Unexpected death after headache due to a colloid cyst of the third ventricle.
BACKGROUND
Colloid cysts of the third ventricle are rare benign intracranial non-neoplastic cysts. Headache is the most common symptom. We present a case of sudden death due to colloid cyst in a 17 year old female who had symptoms of intermittent headaches.


METHODS
A 17 year old female presented with intermittent mild headaches for a period of two years. She complained of severe headache in the night and was found unresponsive the next morning. Resuscitation team was called on site but the patient was already dead. At post mortem examination a dilated ventricular system was found with a colloid cyst of the third ventricle.


CONCLUSIONS
This report highlights the difficulty in the diagnosis and importance of recognizing colloid cyst of the third ventricle which should be in the differential diagnosis of headaches in children and young adults and of hydrocephalus at autopsy.
Shaktawat
Sameer S
SS
Department of Cellular Pathology, Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. sameeroshni@yahoo.co.uk
Salman
Walid D
WD
Twaij
Zuhair
Z
Al-Dawoud
Abdul
A