RADIOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN INTRACRANIAL ARA CHNOID CYSTS TREATED SURGICALLY AND CONSERVATIVELY

Purpose: To determine which appearances on CT or MRI are indications f or surgical treatment of intracranial arachnoid cysts. Method: The ima ges obtained from 26 patients treated either by surgery or conservativ ely were compared retrospectively. The features evaluated were the siz e of the cyst, evidence of a space-occupying lesion, cerebral abnormal ities near the cyst and skull deformities. Results: In 6 patients (23% ), surgical treatment was indicated because of the presence of obstruc tive hydrocephalus. The presence of all other radiological findings di d not differ significantly between the two analysed groups. 92% of the patients treated surgically benefited from the treatment. Fenestratio n and shunting produced similar results in respect to reduction in siz e of the cyst and the clinical and neurological symptoms. Conclusion: The only indication for surgery is the presence of obstructive hydroce phalus. The other features were seen equally amongst the patients trea ted conservatively and the surgical patients and had no influence on t he decision to operate.