[Giant prebulbomedullary arachnoid cyst. Case report and review of the literature].
Usual locations of arachnoid cyst are the middle cranial fossa in 50-60%, cerebellopontine angle (10%) and suprasellar area (10%). Most of these malformations are asymptomatic. Premedullar arachnoid cysts are extremely rare. All previous cases reported were operated. We report a case of an asymptomatic giant craniocervical junction arachnoid cyst with a follow up of five years. In 2002, an adolescent consulted for persistent cervical pain. Encephalic MR showed a giant ventral craniocervical junction arachnoid cyst. Neurologic examination was normal. Conservative treatment was decided with a clinical follow up and repeated MR in case of persistent cervicalgia. Craniocervical junction arachnoid cysts are anecdotic. Medical care cannot be standardized. Pathogenesis and management are discussed.
Lefranc
M
M
Service de neurochirurgie, CHU d'Amiens, 5, place Victor-Pauchet, 80054 Amiens cedex 1, France. lefrancm@gmail.com
Peltier
J
J
Fichten
A
A
Desenclos
C
C
Toussaint
P
P
Le Gars
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000473:pathology*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology