A bibliometric and visualization study of global research trends in sacral Tarlov cyst from 2000 to 2022
Spinal disorders involve structural changes in the components of the spine, including the bones, intervertebral discs, muscles, and ligaments, which may stimulate the spinal cord and spinal nerves (1). Neurological disorders encompass a wide range of conditions, including cerebrovascular diseases, neuroimmune disorders, central nervous system infections, peripheral nerve diseases, and spinal cord diseases (2, 3). With the continuous improvement of imaging technology and the growing body of literature, some rare spinal disorders and neurological conditions are gradually gaining recognition. Among them, Sacral Tarlov cyst (STC), initially reported by Tarlov in 1938, refers to cysts within the sacral nerve tract membrane (4). Its prevalence ranges between 1.5% and 4.6% (5–7), with a higher incidence observed among women. Although most patients with STC remain asymptomatic, approximately 20%–25% of patients with STC experience symptoms such as pain, numbness, fatigue, urinary and faecal function dysfunction and other symptoms (8). With the further development of CT, MRI and endoscopic technology, STC has gradually garnered attention. Presently, the pathogenic factors of STC remain unclear; however, congenital developmental abnormalities, secondary trauma and inflammations are speculated to be contributors (9–11). In terms of pathogenesis, the “ball-valve” mechanism garners expert endorsement (12, 13), yet its substantiation remains controversial. Current treatment options for STC include conservative or surgical treatment modalities (14–16). A patient with symptomatic STC can undergo conservative treatment management involving medication or physical therapy. Notably, surgical intervention has been demonstrated to be a viable option for cysts exceeding a diameter of 1.5 cm accompanied by nerve root symptoms, yielding improved clinical outcomes (17). In the past decades, researchers have explored various surgical treatment options for STC; however, several facets, such as the aetiology and pathogenesis of STC, clinical image prediction, advanced treatment technologies and research orientations, remain controversial (9).