Symptomatic supratentorial arachnoid cysts in children

This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical and radiologic long-term outcome of symptomatic primary arachnoid cysts in pediatric patients. Thirty-three children, ranging from 2 months to 17 years of age (mean age, 6 years) were treated. Craniotomy and fenestration of the cyst were used for temporal fossa and midline cysts in 24 patients (73%); later, two patients required shunt placement. Shunting device implantation was performed for cerebral convexity cysts in nine patients (27%), and two patients required a subsequent craniotomy and fenestration of the cyst. Four patients (12%) required additional surgery because of clinical progression rather than for cyst enlargement. Eleven patients (33%) experienced a cyst reduction of more than 50% compared with the original size on imaging studies. There was a significant correlation with the alleviation of symptoms (P < 0.005), regardless of the treatment used. Complete alleviation of symptoms was achieved in all patients after treatment, regardless of cyst reduction. Long-term follow-up of 70 +/- 9.3 months demonstrated no recurrence of symptoms or progressive enlargement of the arachnoid cyst in all children.