Percutaneous catheter placement for cyst drainage in the subarachnoid space.

A technique for percutaneous catheter drainage of cystic masses in the subarachnoid space was developed and shown to be safe and effective in an 18-year-old boy with life-threatening, recurrent neuroenteric cysts that compressed the brain stem, cerebellum, and spinal cord. Percutaneous drainage through a C1-C2 approach was performed on 11 separate occasions. Decompression was always accomplished and no infection or other complication occurred, even with continuous catheter drainage for 9 months. This technique provides opportunities for interventional neuroradiologic therapy in the subarachnoid space. It appears to be suited for percutaneous drainage of intraspinal and intracranial cysts when surgery is not indicated due to intractability or inaccessibility.