SynthesisSurgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA2021
Global incidence of spinal perineural Tarlov's cysts and their morphological characteristics: a meta-analysis of 13,266 subjects.
Synthesis in Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 39 papers.
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.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
39 citing papers in PubMed, 60 citations in OpenAlex.
- Dural defect in Tarlov cyst instead of cerebrospinal fluid-venous fistula as the cause of spontaneous intracranial hypotension: illustrative case.Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons · 2026Article
- Pudendal neuralgia caused by a sacral perineural Tarlov cyst: illustrative case.Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons · 2026Article
- Orthostatic headache and aseptic cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis from an intrasacral meningocele.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Article
- An integrated classification to guide the management of spinal meninges pathologies.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Article
- The top 100 most cited peer-reviewed publications on global neurosurgery: Mapping research trends and gaps over four decades.Acta neurochirurgica · 2026Review
- Percutaneous uniaxial endoscopic fenestration for removal of symptomatic cervical Tarlov cyst.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Article
- Microsurgical reinforced radiculoplasty for symptomatic sacral Tarlov cysts in children: a retrospective study assessing safety and efficacy.Neurosurgical review · 2026Article
- Tarlov Cyst with Pelvic Extension Mimicking an Adnexal Mass: A Case Report.Clinical case reports · 2026Article
- Tarlov cysts and sexual dysfunction: A multidisciplinary approach to evaluation and surgical treatment.North American Spine Society journal · 2026Article
- Applications of pelvic neurophysiology testing in clinical practice.Clinical neurophysiology practice · 2026Review
- Migrated Sacral Facet Joint Cyst Mimicking a Tarlov Cyst: A Case Report.Case reports in neurological medicine · 2026Article
- Sacral Tarlov cysts and spontaneous persistent genital arousal: 2 unrecognized and underappreciated health conditions with an uncertain relationship.AJOG global reports · 2025Review
- Hitting the Right Nerve: A Rare Case of Vulvodynia from Sacral Tarlov Cyst Treated with a Minimally Invasive Approach - A Case Report.Journal of orthopaedic case reports · 2025Article
- Giant Tarlov cyst during pregnancy: case report and literature reviewRevista colombiana de obstetricia y ginecologia · 2025Review
- Article
- Analysis of predictive factors for the efficacy of reinforced radiculoplasty in symptomatic sacral Tarlov cysts.Neurosurgical review · 2025Article
- Successful Surgical Ligation of a Giant Tarlov Cyst at the Cyst Neck Including the Nerve Root: A Case Report.Cureus · 2025Article
- Operative Treatment of Tarlov Cysts - Outcomes and Predictors of Improvement after Surgery: A Series of 97 Consecutive Patients and a Systematic Review of Literature.Global spine journal · 2025Article
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Symptomatic Multiple Sacral Perineural Cysts-Technical Note.Spine surgery and related research · 2025Article
- Tarlov cyst: A rare cause of radiculopathy.Surgical neurology international · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSpinal perineural Tarlov's cysts (TCs) are considered incidental findings that occasionally might exert pressure upon nerve roots and correspond with patients' signs and symptoms. Purpose of this meta-analysis is to deliver global incidence and characteristics (location, size, and shape) of TCs.
methodsFollowing PRISMA checklist, all major databases were searched by two authors for radiologic studies reporting incidence and morphologic features (location, size, and shape) of TCs. Anatomical Quality Assessment tool was applied for risk of bias evaluation. Meta-analysis of random-effects model was employed. Subgroup analysis for regional distribution, gender, sacral levels, age, correspondence with symptoms, and persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) were planned ahead.
results22 radiologic studies of level 3 evidence involving 13,266 subjects were included. Global pooled prevalence of TCs was 4.18% (95% CI 2.47-6.30). Mean pooled sagittal diameter was 11.86 mm (95% CI 10.78-12.93). Sacral cysts strongly prevailed over the other segments. Of the sacral, S2 level was the most common (46.7% [95% CI 29.4-60.5]). Geographically, the highest incidence was found in Europe (6.07% [95% CI 1.49-13.00]), followed by North America (3.82% [95% CI 0.49-9.44]), and Asia (3.33% [95% CI 1.52-5.75]). TCs were more common in women than in men (5.84% vs 3.03%, p < 0.001, test of homogeneity, χ
conclusionsSpinal perineural (Tarlov) cysts are found in a minority of population. S2 level of the sacral bone is affected most frequently. There is female predominance. Correspondence with symptoms is seen in less than one-fifth of TCs. Studies with stronger evidence level are needed to corroborate the results. The purported high incidence in PGAD requires confirmation in case-control studies for the risk-ratio calculation.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
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.