What is the relationship between arachnoid cysts and seizure foci?

PURPOSE: Arachnoid cysts are sometimes encountered in MRIs performed for a variety of reasons. In patients with epilepsy, particularly those with refractory epilepsy, arachnoid cysts are often assumed to be related to their seizure focus. We conducted a study to investigate this putative relationship.

METHODS: A retrospective study on the incidence of arachnoid cysts was performed in patients seen in our Epilepsy Clinic who had CT or MRI scans, interictal EEGs or ictal EEGS. Locations of seizure foci in these patients were defined from clinical and electrophysiologic data.

RESULTS: Seventeen of 867 patients had arachnoid cysts. Twelve patients had temporal lobe cysts and only 3 of them had temporal lobe seizures. Four patients had frontal lobe cysts and only 1 had frontal lobe seizures ipsilateral to the cyst. One patient had a cerebello-pontine angle cyst and frontal lobe seizures. Thus, clinical manifestations of seizures and EEG findings (interictal and/or ictal) indicated that the seizure focus was adjacent to the cysts in only 4 patients (23.5%).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that arachnoid cysts are often an incidental finding in patients with epilepsy and do not necessarily reflect the location of the seizure focus.