Panhypopituitarism due to pituitary cyst of Rathke's cleft origin--two case reports.
BACKGROUND
Rathke's cleft cysts are cystic sellar and suprasellar lesions, characteristically lined by a single layer of ciliated cuboidal or columnar epithelium.


METHODS
We report 2 patients who presented with gastrointestinal symptoms and were initially investigated for dyspepsia. However, attention was subsequently drawn to persistent hyponatraemia that led to the diagnosis of panhypopituitarism due to Rathke's cleft cyst.


METHODS
Transsphenoidal surgery followed by drainage of the cyst and partial excision of the cyst wall in both patients.


RESULTS
No recurrence of the lesions over a mean follow-up of 16 months. There has been an improvement of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in 1 patient and the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis and visual fields in the other.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts are rare and can occasionally cause panhypopituitarism. Ideal management of these cysts is unclear, but aspiration followed by partial excision of the cyst wall seems the best initial option.
Mukherjee
J J
JJ
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074.
Lee
C H
CH
Ong
P L
PL
Teo
J
J
D000368:Aged; D020863:Central Nervous System Cysts / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000209:etiology; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis