Assessment of endoscopic treatment for quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cysts: A 7-year experience with 28 cases

Neuroendoscopic fenestration for intracranial unilocular cysts and isolated lateral ventricles: four pediatric cases

The purpose of treatment for unilocular intracranial cysts (UICs) is to release elevated intracranial pressure. Neuroendoscopic fenestration (NF) is one of the most effective and minimally invasive options for treating UICs, especially in young children; however, the optimal location and number of fenestrations, the necessity of using endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in combination with fenestration, and the course of treatment are not well known. We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records between 2012 and 2019. The patients were studied in terms of sex, age at surgery, preoperative symptoms, cyst localization and size, course of treatment, ventricular diameter, developmental assessment, anatomical location, and the number of fenestrations. There were four eligible patients in the relevant period: two boys and two girls. The median age at the time of surgery was 16 months. With regard to the location of the cysts, there were two cases of cavum velum interpositum (CVI), one case of quadrigeminal cistern, and one case of an isolated lateral ventricle. The most common preoperative finding was an enlarged head circumference. All the patients were treated with NF, including one case of reoperation after open head surgery. Postoperatively, we used the frontal and occipital horn ratio (FOHR) to evaluate the ventricular size. The average reduction in the FOHR was 0.003. In the most recent developmental assessment or examination during the follow-up period, two patients showed normal development, and two patients showed developmental delay. Based on our past experience and reports, we believe that it is recommended to perform two fenestrations for a single cyst. This is because it creates a flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the cyst into normal CSF reflux. For lesions with obstruction of the aqueduct, such as cysts in the quadrigeminal cistern, ETV should be considered if it can be performed safely, in preparation for the worsening of hydrocephalus due to obstruction by enlargement of the cyst.

Surgical management of quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cysts: case series and literature review

OBJECTIVE

Quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cysts (QACs) are congenital lesions that can cause pineal region compression and obstructive hydrocephalus when sufficiently large. Management of these cysts is controversial and rates of reintervention are high. Given the limited data on the management of QACs, the authors retrospectively reviewed 20 years of cases managed at their institution and performed a literature review on this topic.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective analysis of patients treated for QAC at their institution between 2001 and 2021. They also performed a literature review of studies published between 1980 and 2021 that reported at least 5 patients treated for QACs. Patient characteristics, radiographic findings, management course, and postoperative follow-up data were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 12 patients treated for a QAC at the authors' institution met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Median age was 9 months, mean cyst size was 5.1 cm, and 83% of patients had hydrocephalus. Initial treatment was endoscopic fenestration in 92% of these patients, 27% of whom had an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) performed concurrently. Reintervention was required in 42% of patients. Cases that required reintervention had a statistically significant lower median age at the initial intervention (5 months) than the cases that did not require reintervention (24.33 months; p = 0.018). There were no major complications. At a mean follow-up of 5.42 years, 83% of patients had improvement or resolution of their symptoms. A literature review revealed 7 studies that met the inclusion criteria, totaling 108 patients with a mean age of 8.8 years. Eighty-seven percent of patients had hydrocephalus at presentation. Ninety-two percent of patients were initially treated with endoscopic fenestration, 44% of whom underwent concurrent ETV. Complications occurred in 17.6% of cases, and reintervention was required in 30.6% of cases. The most frequent reason for reintervention was untreated or unresolved hydrocephalus after the initial procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic fenestration is the most common treatment for QACs. While generally safe and effective, there is a high rate of reintervention after initial treatment of QACs, which may be associated with a younger age at the first intervention. Additionally, identifying patients who require initial treatment of hydrocephalus is critically important, as the literature suggests that untreated hydrocephalus is a common cause of reintervention.

Intracranial arachnoid cysts: Review of natural history and proposed treatment algorithm

Background:

With a prevalence of 1.4%, intracranial arachnoid cysts are a frequent incidental finding on MRI and CT. Whilst most cysts are benign in the long-term, clinical practice, and imaging frequency does not necessarily reflect this.

Methods:

A literature review was conducted searching the Medline database with MESH terms. This literature was condensed into an article, edited by a consultant neurosurgeon. This was further condensed, presented to the neurosurgery department at Princess Alexandra Hospital for final feedback and editing.

Results:

This review advises that asymptomatic patients with typical cysts have a low risk of cyst growth and development of new symptomatology, thus do not require surveillance or intervention. The minority of symptomatic patients or those with cysts in sensitive areas may require referral to a neurosurgeon for clinical follow-up or intervention.

Conclusion:

Greater than 94% of patients are asymptomatic, practitioners can be confident in reassuring patients of the benign nature of a potentially worrying finding. Recognizing the small number of symptomatic patients and those with cysts in areas sensitive to causing hydrocephalus is where GP decision making in conjunction with specialty input is of highest yield.

