Uncommon cause of radiculopathy: A case of symptomatic Tarlov cyst in an elderly female and literature review
Tarlov cysts are CSF-filled sacs situated in the extradural space of the sacral spinal canal, forming within the
the posterior root and the dorsal ganglion, positioned between the perineurium and endoneurium. The definition
of a Tarlov cyst is histopathological, requiring the presence of spinal nerve root fibers in the cyst wall or its
cavity.2 Prevalence of these lesions have been estimated to affect between 1% and 9% of the adult population.2–5
The prevalence of TCs is 1.5%–4.6% of which 22% were symptomatic with a female preponderance.6 A marked
predilection toward TCs among female patients was evident, with a female-to-male ratio of 3:1, compared to 1.4:1
in the overall study cohort. This results in a pronounced female preponderance, constituting 67.7% of TC cases.
Moreover, TC prevalence increases with advancing age, strengthening the proposition that these lesions are
primarily acquired rather than congenital in nature.7 Tarlov cysts are uncommon and underdiagnosed, with notable
complexities in diagnosis and management.