Perineural cysts

Case contributed by Bruno Di Muzio
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Incidental finding on MRI imaging for left radiculopathy.

MRI Lumbar spine

mri

Bilateral perineural cysts along the S1 nerve roots at the level of the S1/S2 intervertebral foramina. Desiccation and left subarticular disc protrusion in L5/S1 touching/displacing the left L5 root. The remainder study is unremarkable. 

Case Discussion

Perineural cysts, also called Tarlov cysts, are CSF filled dilatations of the nerve root sheath at the dorsal root ganglion. These are type II spinal meningeal cysts that are, by definition, extradural but contain neural tissue.

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