Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2022 Apr 1;12(2).
doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.22.00027.

Pulsating Spinal Arachnoid Cyst as a Hidden Aggravating Factor for Thoracic Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Report of 3 Cases

Masahiko Takahata  1 , Takamasa Watanabe, Tsutomu Endo, Yuki Ogawa, Souya Miura, Norimasa Iwasaki
Affiliations
Case Reports

Pulsating Spinal Arachnoid Cyst as a Hidden Aggravating Factor for Thoracic Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Report of 3 Cases

Masahiko Takahata et al. JBJS Case Connect. .

Abstract

Case: We report 3 cases of thoracic myelopathy caused by vertebral osteophytes and coexisting intradural spinal arachnoid cyst (SAC), which was difficult to diagnose on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Intraoperative ultrasound sonography revealed spinal cord impingement because of osteophytes and a pulsating intradural SAC. Repeated pincer compression on the spinal cord seemed to be associated with their paraparetic symptoms.

Conclusion: In treating patients presenting with unexplained progressive myelopathy with small ossified lesion in the thoracic spine, close attention should be paid to a coexisting SAC as a hidden aggravating factor for thoracic myelopathy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSCC/B846).

References

    1. French H, Somasundaram A, Biggs M, Parkinson J, Allan R. Idiopathic intradural dorsal thoracic arachnoid cysts: a case series and review of the literature. J Clin Neurosci. 2017;40:147-52.
    1. Kumar K, Malik S, Schulte PA. Symptomatic spinal arachnoid cysts: report of two cases with review of the literature. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2003;28(2):E25-9.
    1. Nisson PL, Hussain I, Härtl R, Kim S, Baaj AA. Arachnoid web of the spine: a systematic literature review. J Neurosurg Spine. 2019;31(2):175-84.
    1. Petridis AK, Doukas A, Barth H, Mehdorn HM: Spinal cord compression caused by idiopathic intradural arachnoid cysts of the spine: review of the literature and illustrated case. Eur Spine J. 2010;19(suppl 2):124-9.
    1. Wang MY, Levi ADO, Green BA. Intradural spinal arachnoid cysts in adults. Surg Neurol. 2003;60(1):49-55.

Publication types

MeSH terms

Supplementary concepts

LinkOut - more resources