title: Tarlov cysts: clinical evaluation of an italian cohort of patients.
abstract: Tarlov cyst syndrome is a rare, often asymptomatic disorder, characterised by isolated or multiple nerve-root cysts, usually occurring in the sacral spine, near the dorsal root ganglion, between the perineurium and endoneurium. The cysts may cause lower back pain, sacral radiculopathy, dyspareunia and urinary incontinence. There is little data in the literature on the relationship between Tarlov cysts and symptoms. Here, we report further details on the clinical impact of Tarlov cysts and investigate their pathogenesis and role as a cause of lumbosacral symptoms. We examined 157 patients with MRI evidence of symptomatic Tarlov cysts. Patients underwent complete neurological examination and were scored by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Visual Analogue Scale. Complete lower limb electromyography was performed in 32 patients. Clinical picture was correlated with size and number of cysts detected by MRI. Family history was recorded for signs of genetic inheritance. Almost all patients suffered perineal or lower back pain; 34 complained of sphincter and 46 of sexual disorders. Hamilton scores were abnormal, and family history was positive in a few cases. The scanty literature on Tarlov cysts mainly regards therapy by a neurosurgical approach. Our results provide new data on clinical impact and possible pathogenetic mechanisms.
authors: Department of Neurological, Behavioural and Neurosurgical Sciences, Medical School, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 2, 53100, Siena, Italy.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Marino
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Carluccio
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Di Donato
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Sicurelli
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Chini
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Di Toro Mammarella
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Rossi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rubegni
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Federico
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052958:Tarlov Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
references: J Spinal Disord Tech. 2005 Feb;18(1):29-33
references: 15687849
references: Skeletal Radiol. 2012 Jan;41(1):97-101
references: 21830055
references: J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2008 Sep;44(3):174-7
references: 19096672
references: Neurosurg Focus. 2011 Dec;31(6):E14
references: 22133181
references: J Spinal Cord Med. 2009;32(2):191-7
references: 19569467
references: Neurosurgery. 2000 Jul;47(1):74-8; discussion 78-9
references: 10917349
references: AMA Arch Neurol Psychiatry. 1952 Jul;68(1):94-108
references: 14932551
references: J Spinal Disord. 1994 Oct;7(5):444-8
references: 7819645
references: Eur Spine J. 1999;8(3):218-22
references: 10413348
references: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1970 Dec;33(6):833-43
references: 5531903
references: Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008 Jul 15;33(16):E565-8
references: 18628699
references: J Pain. 2010 Sep;11(9):833-7
references: 20800797
references: Aktuelle Urol. 2006 Sep;37(5):372-5
references: 17004183
references: J Neurol. 2001 Jul;248(7):623-4
references: 11518008
references: Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Aug;34(2):230-3
references: 19644949
references: Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001 May;82(5):689-90
references: 11346849
references: Coll Antropol. 2009 Dec;33(4):1401-3
references: 20102100
references: Neurosurg Focus. 2003 Aug 15;15(2):E15
references: 15350046
references: Spine J. 2003 Jul-Aug;3(4):317-20
references: 14589193
references: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1994 Feb;15(2):293-7; discussion 298-9
references: 8192075
references: J Neurosurg. 2001 Jul;95(1 Suppl):25-32
references: 11453427
references: J Neurol. 1995 Mar;242(4):185-94
references: 7798116
references: J Neurosurg. 1988 Mar;68(3):366-77
references: 3343608