Entirely suprasellar symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst

Two rare cases of entirely suprasellar Rathke's cleft cyst were reported. Case 1. A 62-year-old man was admitted to our hospital on the 14th of January, 1988, complaining of headache and diplopia. A plain skull x-ray showed the sella turcica was normal. CT scan and MRI demonstrated a lesion mass located entirely in the suprasellar cistern. Right frontotemporal craniotomy was performed, and the cyst wall was resected subtotally. Microscopic sections of cyst wall showed ciliated single layer with focal stratified epithelium. Case 2. A 51-year-old man was hospitalized complaining of visual impairment in the left eye. Endocrinological examination showed no abnormalities. CT and MRI demonstrated a lesion mass located entirely in the suprasellar region. Right frontotemporal craniotomy was performed. The mass was opened and a large amount of yellowish fluid was released. Histologically, the specimens were simple ciliated cuboidal epithelium. Postoperative courses of these patients were uneventful. The findings on CT and MRI of the cases located entirely in the suprasellar region were varied. The histopathogenesis and embryological pathogenesis of Rathke's cleft cyst in the literature, particularly the entirely suprasellar type, were discussed.     

Epithelial cysts of the central nervous system: report of two cases

Two cases of epithelial cyst are reported. Case 1. A 68-year-old female visited our hospital with a complaint of decreased visual acuity, 0.04 in the left eye, in September 1986. Visual field examination showed bitemporal hemianopsia. CT scan demonstrated nonenhancing cystic lesion involving the suprasellar region. By a right frontotemporal craniotomy, the suprasellar cyst was explored. The wall of the cyst was partially removed to relieve pressure against both optic nerves and chiasma. Histologically, the cyst wall was lined with a single layer of non-ciliated cuboidal epithelium. Electron microscopic study revealed a number of microvilli, continuous basement membrane and desmosomes. Case 2. A 40-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of sensory disturbance in the left hand for several years. She had an episode of convulsive seizure with a loss of consciousness. Neurological examination revealed hypesthesia of the left hand. CT scan showed non-enhancing right frontoparietal cystic lesion compressing the right lateral ventricle to the left. By a right frontoparietal craniotomy, the cystic lesion was explored. The cyst existed beneath an arachnoid membrane and contained CSF-like clear fluid. The cyst wall was resected, as far as possible, to obtain communication with normal subarachnoid CSF space. Histologically, by light and electron microscopic study, the cyst was considered to be an epithelial cyst. A correct diagnosis is difficult because other cystic lesions such as arachnoid cysts and craniopharyngioma are of similar low density and appear the same on CT scan. It is impossible to diagnose such an epithelial cyst by relying on neuroradiological study alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Three cases of intramural cyst of the esophagus with ciliated epithelium

We had 3 cases of intramural cyst of the esophagus with ciliated epithelium. In Case 1, 13-year-old man, the cyst was lined with ciliated columnar epithelium and had a smooth muscle layer. In Case 2, 37-year-old female, the cyst was lined with ciliated stratified epithelium and had some layers of smooth muscle. In Case 3, 42-year-old male, the cyst was lined with ciliated columnar epithelium and had a smooth muscle layer. In all cases, cartilaginous tissue was not found. They had no complaints and the abnormal shadow was found by chance Chest X-ray film. When the cyst did not have typical diagnostic criteria, clear division into esophageal cyst or bronchogenic cyst is difficult. The bronchus and the esophagus are of the foregut origin, so we suppose the middle type cyst, between esophageal and bronchial, may exist. In Case 2, the cyst was diagnosed as esophageal, because it had some muscle layers. But in Case 1 and Case 3, as the cyst did not have typical diagnostic criteria, we diagnosed them as the inclusion cyst of the esophagus, not as esophageal, not as bronchogenic.     

Ciliated hepatic foregut cyst

A male infant was found to have a large congenital hepatic cyst, first noted in late gestation by prenatal ultrasound scan. The cyst communicated with the biliary tree and was eventually removed completely by an extended right hepatectomy. Histopathologic examination showed a thick-walled, unilocular cyst lined predominantly by ciliated, stratified squamous epithelium with an outer wall composed of smooth muscle cells and fibrous tissue. These features are diagnostic of a ciliated hepatic foregut cyst, a rare congenital malformation with histologic similarities to bronchogenic cysts. The young age of our patient, prenatal detection, large size of the cyst, and a clear communication with the biliary tree have not been previously described with ciliated hepatic foregut cysts.     

Lymphocytic adenohypophysitis accompanying occlusion of bilateral internal carotid arteries--case report.

A 45-year-old female presented with blurred vision, headache, and abnormal thirstiness. She was not pregnant nor postpartum. She had diabetes insipidus and bitemporal hemianopsia. Radiological evidence suggested a mass arising in the sella turcica with extension into the parasellar and suprasellar regions. Carotid angiography showed occlusions of bilateral internal carotid arteries at the cavernous portions. The mass was subtotally removed by the trans-sphenoidal approach and was histologically diagnosed as an adenohypophysitis. Laboratory data showed the patient to be in an active state of autoimmune disorder and hypopituitarism. When a patient presents with pituitary insufficiency and an enhanced intrasellar mass lesion on computed tomographic scan, lymphocytic adenohypophysitis must be included in the differential diagnosis.     

Concurrent pericardial diverticulum and unilocular thymic cyst lined with ciliated respiratory epithelium: a rare case report

Thymic cysts are divided into two groups as unilocular and multilocular cysts. Cystic wall is generally lined with squamous, transitional, cuboidal, or columnar epithelium. Unilocular cysts that are lined with ciliated respiratory epithelium are extremely rare, and there are only two reports in the literature. In this paper, we present a case, which had concurrent unilocular thymic cyst lined with ciliated respiratory epithelium and pericardial diverticulum.     

Symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst mimicking suprasellar arachnoid cyst

The authors report an atypical case of symptomatic entirely suprasellar Rathke's cleft cyst mimicking suprasellar arachnoid cyst. A 55-year-old male was introduced to our hospital complaining of bitemporal hemianopsia. CT and MRI demonstrated a cystic mass located entirely in the suprasellar cistern and to compress the optic nerve and mammillary body. The cystic wall was not enhanced in MRI. CT cisternography showed the suprasellar non-communicating cyst with cistern. The hormonal function was slightly disturbed by the pituitary compression. Under the diagnosis of suprasellar arachnoid cyst, a left front temporal craniotomy was performed to resect the suprasellar mass. The surgical specimen consisted ciliated epithelium and was diagnosed Rathke's cleft cyst. After operation, he recovered completely free.     

Bronchogenic cyst of the shoulder.

An 8-month-old girl presented with a painless mass on her left shoulder that was noticed by her mother. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a well-defined subcutaneous cystic mass. The excised cyst was lined with ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium with occasional goblet cells and diagnosed as a bronchogenic cyst. She made a good recovery.     

Empty sella secondary to suprasellar colloid cyst of foregut (respiratory) origin. Case report.

An enlarged sella turcica was discovered in a 40-year-old man who had bitemporal headaches. A pneumoencephalograph revealed a third ventricular cyst, dilated lateral ventricles, and an empty sella. The colloid cyst was lined by foregut epithelium, probably originating in the respiratory tract, and dense connective tissue. This case is the first instance of an empty sella associated with a colloid cyst of the third ventricle. It is proposed that enlargement of the mass in the third ventricle caused increased pulsation pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid, and that in the presence of an incompetent diaphragma sellae the subarachnoid space expanded into the sella. The origin of third ventricle cysts is reconsidered. It is concluded that suprasellar colloid cysts may arise from endoderm, ectoderm, neuroepithelium, or a combination of these epithelia.     

A case of intrasellar and suprasellar meningioma with hypopituitarism

A case of intrasellar and suprasellar meningioma with hypopituitarism is reported. A-64-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with chief complaints of reduced consciousness and inactivity. She had a history of subarachnoid hemorrhage 20 years previously, and developed right third nerve palsy. Physical examination demonstrated that, in consciousness, she was stuporous, and she had impaired visual acuity and palsy in the right third nerve. An X-ray film of the sella turcica showed enlargement and intrasellar calcification. A CT scan with contrast enhancement revealed a homogenously enhanced mass in the sella and suprasellar region. A cerebral angiogram showed elevation of the bilateral A1 portion of the anterior cerebral artery. No tumor blush was evident. Endocrinologic function tests confirmed impaired anterior lobe hormones and hypothyroidism. Preoperative diagnosis was pituitary adenoma. The tumor was subtotally removed by using the transsphenoidal approach and right frontotemporal craniotomy was carried out using microsurgery in a two staged operation. The tumor was yellowish-grey, partly firm in consistency, and it had a soft elasticity. Operative findings showed that the dura matter of the tuberculum sella, the anterior and posterior clinoid process, the medial sphenoidal ridge, and the wall of the cavernous sinus were intact, which was confirmed at autopsy, later. Microscopical examination revealed a mixed meningothelial and fibroblastic meningioma with papillary component and psammomatous bodies. The tumor was thought to originate in the diaphragma sella, and to extend in intrasellar and suprasellar directions. The patient died of basilar artery thrombosis. In clinical and radiological examination, there is no definite difference between pituitary adenoma and intrasellar meningioma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A case of intrasellar meningioma with panhypopituitarism and hyperprolactinemia

