Diagnosis and treatment of huge spinal meningeal cysts

Objective To study the clinical characteristics of spinal meningeal cyst（SMC）and its outcome after surgical treatment.Methods Seventeen patients（9 males and 8 females）, at a median age of 37.6 years （range13-61years）, were included in this study.The course of disease was 3 months-9 years（range 1.7 years）. Of the 17 patients, 11 had back pain,sciatica,leg numbness and discomfort, 4 had numbness and discomfort in ascrococcygeal and perineal region, and 2 had difficulties in making stools and urine. Results The clinical symptoms were improved at various extents after surgery. No significant improvement was observed in 2 patients with numbness and discomfort in the perineal region and in 1 patient with difficulties in making stools and urine. No recurrent cyst was found during the 3-38 months follow-up period（range 13.4 months）. Conclusion MRI is of great importance for the diagnosis of SMC. Surgical removal of the cyst wall and closure of the ostium can achieve rather good results in patients with SMC.