Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1975 Jan;38(1):57–68. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.38.1.57

Supratentorial extracerebral cysts in infants and children.

J Aicardi, F Bauman
PMCID: PMC491860  PMID: 1117300

Abstract

Twelve cases of supratentorial extracerebral cysts in infants and children are reported. Eight were located in the Sylvian fissure, two in the interhemispheric fissue, and two over the convexity of the cerebral hemispheres. Irrespective of their precise location these cysts, in their common, uncomplicated form, give rise to a clinical syndrome different from that recorded in older patients, with a symmetrical macrocrania of a severe degree unassociated with any neurological signs or abnormalities in psychomotor development. Extensive unilateral transillumination of the skull is common (six cases). These features, in association with specific angiographic and pneumoencephalographic findings, make a preoperative diagnosis possible. Extracerebral cysts (either arachnoidal or histologically more complex) should be distinguished from intracerebral cavities which may closely mimic them, even at surgery. The natural history of infatile cysts is studied and serial head-measurements (pre-and postoperative) are presented in five cases. Insufficient knowledge of the spontaneous course and incidence of complications prevents definite statements on the necessity and type of therapy.

Full text

PDF
57

Images in this article

60Image
on p.60
60Image
on p.60
61Image
on p.61
61Image
on p.61
62Image
on p.62

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ALVORD E. C., Jr, MARCUSE P. M. Intracranial cerebellar meningo-encephalocele (posterior fossa cyst) causing hydrocephalus by compression at the incisura tentorii. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 1962 Jan;21:50–69. doi: 10.1097/00005072-196201000-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Anderson F. M., Landing B. H. Cerebral arachnoid cysts in infants. J Pediatr. 1966 Jul;69(1):88–96. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(66)80365-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BACIOCCO A., CHIAPPETTA F., CHIASSERINI A., Jr RACCOLTE LIQUIDE INTRACRANICHE CON CARATTERISTICHE ALTERAZIONI OSSEE. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 1965;12:746–763. doi: 10.1007/BF01404623. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. BUCY P. C., HANDA H. Benign cysts of the brain simulating brain tumor. J Neurosurg. 1956 Sep;13(5):489–499. doi: 10.3171/jns.1956.13.5.0489. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Berkmen Y. M., Brucher J., Salmon J. H. Congenital arachnoid cysts. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med. 1969 Feb;105(2):298–304. doi: 10.2214/ajr.105.2.298. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bernard R., Coignet J., Pinsard N., Mariani R., Vigouroux R., Choux M., Baurand C. Les hydrocéphalies du nourrisson par lésions expansives intra-craniennes (a propos de 20 observations) Ann Pediatr (Paris) 1966 Aug-Sep;13(8):515–524. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Bhandari Y. S. Non-communicating supratentorial subarachnoid cysts. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1972 Dec;35(6):763–770. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.35.6.763. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. CHILDE A. E. Localized thinning and enlargement of the cranium, with special reference to the middle fossa. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med. 1953 Jul;70(1):1–22. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Cloward R. B. Atresia of the lateral ventricle. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1969 Dec;32(6):624–629. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.32.6.624. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. FREEMAN J. M., GOLD A. P. PORENCEPHALY SIMULATING SUBDURAL HEMATOMA IN CHILDHOOD. A CLINICAL SYNDROME SECONDARY TO ARTERIAL OCCLUSION. Am J Dis Child. 1964 Apr;107:327–336. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1964.02080060329001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Ghatak N. R., Mushrush G. J. Supratentorial intra-arachnoid cyst. Case report. J Neurosurg. 1971 Oct;35(4):477–482. doi: 10.3171/jns.1971.35.4.0477. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Gruszkiewicz J., Peyser E. Supratentorial arachnoidal cyst associated with hydrocephalus. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1965 Oct;28(5):438–441. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.28.5.438. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. HOLST S. CONGENITAL INTRACRANIAL ARACHNOIDAL CYST. CASE REPORTS AND DISCUSSION OF THE PATHOGENESIS. J Oslo City Hosp. 1965 Jun;15:113–120. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Jakubiak P., Dunsmore R. H., Beckett R. S. Supratentorial brain cysts. J Neurosurg. 1968 Feb;28(2):129–136. doi: 10.3171/jns.1968.28.2.0129. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. KATAGIRI A. Arachnoidal cyst of the cisterna ambines. Report of two cases. Neurology. 1960 Aug;10:783–786. doi: 10.1212/wnl.10.8.783. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. NAGOULITCH I., PEROVITCH M. [Extracerebral fluid collections in children]. Lyon Chir. 1960 Sep;56:726–739. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. OLIVER L. C. Primary arachnoid cysts; report of two cases. Br Med J. 1958 May 17;1(5080):1147–1149. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5080.1147. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. PERTUISET B., BERDET H. A propos du diagnostic et du pronostic des hydromes sous-duraux primitifs. Rev Neurol (Paris) 1952;87(6):538–540. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. ROBINSON R. G. Intracranial collections of fluid with local bulging of the skull. J Neurosurg. 1955 Jul;12(4):345–353. doi: 10.3171/jns.1955.12.4.0345. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. ROBINSON R. G. Local bulging of the skull and external hydrocephalus due to cerebral agenesis. Br J Radiol. 1958 Dec;31(372):691–700. doi: 10.1259/0007-1285-31-372-691. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. ROBINSON R. G. THE TEMPORAL LOBE AGENESIS SYNDROME. Brain. 1964 Mar;87:87–106. doi: 10.1093/brain/87.1.87. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. ROGER J., SALAMON G., SOULAYROI R., COMBALBERT A., REGIS H. LES COLLECTIONS SOUS-DURALES CHRONIQUES DE L'ENFANT 'EPILEPTIQUE (HYDROMES ET KYSTES ARACHNOUIDIENS) Neurochirurgie. 1964 Mar-Apr;10:186–195. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Ryvicker M., Leeds N. E. Developmental cerebral intra-arachnoidal cysts. Radiology. 1973 Oct;109(1):105–108. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. STARKMAN S. P., BROWN T. C., LINELL E. A. Cerebral arachnoid cysts. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 1958 Jul;17(3):484–500. doi: 10.1097/00005072-195807000-00009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. TIBERIN P., GRUSZKIEWICZ J. Chronic arachnoidal cysts of the middle cranial fossa and their relation to trauma. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1961 Feb;24:86–91. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.24.1.86. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. TORMA T., HEISKANEN O. Benign cerebral cysts. A report of 22 cases. Acta Neurol Scand. 1961;37:145–156. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1961.tb06062.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. VANDEN HERREWEGEN M. Un cas curieux de kyste extracérébral à localisation parasagittale; kyste arachnoïdien? Acta Neurol Psychiatr Belg. 1954 Apr;54(4):291–303. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Vigouroux R. P., Choux M., Baurand C. Les kystes arachnoïdiens congénitaux. Neurochirurgia (Stuttg) 1966 Sep;9(5):169–187. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1095368. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. WEINMAN D. F. ARACHNOIDAL CYSTS IN THE SYLVIAN FISSURE OF THE BRAIN. J Neurosurg. 1965 Feb;22:185–187. doi: 10.3171/jns.1965.22.2.0185. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Wilson C. B., Bertan V. Cerebral leptomeningeal cysts of developmental origin. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med. 1966 Nov;98(3):570–574. doi: 10.2214/ajr.98.3.570. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES