Completely ossified pseudomeningocele, a rare complication after spinal surgery

We report the rare case of an ossified pseudomeningocele following laminectomy. The extradural pseudocyst has completely ossified without an overt communication to the subarachnoid space.

In 1986, a 41 year-old woman suffered from spinal stenosis at levels L3-5 and was treated by laminectomy. A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage was observed postoperatively. A follow-up CT scan eleven years after surgery showed an ossified pseudomeningocele in the operated region. However, in our case no surgical resection was performed since the patient suffered only from diffuse back pain without sciatica or any neurological deficit. In 2009 the patient continues to be neurologically intact without a change in clinical complaints. Hence, the file was closed after 23 years without neurosurgical intervention.

Seven cases of ossified pseudomeningocele have been previously described in the literature and all were operated on. However, our case shows that ossified extradural pseudocysts do not require operation in every case.