Surgical management of intracranial arachnoid cysts in pediatric patients: radiological and clinical outcome

OBJECTIVE

Congenital intracranial cysts account for a significant portion of intracranial lesions in the pediatric population. The efficiency of surgical treatment in a pediatric cohort with intracranial arachnoid cysts (ACs) at different locations regarding clinical symptoms and mass effect was evaluated.

METHODS

A retrospective study of all children who underwent surgical treatment of an intracranial AC during an 11-year period (2007-2018) was performed. Demographics, clinical symptoms, and radiological cyst size pre- and postoperatively, as well as the reoperation rate and possible treatment complications, were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 116 intracranial cysts at 8 different anatomical locations were surgically treated in 113 children (median age 5 years and 10 months) predominantly by endoscopic technique (84%). The complication rate was 3%, and the reoperation rate was 16%. Preoperative cyst enlargement was significantly more common in infants (p < 0.0001), as was the need for reoperation (p = 0.023). After a median radiological follow-up of 26 months, > 50% reduction of cyst volume was seen in 53 cysts (46%), and 47 cysts (40%) showed a 10%-50% reduction. Acute clinical symptoms improved: nausea and vomiting, accelerated head growth, and headaches improved at 100%, 92% and 89%, respectively. However, chronic symptoms responded less favorably after a median clinical follow-up of 26 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The strategy of predominantly endoscopic treatment with navigation planning is efficient to alleviate clinical symptoms and to significantly reduce the mass effect of pediatric intracranial cysts at different anatomical locations. The subgroup of infants requires close pre- and postoperative monitoring.

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy for Obstructive Hydrocephalus and Ventriculocystostomy for Intraventricular Arachnoid Cysts

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and discuss the outcomes of a combination of ventriculocystostomy (VC) and endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) for obstructive hydrocephalus (HCP) due to ventricular/cisternal arachnoid cysts, and only ETV for obstructive HCP due to different etiologies.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all 40 symptomatic patients (aged 4 months - 61 years) of obstructive HCP treated by ETV or VC+ETV during October 2014 - April 2019. VC+ETV was performed in 7 patients with intraventricular/cisternal arachnoid cyst and obstructive HCP. Only ETV was performed in 33 patients with obstructive HCP due to other etiologies.

RESULTS

Successful ETV or VC+ETV surgery was performed in 35 patients. The procedure failed in 5 patients aged 90 percentile at the time of surgery. Another 5 patients aged 90 percentile).

Experience with Management of Intracranial Arachnoid Cysts

OBJECTIVES

 The aim of this study was to analyze the demographics, clinical presentation, and surgical outcome of intracranial arachnoid cysts and to review the surgical options.

METHODS

 This is a retrospective observational study of 56 cases of symptomatic arachnoid cysts among all age groups treated between 2004 and 2020 at the Bombay Hospital, Mumbai. Endoscopic fenestration, microsurgical cyst excision, and shunt insertion were the interventions performed. Clinical presentation, cyst reduction post-intervention, and complications were studied. The follow-up period varied from 1 month to 16 years. Statistical analysis was done for 43 patients with a minimum of 3 years' follow-up.

RESULTS

 In all, 75% of patients were <18 years of age. Of these, the majority were between the age of 1 and 10 years. There were 14 cases of temporal, 13 cases of retrocerebellar, 10 cases of quadrigeminal cistern, and 7 cases each of interhemispheric and suprasellar arachnoid cysts. The most common clinical presentation was headache and vomiting. Concomitant hydrocephalus was seen on imaging in 24 cases. Endoscopic fenestration of cyst was the most routinely performed procedure (35 cases). Four patients of endoscopic fenestration underwent a redo endoscopic procedure on follow-up. Post-operative reduction in cyst size was found to be significantly better after endoscopic fenestration (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

 Though the best available treatment for arachnoid cysts remains controversial, surgery has been found to be beneficial in symptomatic cases. Endoscopic fenestration is considered the first-line surgical option and it may be followed by shunt, if necessary. Shunts may be preferred in very young children where there is associated hydrocephalus/macrocephaly.

Endoscopic Treatment of Intracranial Arachnoid Cysts: A Retrospective Analysis of a 25-Year Experience

BACKGROUND

Since the development of neuroendoscopy, pure endoscopic fenestration for intracranial arachnoid cysts (ACs) became more and more popular and is actually preferred by many neurosurgeons.

OBJECTIVE

To explore their techniques and experiences with endoscopic treatment of intracranial ACs over a 25-yr period.

METHODS

A total of 95 endoscopic procedures in 87 patients with 88 intracranial ACs performed at the authors’ departments between February 1993 and October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Particular respect was given to surgical technique, complications, patients’ outcome, and radiological benefit in relation to cyst location.

