title: Intracranial arachnoid cysts: current concepts and treatment alternatives.
abstract: Arachnoid cysts are non-tumorous intra-arachnoid fluid collections that account for about 1% of all intracranial space-occupying lesions. In this article, we review the current concepts about these lesions and discuss the treatment alternatives. The aetiology of arachnoid cysts has been a controversial subject. They are regarded as developmental abnormality of the arachnoid, originating from a splitting or duplication of this membrane. The establishment of a single CSF space, by surgically communicating the cyst with the ventricular system or basal cisterns, appears to offer the best chance of a success in the treatment of arachnoid cysts. Long-term prognosis for patients with arachnoid cysts and well-preserved neurological conditions is good, even in the case of subtotal excision. Clinical follow-up and MRI allow earlier diagnosis of recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cincu
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eiras
mesh_terms: D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D003399:Craniotomy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed