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Child's Nervous System
Published in: Child's Nervous System 11/2007

01-11-2007 | Case-based Update

Extradural arachnoid cysts in children

Authors: Ricardo Santos de Oliveira, Marcelo Campos Moraes Amato, Marcelo Volpon Santos, Gustavo Novelino Simão, Helio Rubens Machado

Published in: Child's Nervous System | Issue 11/2007

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Abstract

Background

Extradural arachnoid cysts in the spine are uncommon causes of spinal cord compression in the pediatric population that are thought to arise from congenital defects in the dura mater. Most reports describe such cysts as communicating with the intrathecal subarachnoid space through a small defect in the dura. Excision of the cyst with obliteration of the communicating dural defect is the mainstay of treatment in symptomatic patients. Solitary extradural arachnoid cysts have been reported in several studies, but multiple extradural arachnoid cysts are very rarely reported in children.

Materials and methods

The authors report a case of multiple extradural spinal arachnoid cysts in a 14-year-old boy who presented progressive lower extremity weakness, myelopathy, and severe gait ataxia. Magnetic resonance (MR) of the spine demonstrated four extradural arachnoid cysts extending from T-1 to T-9. The patient underwent a thoracic laminoplasty for en bloc resection of the spinal extradural arachnoid cysts. Postoperatively, the patient’s motor strength and ambulation improved immediately.

Conclusions

Multiple spinal extradural arachnoid cysts are rarely reported in the literature. Excision of the cysts at the spinal cord level leads to a favorable outcome.
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Metadata
Title
Extradural arachnoid cysts in children
Authors
Ricardo Santos de Oliveira
Marcelo Campos Moraes Amato
Marcelo Volpon Santos
Gustavo Novelino Simão
Helio Rubens Machado
Publication date
01-11-2007
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Child's Nervous System / Issue 11/2007
Print ISSN: 0256-7040
Electronic ISSN: 1433-0350
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-007-0414-6

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