Colloid cysts--a review including 19 own cases.

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.