Suprasellar arachnoid cyst associated with syringomyelia. Case report

We present a case of suprasellar arachnoid cyst which was revealed by visua l impairement and hypopituitarism. Neuroradiological imaging showed the pec uliar association of the suprasellar cyst with cerebellar tonsillar herniat ion and a large asymptomatic cervical syringomyelic cavity. Surgical treatm ent of the suprasellar cyst allowed the reduction of both the cyst and the syrinx. A common pathophysiological mechanism of these lesions is discussed We suggest the possibility that an initial obstruction of the basal cister ns caused the suprasellar cyst formation which led to medullar cavity forma tion.