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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Minimally Invasive Thumb-sized Pterional Craniotomy for Surgical Clip Ligation of Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms
Published on: August 11, 2015
Intracranial arachnoid cyst
Alfonso Vega-Sosa1, Enrique de Obieta-Cruz, Manuel Alejandro Hernández-Rojas
1Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital General Naval de Alta Especialidad, Secretaría de Marina, México, D. F., Mexico. drvega@neurocirugia.com
Background:
Arachnoid cysts (ACs) contain a liquid similar to cerebrospinal fluid. Some communicate with the subarachnoid space and others do not. These cysts are reported to account for at least 1% of all intracranial mass lesions. Most patients present during the first two decades of life; however, presentation during adulthood is not uncommon.
Discussion:
A literature review to identify studies relating to pathogenesis, epidemiology, genetics, presentation, radiology and treatment of ACs was conducted and indicated that symptoms depend on size and location. When ACs are symptomatic, they must be treated surgically. Surgical treatment of ACs can be accomplished by cystoperitoneal shunting or fenestration of the cyst either by craniotomy or endoscopic techniques.
Conclusions:
Currently, appropriate treatment is still controversial regarding which is the best technique. Expectative treatment should be considered in lower volume cysts and, even more, in asymptomatic patients diagnosed by other studies.
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