Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39498736›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of neurology2025

Midline sacral meningeal cysts: Neurophysiology abnormalities and their correlation with pelvic sensory and visceral symptoms.

Ivan Cabrilo, Claire Hentzen, Prasad Malladi, Sara Simeoni, Gérard Amarenco, Nathalie Zaidman, Mahreen Pakzad, Sachit Shah, Adrian T Casey, Jalesh N Panicker

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Ivan CabriloVictor Horsley Department of Neurosurgery, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-3875-0355
Claire HentzenDepartment of Uro-Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
Prasad MalladiDepartment of Uro-Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
Sara SimeoniDepartment of Uro-Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
Gérard AmarencoGRC 01, GREEN Groupe de Recherche Clinique en Neuro-Urologie, AP-HP, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
Nathalie ZaidmanVictor Horsley Department of Neurosurgery, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
Mahreen PakzadDepartment of Uro-Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
Sachit ShahLysholm Department of Neuroradiology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
Adrian T CaseyVictor Horsley Department of Neurosurgery, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
Jalesh N PanickerDepartment of Uro-Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.

Funding

UCLH Biomedical Research Centre
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

background and purposeMidline sacral meningeal cysts (MSMCs) are cerebrospinal fluid-filled dural diverticula. Although widely considered asymptomatic, cases involving voiding difficulties or pain have been reported. The aims of this study were, firstly, to describe the clinical presentation of patients with symptomatic MSMCs, secondly, to assess the impact of the cyst on nerve root function, and, thirdly, to assess whether nerve root injury is more frequent in patients with MSMCs than those with Tarlov cysts (TCs).

methodsConsecutive patients with MSMCs presenting with at least one pelvic symptom participated in a cross-sectional review of symptoms using validated questionnaires. Findings of pelvic neurophysiology (pudendal sensory evoked potentials, sacral dermatomal sensory evoked potentials, external anal sphincter electromyography) and urodynamic testing were collected retrospectively. The relationship between neurophysiology, magnetic resonance imaging findings and patients' symptoms were assessed using Fisher's and analysis of variance tests. Neurophysiology findings were compared with those of TC patients.

resultsEleven female patients were included (mean age 42.3 ± 12.4 years). All reported urinary symptoms. Back pain (91%), radicular leg pain (91%), bowel symptoms (45%) and sexual dysfunction (75%) were also frequently reported. Nine patients (82%) had abnormal findings on neurophysiology; three patients (27%) had one abnormal test, and six (55%) had two abnormal tests. Patients with MSMCs were more likely to have at least two abnormal neurophysiology test results compared to TC patients (55% vs. 18%, respectively; p = 0.018).

conclusionOur results indicate that MSMCs are indeed associated with injury to the sacral somatic innervation when symptomatic. MSMCs are more likely to cause sacral nerve root damage compared to TCs.

Indexed as

Tarlov CystsAdultCross-Sectional StudiesEvoked Potentials, SomatosensoryFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSacrumlower urinary tract symptomsmeningeal cystpelvic neurophysiologysacrumspinal nerve roots

Identifiers

PMID39498736
PMCPMC11622511

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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.