Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Arachnoid cyst CT
Introduction
Overview
Overview
On brain/spine CT scan, arachnoid cysts are characterized by cystic images with similar density to CSF and non-enhancing borders, mostly found in the middle cranial fossa while they only rarely occur in the spinal cord.
CT
CT
- Arachnoid cysts are cystic extra-axial lesions of the brain.
- On CT scans they are observed with a similar density to CSF, with sharp non-enhancing borders.
- The main differential diagnosis is the epidermoid cyst which present with irregular borders, while the arachnoid cyst is sharp but smooth. While the CT can is useful, an MRI is more precise on establishing its origin and location.
- Most cysts (50-60%) are found in the floor of the middle cranial fossa, while 1/4 to 1/3 of occur in the posterior fossa, particularly in the retrocerebellar, cerebellopontine, and quadrigeminal plate cisterns. Rarely, they may be found in the spinal cord.[1][2]
- Arachnoid cysts tend to occur mostly on the left side.[3]
References
References
- ↑ “MedPix – Arachnoid Cyst”. MedPix. 06/26/2020. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Robertson, S. J., S. M. Wolpert, and V. M. Runge. “MR imaging of middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts: temporal lobe agenesis syndrome revisited.” American journal of neuroradiology 10.5 (1989): 1007-1010.
- ↑ “Arachnoid Cyst Imaging”. Medscape. 06/26/2020. Check date values in:
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CT Examples of Arachnoid Cysts
CT Examples of Arachnoid Cysts
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: José Eduardo Riceto Loyola Junior, M.D.[2]