Introduction

Arachnoid cysts (ACs) are congenital lesions [1,2,3,4] that account for approximately 1% of all intracranial lesions. They most commonly occur in the middle and posterior cranial fossae [5, 6], and are usually incidental findings on imaging reflecting their typically benign nature [7]. Few ACs present with symptoms and may require neurosurgical intervention. We report a rare presentation of posterior fossa arachnoid cyst (PFAC) with torticollis and gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) in a child, which resolved following endoscopic cyst fenestration.

Case report

A 2-month-old male infant was referred to the emergency department with macrocephaly. He was born at term via a normal vaginal delivery. Antenatal screening was normal with no initial post-natal concerns. Two weeks prior to admission, the head circumference increased significantly, and he started to have difficulty feeding with severe GOR. On examination, the anterior fontanelle was bulging and tense with prominent scalp veins. Urgent CT followed by MRI (Fig. 1) of the head demonstrated obstructive hydrocephalus due to a PFAC.

Fig. 1
figure 1

T2-weighted MRI demonstrating hydrocephalus and a posterior fossa AC on initial presentation; axial a; midline sagittal b; coronal c; paramedian sagittal d

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An endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) was performed and a Rickham reservoir connected to an intraventricular catheter was inserted. The post-operative scan revealed decompression of the ventricular system and a stable PFAC. The infant was discharged home 3 days later.

In the following weeks, he developed torticollis (left lateral flexion) and GOR refractory to medical treatment. A repeat MRI revealed an increase in the size of the PFAC such that it was extending into the spinal canal through the craniocervical junction and causing significant mass effect on the brainstem. The previous ETV was still functioning (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
figure 2

T2-weighted MRI demonstrating the increase in size of the AC with extension into the craniocervical junction (asterisks) with a functioning ventriculostomy (arrow); axial a; sagittal b; coronal c; paramedian sagittal d

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We proceeded with endoscopic cyst fenestration. The cyst was entered and its wall was coagulated in places (to reduce its size) then fenestrated. The fenestrations were into the craniocervical junction, the fourth ventricle, out through the right foramen of Luschka and into the pre-pontine cistern. Choroid plexus was seen within the cyst (Fig. 3c). Neuropathologically the cyst was consistent with an AC. The symptoms resolved post-operatively, with significant reduction in cyst size after fenestration (Fig. 4). The child was discharged home 4 days later.

Fig. 3
figure 3

Intraoperative imaging demonstrating the inferior aspect of the cyst bulging up into the cavity a; cyst wall being coagulated b; choroid plexus lining cyst wall c; right foramen of Lushka d; lateral aspect of brainstem with the right lower cranial nerves and vertebral artery/PICA seen e; fenestration into pre-pontine cistern f

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Fig. 4
figure 4

Postoperative MRI scan demonstrating reduction in size of posterior fossa AC after fenestration; sagittal view with flow through the aqueduct a; sagittal view with flow through ventriculostomy and outlets of the 4th ventricle b

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He was readmitted with a CSF leak 1 week later. A CT scan demonstrated that the cyst was smaller and ruled out hydrocephalus. A trans-fontanelle tap revealed a raised white cell count with no organisms detected. He returned to surgery where the reservoir and intraventricular catheter were removed and replaced by an external ventricular drain (EVD). He received 14 days of intrathecal (IT) vancomycin and 16 days of intravenous meropenem and vancomycin. He made a good recovery. The EVD was removed and he was discharged home 20 days after surgery.

Despite reduction in the size of the cyst and a functioning ventriculostomy, the patient developed communicating hydrocephalus likely due to the infection. A left ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted after serial lumbar punctures. At 18-month follow-up he is fit and well, with no recurrence of symptoms.

Discussion

There are four previous reports of PFACs presenting with torticollis [8,9,10] (Table 1). Zaher et al. reported the only other PFAC presenting with torticollis managed endoscopically [10] which achieved resolution of symptoms without complication. Similarly, we observed resolution of torticollis and GOR following fenestration.

Table 1 Existing reports of posterior fossa arachnoid cysts presenting with torticollis
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The precise mechanism resulting in torticollis in the context of a PFAC is unclear. However, symptom resolution after cyst decompression implies a role of mass effect. Compression of structures such as the vermis and fastigial nucleus may explain this presentation due to their involvement in the control of head movement [15]. Other hypotheses include stretching and irritation of the dura of the ascending meningeal branches of C1–C3 nerves and the accessory nerve [16]. The atypical cervical extension of the cyst as demonstrated on the MRI (Fig. 2) may account for the unusual symptoms. This is supported by previous reports of tumours at the craniocervical junction presenting with torticollis [11,12,13].

We also observed GOR refractory to medical management resolve upon cyst fenestration. This association, to the best of our knowledge, has not been reported before. Vagal nerve impairment has been implicated in the pathogenesis of GOR [14], for example, with evidence of impaired reflux control in patients with vagus nerve injury subsequent to anti-reflux surgery [17]. As GOR developed after the cyst had increased in size, we suggest a similar process of vagal nerve impairment for the poor feeding and GOR.

A minority of PFACs require intervention [18]; at present, there is no consensus on the optimal approach. We initially treated the hydrocephalus using an ETV and did not address the cyst directly as AC growth is uncommon and PFAC fenestration is associated with higher operative risk [19,20,21]. Subsequent cyst growth resulting in torticollis and GOR despite a functioning ETV in our patient required further surgical intervention and justified the higher risk associated with cyst fenestration. The endoscopic approach for cyst fenestration has been reported to cause less surgical trauma and fewer complications than microsurgery [22, 23], and has been favoured over shunting due to lower levels of recurrence and complications [18]. Ultimately, a shunt was still required to treat the communicating hydrocephalus that developed.

Conclusions

We report an unusual, and to the best of our knowledge, unique presentation with torticollis and GOR secondary to a PFAC in an infant which resolved upon fenestration. Whilst the exact mechanism causing such symptoms is unclear, resolution of mass effect treated the symptomatology and allowed normal development. This is the second report of a PFAC presenting with torticollis to be managed endoscopically and the first report of GOR in this context.