Evolving magnetic resonance spinal cord trauma in child: from hemorrhage to intradural arachnoid cyst

Acquired arachnoid cysts of the spinal cord are uncommon causes of spinal c ord compression in the pediatric group, Meningitis, trauma and hemorrhage a re considered to be causative or contributing factors. Interestingly, no sp inal arachnoid cysts have been reported in patients after subarachnoid hemo rrhage or meningitis, conditions expected to cause arachnoid scarring. We d escribe a child of 1 year and 10 months with thoracic spine trauma with cru ral paraplegia and anesthesia at level T5 submitted to serial magnetic reso nance imagery at 5 days and 18 months, after trauma showing evolution from subarachnoid hemorrhage and adhesions of the arachnoid space to a posterior hypertensive thoracic intradural arachnoid cyst.