Preoperative examination and intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage test for minimally invasive surgery of spinal extradural arachnoid cysts: illustrative case

BACKGROUND: Spinal extradural arachnoid cysts (SEACs) are rare and can cause spinal dysfunction. Total cyst removal and duraplasty via multiple laminectomies are commonly performed. However, to avoid postoperative spinal deformity and axial pain, a minimally invasive surgery via selective laminectomy may be optimal. Therefore, preoperative detection of the dural fistula site is required. OBSERVATIONS: A 25-year-old male presented with a 2-month history of progressive gait disturbance and back pain. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed SEACs at the T9 to L2 level but did not reveal the dural fistula. Further examinations were performed using sagittal time-spatial labeling inversion pulse MRI and cone-beam computed tomography myelography with a spinal intrathecal catheter, which indicated a dural fistula on the left side at the T12 level. On the basis of these results, dural repair was performed via selective laminectomy. Furthermore, an intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage test by intrathecally injecting saline via a spinal catheter confirmed complete closure of the dural fistula, with no other fistulas. LESSONS: These comprehensive pre and intraoperative examinations may be useful for minimally invasive and selective surgeries in patients with SEACs.