Location, sidedness, and sex distribution of incidental intracranial arachnoid cysts in childhood: An MRI study

Abstract

SUMMARYObjective: The objective of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the MRI features of incidental intracranial arachnoid cysts with regard to their distribution of cyst location, sidedness, Galassi type, and gender in children during the workup for headache and seizures. Method: MRI scans of the head performed from May 2005 to May 2015 were reviewed retrospectively to analyze arachnoid cysts detected incidentally in children. Results: The mean ages of boys (n=63) and girls (36) were 8.4±5.0 (2 months to 18 years) and 8.9±4.0 (6 months to 14 years), respectively. Although the number of boys with left, right or midline sidedness was higher compared to girls, these differences were not reached statistical significance (p>0.5). For both boys and girls, arachnoid cysts were located in middle cranial fossa, frontal convexity, and posterior fossa significantly more commonly than other locations. Overall, for all locations, the number of boys was greater compared to girls. Although the number of boys with Galassi types I, II, and III was greater compared to girls, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: In carefully selected patients, MRI provides information about presence and nature of arachnoid cysts that are otherwise impossible to detect clinically. Intracranial arachnoid cysts are one of the important incidental findings detected during the MRI of head. In an MRI report, the size, location, and other important features of arachnoid cysts need to be described in detail for the long-term follow-up and management of these benign lesions that are most commonly asymptomatic but may present with severe symptoms in some cases. Keywords: Arachnoid cyst, children, intracranial, magnetic resonance imaging ÖZET Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, rastlantısal intrakranyal araknoid kistlerin manyetik rezonans görüntüleme (MRG) özelliklerini, baş ağrısı ve nöbetler için yapılan çalışmalarda çocuklarda kist yeri, yönü, Galassi tipi ve cinsiyet dağılımı açısından retrospektif olarak değerlendirmektir. Yöntem: Mayıs 2005 ile Mayıs 2015 arasında yapılan kranyal MRG taramaları, çocuklarda tesadüfen tespit edilen araknoid kistler açısından geriye dönük olarak incelendi. Bulgular: Erkeklerin (n = 63) ve kızların (36) yaş ortalaması 8.4 ± 5.0 (2 ay-18 yaş) ve 8.9 ± 4.0 (6 ay-14 yıl) arasında değişmektedir. Erkeklerin say7ısı, kızlara göre sağ, sol veya orta hat yanılgısına göre daha yüksek olmasına rağmen istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildi (p> 0.5). Hem erkek hem de kızlar için, orta kranyal fossa, frontal konveksite ve posterior fossa diğer yerlerden anlamlı olarak daha yüksekti. Genel olarak, tüm bölgeler için, erkeklerin sayısı kızlara göre daha fazla idi. Galassi tip I, II ve III'e göre erkek çocuk sayısı kızlara göre daha yüksek olmasına rağmen, bu farklılıklara istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunamamıştır. 738Sonuç: Dikkat çekici olarak seçilen hastalarda MRG, araknoid kistlerin varlığı ve doğası hakkında bilgi verir, aksi takdirde klinik olarak tespit edilemez. İntrakranyal araknoid ki...

Different Surgical Options for the Management of Intracranial Arachnoid Cysts

“…These cystic lesions are usually asymptomatic but, in some patients, symptoms may develop such as nausea, vomiting, headache, neurological de cits and seizures. Radiological techniques such as CT scan and MRI are widely used for the diagnosis of intracranial arachnoid cyst [6,7].…”

“…Follow-up is the main strategy on the management arachnoid cysts which are incidentally diagnosed. But in cases of epilepsy, subdural hematoma, intracystic hemorrhage, neurological de cit or increased intracranial pressure, surgical treatment should be performed as soon as possible [7]. Bony scalloping may indicate the presence of an arachnoid cyst, especially in children.…”