Dilatation of arachnoid and dura of spinal posterior nerve root sheath, containing nerve fibers
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Nonvascular Interventions
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Hulens M et al: Symptomatic Tarlov cysts are often overlooked: ten reasons why-a narrative review. Eur Spine J. 28(10):2237-48, 2019
Sharma M et al: A systematic comparative outcome analysis of surgical versus percutaneous techniques in the management of symptomatic sacral perineural (Tarlov) cysts: a meta-analysis. J Neurosurg Spine. 1-12, 2019
Haber MD et al: Differentiation of idiopathic spinal cord herniation from CSF-isointense intraspinal extramedullary lesions displacing the cord. Radiographics. 34(2):313-29, 2014
Padma S et al: Multilocular disseminated tarlov cysts: importance of imaging. World J Nucl Med. 13(1):67-70, 2014
Sivakumar W et al: Intracranial hypotension in the setting of concurrent perineural cyst rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage. J Clin Neurosci. 21(6):1063-5, 2014
Lohani S et al: Intrasacral meningocele in the pediatric population. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 11(6):615-22, 2013
Lucantoni C et al: Tarlov cysts: a controversial lesion of the sacral spine. Neurosurg Focus. 31(6):E14, 2011
Merlini L et al: Look for the nerves! MR neurography adds essential diagnostic value to routine MRI in pediatric practice: a pictorial overview. J Neuroradiol. 38(3):141-7, 2011
Murphy KJ et al: Tarlov cysts: an overlooked clinical problem. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 15(2):163-7, 2011
Mitra R et al: Conservative management of perineural cysts. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 33(16):E565-8, 2008
Langdown AJ et al: The clinical relevance of Tarlov cysts. J Spinal Disord Tech. 18(1):29-33, 2005
Acosta FL Jr et al: Diagnosis and management of sacral Tarlov cysts. Case report and review of the literature. Neurosurg Focus. 15(2):E15, 2003
Caspar W et al: Microsurgical excision of symptomatic sacral perineurial cysts: a study of 15 cases. Surg Neurol. 59(2):101-5; discussion 105-6, 2003
Kumar K et al: Symptomatic spinal arachnoid cysts: report of two cases with review of the literature. Spine. 28(2):E25-9, 2003
Voyadzis JM et al: Tarlov cysts: a study of 10 cases with review of the literature. J Neurosurg. 95(1 Suppl):25-32, 2001
Mummaneni PV et al: Microsurgical treatment of symptomatic sacral Tarlov cysts. Neurosurgery. 47(1):74-8; discussion 78-9, 2000
ArunKumar MJ et al: Sacral nerve root cysts: A review on pathophysiology. Neurol India. 47(1):61-4, 1999
Paulsen RD et al: Prevalence and percutaneous drainage of cysts of the sacral nerve root sheath (Tarlov cysts). AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 15(2):293-7; discussion 298-9, 1994
Davis SW et al: Sacral meningeal cysts: evaluation with MR imaging. Radiology. 187(2):445-8, 1993
Araki Y et al: MRI of symptomatic sacral perineural cyst. Radiat Med. 10(6):250-2, 1992
Nabors MW et al: Updated assessment and current classification of spinal meningeal cysts. J Neurosurg. 68(3):366-77, 1988
Goyal RN et al: Intraspinal cysts: a classification and literature review. Spine. 12(3):209-13, 1987
Willinsky RA et al: Computed tomography of a sacral perineural cyst. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 9(3):599-601, 1985
Dastur HM: The radiological appearances of spinal extradural arachnoid cysts. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 26:231-5, 1963
Abbott KH et al: The role of perineurial sacral cysts in the sciatic and sacrococcygeal syndromes; a review of the literature and report of 9 cases. J Neurosurg. 14(1):5-21, 1957
Tarlov IM: Cysts (perineurial) of the sacral nerve roots: another cause of the sciatic or sacral cauda equina syndrome. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 11(1):88-9, 1952
Related Anatomy
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Pathology
Clinical Issues
Diagnostic Checklist
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
Spinal nerve root diverticulum
