Microneurosurgical treatment of neurenteric cyst in high anterior cervical cord

Objective To investigate the clinical features, microneurosurgery methods and efficacy of microneurosurgical treatment of neurenteric cyst in high anterior cervical cord. Methods From March 2011 to August 2015, the clinical data of 12 patients with neurenteric cyst in high anterior cervical cord resected two-partly via posterior cervical approach at the Department of Neurosurgery, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Their clinical manifestations, MRI features, and surgical efficacy were summarized. Results The neurenteric cysts in 12 patients achieved subtotal resection and they were all confirmed by the pathological diagnosis. The neural function recovered well in 12 patients. No complications occurred. In 10 of them the symptoms disappeared completely, and the symptoms were improved significantly in 2 cases. The follow-up time ranged from 6 to 51 months(mean 31.2 months). No recurrence of neurenteric cyst was observed. Conclusions Neurenteric cyst in high anterior cervical cord has typical clinical manifestations and MRI characteristics. The disease develops rapidly and should be diagnosed and operated as soon as possible. Reasonable evaluation of surgical difficulty and dividing the cyst resection into two parts may improve the degree of the cyst wall resection and obtain a good prognosis. Key words: Vertebral canal; Neurenteric cyst; Microsurgery; Magnetic resonance imaging