Flexible endoscopes in treatment of colloid cysts of the third ventricle.

Goals of treatment of colloid cysts of the third ventricle are relief of foraminal obstruction and prevention of recurrence. Both goals are perfectly met by microsurgical removal from a transfrontal-transventricular or a transcallosal approach, however, with both approaches there are serious related complications. CT-guided stereotactic aspiration of colloid cysts is a simple method with low risk. Nevertheless, treatment failures as well as a considerable late recurrence rate are reported. The CT-guided stereotactic endoscopic technique gives the opportunity to widely open the cyst wall and aspirate the cyst fluid under direct visual control, thereby reducing the risk of the procedure and due to broad opening of the cyst wall refilling becomes less likely possible.