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.

References

1. Jung KT, Lee HY, Lim KJ. Clinical experience of symptomatic sacral perineural cyst. Korean J Pain. 2012; 25:191–194. PMID: 22787551.
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2. Takatori M, Hirose M, Hosokawa T. Perineural cyst as a rare cause of L5 radiculopathy. Anesth Analg. 2008; 106:1022–1023. PMID: 18292463.
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3. Komisaruk BR, Lee HJ. Prevalence of sacral spinal (Tarlov) cysts in persistent genital arousal disorder. J Sex Med. 2012; [in press].
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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