Intracranial developmental cysts in children: treatment by cystoperitoneal shunting.

The author presents the results of primary cystoperitoneal shunting in 12 infants and children with developmental cysts in various intracranial locations. Preoperative studies were done in each child to rule out a brain tumor as the cause of the cyst and to determine whether communication existed between the cyst and the subarachnoid space. The ventricular system was also shunted in children with both noncommunicating cysts and hydrocephalus. Except for 2 children with other operation was needed during a mean follow-up period of 2.2 years. The reasons to recommend shunt insertion as the primary treatment for developmental cysts in children include safety, ease, and a high rate of success compared to attempted excision.