Wester Knut (editor): Arachnoid Cysts

Excerpt

Intracranial arachnoid cysts and, to a less extend, intraspinal arachnoid cysts constitute relatively common lesions to be faced by neurosurgeons. Some of these cysts, namely those located in the Sylvian fissure, represent also a subject of an ongoing debate because of the uncertain surgical decision, others, like those within the posterior cranial fossa may arise problems even in the differential diagnosis besides the surgical decision. Surprisingly enough, in spite of the numerous articles available in literature devoted to arachnoid cysts, no comprehensive publications specifically concerning this type of lesion have been attempted. Consequently, these nosographic entities still lack of a precise pathophysiological interpretation: their pathological role continues to be discussed, the natural history is not well defined yet, and the surgical indication and the evaluation of the operative results remain debatable. The main goal of these two books, elegantly printed by Elsevier Academic Press, is indeed to clarify the existing uncertainties in the nature and management of arachnoid cyst with the intention declared by the Editor to confute a diffuse attitude of the neurosurgeons to regard them as benign congenital malformations devoid of any pathogenetic significance in most cases. It is worth to note, however, that even with this declared intention the Editor has left his “43 international contributors from 10 different countries on three continents” free to express their opinions, even when conflicting ones, so leaving to the reader the possibility of making up his/her own convictions. …