Benign suprasellar cysts: the CT approach.

Preoperative diagnosis of intracranial cysts has been simplified and made more rapid and accurate with computed tomography (CT). By means of conventional CT and CT metrizamide ventriculography, the position and communication of intracranial cysts with the ventricular system and subarachnoid space or cisterns can be demonstrated. Suprasellar arachnoid cysts can produce significant neurologic and endocrinologic abnormalities due to their position. They are a surgically curable cause of hydrocephalus. Preoperative differentiation from aqueduct stenosis or other causes of a large third ventricle is important. The usefulness of coronal CT and CT metrizamide ventriculography in the investigation of these lesions is illustrated in six patients.