Stereotactic cyst wall disruption and aspiration of colloid cysts of the third ventricle.

BACKGROUND

Current strategies of surgical therapy for colloid cysts have been associated with low rates of initial success and high rates of morbidity, mortality and recurrence of cysts. Cyst recurrence following simple stereotactic aspiration has been hypothesized to be due to regrowth of the epithelium composing the cyst wall.

METHODS

We propose a procedure involving stereotactic disruption of the colloid cyst wall with the removal of a portion of the cyst wall followed by aspiration of cyst contents as a surgical therapy for colloid cysts.

RESULTS

This procedure was performed in 2 female and 3 male patients who were followed for an average of 49 months with all patients demonstrating immediate improvement of symptoms and resolution of the cyst verified with repeat computerized tomography (CT) scans. There was one incidence of recurrence in an asymptomatic patient at 75 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

We propose that stereotactic partial cyst wall disruption and content aspiration may limit recurrence of colloid cysts, thus offering an advantage over simple stereotactic aspiration alone.