Need help understanding my Tarlov cyst.?

Question

I had an MRI done on my back bc of severe lower back pain about 4 months ago (the pain is gone). The MRI came back "unremarkable" but did note that there is "a Tarlov cyst at the S2 level of the sacrum." Huh? My doctor didn't go over with me, so I guess it's not important. Help. What made it happen? Will it go away? What's a sacrum??

Well, is the cyst going to hurt it??

Answer 1

The sacrum is a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine and at the upper and back part of the pelvic cavity, where it is inserted like a wedge between the two hip bones. Its upper part connects with the last lumbar vertebra, and bottom part with the coccyx (tailbone).

It is curved upon itself and placed obliquely (that is, tilted forward). It is kyphotic - that is, concave facing forwards. The base projects forward as the sacral promontory internally, and articulates with the last lumbar vertebra to form the prominent sacrovertebral angle. The central part is curved outward towards the posterior, allowing greater room for the pelvic cavity

Answer 2

The sacrum is the large bone at the bottom of the back. It goes roughly from the top of your gluteal cleft (aka "the butt crease") to roughly 3 inches above the top of your gluteal cleft. The sacrum is made up of five bones which fuse during development to make up the entire sacrum. Imaginatively enough, they're numbered S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5 from top to bottom. When the radiologist says there's a cyst at the level of S2, he's telling your doctor roughly where the cyst is.

The Mayo Clinic has a page on Tarlov cysts, making the essential point that Tarlov cysts are NOT cancer. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tarlov-cysts/AN01603/rss=1 They seem to think that in MOST folks, Tarlov cysts are incidental findings - that is, some people have them but they don't cause pain. They go on to comment that large cysts MAY cause pain - more detail at the link.

Since your pain is now gone but the cyst is probably still there, it seems reasonable for the doctor to assume that your pain was from something other than the cyst. Phone the doctor, of course, if there are any questions.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Tarlov cysts are spinal nerve root lesions filled with spinal fluid, found most often at the sacral level of the spine. Tarlov cysts can be asymptomatic or cause a serious neurological disorder called Tarlov disease. The scope of the Tarlov Cyst Association includes related spinal cysts. A propensity for developing Tarlov cysts may be passed through the mother or father. A cyst may remain asymptomatic until the onset of the disease stage is initiated by an event such as an auto accident, heavy lifting, fall, or another disease such as one of the many forms of Herpes. The onset of symptoms may be gradual or sudden, mild or severe. The progression and severity of symptoms differs widely. Tarlov cysts in the disease stage usually cause symptoms in the distribution of the affected nerve root, initially pain, and, later, dysfunction. Without successful treatment, Tarlov disease often requires major lifestyle changes including partial or complete occupational disability. Tarlov cysts differ in structure. A cyst might incorporate nerve elements or be free of them. A cyst can be valved or non-valved. A valved cyst has a structure in its neck that makes it easier for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to enter the cyst than to leave it. In a non-valved cyst, CSF flows freely between the cyst and the dural tube. I included a FAQ link. Good luck to you!