A giant retroclival Rathke's cleft cyst.
Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC) is a rare sellar tumor that can extend to the retroclival region, resulting in brain stem compression. We report a male with short stature who experienced repeated syncope due to compression of the brain stem by a giant retroclival RCC. MRI revealed a large homogeneous sellar tumor with anterior displacement of the pituitary gland that extended to the left retroclival space. The tumor differed from ordinary RCCs because of its unusual clinical presentation, the direction of extension, and its imaging characteristics. The retromastoid surgical approach was used for cyst marsupialization. Intraoperative appearance and histological examination confirmed the diagnosis. A follow-up MRI, 2years after resection of the cyst, showed no recurrence.
Chuang
Chi-Cheng
CC
Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
Chen
Yao-Liang
YL
Jung
Shih-Ming
SM
Pai
Ping-Ching
PC
D000293:Adolescent; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology*; D020863:Central Nervous System Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery