Arachnoid Cysts

Intracranial arachnoid cysts are congenital malformations with a predilection for the middle cranial fossa and an estimated prevalence in the general population as high as 1.7%. The common assumption is that these cysts are incidental findings and the symptoms associated with them are not caused by the cyst and consequently, that surgical intervention will not benefit the patient. However, there is now a growing understanding reflected in the international literature among neurologists and neurosurgeons that arachnoid cysts do harm and that the patients’ complaints can be relieved by surgical treatment.

Arachnoid Cysts:  Epidemiology, Biology, and Neuroimaging gives a broad and updated presentation of the condition, including epidemiology, etiology, biology (including genetics and molecular biology), and neuroimaging of same. This book is written for researchers, residents, and clinical practitioners in clinical neuroscience, neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, and pediatrics.

Gives a detailed account of all pathophysiological aspects of arachnoid cysts
Covers epidemiology, etiology, biology, genetics and molecular biology and neuroimaging of arachnoid cysts
Discusses present controversies in cyst management in a historical perspective
Provides information of use to researchers, residents, and clinical practitioners in clinical neuroscience, neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, and pediatrics
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“The Editor has done an excellent effort in organizing a somewhat confusing field into an organic description and in stimulating a debate in order to oppose a widely diffuse attitude in favor of a more active management of arachnoid cysts. He and his contributing authors should be praised for having eliminated from the discussion old believes and introduced new information for the debate…The book is addressed to researchers, clinical practitioners in neurosciences, neurosurgeons and residents, neuroradiologists, pediatricians… and, we could add, psychologists, psychiatrists, epileptologists, and so on. Indeed, only the combined investigation of many specialists could result in a better understanding of these quite complex lesions. Surely, this unique and waited a long time book has all the qualities to stimulate such a wide interest.”
-Child’s Nervous System, April 2018, Volume 34, Issue 4, pp 791–792

Researchers, clinical practitioners, and residents in clinical neuroscience, neurology, neurosurgery, and neuroradiology

1. Historical perspective and controversial aspects.

Biological aspects
2. Arachnoid cysts - intracranial locations, gender, and sidedness
3. Molecular biology and genetics
4. Arachnoid cysts in glutaric aciduria type I (GA-I)
5. Ultrastructure of arachnoid cysts
6. Pathophysiology of intracranial arachnoid cysts: Hypoperfusion of adjacent cortex
7. Biochemistry – compostion of and possible mechanisms for production of arachnoid cyst fluid
8. The ‘Valve Mechanism’

Prevalence and natural history of arachnoid cysts
9. The prevalence of intracranial arachnoid cysts
10. Classification and location of arachnoid cysts
11. Growth and disappearance of arachnoid cysts
12. Arachnoid cysts and subdural and intracystic haematomas
13. Hydrocephalus associated with arachnoid cysts

Neuroimaging
14. Radiological work-up, CT, MRI
15. Arachnoid cyst. Prenatal detection, management and perinatal outcome
16. SPECT studies in patients with arachnoid cysts