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Question
Tarlov cysts: A cause of low back pain?
Recently, I was diagnosed with Tarlov cysts. Could these be the cause of my lower back pain?
Answer
from John Atkinson, M.D.
It's possible. However, Tarlov cysts are an uncommon cause of back pain.
Tarlov cysts are fluid-filled sacs that most often affect nerve roots at the lower end of the spine (sacrum). Such cysts typically cause no symptoms and are found incidentally on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies done for other reasons.
However, in some cases, the cysts expand, compressing or distending the affected nerve root. This irritation of the nerve root results in pain, weakness or numbness. Rarely, the cysts enlarge so much that surrounding bone is eroded, which may cause localized pain as well.
In most cases, Tarlov cysts require no treatment. Experimentally, painful Tarlov cysts have been treated successfully with oral or injected corticosteroids. Innovative surgical treatments — such as draining the cyst or amputating the affected nerve root — have not been highly successful and are usually reserved for cases in which conservative treatments have been ineffective.
Next questionInversion therapy: Can it relieve back pain?
- Mitra RM, et al. Conservative management of perineural cysts. Spine. 2008;33:E565. Accessed May 13, 2009.
- Guo D, et al. Microsurgical treatment of symptomatic sacral perineural cysts. Neurosurgery. 2007;60:1059. Accessed May 13, 2009.
