Enlarged perivascular spaces mimicking multicystic brain tumors. Report of two cases and review of the literature

Abstract

The authors present two cases in which enlarged Virchow-Robin spaces were located in the basal ganglia and the thalamomesencephalic region. The incidence of such huge cystic lesions is extremely rare. The expanding nature of these lesions, demonstrated by the patients' progressive symptoms due to compression of the adjacent brain parenchyma and obstructive hydrocephalus, mimicked that of brain tumors. The two patients were successfully treated by neuroendoscopic cystocisternostomy or ventriculocystostomy. To the authors' knowledge there have been only two published reports on expanding Virchow-Robin spaces that produced a compressive effect or consequent hydrocephalus and were directly fenestrated using neuroendoscopic techniques. Neuroendoscopy appears to offer an effective surgical option in the treatment of symptomatic Virchow-Robin spaces.