Acute intracranial hypertension and shunt dependency following treatment of intracranial arachnoid cyst in a child: a case report and review of the literature.
Arachnoid cysts are developmental anomalies that represent 1% of all intracranial space occupying lesions. Treatment of symptomatic cases may include shunting of the cyst or an open fenestration of it, among other less acceptable surgical procedures. Each procedure has its own pros and cons. We present a case of the development of an acute intracranial hypertension during cysto-peritoneal shunt malfunction in a child. We describe the possible mechanism of these phenomena and, based on this report and by reviewing other case series in the literature, we raise the possibility that acute increase in intracranial pressure and the development of shunt dependency, although rare, are important complications of shunting an arachnoid cyst.
Laviv
Yosef
Y
Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Schneider hospital for children, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel. yossilaviv@gmail.com
Michowitz
Shalom
S
D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011859:Radiography