Table 1 Results of a literature review of surgically treated NF-1 patients with intrathoracic meningocele. CP: cystoperitoneal, VP: ventriculoperitoneal, LP: lumboperitoneal

2024 [7]

51/F

-

Dyspnea

Single on the left / 13 × 14.6 × 15

Spinal deformity / T9

1. Thoracoscopic drainage

2. Meningeal resection and repair

3. Postoperative drainage

Headache while sitting

Symptoms disappeared

2022 [8]

44/M

-

Paresthesia of lower limbs

Single on the right / 4.5 × 5.0 × 4.8

No spinal deformity / T3-T4

1. Vertebral resection

2. Meningeal resection and repair

-

Died of pneumonia 3 months later

2021 [6]

56/F

Twice CP

Dyspnea

Single on the left / 9.9 × 12.5 × 18.3

Spinal deformity /

C7-T2

1. Thoracotomy and transection of T2-T3 ribs

2. Attempt to detach the meninges failed

CSF leak

Thoracoscopic meningectomy repair and pleurodesis

2021 [9]

41/F

T2-L2 fusion for scoliosis

Dyspnea

Multiple on the left / 13 × 19

Postoperative spinal fusion / -

1. Thoracoscopic drainage

2. Thoracotomy and meningectomy repair

Dyspnea relieved, but meningocele recurs

Surgery and no recurrence after 1 year

2020 [10]

49/M

-

Dyspnea

Single on the left /

Rupture size cannot measure

Severe spinal deformity / T3-T6

1. Thoracotomy and drainage

2. Meningeal repair.

-

Complete lung recruitment after two weeks

2019 [11]

59/F

LP

Weakness in lower limbs

Single on the right /

> 10

Thoracic spine left curvature / T1-T2

1. VP

-

Syringomyelia is reduced, but weakness of lower limbs is not relieved

2017 [12]

43/F

Spinal fusion

Dyspnea, back pain

Single on the right /

> 10

Thoracic spine right curvature / T8-T11

1. CP

2. Right posterolateral thoracotomy and meningectomy repair

3. Postoperative drainage

Meningocele recurred

Thoracotomy again, therapeutic pneumoperitoneum, postoperative drainage

2017 [13]

50/F

-

Dyspnea, bilateral upper limb numbness

Single on the right /

> 10

Spine right curvature

Cobb 42° / T4-T5

1. Scoliosis correction

2. T4 and T5 total laminectomy, right transverse process resection, including resection of part of the proximal fourth and fifth ribs

3.Subcutaneous fat graft repair

-

Died of malignant tumor 30 months later

2015 [14]

52/F

-

Dyspnea

Multiple on the right /

14 × 11.5 × 11 and 9.2 × 9.1 × 8.6

Spine right curvature / T4-5 and T5-6

1. CP

2. Thoracotomy and meningectomy repair

3. Postoperative drainage

Small amount of CSF leak

Meningocele subsided and the lungs expanded after 8 months

2014 [15]

48/F

-

Dyspnea, chest pain

Single on the right / 21 × 11

Thoracic kyphosis /

T4-T6

1. CP

Meningocele recurred after 9 months

Thoracoscopic meningocele plication

2014 [5]

45/F

-

Chest tightness, chest pain

Single on the right / 15 × 15

Scoliosis / T2-T3

1.Thoracotomy and drainage

2. Meningeal resection and repair

-

The patient returned to normal after 2 weeks

2014 [16]

43/F

-

Dyspnea, episodic syncope

Single on the right /

> 10

Scoliosis / T11-T12

1.Thoracotomy and meningectomy repair

2. Spinal fusion

3. Pleurodesis

-

Symptoms disappeared 4 years after surgery

2011 [17]

46/M

-

Dyspnea

Single on the right /

7.5

Scoliosis / T3-T4

1. Lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid drainage

2. Thoracotomy and meningectomy repair

3. Postoperative drainage

-

The patient returned to normal after 1 year

2011 [18]

48/M

-

Dyspnea, weakness in lower limbs

Single on the left /

> 10

Kyphosis / T8

1. Thoracotomy, drainage, resection, and repair

2. Spinal cord decompression and fusion.

-

Symptoms disappeared

2011 [19]

66/F

Peritoneal cavity shunt

Chest pain, hypovolemic shock

Single on the left /

> 10

- / -

1. Thoracotomy to stop bleeding

2. Cerebrospinal fluid shunt replacement

Meningocele expanded after the hematoma shrank

Another thoracotomy was attempted to perform meningocele cerclage but failed

2011 [20]

47/F

-

Dyspnea

Multiple both sides /

> 10

Kyphosis / -

1. CP under local anesthesia

headache

Meningocele smaller after 24 months

2008 [21]

60/F

-

Dyspnea

Single on the left /

> 10

Thoracic kyphosis /

T2-T4

1. CP under local anesthesia

-

Meningocele smaller after 2 months

2003 [22]

59/M

-

Dyspnea, chest pain

Multiple on the left /

10–15

Thoracic kyphosis / -

1. Thoracotomy, drainage and meningeal resection and repair

2. Postoperative drainage

-

Returned to normal after 12 days

2003 [23]

59/M

-

Dyspnea

Single on the left /

> 10

Thoracic kyphosis /

T2-T5

1. Posterior T2-T5 extensive laminectomy

2. Meningectomy repair

Lower limb weakness

Posterior C2-L2 long fusion

2002 [24]

67/F

-

Dyspnea

Single on the right /

9

Scoliosis / T4-T5

1. Posterior T3-T5 extensive laminectomy

2. Meningectomy repair

Chest tightness

Surgery again for repair, and examination revealed no meningocele 4 months later

2002 [25]

16/M

-

cough, chest pain

Multiple on the right /

5 and 8

Kyphosis / -

1.Thoracotomy and meningeal resection and repair

Paraplegia of lower limbs

Paralysis gradually recovered, and spinal fusion performed 6 months later