Radiological study of symptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts.

We investigated the relationship between radiological findings and the nature of the cyst fluid and histological findings of six Rathke's cleft cysts. The results show that the majority (five of six cases) of symptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts exhibit no enlargement of the sella turcica on plain x-rays, which may be helpful in differentiating cystic pituitary adenoma in the radiological diagnostic process. Three cases with large cysts showing high-intensity T1-weighted magnetic resonance images harbored abundances of cholesterol crystal and hemosiderin pigment in the cyst walls. The high signal intensity in magnetic resonance images of Rathke's cleft cysts may be explained by hemorrhage and a deposition of cholesterol crystal and may be considered in certain cases of Rathke's cleft cyst, especially when they are large.