title: Syringomyelia Associated with a Huge Retrocerebellar Arachnoid Cyst: A Case Report.
abstract: Occasionally, a posterior fossa arachnoid cyst can induce compression of the spinal cord and cause syringomyelia. Here, we report the case of a 29-year-old man with both progressive shoulder pain and gait disturbance, who was found to have a huge retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst associated with syringomyelia. Accordingly, posterior fossa decompression and arachnoid cyst excision were performed. Post-operative MRI showed a marked reduction in the size of the arachnoid cyst and syringomyelia. The patient's symptoms were clearly improved compared to before surgery. In our view, treatment in such patients should focus on decompressing the foramen magnum and include the removal of the coexistent arachnoid cyst walls, which appear to be the crucial factor in development of syringomyelia. In this report, we discuss the pathogenic mechanisms underlying syringomyelia-associated retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst and review the current literature on this topic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Baek
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hue
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Han Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: In Uk
authors.initials: IU
authors.lastname: Lyo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hong Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Sim
keywords: Arachnoid cyst; Posterior fossa; Syringomyelia