Symptomatic Thoracic Arachnoid Cyst with Coexisting Tick Paralysis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

We present a case of a child presenting with weakness of the lower extremities and frequent falls who was found to have a compressive thoracic arachnoid cyst and a large distal syrinx. After surgical decompression, the patient made significant improvement in her leg strength, but quickly developed an ascending quadriparesis, followed by respiratory depression. Subsequent imaging and physical examination revealed an engorged tick embedded in her scalp. The tick was removed, and the patient made a rapid and complete clinical recovery. We present a unique case of concomitant tick paralysis and a symptomatic spinal intradural arachnoid cyst, and review the literature on tick paralysis.Pediatr Neurosurg
Source: Pediatric Neurosurgery - Category: Neurosurgery Source Type: research