User:Gth674b/Tarlov cyst
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[[[[ Tarlov cyst, aka perineurial cysts, are ...
General Information
[edit]Tarlov cysts, also known as perineurial cysts, are cerebrospinal fluid filled sacs located in spinal canal of S2 to S4 region of vertebrae, and are distinguished from other meningeal cysts by nerve-fiber filled walls. Tarlov cysts are defined as cysts formed within the nerve root sheath at dorsal root ganglion.[1]
Classification
[edit]Tarlov cysts are considered Type II leisons and are defined as extradural meningeal cysts with nerve fibers.[2] Nabros et all classified spinal cysts in three different types. Type I spinal cysts are extradural meningeal cysts without nerve root fibers. Type II Spinal cysts correspond to Tarlov cysts and are defined as extradural meningeal cysts with nerve fibers. Type III Spinal Cysts contains intradural meningeal cysts [2][3]
Characteristics and Symptoms
[edit]Physical Characteristics
[edit]Appearance
[edit]The walls of Tarlov cysts are thin and fibrous; they are prone to rupture if touched, making surgery difficult. The nerve fibers that are embedded in the walls of the cysts has the appearance and size of dental floss. The nerve fibers in the walls are usually not arranged in any specific alignment.[4] Histologic examination reveals the Tarlov cyst outer wall is composed of vascular connective tissue, and the inner wall is lined with flattened arachnoid. In addition, part of the lining containing nerve fibers also occasionally contains ganglion cells.[5] The cysts can contain anywhere from a couple milliliter of CSF to over 2.5 liters liters of CSF [6][4] [7].
location
[edit]Tarlov cysts are located in the S2 and S4 region of the spinal cord. They usually occur on the extradural components of sacrococcygeal nerve roots at the junction of dorsal root ganglion and posterior nerve roots and arise between the endoneurium and perineurium [8]. Occasionally, these cysts are observed in the thoracic spine. [5] However, these cysts most commonly arise at the S2 or S3 junction of the dorsal nerve root ganglion. [3] [9] The cysts are often multiple, extending around the circumference of the nerve, and can enlarge over time to compress neighboring nerve roots to cause bone errosions.[10]
Difference between Tarlov Cysts and other Spinal Meningeal Cysts
[edit]The following table is compilation of some key differences between Tarlov Cysts, meningeal cysts and arachnoid diverticula cysts.[2] Although the definitions for each entity are still controversial, the following tiems are generally accepted by surgeons and experts.
| Tarlov Cyst | Meningeal Diverticula & Arachnoid Diverticula |
|---|---|
| only potential communication with spinal subarachnoid space | Communicates freely with spinal subarachnoid space |
| Delayed filling in myelograms | rapid filling of myelograms |
| Found distal to the junction of posterior nerve root and dorsal root ganglian in sacral region | Found proximal to dorsal root ganglion throughout vertebral column |
| Walls contain nerve fibers | Walls lined by arachnoid mater with no signs of neural element |
| often form in pleural, extending around the circumference of nerve root | no pattern of formation in regards to numbers |
Symptoms
[edit]Tarlov Cysts are not usually symptomatic; the cases of reported symptomatic Tarlov Cysts ranges from 15% to 30% of the overall reported Tarlov Cyst Cases depending on the source of literature. Nevertheless these cysts are important clinical entities because of its tendency to increase in size over time, potentially causing complications and eroding the surrounding bone tissue[3][10]. Patients with symptomatic Tarlov cysts can be divided into 3 categories according to their symptoms[4]:
Group 1 - Pain on tailbones that radiates to the legs
Group 2 - Pain on bones, legs, sexual dysfunctions, and dysfunctional bladder
Group 3 - No pain, just sexual dysfunction and dysfunctional bladder
Common symptoms
[edit]Below are a list of commonly reported symptoms associated with Tarlov cysts:
backpain, perineal pain, Sciatica, Cauda Equina syndrome, dysuria, urinary incontinence, coccygodynia, sacral radiculopathy, radicular pain, headachs, retrograde ejaculation, paresthesia, hypesthesia, motor disorders in lower limbs and the genital, perineal, or lumbossacral areas, sacral or butttocks pain, vaginal or penile paraesthesia, sensory changes over buttocks, perineal area, and lower extremity [10][5][11] [3]
Etiology/Causes
[edit]Formation
[edit]There are several hypotheses proposed regarding the formation of Tarlov cysts, including: inflammation within the nerve root cysts followed by inoculation of fluids, developmental or congenital origin, arachnoidal proliferation along and around the exiting sacral nerve root, and breakage of venous drainage in the perineuria and epineurium secondary to hemosiderin deposition after trauma[8]
Tarlov himself theorized that the perineurial cysts form as a result of blockage of venous drainage in the perineurium and epineuriium secondary to hemosiderin deposition after local trauma [12]
Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).[13]
MRI
[edit]MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is considered the imaging study of choice in identifying Tarlov Cysts [14]. MRI provides better resollution of tissue density, absence of bone interference, multiplanar capabilities, and is noninvasive. Plain films may show bony errosions of the spinal canal or of the sacral foramina. [15]
CT
[edit]CT, or computed tomography scan is another examination method often used for the diagnosis of Tarlov cyst. Unenhanced CT scans may show sacral erosions, asymmetric epidural fat distribution, and cystic masses that are isodense with CSF (cereberol Spinal Fluid)[16]. CT Myelogram is minimally invasive[17], and could be employed when MRI cannot be performed on patient.
