Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026
Surgical Treatment of an Endolymphatic Sac Tumor
Published on: May 26, 2023
Giant cystic sacral schwannoma mimicking tarlov cyst: a case report
Mark A Attiah1, Peter P Syre2, John Pierce2
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. mattiah12@gmail.com.
Purpose:
To present a rare case of a giant schwannoma of the sacrum mimicking a Tarlov cyst.
Methods:
A 58-year-old woman had a 1-year history of low back pain. MRI revealed a large cystic mass in the sacral canal with bony erosion. Radiological diagnosis of Tarlov cyst was made.
Results:
The patient underwent surgical treatment for the lesion, which revealed a solid mass. Histopathological examination of the tumor confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient has had significant improvement in her pain 1 month postoperatively.
Conclusion:
Giant cystic schwannoma of the sacrum is a very rare diagnosis overlooked by practitioners for more common cystic etiologies, but its treatment is significantly different. Care should be taken to include this diagnosis in a differential for a cystic sacral mass.
