Trigeminal neuralgia secondary to compression of giant quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cyst in an adult: Case report and review of the literature

Hüseyin Berk Benek, Hakan Yılmaz, Alper Tabanlı, Emrah Akçay, Alaattin Yurt

Department of Neurosurgery, Health Sciences University, İzmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Türkiye

Keywords: Arachnoid cyst, ataxia, hydrocephalus, quadrigeminal cistern, trigeminal neuralgia.

Abstract

A quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cyst is an extremely rare cause of trigeminal neuralgia in adulthood. This report presents the fourth case in the literature of trigeminal neuralgia caused by a giant quadrigeminal cistern arachnoid cyst. A 52-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of cerebellar ataxia and vertigo. She had a 2-year history of trigeminal neuralgia that was unresponsive to medical therapy. Neuroimaging studies revealed a cystic lesion in the quadrigeminal cistern associated with hydrocephalic enlargement. Using an infratentorial supracerebellar approach, neuroendoscope-assisted decompression and fenestration of the cyst were performed. Postoperatively, the patient was pain-free and able to walk unaided without symptoms of ataxia.