Cervical arachnoid cyst mimicking the cause of cervical radiculopathy: A case report

Abstract We herein present a case involving an asymptomatic cervical intradural arachnoid cyst that was suspected to be the cause of the patient's radicular pain. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a small, round intradural mass beside the cervical nerve root. An arachnoid cyst of this shape has not been previously reported. Intraoperative examination revealed that the cyst was not compressing the nerve root and was asymptomatic. Intradural spinal surgery is sometimes associated with serious complications. The knowledge that arachnoid cysts of this shape are asymptomatic can help to avoid unnecessary surgery.