Advanced Tarlov cyst treatment in Dallas, Texas

Medical City Spine Hospital, a Medical City Dallas facility, is home to a multidisciplinary neurosurgical care team with specialized expertise in diagnosing and treating various types of symptomatic meningeal cysts, including Tarlov cysts.

More than 2,500 patients have benefitted from this treatment, showing statistically significant improvements in health outcomes.

Many patients who seek the team’s expertise report feeling that their condition is hopeless, having been through countless specialty physician visits and multiple surgeries with no relief.

Conditions treated

Focus on a single category of spinal disease provides complete and tailored care for patients with these conditions:

  • Symptomatic meningeal cysts
  • Perineural cysts (Tarlov cysts)
  • Meningeal diverticulum
  • Ectatic spinal sac cysts
  • Spinal tumors
  • Revision of prior meningeal cyst surgery

Tarlov cyst symptoms

Tarlov cysts affect about 5 to 9 percent of the population, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). Many will not have symptoms, while others may experience debilitating back pain and incredible dysfunction.

Tarlov cysts grow in the nerve roots of the spine and are typically located near the tailbone (sacral Tarlov cysts) but can also be found in the mid back (thoracic Tarlov cysts) or the neck (cervical Tarlov cysts).

Symptoms vary by person and are dependent on where the cyst is located:

  • Pain, pressure, swelling, weakness or numbness can occur in and radiate to the:
    • Neck, arm or hands
    • Chest, back, abdomen
    • Tailbone, buttocks, rectum, pelvic area, thighs or feet
  • Pain when sitting or standing; symptoms may be relieved when lying down
  • Bowel, bladder or sexual problems
  • Onset of pain after a fall, accident or lifting a heavy object
  • Headaches

Specialized Tarlov cyst surgery

Because very few neurosurgeons can treat Tarlov cysts, they often go undetected for far too long. Tarlov cysts are often misdiagnosed as herniated discs and, in women, as gynecological issues.

Tarlov cysts are embedded in the nerve and should not be cut. Therefore, they require careful treatment by an expert neurosurgeon with a proven surgical technique. Recovery from a symptomatic Tarlov cyst is possible.

Symptomatic Tarlov cysts can also be managed with nonsurgical treatments, including pain management protocols and physiotherapy. Surgery is recommended only when these conservative treatments are unsuccessful.