How are Tarlov cysts most often diagnosed?
The best images of Tarlov cysts are seen on magnetic resonance images (MRI). Your doctor might also request a myelogram and/or myelogram/CT to determine the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into the cysts. It is not unusual for the MRI report to state that the Tarlov cysts are an incidental finding and of no clinical significance, since 4-5% of the population have asymptomatic cysts, and only 1% of that number have cysts that become symptomatic. Your doctor may not mention the Tarlov cyst findings to you, because of this misinformation and lack of understanding in the medical community. It is important for you to have copies of the radiologist reports for future comparisons, and also to acquire a copy of the film or CD of the images, when you can get referalls for a second opinion from someone who is knowledgeable about Tarlov cysts. The reports that have indicated the presence of Tarlov cysts should indicate the specific location of the cysts (most prevalent at S,2,3 ) and the dimens
