Do arachnoid cysts grow? A retrospective CT volumetric study.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Intracranial arachnoid cysts (AC) are relatively common, but their growth patterns and relationship with patient age are not fully understood.
• Previous studies have yielded mixed results regarding the correlation between AC size and age.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between intracranial arachnoid cyst size and patient age.
• To determine if AC volume changes over time and if this is dependent on initial cyst size.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative analysis of cyst volumes from 136 CT scans of 86 patients.
• Calculation of absolute and relative cyst sizes.
• Statistical correlation analysis between cyst size and age, with stratification by age group and cyst size.

Main Results:

• Left hemisphere and middle cranial fossa were the most common locations for AC.
• A subgroup of large AC demonstrated a positive correlation with age (r = 0.79, P < 0.05), indicating potential expansion.
• Small AC showed no significant correlation with age, suggesting stability.

Conclusions:

• Intracranial arachnoid cysts exhibit varied growth patterns, with larger cysts potentially expanding over time.
• The findings suggest that monitoring large AC may be warranted due to their association with age.
• Small AC appear to be largely static, with minimal age-related changes.