Authors: P N Shams P J Goadsby H A Crockard A T H Casey G T Plant
Publish Date: 2005/03/05
Volume: 252, Issue: 3, Pages: 273-282
Abstract
Raised intracranial pressure in association with spinal meningeal cysts has rarely been reported We describe four patients in whom evidence of paroxysmal raised intracranial pressure was found in association with spinal meningeal cysts Cerebrospinal fluid diversion procedures have previously been shown to relieve local symptoms due to spinal cysts In our patients symptoms of paroxysmal headache were alleviated by this method suggesting a causal relationship with the raised pressure This association may be an under diagnosed cause of paroxysmal headaches We review the medical literature on the classification of spinal meningeal cysts evaluate the theories of their origin and offer suggestions on the pathogenesis of the abnormal CSF dynamics that may allow an interplay between raised intracranial pressure and spinal meningeal cysts to produce paroxysmal symptoms
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