Longitudinal follow up of children with intracranial arachnoid cysts (IAC) and epilepsy:conservative or neurosurgical treatment ?

Treatment of intracranial arachnoid cysts (IAC) still provokes a great deal of controversial opinions among neurologists/neuropediatricians and neurosurgeons. Epilepsy, psychomotor retardation or autism associated with IAC is rarely reported in literature. IAC are mostly localized in the middle cranial fosa. Some IAC become symptomatic in early childhood, some in adult age and a very few remain silent throughtout life, being discovered on autopsy. The effects of neurosurgical treatment are still questionable.