Cervical perineural cyst masquerading as a cervical spinal tumor

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Radiology

Background:

• Tarlov (perineural) cysts are common incidental findings on lumbosacral spine MRI.
• Symptomatic cervical perineural cysts are infrequently reported in medical literature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of a high cervical perineural cyst.
• To illustrate a case where this cyst mimicked a cervical spinal tumor.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a patient with a high cervical perineural cyst.
• Diagnostic imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine.

Main Results:

• A high cervical perineural cyst was identified.
• The cyst presented clinically and radiologically as a cervical spinal tumor.

Conclusions:

• Cervical perineural cysts, though rare, can present as symptomatic spinal tumors.
• Accurate diagnosis requires consideration of perineural cysts in the differential diagnosis of cervical spinal lesions.