Arachnoid cyst of the craniocervical junction: Case report

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: An arachnoid cyst at the craniocervical junction presenting with obstructive hydrocephalus as a result of blockage of the ou tflow of the fourth ventricle is described. This is a very rare anatomic si te, with only five other cases described in the literature. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old woman presented with a 9-month history of severe neck pain, persistent vomiting, visual disturbances, and numbnes s of the nose, cheek, and lips. She had severe bilateral papilledema on oph thalmoscopy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a midline cystic lesion ex tending down to C2. INTERVENTION: The patient underwent posterior fossa craniectomy and excisio n of the arachnoid cyst. She made a full recovery and was asymptomatic at f ollow-up examination. CONCLUSION: The symptomatology of these rare craniocervical arachnoid cysts and their development are discussed.