RESULTS

Patients’ ages ranged from 23 d to 81 yr (mean: 29.9 yr). Cysts were located temporobasal (n = 31; 35.2%), paraxial supratentorial (n = 14; 15.9%), suprasellar/prepontine (n = 14; 15.9%), quadrigeminal (n = 12; 13.6%), infratentorial (n = 11; 12.5%), and supratentorial intraventricular (n = 6; 6.8%). Four different endoscopic techniques were applied: cystocisternostomies (n = 48; 50.5%), ventriculocystostomies (n = 23; 24.2%), cystoventriculostomies (n = 14; 14.7%), and ventriculocystocisternostomies (n = 10; 10.5%). Pure endoscopic technique was feasible in 89 of the 95 surgeries (93.7%). Clinical improvement was documented after 82 surgeries (86.3%) and radiological benefit after 62 surgeries (65.3%). Recurrences developed in 8 cases (8.4%). Overall complication rate was 21.1% (n = 20), postoperative new shunt dependency was observed in 4.2% of the cases (n = 4).

CONCLUSION

Pure endoscopic AC fenestration is a safe, effective, and less invasive technique providing high success and low permanent complication rates. The most frequent temporobasal cysts are the most difficult to treat endoscopically. A long-term follow-up is recommended because recurrences may occur many years after first treatment.

Quadrigeminal arachnoid cyst with perinatal encephalocele

INTRODUCTION

Quadrigeminal arachnoid cyst (QAC) associated with encephalocele is rare; and while some treatments have been developed in recent years, no definite therapeutic approach for QAC has been established. Endoscopic treatment for arachnoid cyst is gaining popularity because it is relatively less invasive to the normal brain tissues.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient, a 4-year-old girl, presented with QAC associated with congenital occipital encephalocele. At the age of 1 month, repair of the perinatal encephalocele had been performed at another institute. An asymptomatic arachnoid cyst remained in the posterior fossa, which was closely monitored with follow up. At age 4 years, the patient started to complain of headache, which gradually increased in both strength and frequency. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed cerebellar compression due to cyst enlargement. We performed neuroendoscopic cyst fenestration with an occipital bone approach. Post-operative MRI showed reduced size of the cyst, and the headache dramatically improved and resolved.

DISCUSSION

The standard treatment of QAC is still controversial; however, our successful use of endoscopic fenestration toward the third ventricle indicates its efficacy and safety. QACs have been classified into 3 types based on their expansion mechanisms; our case might suggest another possible mechanism of QAC development.

CONCLUSION

In our case, endoscopic cyst fenestration was successful for QAC with perinatal encephalocele. However, long-term follow-up and analysis of similar cases are needed to determine its effectiveness.

Neuroendoscopic treatment of multiple intracranial arachnoid cysts: a case report

Background

Multiple arachnoid cysts are very rare within the central nervous system. The cysts will sometimes increase in size with age, lead to the mass effect or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow obstruction, and cause some symptoms, which requires the surgery intervention.

Case presentation

A 35-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with some symptoms related to hydrocephalus for 1 month. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed well-marginated cystic lesions with CSF signal intensity in the ventricular and cisternal systems, bilateral temporal lobes, and left occipital lobe. Cine phase-contrast MRI showed the aqueduct of sylvius was blocked by the cyst in the quadrigeminal cistern. We employed endoscopic ventriculocystostomy and septostomy to create the communication of the cyst with ventricular and cistern system. As a result, the patient's symptoms were relieved.

Conclusions

Endoscopic management can be an effective way for treating intracranial multiple arachnoid cysts, which is the first report of this kind. We hope that this report could help improve the management of intracranial arachnoid cysts with the neuroendoscopic technology.

Keyhole approach in the neuroendoscopic treatment for hydrocephalus

The aim of the study was to explore keyhole approach and dura suture in the neuroendoscopic treatment for hydrocephalus.Twelve cases of hydrocephalus patients who were treated with neuroendoscope by this approach were analyzed retrospectively from April 2015 to April 2016 in our department. The basic steps of this procedure was using drill and milling cutter to form a small bone flap instead of burr hole, and then making a cruciate incision on the dura. After endoscopic third ventriculostomy or endoscopic third ventriculostomy + ventriculocystostomy finished, dura was sutured and the bone flap was reset.All 12 patients could suture dura effectively, and no cerebrospinal fluid leak and subcutaneous cerebrospinal fluid collection happened; symptoms of hydrocephalus were also improved. Moreover, during the operation, we found this approach could suspend dura, and avoid the cerebral sulcus and cortical coarse vein effectively, which could reduce the risk of intracranial hemorrhage. In addition, we found this approach could increase the reachable range of the neuroendoscope significantly.Keyhole approach can suture dura and avoid the cerebral sulcus and cortical coarse vein effectively, increase the indications, and reduce complications of neuroendoscope. So, this approach has clinical values and can be used in hydrocephalus.