Excision of the cysts at the spinal cord level leads to a favorable outcome.
de Oliveira
Ricardo Santos
RS
Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Campus Universitário, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil. rsoliveira@hcrp.fmrp.usp.br
Amato
Marcelo Campos Moraes
MC
Santos
Marcelo Volpon
MV
Simão
Gustavo Novelino
GN
Machado
Helio Rubens
HR
D000293:Adolescent; D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome