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Colloid Cyst of the Third Ventricle and Non-Communicating Hydrocephalus - Case 1

A 57 year-old man presented with intermittent severe headaches, associated with nausea and vomiting.

Show the Colloid Cyst             Show the Transependymal Edema             Show the Enlarged Lateral Ventricles

Colloid Cyst of the Third Ventricle: (Left) Flair axial MRI; (Middle) T1-weighted axial MRI; (Right) T1-weighted with gadolinium coronal MRI. Note the cyst located in the anterior third ventricle which is obstructing both foramina of Monro, causing hydrocephalus of the lateral ventricles. On the Flair image, the transependymal edema can be seen capping the anterior and posterior horns of the lateral ventricles.

This lesion is a colloid cyst, which is a benign congenital cyst that arises in the anterior third ventricle. They are often asymptomatic. However, if the cyst enlarges, compressing the foramina of Monro, non-communicating hydrocephalus may develop. Classically, this results first in intermittent severe headaches due to intermittent obstruction of the foramina of Monro. Rare cases result in sudden death.

Revised 11/23/06
Copyrighted 2006. David C Preston