A colloid cyst of the third ventricle – the cause of episodic headache and sudden unexpected death in an adolescent girl

Abstract

An 18-year-old girl was found dead in her bed. The autopsy revealed a colloid cyst of the third ventricle. The cyst obstructed the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, leading to prominent internal hydrocephalus with consecutive brain edema and compression of the caudal medulla at the foramen magnum. The girl's only previous complaints were episodic headaches for the previous 2-3 years. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were not performed prior to her death. This case report highlights the importance of early diagnosis of colloid cyst of the third ventricle and the need to perform computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with episodic headaches even when they show no neurologic deficit. Although it is a very rare disorder, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of headaches in children and young adults, and also in the differential diagnosis of conditions causing increased intracranial pressure, in view of the life-saving management required to prevent a fatal outcome.

Atipik Yerleşimli Üçüncü Ventrikül Kolloid Kisti ve Nadir Bir Komplikasyonu

“…Büttner ve arkadaşlarının bildirdiği iki olguda kolloid kist, akut hidrosefaliye ve ardından ani ölüme neden olmuştur (9). Yine Skerbinjek ve arkadaşlarının bildirdikleri bir olguda kolloid kist serebrospinal sıvının akışını tıkamış, belirgin bir hidrosefali ve ardından beyin ödemine neden olmuş ve sonunda foramen magnumda kaudal medullaya bası yaparak ölüme neden olmuştu (10). BT ve MR görüntülemenin ulaşılabilirliği ve yaygın kullanımı ile, çoğunlukla da tesadüfi olarak hidrosefali komplikasyonu oluşturacak kadar büyümeden kolloid kistler tanınabilmekte-dirler.…”

Colloıd Cyst Presentıng Wıth Acute Hydrocephalus In An Adult Patıent: Case Report and Review Of Lıterature.

“…Third ventricle cysts are rare lesions of benign character and are usually small sized; however they may lead to high mortality and morbidity due to their critical location (4,6,7). CC are mostly presented between the 3 rd and 5 th decades with no difference between genders (8).…”

“…CC account for 0.55-2% of all intracranial tumors (1,2). Although they generally present as asymptomatic and small-sized lesions, CC may lead to high mortality and morbidity due to the importance of their localization and their potential for causing hydrocephalus by impairing the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow (3,4). CC are more common in men compared to women.…”

Sudden death due to a colloid cyst of the third ventricle: Report of three cases with a special sign at autopsy

“…They typically originate from the rostral aspect of the third ventricle roof and project inferiorly, thus occupying the anterosuperior quadrant adjacent to the foramina of Monro [2,3]. The colloid cyst is attached to the wall of the third ventricle via a stem that provides its partial stability in the lumen of the ventricle [4][5][6].…”