eMedicine Specialties > Radiology > Brain/Spine

Arachnoid Cyst: Multimedia

Author: Ali Nawaz Khan, MBBS, FRCS, FRCP, FRCR, Consultant Radiologist and Honorary Professor, North Manchester General Hospital Pennine Acute NHS Trust, UK
Coauthor(s): Ian Turnbull, MB, ChB, MD, DMRD, FRCR, Lecturer, Department of Radiology, University of Manchester; Consulting Neuroradiologist, Hope Hospital, Salford, Manchester and North Manchester General Hospital, UK; Riyadh Al-Okaili, MBBS, Interventional/Therapeutic and Diagnostic Neuro-Radiologist, King Abdulaziz Medical City; Sumaira MacDonald, MBChB, PhD, MRCP, FRCR, Lecturer, Sheffield University Medical School; Endovascular Fellow, Sheffield Vascular Institute; Khalid Mahmood, MBBS, FCPS, Locum Appointment Training Specialist Registrar, Department of Radiology - Paediatric, Royal Liverpool (Alder Hey) Children's Hospital
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Sep 21, 2009

Multimedia

T2-weighted sagittal MRI image (see Image below f...Media file 1: T2-weighted sagittal MRI image (see Image below for axial view) of the brain in a 28-year-old woman with an incidental finding of a superior cerebellar cistern arachnoid cyst (arrow).
T2-weighted sagittal MRI image (see Image below f...

T2-weighted sagittal MRI image (see Image below for axial view) of the brain in a 28-year-old woman with an incidental finding of a superior cerebellar cistern arachnoid cyst (arrow).

T2-weighted axial MRI image (see Image above...Media file 2: T2-weighted axial MRI image (see Image above for sagittal view) of the brain in a 28-year-old woman with an incidental finding of a superior cerebellar cistern arachnoid cyst (arrow).
T2-weighted axial MRI image (see Image above...

T2-weighted axial MRI image (see Image above for sagittal view) of the brain in a 28-year-old woman with an incidental finding of a superior cerebellar cistern arachnoid cyst (arrow).

Unenhanced CT scan of the head in a 26-year-old m...Media file 3: Unenhanced CT scan of the head in a 26-year-old man with a history of seizures since childhood (same patient as in Image below). The scan shows a large left frontoparietal cyst with a mass effect. The cyst was resected, and histologic analysis confirmed an arachnoid cyst.
Unenhanced CT scan of the head in a 26-year-old m...

Unenhanced CT scan of the head in a 26-year-old man with a history of seizures since childhood (same patient as in Image below). The scan shows a large left frontoparietal cyst with a mass effect. The cyst was resected, and histologic analysis confirmed an arachnoid cyst.

Unenhanced CT scan of the head in a 26-year-old m...Media file 4: Unenhanced CT scan of the head in a 26-year-old man with a history of seizures since childhood (same patient as in Image above). The scan shows a large left frontoparietal cyst with a mass effect. The cyst was resected, and histologic analysis confirmed an arachnoid cyst.
Unenhanced CT scan of the head in a 26-year-old m...

Unenhanced CT scan of the head in a 26-year-old man with a history of seizures since childhood (same patient as in Image above). The scan shows a large left frontoparietal cyst with a mass effect. The cyst was resected, and histologic analysis confirmed an arachnoid cyst.

Axial T2-weighted MRI image through the midbrain,...Media file 5: Axial T2-weighted MRI image through the midbrain, showing a right middle cranial fossa homogeneous lesion (same lesion as in Image below) with CSF signal intensity and no perceptible wall or internal complexity. There is associated remodeling of the adjacent sphenoid bone and brain displacement. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.
Axial T2-weighted MRI image through the midbrain,...

Axial T2-weighted MRI image through the midbrain, showing a right middle cranial fossa homogeneous lesion (same lesion as in Image below) with CSF signal intensity and no perceptible wall or internal complexity. There is associated remodeling of the adjacent sphenoid bone and brain displacement. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.

Axial T2-weighted MRI image through the body of t...Media file 6: Axial T2-weighted MRI image through the body of the lateral ventricles, showing superior extension of a right middle cranial fossa lesion (same lesion as in Image above). The lesion is homogeneous, with no perceptible wall, no internal complexity, and CSF signal intensity. There is associated remodeling of the adjacent calvarium and brain displacement. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.
Axial T2-weighted MRI image through the body of t...

Axial T2-weighted MRI image through the body of the lateral ventricles, showing superior extension of a right middle cranial fossa lesion (same lesion as in Image above). The lesion is homogeneous, with no perceptible wall, no internal complexity, and CSF signal intensity. There is associated remodeling of the adjacent calvarium and brain displacement. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.

Coronal T1-weighted MRI image through a brain les...Media file 7: Coronal T1-weighted MRI image through a brain lesion (same lesion as in Images 5-6, 8), showing homogeneity of the lesion, lack of a perceptible wall, lack of internal complexity, and CSF signal intensity. There is associated remodeling of the adjacent calvarium and brain displacement. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.
Coronal T1-weighted MRI image through a brain les...

Coronal T1-weighted MRI image through a brain lesion (same lesion as in Images 5-6, 8), showing homogeneity of the lesion, lack of a perceptible wall, lack of internal complexity, and CSF signal intensity. There is associated remodeling of the adjacent calvarium and brain displacement. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.

Sagittal fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLA...Media file 8: Sagittal fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) weighted image through a brain lesion (same lesion as shown in Images 5-7), showing homogeneity of the lesion, lack of a perceptible wall, lack of internal complexity, and CSF signal intensity. There is associated remodeling of the adjacent sphenoid bone and brain displacement. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.
Sagittal fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLA...

Sagittal fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) weighted image through a brain lesion (same lesion as shown in Images 5-7), showing homogeneity of the lesion, lack of a perceptible wall, lack of internal complexity, and CSF signal intensity. There is associated remodeling of the adjacent sphenoid bone and brain displacement. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.

Prenatal coronal T1-weighted MRI images through t...Media file 9: Prenatal coronal T1-weighted MRI images through the middle cranial fossa, showing a left temporal fossa homogeneous lesion (postnatal images of same patient shown in Images below) with CSF signal intensity and no perceptible wall or internal complexity. There is associated displacement of adjacent brain. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.
Prenatal coronal T1-weighted MRI images through t...

Prenatal coronal T1-weighted MRI images through the middle cranial fossa, showing a left temporal fossa homogeneous lesion (postnatal images of same patient shown in Images below) with CSF signal intensity and no perceptible wall or internal complexity. There is associated displacement of adjacent brain. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.

Postnatal coronal T2-weighted MRI images through ...Media file 10: Postnatal coronal T2-weighted MRI images through the middle cranial fossa, showing a left temporal fossa homogeneous lesion (prenatal images of same patient shown in Images above and below) with CSF signal intensity and no perceptible wall or internal complexity. There is associated remodeling of adjacent calvarium, brain displacement, and a midline shift. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.
Postnatal coronal T2-weighted MRI images through ...

Postnatal coronal T2-weighted MRI images through the middle cranial fossa, showing a left temporal fossa homogeneous lesion (prenatal images of same patient shown in Images above and below) with CSF signal intensity and no perceptible wall or internal complexity. There is associated remodeling of adjacent calvarium, brain displacement, and a midline shift. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.

Postnatal coronal T1-weighted MRI images through ...Media file 11: Postnatal coronal T1-weighted MRI images through the middle cranial fossa, showing a left temporal fossa homogeneous lesion (prenatal images of same patient shown in Image above) with CSF signal intensity and no perceptible wall or internal complexity. There is associated remodeling of adjacent calvarium, brain displacement, and a midline shift. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.
Postnatal coronal T1-weighted MRI images through ...

Postnatal coronal T1-weighted MRI images through the middle cranial fossa, showing a left temporal fossa homogeneous lesion (prenatal images of same patient shown in Image above) with CSF signal intensity and no perceptible wall or internal complexity. There is associated remodeling of adjacent calvarium, brain displacement, and a midline shift. These imaging features are typical of an arachnoid cyst.

More on Arachnoid Cyst

Overview: Arachnoid Cyst
Imaging: Arachnoid Cyst
Multimedia: Arachnoid Cyst
References
Further Reading

References

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  2. Algin O, Hakyemez B, Gokalp G, Korfali E, Parlak M. Phase-contrast cine MRI versus MR cisternography on the evaluation of the communication between intraventricular arachnoid cysts and neighbouring cerebrospinal fluid spaces. Neuroradiology. May 2009;51(5):305-12. [Medline].

  3. Spacca B, Kandasamy J, Mallucci CL, Genitori L. Endoscopic treatment of middle fossa arachnoid cysts: a series of 40 patients treated endoscopically in two centres. Childs Nerv Syst. Jul 24 2009;[Medline].

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  25. Martin AJ, Jarosz JM, Thomas NW. The strange association of pneumosinus dilatans and arachnoid cyst: case report and review of the literature. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2001;143(2):197-201. [Medline].

Keywords

arachnoid cyst, glioependymal cyst, meningeal cyst, intra-arachnoid cerebrospinal fluid–containing cysts, intracranial mass, leptomeningitis, arachnoid diverticula, spinal arachnoid cysts, intradural spinal arachnoid cysts, agenesis of corpus callosum, kyphoscoliosis, myelodysplasia, spinal dysraphism, intracystic hemorrhage, subdural hygroma, subdural hematoma, calvarial bulging, intracranial hypertension, craniomegaly, developmental delay, visual loss, precocious puberty, seizures, focal neurologic signs, temporal lobe agenesis, supratentorial cysts, chronic subdural hematomas, pneumosinus dilatans of sphenoid sinus, Cockayne syndrome, Menkes disease, spinal cord displacement, spinal cord compression, epidural arachnoid cysts

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Ali Nawaz Khan, MBBS, FRCS, FRCP, FRCR, Consultant Radiologist and Honorary Professor, North Manchester General Hospital Pennine Acute NHS Trust, UK
Ali Nawaz Khan, MBBS, FRCS, FRCP, FRCR is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, British Medical Association, British Society of Interventional Radiology, Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of the United States, Royal College of Radiologists, and Royal College of Surgeons of England
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Ian Turnbull, MB, ChB, MD, DMRD, FRCR, Lecturer, Department of Radiology, University of Manchester; Consulting Neuroradiologist, Hope Hospital, Salford, Manchester and North Manchester General Hospital, UK
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Riyadh Al-Okaili, MBBS, Interventional/Therapeutic and Diagnostic Neuro-Radiologist, King Abdulaziz Medical City
Riyadh Al-Okaili, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sumaira MacDonald, MBChB, PhD, MRCP, FRCR, Lecturer, Sheffield University Medical School; Endovascular Fellow, Sheffield Vascular Institute
Sumaira MacDonald, MBChB, PhD, MRCP, FRCR is a member of the following medical societies: British Medical Association, Royal College of Physicians, and Royal College of Radiologists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Khalid Mahmood, MBBS, FCPS, Locum Appointment Training Specialist Registrar, Department of Radiology - Paediatric, Royal Liverpool (Alder Hey) Children's Hospital
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Lucien M Levy, MD, PhD, Director of Neuroradiology, Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, George Washington University Medical Center
Lucien M Levy, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Cancer Society, American College of Radiology, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, American Roentgen Ray Society, American Society of Neuroradiology, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Bernard D Coombs, MB, ChB, PhD, Consulting Staff, Department of Specialist Rehabilitation Services, Hutt Valley District Health Board, New Zealand
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Robert M Krasny, MD, Resolution Imaging Medical Corporation
Robert M Krasny, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

James G Smirniotopoulos, MD, Professor of Radiology, Neurology, and Biomedical Informatics, Chairman, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
James G Smirniotopoulos, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, American Society of Head and Neck Radiology, American Society of Neuroradiology, American Society of Pediatric Neuroradiology, Association of University Radiologists, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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