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01-09-2004 | Review

A different approach to cysts of the posterior fossa

Authors: Marvin D. Nelson Jr, Karima Maher, Floyd H. Gilles

Published in: Pediatric Radiology | Issue 9/2004

Abstract

Posterior fossa cysts are frequently identified on MR studies. This paper takes a different approach to analyzing these cysts based on the pathology of the cyst wall and the embryology of the hindbrain, choroid plexus, and meninges. The type of cyst depends on the histologic components of the cyst wall. Frequent types of posterior fossa cysts are arachnoid, Blake’s pouch, and cysts associated with Dandy Walker malformation. All of these cysts may mimic the others in terms of position of the torcula, vermian abnormalities, and mass effect on the cerebellum and occipital bone. A clue to the nature of the cyst may be the position of the choroid plexus in the fourth ventricle; normal in arachnoid cyst, absent in Dandy Walker malformation, and displaced into the superior cyst wall in Blake’s pouch. When the cyst wall histology is not known, it is suggested to use a descriptive term such as “retrocerebellar cyst”.

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Title: A different approach to cysts of the posterior fossa
Authors: Marvin D. Nelson Jr
Karima Maher
Floyd H. Gilles
Publication date: 01-09-2004
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Pediatric Radiology / Issue 9/2004
Print ISSN: 0301-0449
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1998
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-004-1253-1

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A different approach to cysts of the posterior fossa

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