Listeria monocytogenes meningitis complicated by symptomatic spinal subarachnoid cysts.

We report the case of a man who developed signs of compression of the spinal cord in the dorsal region over a year after treatment of Listeria monocytogenes meningitis. He proved to have mild hydrocephalus and a number of subarachnoid pouches compressing the upper dorsal cord. Insertion of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt caused clinical improvement. We believe that this was caused by relief of tension in the spinal cysts rather than any reduction in ventricular size.