Stereotactic management of benign pineal region cysts: Report of two cases

Joseph D. Stern, Donald A. Ross

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

RECENT CASE REPORTS describing the open resection of symptomatic benign cysts of the pineal region have noted that the results of stereotactic management of such cysts have not been reported. We report the results of the stereotactic aspiration of benign pineal region cysts in two patients with symptomatic ventriculomegaly secondary to obstruction of the aqueduct. Stereotactic aspiration produced several cubic centimeters of brown-to-yellow fluid that was negative for tumor on cytological examination. Ventriculomegaly and symptoms were relieved without complications by the procedure in one patient who remains asymptomatic after 30 months of follow-up. In the second patient, persistent ventriculomegaly demonstrated on computed tomography resulted in the placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt; however, this was removed several months later during an episode of appendicitis and the patient remained asymptomatic without the shunt. The symptoms and ventriculomegaly recurred 71 months postaspiration, and the cyst was reaspirated. Ten months later, she remains asymptomatic. Options for managing such patients include open resection, shunting, and stereotactic aspiration. The relative merits of each approach are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)310-314
Number of pages5
JournalNeurosurgery
Volume32
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1993
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Hydrocephalus
  • Pineal cyst
  • Stereotactic surgery

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Clinical Neurology

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