Loading [MathJax]/jax/output/HTML-CSS/fonts/TeX/fontdata.js

Journal List > Korean J Pain > v.25(4) > 1159423

Kapoor: Rare Clinical Presentations of Perineural Cysts Besides Radicular Pain

LETTER TO EDITOR

The recent article by Jung et al. [1] was highly interesting. However, I tend to have a different view with that of the authors in that perineural cysts (PCs) are rarely symptomatic. In fact, PCs may present in a number of ways.
For instance, some patients may present with radicular pain such as L5 radiculopathies [2]. Similarly, "persistent genital arousal disorder" may occur in females secondary to sacral PCs [3]. Patients with PCs may also present with symptoms of interstitial cystitis [4]. Similarly, perianal pain may be one of the presentations of PCs [5]. They may also present as adnexal masses that upon further evaluation are revealed as PCs [6]. Infertility and retrograde ejaculations may also occur secondary to the compressive symptoms of PCs [7]. Sacral PCs may also result in sacral fractures [8].
Similarly, "moving toes syndrome" has been reported in some patients with PCs [9]. Some patients may present with "cubital tunnel syndrome" [10]. Some patients may also present with symptoms of "piriformis syndrome" [11]. PCs may rarely be bilateral and cause bilateral peripheral neuropathy [12] and may seldom occur in multiple members of the same family which points towards a possible congenital etiology of these cysts.
Rupture of a PC may rarely cause complications such as emboli. For instance, cerebral fat emboli have been reported following the rupture of a PC [13]. Rupture may also result in spontaneous intracranial hypotension [14].
The above examples clearly illustrate that PCs may present in a myriad of ways. Physicians should always keep PCs on their differential when dealing with the above mentioned symptoms.
Go to : Goto

References

1. Jung KT, Lee HY, Lim KJ. Clinical experience of symptomatic sacral perineural cyst. Korean J Pain. 2012; 25:191–194. PMID: 22787551.
crossref
2. Takatori M, Hirose M, Hosokawa T. Perineural cyst as a rare cause of L5 radiculopathy. Anesth Analg. 2008; 106:1022–1023. PMID: 18292463.
crossref
3. Komisaruk BR, Lee HJ. Prevalence of sacral spinal (Tarlov) cysts in persistent genital arousal disorder. J Sex Med. 2012; [in press].
crossref
4. Freidenstein J, Aldrete JA, Ness T. Minimally invasive interventional therapy for Tarlov cysts causing symptoms of interstitial cystitis. Pain Physician. 2012; 15:141–146. PMID: 22430651.
5. Fernandes C, Pinho R, Veloso R, Pinto-Pais T, Carvalho J, Fraga J. Tarlov cysts: an unusual case of perianal pain. Tech Coloproctol. 2012; 16:319–320. PMID: 22527921.
crossref
6. H'Ng MW, Wanigasiri UI, Ong CL. Perineural (Tarlov) cysts mimicking adnexal masses: a report of three cases. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2009; 34:230–233. PMID: 19644949.
7. Buschmann C, Spies CK, Maus U, Mumme T, Ohnsorge JA. Perineural cysts causing severe back pain and pathological fracture of the massa lateralis of the sacrum. Z Orthop Unfall. 2009; 147:48–51. PMID: 19263313.
crossref
8. Peña E, Llanero M. Painful legs and moving toes syndrome associated with a sacral Tarlov cyst. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2011; 17:645–646. PMID: 21620757.
crossref
9. Bayrakli F, Kurtuncu M, Karaarslan E, Ozgen S. Perineural cyst presenting like cubital tunnel syndrome. Eur Spine J. 2012; 21(Suppl 4):S387–S389. PMID: 21574015.
crossref
10. Hwang DS, Kang C, Lee JB, Cha SM, Yeon KW. Arthroscopic treatment of piriformis syndrome by perineural cyst on the sciatic nerve: a case report. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2010; 18:681–684. PMID: 20062971.
crossref
11. Badshah A, Hussain N, Janjua M. Bilateral Tarlov cysts: a rare cause of peripheral neuropathy. South Med J. 2009; 102:986–987. PMID: 19668040.
crossref
12. Park HJ, Kim IS, Lee SW, Son BC. Two cases of symptomatic perineural cysts (Tarlov cysts) in one family: a case report. J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2008; 44:174–177. PMID: 19096672.
crossref
13. Duja CM, Berna C, Kremer S, Géronimus C, Kopferschmitt J, Bilbault P. Confusion after spine injury: cerebral fat embolism after traumatic rupture of a Tarlov cyst: case report. BMC Emerg Med. 2010; 10:18. PMID: 20712856.
crossref
14. Fedi M, Cantello R, Shuey NH, Mitchell LA, Comi C, Monaco F, et al. Spontaneous intracranial hypotension presenting as a reversible dorsal midbrain syndrome. J Neuroophthalmol. 2008; 28:289–292. PMID: 19145127.
crossref
Go to : Goto
TOOLS
Similar articles