Misdiagnosis
[edit]The term Tarlov cysts, or 'sacral perineural cyst', has often been misusesd as referring to other cystic lesion in the sacral region. Tarlov cysts are often detected through MRI or CT Myelography; these tools are very useful in spotting cysts at the region, but they cannot distinguish one major difference between Tarlov cysts and other cysts - the fact the walls contains nerve fibers. Therefore, the final diagnosis of a Tarlov cyst is not a radiological but rather a histopathological diagnosis [8] These cysts are sometimes also misdiagnosed as lumbar disc herniation or lumbar spinal stenosis, especially when they are pressing on the S-1 nerve root [12].
Treatment
[edit]There are a handful of treatments available for Tarlov Cysts. The two treatment types are the extraction of cerebralspinal fluids from the cyst, and the complete removal of cyst from area. The first option is more commonly recommended to patients because the removal of the nerve-fiber filled cystic wall may potentially interfere with the functioning of nervous system.
Mention about the 1.5cm thing
Nevertheless, all types of surgical treatment poses common danger, including nerve damage, infection, head-ach caused by leakage of cerebralspinal fluids, and inflammation. Below are some of practices for the treatment of tarlov cysts.
Bony Decompression
[edit]brief description and risk will be provided
Cautery of cystic wall
[edit]brief description and risk will be provided
Complete excision of cyst along with nerve root involved
[edit]brief description and risk will be provided
cyst fenestration
[edit]brief description and risk will be provided
inbrication or oversewing of the cyst wall
[edit]brief description and risk will be provided
References
[edit]- ^ Goyal RN, Russell NA, Benoit BG, Belanger JM. Intraspinal cysts: a classification and literature review. Spine 1987;12:209-213
- ^ a b c Nabors MW, Pait TG, Byrd EB, et al. Updtated Assessment and Current Classification of Spinal Meningeal cysts. J Neurosurg. 1988;68:366-377
- ^ a b c d Singh, P. K., Singh, V. K., Azam, A., & Gupta, S. (2009). Tarlov Cyst and Infertility. Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 32(2), 191-197.
- ^ a b c “Donlin Long., The Johns Hopkins Hospital Dept. of Neurosurgery, interviewed by Hsuan Chen, Oct. 6th, 2009.”
- ^ a b c Nadler, S. F., Bartoli, L. M., Stitik, T. P., & Chen, B. Q. (2001). Tarlov cyst as a rare cause of S1 radiculopathy: A case report. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 82(5), 689-690.
- ^ Tanaka, M., Nakahara, S., Ito, Y., Nakinishi, K., Sugimoto, Y., Ikuma, H., et al. (2006). Surgical results of sacral perineural (Tarlov) cysts. Acta Medica Okayama, 60(1), 65-70.
- ^ Ishii, K., Yuzurihara, M., Asamoto, S., Doi, H., & Kubota, M. (2007). A huge presacral Tarlov cyst - Case report. Journal of Neurosurgery-Spine, 7(2), 259-263.
- ^ a b c Guo, D. S., Shu, K., Chen, R. D., Ke, C. S., Zhu, Y. C., & Lei, T. (2007). Microsurgical treatment of symptomatic sacral perineurial cysts. Neurosurgery, 60(6), 1059-1065.
- ^ Hefti, M., & Landolt, H. (2006). Presacral mass consisting of a meningocele and a Tarlov cyst: successful surgical treatment based on pathogenic hypothesis. Acta Neurochirurgica, 148(4), 479-483.
- ^ a b c Tarlov, I. M. (1970). Spinal Perineurial and Meningeal Cysts. [Journal]. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat., 33, 10.
- ^ Moldes, M. R., Rodriguez-Losada, J. S., Garcia, D. L., Agudo, V. C., Pais, J. M. J., & Martin, M. G. (2008). Tarlov Cyst and Symptomatic Bladder Disfuction. Actas Urologicas Espanolas, 32(10), 1035-1036.
- ^ a b Tao Zhang, Zhenhua Li, Weiming Gong, Bingwei Sun, Shuheng Liu, Kai Zhang, Dezhen Yin, Peng Xu, Tanghong Jia (2007) Percutaneous Fibrin Glue Therapy for Meningeal Cysts of the Sacral Spine with or without Aspiration of the Cerebrospinal Fluid. J Neurosur Spine 7: 145-150
- ^ Tarlov Cysts and symptomatic bladder dysfunction
- ^ Nadler
- ^ Nadler
- ^ Nadler
- ^ Lee elal