Abstract

BACKGROUND: The present study was performed in order to determine the mostcommon neurological signs of arachnoid cysts (AC) in a pediatric population and to evaluate if thereis a correlation between the localization of the cyst and the clinical characteristics.MATERIAL/METHODS:Forty-five AC patients were studied, aged 2-17 years, who were consecutively referred to the Departmentof Developmental Neurology at the Medical University of Gdańsk between 1990-2001.RESULTS: We found thatAC has a strong predilection to the temporal regions and was associated with epilepsy in 31% of the cases.The patient's main complaint, however, was headache (in 69% of cases). In 6 cases AC required surgicaltreatment, because of intracranial hypertension. The AC concomitant with epilepsy had a significant predilectionto the left temporal region (92% of cases).CONCLUSIONS: The significance of this finding suggests theimportant role of the temporal lobe in the generation of epileptic activity; however, the associationwith the left cerebral hemisphere remains unclear. Although AC localized in the middle cerebral fossaare very often asymptomatic, in our opinion in many cases they may be the cause of, and have relationshipwith epilepsy and headaches in childhood and adolescence. For this reason MRI studies are necessary inany child with epilepsy and headaches of unclear etiology.

Keywords: Adolescent, Arachnoid Cysts, Child, Child, Preschool, Magnetic Resonance Imaging