title: Imaging of spontaneous intraventricular rupture of a septum pellucidum colloid cyst: case report.
abstract: Intraventricular rupture of a colloid cyst is a rare phenomenon and has been proposed as a mechanism for sudden death in patients with colloid cysts. Imaging of a colloid cyst during rupture has been described in only one other instance. The authors report a highly unusual case of a 53-year-old man who presented with acute onset headaches and imaging findings of hydrocephalus caused by a colloid cyst originating from the septum pellucidum and superior surface of the roof of the third ventricle. Interestingly, the colloid cyst revealed imaging signs of intraventricular rupture characterized by a tail-like drainage of cystic contents into the occipital horn of the lateral ventricle. The patient was surgically treated with a craniotomy and transcallosal approach to the colloid cyst, where it was noted that the cyst wall was spontaneously open. This rare case highlights unique imaging findings of a rare event in an infrequent pathology confirmed with intraoperative microscopy. The authors further document the process of cyst rupture and speculate on its pathomechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Hôpital Notre-Dame, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Harrison J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Westwick
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Hôpital Notre-Dame, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Obaid
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Hôpital Notre-Dame, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morin-Roy
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Hôpital Notre-Dame, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Pierre-Olivier
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Champagne
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Hôpital Notre-Dame, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouthillier
mesh_terms: D056364:Colloid Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy; D006261:Headache / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D012688:Septum Pellucidum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: colloid cyst; computed tomography; craniotomy; hydrocephalus; magnetic resonance imaging; oncology