Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31270612›Full record

ArticleActa neurochirurgica2019

Management of perineural (Tarlov) cysts: a population-based cohort study and algorithm for the selection of surgical candidates.

Alexander Fletcher-Sandersjöö, Sadia Mirza, Gustav Burström, Kyrre Pedersen, Åsa Kuntze Söderqvist, Per Grane, Michael Fagerlund, Erik Edström, Adrian Elmi-Terander

Registry-linked trialOpen access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Acta neurochirurgica, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05059275 (Study on Pathogenesis and Treatment of Sacral Tarlov Cysts), which is not on this map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.4field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05059275 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2020, after this paper: background citation

Study on Pathogenesis and Treatment of Sacral Tarlov Cysts

TypeinterventionalSponsorSouthern Medical University, ChinaRan2020 to 2023Enrolled50ConditionsTarlov CystsArmsmodified ostium obstruction surgery
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 34 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  7. Article
  8. Tarlov cyst: A rare cause of radiculopathy.Surgical neurology international · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Alexander Fletcher-SandersjööDepartment of Neurosurgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. alexander.sandersjoo@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3558-3045
Sadia MirzaDepartment of Neurosurgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Gustav BurströmDepartment of Neurosurgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Kyrre PedersenDepartment of Neurosurgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Åsa Kuntze SöderqvistDepartment of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Per GraneDepartment of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Michael FagerlundDepartment of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Erik EdströmDepartment of Neurosurgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Adrian Elmi-TeranderDepartment of Neurosurgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Karolinska University Hospital · SE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivePerineural cysts, also known as Tarlov cysts, are cerebrospinal fluid-filled growths that develop at the intersection of a dorsal root ganglion and posterior nerve root. They are typically an asymptomatic and incidental finding during routine spine imaging. For symptomatic perineural cysts, there is little evidence on which treatment is most effective or when it is indicated. The aim of this study was to review our experience from a population-based cohort of patients with symptomatic perineural cysts and to propose an algorithm that could be used in the selection of surgical candidates.

methodsA retrospective review was conducted of all adult (≥ 15 years) patients with symptomatic perineural cysts who were referred to Karolinska University Hospital between 2002 and 2018.

resultsThirty-nine patients were included. The most common symptom was sciatica (n = 22). Cyst aspiration was performed in 28 patients, 24 of whom showed clinical improvement and were offered surgery. Microsurgical cyst fenestration was performed in 17 patients, 16 of whom showed clinical improvement at long-term follow-up. There were no surgical complications. Ten of the patients who were offered surgery chose to be treated conservatively instead, four of whom showed progression of symptoms at long-term follow-up.

conclusionsMicrosurgical cyst fenestration seems to be a safe and effective option for symptomatic relief in patients with perineural cysts. Based on the results from our series and those of others, we propose an algorithm for the selection of surgical candidates.

Indexed as

AlgorithmsPatient SelectionAdolescentAdultAgedCohort StudiesFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMicrosurgeryMiddle AgedMyelographyNeurosurgical ProceduresRetrospective StudiesNeurosurgeryPerineural cystSurgeryTarlov cyst

Identifiers

PMID31270612
PMCPMC6704091
OpenAlexW2955646219

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.