Abstract

Arachnoid cysts (ACs) are cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pockets, generally in the middle cranial fossa (MCF), which are diagnosed incidentally and make about 1% of cranial lesions. With the ubiquitous availability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), the recorded incidence has increased in the past two decades. Spontaneous rupture remains a sporadic event. Nearly 6% may present with rupture after unnoticed trauma or following incidental diagnosis. Upon perusal of the available literature, we found that six cases were reported by 2000 and a total of 21 cases by 2004. Spontaneously ruptured ACs are still limited to case reports. Balestrino et al. recorded 57 reported cases and an additional 17 surgically managed cases in children in 2020. Massimi et al. in 2022, mentioned 106 cases of spontaneous rupture in a retrospective report. The author has previously reported a case of spontaneously ruptured AC in a child that was successfully operated.