Korean J Spine.  2015 Sep;12(3):156-159. 10.14245/kjs.2015.12.3.156.

Syringomyelia Associated with a Huge Retrocerebellar Arachnoid Cyst: A Case Report

• Hue SB
• Seong HY
• Kwon SC
• Lyo IU
• Sim HB

• KMID: 2288340
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14245/kjs.2015.12.3.156

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.

Keyword

Posterior fossa; Arachnoid cyst; Syringomyelia

MeSH Terms

Adult
Arachnoid*
Decompression
Foramen Magnum
Gait
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Shoulder Pain
Spinal Cord
Syringomyelia*