Stereotactic management of congenital midline cysts.

The treatment of congenital midline cysts remains a controversial issue. The stereotactic management of 27 patients (6 symptomatic cavum septi pellucidi/cavum Vergae, 6 suprasellar cysts, 5 intraventricular cysts, 4 parasagittal cysts, and 6 supracollicular cysts) is reviewed. In 23 patients stereotactic ventriculo-cystostomy by catheter implantation (internal drainage) led to clinical recovery or improvement accompanied by decreased cyst size. In four patients the internal drainage was not sufficient and was therefore completed as a ventriculo-atrial shunt system. Three minor complications (bleeding, aseptic meningitis, catheter infection) led to no sequelae. The results suggest that stereotactic internal drainage of these benign lesions is a safe, minimally invasive and efficient procedure.