Arachnoid cyst natural history, complications and prognosis

Arachnoid cyst Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Pathophysiology
Classification
Causes
Differentiating Arachnoid cyst from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Diagnostic Study of Choice
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Electrocardiogram
X-ray
Echocardiography and Ultrasound
CT
MRI
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Arachnoid cyst natural history, complications and prognosis On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Arachnoid cyst natural history, complications and prognosis All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Arachnoid cyst natural history, complications and prognosis
CDC on Arachnoid cyst natural history, complications and prognosis
Arachnoid cyst natural history, complications and prognosis in the news
Blogs on Arachnoid cyst natural history, complications and prognosis
Directions to Hospitals Treating Arachnoid cyst
Risk calculators and risk factors for Arachnoid cyst natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: José Eduardo Riceto Loyola Junior, M.D.[2]

Overview

Prognosis of arachnoid cyst is generally excellent and is usually associated with a benign disease course, despite being symptomatic in a few patients.

Natural History

• Arachnoid cyst usually develops asymptomatically and remains asymptomatic in most patients through their lifetime;
• Most are found incidentally;
• In a few patients they may have: headaches, hydrocephalus, ataxia/gait imbalance, seizures, dizziness, visual changes, hearing loss, vertigo, nausea/vomiting, speech abnormalities, cervical myelopathy with syrinx;
• In a paper from 2013, 203 patients with arachnoid cysts were followed up, with only 5 patients presenting with enlargement of the cyst and only 2 developing symptoms that could be due to the arachnoid cyst.

Complications

Arachnoid cysts may, rarely, enlarge and complicate with the symptoms above (such as hydrocephalus, seizures, hearing loss, visual changes and cervical myelopathy). In a very restricted selection of cases they may be surgically treatment, but surgery may occasionally result in complications including:

• Subdural hygroma;
• Subdural hematoma;
• Pseudomeningomyelocele;
• Subdural empyema;
• Wound complications;
• Meningitis;
• Hydrocephalus;
• Seizure;
• Need for more surgical procedures after a failed initial surgical attempt.

Prognosis

• The prognosis of arachnoid cyst is often good, and in the majority of cases won't demand treatment.
• Without treatment, in a few cases the symptoms may worsen over time.
• Surgical decompression of the arachnoid cyst yielded a reduction in 66% of the patients of less than 50% of the preoperative volume. 82% were asymptomatic after the procedure, while 12% reported no relief and 6% experienced worsening of the symptoms.