INTRODUCTION Arachnoid cysts are congenital, benign lesions in the brain and are often incidental radiological findings. Frequently, the arachnoid cysts are left untreated; however, recent studies have shown that arachnoid cysts can cause cognitive dysfunction that affect quality of life. Moreover, the function can improve after surgical decompression. Hence, there is controversy regarding symptomatology and treatment effects of arachnoid cysts. The aim of the study was to analyse if arachnoid cysts can cause cognitive impairment and subjective symptoms and if these impairments are reversible after surgical treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-one consecutive patients with radiologically confirmed supratentorial arachnoid cysts were cognitively evaluated using a battery of seven neuropsychological tests. Twelve of these patients underwent surgery and were evaluated before and after surgery. The patients were also evaluated with neuropsychological testing after surgery. Further information was extracted from the medical records. The cognitive test results were compared to standard population values using z-test, and the test results from the surgically treated patients were compared before and after surgery using paired t-test. RESULTS The surgically treated patients had a statistically significant improvement of neurocognitive test results after surgery in six out of the seven tests (p < 0.05). The total patient group showed lower mean values in all tests when compared to standard population. Statistical significance was, however, only detected in two of the seven tests. All surgically treated patients reported diminished symptoms after surgery. CONCLUSIONS The patients with arachnoid cysts presented with cognitive dysfunction compared to the normal population which improved after surgical decompression. Arachnoid cysts should not be considered asymptomatic unless thoroughly evaluated with clinical and neuropsychological work-up.

中文翻译：

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蛛网膜囊肿患者手术前后的认知功能障碍和主观症状。

简介蛛网膜囊肿是先天性脑良性病变，通常是偶然的影像学表现。通常，蛛网膜囊肿未经治疗。但是，最近的研究表明，蛛网膜囊肿会引起认知功能障碍，从而影响生活质量。而且，手术减压后该功能可以改善。因此，关于蛛网膜囊肿的症状和治疗效果存在争议。该研究的目的是分析蛛网膜囊肿是否会引起认知障碍和主观症状，以及这些障碍在手术治疗后是否可逆。材料与方法连续21例经放射学证实的幕上蛛网膜囊肿的患者接受了7项神经心理学测试，进行了认知评估。这些患者中有十二名接受了手术，并在手术前后进行了评估。术后还对患者进行了神经心理测试。从病历中提取了更多信息。使用z检验将认知测试结果与标准人群值进行比较，并使用配对t检验比较手术前后患者的测试结果。结果接受手术治疗的患者在七项测试中有六项在手术后的神经认知测试结果具有统计学上的显着改善（p <0.05）。与标准人群相比，总的患者组在所有测试中均显示出较低的平均值。但是，仅在七个测试中的两个中检测到统计显着性。所有接受手术治疗的患者均报告术后症状减轻。结论与正常人群相比，蛛网膜囊肿患者表现出认知功能障碍，手术减压后改善。除非经过临床和神经心理检查的彻底评估，否则不应将蛛网膜囊肿视为无症状。