Tarlov cyst
Perineural cyst
Definitions
Dilatation of arachnoid and dura of spinal posterior nerve root sheath, containing nerve fibers
IMAGING
General Features
Radiographic Findings
CT Findings
MR Findings
Nonvascular Interventions
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Staging, Grading, & Classification
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Hulens M et al: Symptomatic Tarlov cysts are often overlooked: ten reasons why-a narrative review. Eur Spine J. 28(10):2237-48, 2019
Sharma M et al: A systematic comparative outcome analysis of surgical versus percutaneous techniques in the management of symptomatic sacral perineural (Tarlov) cysts: a meta-analysis. J Neurosurg Spine. 1-12, 2019
Haber MD et al: Differentiation of idiopathic spinal cord herniation from CSF-isointense intraspinal extramedullary lesions displacing the cord. Radiographics. 34(2):313-29, 2014
Padma S et al: Multilocular disseminated tarlov cysts: importance of imaging. World J Nucl Med. 13(1):67-70, 2014
Sivakumar W et al: Intracranial hypotension in the setting of concurrent perineural cyst rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage. J Clin Neurosci. 21(6):1063-5, 2014
Lohani S et al: Intrasacral meningocele in the pediatric population. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 11(6):615-22, 2013
Lucantoni C et al: Tarlov cysts: a controversial lesion of the sacral spine. Neurosurg Focus. 31(6):E14, 2011
Merlini L et al: Look for the nerves! MR neurography adds essential diagnostic value to routine MRI in pediatric practice: a pictorial overview. J Neuroradiol. 38(3):141-7, 2011
Murphy KJ et al: Tarlov cysts: an overlooked clinical problem. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 15(2):163-7, 2011
Mitra R et al: Conservative management of perineural cysts. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 33(16):E565-8, 2008
Langdown AJ et al: The clinical relevance of Tarlov cysts. J Spinal Disord Tech. 18(1):29-33, 2005
Acosta FL Jr et al: Diagnosis and management of sacral Tarlov cysts. Case report and review of the literature. Neurosurg Focus. 15(2):E15, 2003
Caspar W et al: Microsurgical excision of symptomatic sacral perineurial cysts: a study of 15 cases. Surg Neurol. 59(2):101-5; discussion 105-6, 2003
Kumar K et al: Symptomatic spinal arachnoid cysts: report of two cases with review of the literature. Spine. 28(2):E25-9, 2003
Voyadzis JM et al: Tarlov cysts: a study of 10 cases with review of the literature. J Neurosurg. 95(1 Suppl):25-32, 2001
Mummaneni PV et al: Microsurgical treatment of symptomatic sacral Tarlov cysts. Neurosurgery. 47(1):74-8; discussion 78-9, 2000
ArunKumar MJ et al: Sacral nerve root cysts: A review on pathophysiology. Neurol India. 47(1):61-4, 1999
Paulsen RD et al: Prevalence and percutaneous drainage of cysts of the sacral nerve root sheath (Tarlov cysts). AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 15(2):293-7; discussion 298-9, 1994
Davis SW et al: Sacral meningeal cysts: evaluation with MR imaging. Radiology. 187(2):445-8, 1993
Araki Y et al: MRI of symptomatic sacral perineural cyst. Radiat Med. 10(6):250-2, 1992
Nabors MW et al: Updated assessment and current classification of spinal meningeal cysts. J Neurosurg. 68(3):366-77, 1988
Goyal RN et al: Intraspinal cysts: a classification and literature review. Spine. 12(3):209-13, 1987
Willinsky RA et al: Computed tomography of a sacral perineural cyst. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 9(3):599-601, 1985
Dastur HM: The radiological appearances of spinal extradural arachnoid cysts. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 26:231-5, 1963
Abbott KH et al: The role of perineurial sacral cysts in the sciatic and sacrococcygeal syndromes; a review of the literature and report of 9 cases. J Neurosurg. 14(1):5-21, 1957
Tarlov IM: Cysts (perineurial) of the sacral nerve roots: another cause of the sciatic or sacral cauda equina syndrome. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 11(1):88-9, 1952
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