[Symptomatic lumbar intradural arachnoid cyst: A case report]

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Neurology
• Pathology

Background:

• Spinal arachnoid cysts are uncommon, benign cerebrospinal fluid-filled lesions.
• These cysts are lined by an arachnoid membrane.
• Intradural spinal arachnoid cysts can present with spinal cord compression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of an intradural lumbar arachnoid cyst.
• To describe its presentation, diagnosis, and surgical management.
• To highlight the potential for spinal cord compression by these rare lesions.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a 37-year-old female with lumbar radiculopathy and neurological deficits.
• Diagnostic imaging included cervical-dorsal-lumbar MRI revealing an intradural cyst at L1-L2.
• Surgical intervention involved laminectomy and cyst removal, followed by histological confirmation.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with bilateral lumbosciatica, sensory disturbances, motor deficits (L4-L5, 3/5 strength), and sphincter dysfunction.
• MRI confirmed an intradural lumbar cyst at L1-L2.
• Surgical excision was successful, with histological analysis confirming an arachnoid cyst. Postoperatively, the patient experienced gradual neurological recovery and regained ambulation within 5 months.

Conclusions:

• Intradural spinal arachnoid cysts are rare and typically benign.
• They can, in rare instances, lead to significant spinal cord compression.
• Definitive diagnosis relies on histopathological examination post-surgical resection.