Arachnoid/Tarlov cysts

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Just was wondering if anyone knows the diff between Tarlov and

arachnoid cysts.My first scan said a arachnoid cyst the ones after

that called it a Tarlov cyst.Then on the body scan in Jul o3 the one

in the sacrum was smaller and I had one in my head that was never

mentioned before.

Then the last scan the ns wrote to my GP saying that I had multiple

reasons for back pain and included the Tarlov cyst as one of them.can

anyone make any sense out of any of this stuff.I got so many diff

answers over the years.

Can Arachnoid cysts cause head pressure and

seizure activity or chiari symptoms???Here are the scans reports if

anyone wants to comment.Also it mentions a haemangioma but I don't

have any marks on my back,what does this mean??

• Dec 97 MRI Lumbar - Cystic mass expanding sacral vertebral canal

posterior to 3rd 4th & 5th sacral vertebrae. Expansion of sacral canal

fusiform the lesion measuring 5cm x 2.5cm x 2cm.A moderately large

intraosseous sacral arachnoid cyst.

• Dec 97 MRI & CT Mar & Oct 97 –

• On the AP scanogram you will see a sclerotic pedicle on right at

L3, spinous process displacement and scoliosis. On the axial images

confirmation of the right L3 pedicle sclerosis extending into the

adjacent lamina(images 1-4,bone windows).Left side incompletely shown

and I believe there is a left sided pars defect with associated

hypoplasia at the L3-L4 facet joint), arachnoid cyst S3-S5, bilateral

osteitis condensans ilii with mild degenerative changes

• Mar 97 CT Spine - Bilateral osteitis condensans ilii within the

sacroiliac joints and anterior lipping about the margins of joint spaces

• Feb 01 CT Lumbar - L2/3 plane of facet joints is asymmetric and

evidence of old virtually un-displaced and possibly healed left sided

pars defect. Mild facet joint osteoarthritis at L4/5.There is

expansion of lower sacral portion of the bony canal due to CSF density

space lesion which appears similar to previous MRI. Should be regarded

as the result of a Tarlov cyst.

• Apr 01 X-Ray Lumbar - Defect of the pars interarticularis at L2/3

level on left, subtle mid lumbar scoliosis convex to the left.

Backward retrolisthesis of L2 and L3

• Jan 03 CT Lumbar – Mild osteoarthritis of the L4/5 and L5/S1 facet

joints and mild osteoarthritis of the sacroiliac joints to a slightly

greater degree on the right

• Jul 03 Body Scan- Focal collection of CSF –retro-cerebellar

arachnoid space in midline measures 1.5cm x 2.3cm and continues for

approx 4cm.Probable arachnoid cyst.Focal dilation of the sacral canal

at S3 measures 18mm sagittal diameter, 21mm coronal diameter-probable

Tarlov cyst.

• Jan 04 MRI Lumbar – Left lamina of L3 appears hyperplastic and a

haemangioma noted at L2.Mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the

sacroiliac joints bilaterally, greater in the fibrous portion of the

joint. Focal dural ectasia with resultant dilation of the thecal sac

at the S3 and S4 level. Diffuse bone marrow oedema in the S5 segment

of the sacrum with no associated fracture or extra osseous mass or

cortical disruption. Presumably related to recent sub-acute trauma.

• June 04 Ultrasound Back – Palpable nodule over the left posterior

superior iliac spine. Does not have appearance of a discreet mass

lesion on ultrasound.

• Dec 04 MRI Pelvis and Sacroiliac Joints – Bridging osteophytes in

the anterior aspect of the fibrous portion of the sacroiliac joints

bilaterally. This is associated with mild joint space narrowing and

sub-chondral sclerosis. The S5 segment exhibits bone marrow oedema

with no associated cortical disruption or extra osseous mass. Dural

ectasia of the distal sacral thecal sac at the level of S3 and S4

resulting in the dilation of the thecal sac at these levels.

• June 06 MRI Cervical- Minor annular bulges at C4/5,C5/6,shallow disc

protusion C6/7. Giant cisterna magna.

• June 06 Lumbar & Sacroiliac Joints- Conus rather low

(approxL3),focal dilation of distal sacral thecal sac, fatty distal

filum terminale.Joint line ostephytes of fibrous segment right and

left sacrailiac joints. Low lying spinal cord with possible tethering

distortion of distal filum terminale

•

July 06 MRI Spine – Low lying conus medallaris,generous thecal sac at

lumbar level,filum terminal pulled posteriorly.Tarlov cyst of

sacrum.Minor posterior disc bulging at T9/T10.No evidence of dural ectasia