Colloid cysts — a review including 19 own cases

Abstract

Between 1974 and 1987 19 patients harbouring colloid cysts of the third ventricle have been treated in our department. There were 12 male and 7 female patients with an average age of 34 years (ranging from 17 to 58). Eighteen of the 19 patients underwent direct microsurgical removal of the space occupying lesion using the transcortical-transventricular approach. One patient had placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and declined further treatment. There were no deaths in the entire series and no permanent neurological deficits were observed postoperatively. Surgery was successful in unblocking CSF pathways in 12 patients; six patients required permanent CSF diversion. Considering the advantages and disadvantages of various surgical modalities for the treatment of the lesions we recommend the microsurgical removal of the colloid cyst using the transcortical-transventricular approach.

Third ventricle colloid cysts: a consecutive 12-year series

“…1,2,9,12,17,36 In modern series, low morbidity and mortality rates were achieved with transcortical surgery. Although transcallosal surgery is usually referred to as the treatment of choice, 2,19 only small numbers of transcallosal colloid cyst operations have been reported in different series.…”

Treatment Options for Third Ventricular Colloid Cysts

“…Traditionally, colloid cysts of the third ventricle have been treated primarily through a transcortical or transcallosal craniotomy approach (17,19,21,24,27,29,37,39,43,49,51). Indeed, the transcallosal approach was the primary method used at our institution until the evolution of endoscopy enabled a viable alternative.…”

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

“…Because of its location and its ability to move in the third ventricle, the cyst can cause episodic obstruction of the foramina of Monro or even of the aqueduct of Sylvius. The result is interference of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow, with episodic acute internal hydrocephalus typically involving only the lateral ventricles, and the rise of intracranial pressure (ICP) [2,7]. Transitory headache appears in two-thirds of the patients, usually ceasing after changing the position of the patient's head.…”

“…Coincident with growth of a colloid cyst, disturbances in CSF flow become more pronounced and later chronic internal hydrocephalus develops, possibly followed by a sudden total interruption of the CSF flow. If the CSF stasis is not relieved, coma and herniation with sudden death are the result [7][8][9][10][11][12].…”