Syringomyelia associated with hydrocephalus and Blake's pouch cyst - Case report

Study Design. This is a case report of a 37-year-old woman who sought treatment for a large syringomyelic cavitation extending from C3 to the entire medulla, a tetraventricular hydrocephalus, and a cystic cavitation in the posterior cranial fossa communicating with the fourth ventricle (Blake's pouch cyst). The patient underwent a decompressive craniectomy, a C1 laminectomy, and the opening of the cysts to enable communication with the subarachnoid spaces. After an initial period of symptom remission, reassured by the magnetic resonance images indicating a reduction of the syringomyelia, the patient's neurologic conditions deteriorated because of further dilation of the ventricular cavities, which was resolved by the insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Objective. To suggest the treatment of choice in a patient with syringomyelia and hydrocephalus caused by Blake's pouch cyst. Summary of Background Data. Blake's pouch cyst is an entity often poorly understood, deriving from nonperforation of the primitive foramen of Magendie, causing a precarious equilibrium of the cerebrospinal fluid flow resulting from a defect in communication between the fourth ventricle and the encephalic and spinal subarachnoid spaces. Authors report the association of Blake's pouch cyst with cervicodorsal syringomyelia and tetraventricular hydrocephalus. Methods. A case of syringomyelia associated with hydrocephalus and Blake's pouch cyst is described. Results. Symptoms of syringomyelia and hydrocephalus disappeared only after positioning of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Conclusions. The treatment of choice for a case of syringomyelia associated with Blake's pouch cyst and hydrocephalus is the application of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt or, even better, an endoscopic third ventriculostomy.