Endoscopic Fenestration of Arachnoid Cysts Through Lateral Pontomesencephalic Membranotomy: Technical Note and Case Series.

BACKGROUND

The ideal treatment method for cranial arachnoid cysts stills controversial, each of endoscopic and microscopic techniques has its pros and cons.

METHODS

We described cystocisternostomy technique for arachnoid cysts through fenestration medial to the edge of tentorium through lateral pontomesencephalic membrane and illustrated it's outcomes. We performed endoscopic lateral pontomesencephalic membranotomy in nine children with zero angled rigid endoscope (STORZ).The age ranged from eight months up to nine years. The cysts were Galassi type III in eight cases (five of them giant hemispheric) and Galassi type II in one case. Clinical presentations were delay in milestones, seizures, loss of consciousness, unsteady gait, and persistent headache.

RESULTS

The cysts decreased in size in five cases after three months and nearly disappeared after three and 15 months in two cases, and in 18 months in the other two. Preoperative symptoms improved in all cases. Insignificant subdural hygroma was found in five cases, one case developed hydrocephalus four months later treated with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt; contralateral massive subdural hematoma occurred in one case four months after surgery evacuated with two burr holes with good clinical outcome. There was neither cerebrospinal fluid leakage, cranial nerve palsy nor mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The fenestration through the lateral pontomesencephalic membrane created a shortcut of cerebrospinal fluid flow to the basal cisterns especially cerebellopontine cistern and represents a reliable option with an acceptable success rate. It creates a good drainage to the large cysts.