Abstract

Background: Spinal meningeal (dural) cysts rarely cause spinal cord compression and/or myelopathy.

Case Description: A 38-year-old male presented with 6 weeks of worsening bilateral lower extremity paresthesias and an unsteady gait. Notably, the patient was involved in a snowmobile accident 7 years ago that resulted in trauma to his thoracic spine for which he had undergone a corpectomy and posterior fusion. A full spine MRI was obtained to evaluate his new paresthesias and myelopathy, which revealed a large extra-axial fluid collection consistent with a meningeal cyst extending from C2 to T4. This caused severe spinal cord compression, maximal at the T1-3 level. The patient underwent a T1-3 laminectomy initially accompanied by partial cyst resection/ drainage, but ultimately he returned and required a subsequent cystoperitoneal shunt. Following the final surgery, the patient’s symptoms gradually resolved over 6 months postoperatively.

Conclusion: Spinal meningeal cysts rarely cause back pain and/or neurological symptoms. MRI is the diagnostic study of choice for defining this entity. Operative intervention must be tailored to the symptoms, location, extent, and type of the cyst. If cysts recur after partial resection and drainage, cystoperitoneal shunt placement is warranted.

Keywords: Cystoperitoneal shunt, Myelopathy, Spinal meningeal cyst

INTRODUCTION

Spinal meningeal cysts are deverticula of the spinal meninges, nerve root sheath, or arachnoid. There are three types: Type I - extradural meningeal cyst without nerve root fibers, Type II – extradural meningeal cyst with spinal nerve fibers, Type III intradural meningeal cysts [ Table 1 ].[ 1 , 3 ] Although some may arise due to trauma or inflammatory reactions, most are discovered incidentally. They are found most commonly in the lower thoracic and/or lumbosacral regions which may occasionally contribute to back pain and/or neurological deficits.[ 3 , 4 ] Here, we report the case of a 38-year-old male who presented with a progressive myelopathy/paresis attributed to a post-traumatic C2-T4 ventral intradural meningeal cyst (Type III) that was effectively treated with laminectomy and cystoperitoneal shunting.

Table 1:

Spinal meningeal cyst classification.

CASE DESCRIPTION

Seven years prior to the presentation, the patient had undergone a T12 corpectomy with T11-L1 posterior fusion following a snowmobile accident that resulted in a fracture-dislocation at T12. Now at age of 38 years, he newly presented with a 6-weeks of progressive dysesthesias from the waist down and a mild paraparesis/unsteady gait. On examination, he had subtle left leg weakness (attributed to his old trauma), but also reported newly decreased sensation to fine touch, pain, and temperature sensation from T5 level downward.

Diagnostic studies

The electromyogram showed a chronic peripheral neuropathy and left peroneal mononeuropathy, which did not fully explain the patient’s symptoms. However, the full spine MRI revealed a large extra-axal fluid collection consistent with an arachnoid cyst extending from C2 to T4 that resulted in spinal cord compression, maximal between the T1-3 level [ Figure 1 ]. There was an accompanying hyperintense T2 intramedullary signal within the thoracic spinal cord at these levels consistent with spinal cord edema.

Figure 1:

(a) Pre-operative imaging sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the thoracolumbar spine revealed a large ventral extra-axial cystic lesion causing spinal canal stenosis worst at T1-3. (b) Preoperative imaging sagittal T2-weighted MRI of the cervicothoracic spine revealed the cystic lesion extends to C2 level.

Surgery

The patient initially underwent a T1-3 laminectomy for cyst resection. Once the dura was opened and the spinal cord was mobilized laterally, a few arachnoid bands were encountered and lysed, but no clear arachnoid cyst was visualized [ Figure 2a ]. However, the intraoperative ultrasound sagittal and axial views demonstrated a pulsatile fluid-filled mass located ventral to the spinal cord. An incision was made in the deep portion of the thickened dura, upon which immediate return of CSF appearing fluid was encountered. Notably, a separate layer of dura was also found immediately dorsal to the vertebrae indicating we indeed entered the cyst space [ Figure 2b ]. The dorsal cyst layer was fenestrated and opened both cranially and caudally, and a small piece of the cyst wall was sent for pathology that confirmed it was dura. Throughout the entire procedure, the somatosensory evoked potentials and motor evoked potentials signals were stable.

Figure 2:

(a) Intraoperative photograph showed a large extradural meningeal cyst arising from the ventral aspect of the spinal canal. (b) The dural layer immediately ventral to the spinal cord was opened and revealed the “normal” layer of dura immediately dorsal to the vertebral body.

Post-operative course

Post-operatively, the patient had improvements in his symptoms over the next 3 days and was discharged.

Nevertheless, the patient returned 2 months later with recurrent symptoms. The repeat MRI demonstrated recurrence of the fluid collection. As the prior laminectomy with cyst fenestration had failed, the repeat surgery included a cystoperitoneal shunt placement [ Figure 3 ]. On a routine follow-up 6 months later, the patient reported full symptomatic relief.

Figure 3:

(a) Postoperative sagittal T2-weighted MRI cervical spine revealed improved central stenosis, decreased size of meningeal cyst with shunt catheter in place. (b) Postoperative sagittal T2-weighted MRI thoracic spine showed similar findings.

DISCUSSION

Etiology of spinal meningeal cysts

Spinal meningeal cysts are defined as diverticula or pouches of arachnoid or dura that result in CSF accumulation. Their etiology is unknown. One popular proposed mechanism is that a small defect, either congenital or traumatic, results in a cleft in the inner layer of the dura with the outer layer remaining intact. CSF fills the resultant “potential space” between the inner and outer dural layers. Hydrostatic dissection by CSF pulsations subsequently enlarges this potential space and forms a meningeal cyst.[ 4 , 6 ] In this patient’s case, the snowmobile accident likely caused the formation of the spinal meningeal cyst.

Spinal meningeal cyst types

There are three types of spinal meningeal cyst classification (Type 1a/Ib, II, and III) [ Table 1 ].[ 3 ]

Location of meningeal cysts

The majority of meningeal cysts are discovered accidentally. Approximately 80% of the cysts occur in the lower thoracic and/or lumbar spinal, and only 20% occur ventrally.[ 3 ]

MR diagnosis of meningeal cysts

MR usually reveals the fluid in these cysts is consistent with CSF, although it can be more hyperintense than CSF on T2 due to the lack of CSF pulsations.[ 5 ]

Neurological symptoms of meningeal cysts

Most meningeal cysts are asymptomatic, but when symptoms occur the most frequent symptoms are low back pain followed by radiculopathy. Very rarely do these lesions cause cord compression resulting in myelopathy, and rare cases of quadriplegia or paraplegia have been reported.[ 6 ]

Management of meningeal cysts

The treatment of meningeal cysts may include fenestration, shunting (i.e., cystoperitoneal shunts), or complete surgical excision. Although patients may have initial symptoms relief following fenestration or decompression of the cysts, many will experience recurrence of symptoms. Management of recurrent meningeal cysts includes cyst shunting to ensure long-term CSF outflow from the cyst.[ 1 , 2 ]

CONCLUSION

Spinal meningeal cysts rarely cause back pain and/or myelopathy, especially in the cervical-thoracic region. Notably, these lesions may be refractory to conventional surgical fenestration techniques and often warrant cystoperitoneal shunting.

Declaration of patient consent

Patient’s consent not required as patients identity is not disclosed or compromised.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Declaration of patient consent

Patient’s consent not required as patients identity is not disclosed or compromised.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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