Abstract
Tarlov cyst syndrome is a rare, often asymptomatic disorder, characterised by isolated or multiple nerve-root cysts, usually occurring in the sacral spine, near the dorsal root ganglion, between the perineurium and endoneurium. The cysts may cause lower back pain, sacral radiculopathy, dyspareunia and urinary incontinence. There is little data in the literature on the relationship between Tarlov cysts and symptoms. Here, we report further details on the clinical impact of Tarlov cysts and investigate their pathogenesis and role as a cause of lumbosacral symptoms. We examined 157 patients with MRI evidence of symptomatic Tarlov cysts. Patients underwent complete neurological examination and were scored by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Visual Analogue Scale. Complete lower limb electromyography was performed in 32 patients. Clinical picture was correlated with size and number of cysts detected by MRI. Family history was recorded for signs of genetic inheritance. Almost all patients suffered perineal or lower back pain; 34 complained of sphincter and 46 of sexual disorders. Hamilton scores were abnormal, and family history was positive in a few cases. The scanty literature on Tarlov cysts mainly regards therapy by a neurosurgical approach. Our results provide new data on clinical impact and possible pathogenetic mechanisms.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1679-1682 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Neurological Sciences |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 2013 |
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Keywords
- Chronic pain
- Perineural cysts
- Tarlov cysts
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Dermatology
Cite this
Tarlov cysts : Clinical evaluation of an italian cohort of patients. / Marino, D.; Carluccio, M. A.; Di Donato, I.; Sicurelli, F.; Chini, E.; Di Toro Mammarella, L.; Rossi, F.; Rubegni, A.; Federico, A.
In: Neurological Sciences, Vol. 34, No. 9, 09.2013, p. 1679-1682.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Tarlov cysts
T2 - Clinical evaluation of an italian cohort of patients
AU - Marino, D.
AU - Carluccio, M. A.
AU - Di Donato, I.
AU - Sicurelli, F.
AU - Chini, E.
AU - Di Toro Mammarella, L.
AU - Rossi, F.
AU - Rubegni, A.
AU - Federico, A.
PY - 2013/9
Y1 - 2013/9
N2 - Tarlov cyst syndrome is a rare, often asymptomatic disorder, characterised by isolated or multiple nerve-root cysts, usually occurring in the sacral spine, near the dorsal root ganglion, between the perineurium and endoneurium. The cysts may cause lower back pain, sacral radiculopathy, dyspareunia and urinary incontinence. There is little data in the literature on the relationship between Tarlov cysts and symptoms. Here, we report further details on the clinical impact of Tarlov cysts and investigate their pathogenesis and role as a cause of lumbosacral symptoms. We examined 157 patients with MRI evidence of symptomatic Tarlov cysts. Patients underwent complete neurological examination and were scored by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Visual Analogue Scale. Complete lower limb electromyography was performed in 32 patients. Clinical picture was correlated with size and number of cysts detected by MRI. Family history was recorded for signs of genetic inheritance. Almost all patients suffered perineal or lower back pain; 34 complained of sphincter and 46 of sexual disorders. Hamilton scores were abnormal, and family history was positive in a few cases. The scanty literature on Tarlov cysts mainly regards therapy by a neurosurgical approach. Our results provide new data on clinical impact and possible pathogenetic mechanisms.
AB - Tarlov cyst syndrome is a rare, often asymptomatic disorder, characterised by isolated or multiple nerve-root cysts, usually occurring in the sacral spine, near the dorsal root ganglion, between the perineurium and endoneurium. The cysts may cause lower back pain, sacral radiculopathy, dyspareunia and urinary incontinence. There is little data in the literature on the relationship between Tarlov cysts and symptoms. Here, we report further details on the clinical impact of Tarlov cysts and investigate their pathogenesis and role as a cause of lumbosacral symptoms. We examined 157 patients with MRI evidence of symptomatic Tarlov cysts. Patients underwent complete neurological examination and were scored by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Visual Analogue Scale. Complete lower limb electromyography was performed in 32 patients. Clinical picture was correlated with size and number of cysts detected by MRI. Family history was recorded for signs of genetic inheritance. Almost all patients suffered perineal or lower back pain; 34 complained of sphincter and 46 of sexual disorders. Hamilton scores were abnormal, and family history was positive in a few cases. The scanty literature on Tarlov cysts mainly regards therapy by a neurosurgical approach. Our results provide new data on clinical impact and possible pathogenetic mechanisms.
KW - Chronic pain
KW - Perineural cysts
KW - Tarlov cysts
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84885418679&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84885418679&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10072-013-1321-0
DO - 10.1007/s10072-013-1321-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 23400656
AN - SCOPUS:84885418679
VL - 34
SP - 1679
EP - 1682
JO - Neurological Sciences
JF - Neurological Sciences
SN - 1590-1874
IS - 9
ER -