Left temporal arachnoid cyst
An impressive left temporal arachnoid cyst in a 13-year-old boy who presented with persistant mild headache at out an patient clinic!Arachnoid cysts are located within the subarachnoid space and contain CSF. These are relatively common benign, small and asymptomatic lesions occurring in association with the central nervous system, both within the intracranial compartment as well as within the spinal canal.Symptoms occur in a small percentage of cases, they are usually the result of gradual enlargement resulting in mass effect. This results in either direct neurological dysfunction or distortion of normal CSF pathways resulting in obstructive hydrocephalus.Treatment is indicated in symptomatic patients and includes craniotomy with excision, drainage by needle aspiration or burr hole, or a placement of a cystoperitoneal shunt where the CSF is being drained through a tube into the peritoneal cavity.Photo by @rpaglioli
