Prevalence and symptoms of intracranial arachnoid cysts: a population-based study

Abstract

To investigate the prevalence of intracranial arachnoid cysts in a large population-based sample. We also aimed to assess the association between arachnoid cysts and cognitive impairment, depression, epilepsy, headache, dizziness, previous head trauma, hip fractures, and mortality. A population-based cohort and nested case-control study. The sample comprised representative populations (n = 1235) aged ≥ 70 years. All participants underwent baseline neuropsychiatric examinations, including computed tomography (CT) of the brain, between 1986 and 2000. All CT scans were examined for arachnoid cysts. Headache, dizziness, history of head trauma, dementia, depression, epilepsy, and hip fracture were assessed using data from clinical examinations, interviews and the Swedish hospital discharge register. Cognition was assessed using the Mini-Mental Status Examination, and depressive symptoms using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. Date of death was obtained from the National Swedish Death Registry. The prevalence of arachnoid cysts was 2.3 % (n = 29), with no significant difference between men and women. Probands with and without cysts had the same frequency of headache, dizziness, previous head trauma, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, there were no differences regarding the prevalence of dementia, depression, epilepsy, or previous hip fracture. Arachnoid cysts were not associated with increased mortality. Arachnoid cysts are common incidental finding, with the same rate in men and women, and are probably asymptomatic. The lack of relation with symptoms like headache, dizziness and cognitive impairment suggest caution in ascribing symptoms to incidentally discovered arachnoid cysts and a restrictive attitude to treatment.

Supratentorial arachnoid cysts and seizures/epilepsy: A population study in community dwellers aged ≥20 years

“…These results confirm previous conclusions (from other ethnic groups and locations) that these lesions are essentially benign, at least with regard to the investigated outcome. As previously mentioned, there is only one population‐based study that attempted to assess the association between arachnoid cysts and epilepsy in Sweden . In that study, none of 29 individuals with arachnoid cysts and 5 of 290 without arachnoid cysts had epilepsy.…”

“…These lesions may be related to developmental abnormalities of the brain (primary cysts) or result from head trauma, previous infections, tumors, or surgery (secondary cysts) . Arachnoid cysts are often seen as incidental lesions not associated with any particular clinical manifestation . However, arachnoid cysts have also been associated with headache, vomiting, dizziness, and—more importantly—with seizures or epilepsy …”

“…1 Arachnoid cysts are often seen as incidental lesions not associated with any particular clinical manifestation. [2][3][4][5] However, arachnoid cysts have also been associated with headache, vomiting, dizziness, and-more importantly-with seizures or epilepsy. [6][7][8][9] Literature on the association between arachnoid cysts and seizures/epilepsy is inconsistent, and most series have been flawed due to biased recruitment of subjects, including patients attending epilepsy clinics, neuroimaging departments, or hospitalized for different causes.…”

“…[6][7][8][9] Literature on the association between arachnoid cysts and seizures/epilepsy is inconsistent, and most series have been flawed due to biased recruitment of subjects, including patients attending epilepsy clinics, neuroimaging departments, or hospitalized for different causes. With the possible exception of a study that compiled 1235 older adults enrolled in several population-based studies conducted in Sweden, 2 information on the prevalence of these lesions and their actual association with seizures/epilepsy in the population at large (including younger people) has not been assessed.…”

Strategic Management of Cerebral Arachnoid Cysts in Children in the Era of Globalisation

“…The authors showed that the individuals included in their study with or without arachnoid cysts had the same frequency of headache , dizziness, cerebral traumatic events, cognitive impairment and cognitive and depressive symptoms [14] Arachnoid cysts of the posterior temporal fossa are associated with partial temporal lobe agenesis and now there are argues if the temporal lobe agenesis is responsible for the cyst formation or if the agenesis is the consequence of the cyst formation [9] There are rare situation with de novo cyst formation [7] 6. Dismantling the arguments against Arachnoid cysts are representing just 1% from space occupying formations and a part of them ¼-1/3 are located in the posterior cerebral fossa, and is the second location after the middle cranial fossa [3] The most frequent location in children is the sylvian fissure and the middle cerebral fossa.…”