A case of intrasellar meningioma is reported. A 49-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital on July 22, 1985, complaining of reduced visual acuity and visual field defect. Visual acuity was 0.6 in the right eye and 0.1 in the left eye. Visual field examination revealed upper temporal quadrantanopsia on the right side and incomplete temporal hemianopsia on the left side. Ocular fundi were normal. X-ray films of the skull showed a balloon-shaped sella turcica with "double floor". CT scan showed a isodense mass with central low density occupying the intrasellar and suprasellar region. After administration of contrast medium, almost homogenous enhancement was noted. Bilateral carotid angiographies demonstrated that horizontal portion of the right anterior cerebral artery was raised. No tumor blush was evident. Endocrinologic function tests confirmed a complete deficit of the anterior lobe hormones except for elevated serum prolactin level of 110 ng/ml. She showed no galactorrhea. On August 6, 1985, the sella turcica was reached via the transsphenoidal rhinoseptal approach. The sella floor and dura matter were intact. The grey, soft and necrotic tumor tissue was encountered and bleeding was controllable. The tumor extending to suprasellar region was firm in consistency. Pathologically, the tumor was a typical meningothelial meningioma. Postoperatively, visual field defect improved and visual acuity was recovered on the right side immediately. Postoperative CT scan showed a thin residual enhanced lesion, which was the attachment of the tumor. It seemed to be the elevated diaphragma sellae. Clinical observation, radiological and endocrinological findings of intrasellar meningioma are similar to that of non-functioning pituitary adenoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The surgical treatment of primary empty sella

Two cases of the primary empty sella complaining of intractable headache for many years are reported. Case 1. A 73-year-old female was admitted on August 23, 1983 because of intractable headache. Plain skull radiograph showed slightly enlarged sella with deepening of the floor. Metrizamide CT scan demonstrated the sella cavity filled with metrizamide extensively. Operation was done performing intrasellar intradural plugging via transsphenoidal route (Hardy's technique). Postoperatively headache was improved. Case 2. A 43-year-old female was admitted on July 24, 1984 after many years of intractable headache. Craniogram demonstrated deep sella of slightly increased volume and unaltered dorsum sellae. On metrizamide CT scan, contrast medium occupied greater parts of the sellar cavity. Extradural intrasellar plugging (Guiot's technique) was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful. Surgical procedure on the primary empty sella relieved headache by decreasing intrasellar pressure and alleviating pulsatile pressure on the dulla. Operation via transsphenoidal method was the suitable procedure because of less trauma on the optic nerve and advantageous plugging of the sellar cavity. Guiot's technique with extradural intrasellar plugging may be more preferable because of accompanying no postoperative cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea.     

Surgical management of symptomatic intrasellar arachnoid cysts--two case reports

Two patients with symptomatic intrasellar arachnoid cyst were successfully treated. A 67-year-old female with a cyst 20 mm in diameter developed headache and visual disturbance. She was treated by transsphenoidal surgery. A 59-year-old male with a cyst measuring 35 x 30 x 50 mm causing headache, visual disturbance, and deterioration of consciousness was managed by wide resection of the cyst wall via craniotomy. Postoperative courses in both patients were uneventful. Transsphenoidal surgery may be suitable for small to medium-sized cysts, although tight packing of the sella is mandatory to prevent leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. However, craniotomy is recommended for large intra- and suprasellar arachnoid cysts to avoid this complication, and to achieve sufficient communication between the cyst and the subarachnoid cistern.     

Clinical, radiographic, and pathological features of symptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts

The clinical, radiographic, and pathological findings in 155 patients with symptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts are discussed. Eight patients were treated by the authors and 147 were collected in a review of the literature. This lesion occurred more often in female than male patients by a 2:1 margin, and the mean age at presentation was 38 years. The average patient had been symptomatic for nearly 3 years at the time of treatment, with the most common symptoms and signs being pituitary dysfunction, visual disturbances, and headaches. Affected children generally were pituitary dwarfs. The sella was enlarged in 80% of cases, and the cyst was situated in both an intrasellar and a suprasellar location in 71%. Computerized tomography revealed a low-density cystic mass with capsular enhancement in one-half of the cases. A variable appearance was seen with magnetic resonance imaging. Partial excision and drainage of the cyst by the transsphenoidal approach is the recommended treatment, as the recurrence rate is low. Most symptoms and signs improved or resolved following surgery with the exception of hypopituitarism and diabetes insipidus. The cyst lining was usually composed of ciliated cuboidal or columnar epithelium. Theories as to the origin of Rathke's cleft cysts are also discussed.     

Thymoma arising in a thymic cyst.

We present a case of thymoma arising in the wall of the thymic cyst. A 77-year-old asymptomatic woman demonstrated an approximately 3.5 cm sized cystic mass in the left anterior mediastinum in the CT scan. The tumor was extirpated by a total thymectomy. Histologically, the cyst wall was lined by low cuboidal cells, but a markedly thickened wall was observed at the upper site of the mass, which was found to be thymoma. These findings may suggest that the thymoma originated from the wall of the thymic cyst.     

Multiple oligodendroglioma--case report.

A 32-year-old male was hospitalized with headache and disturbance of consciousness. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a tumor and an intracranial hematoma in the right frontal lobe. The tumor was totally removed, and postoperative radiation therapy was administrated locally at 50 Gy. Five years later, he experienced sudden onset of headache and vertigo. CT demonstrated a mass lesion with a hematoma in the cerebellar vermis. The tumor was subtotally removed and he underwent postoperative local irradiation at 50 Gy as well as ventriculoperitoneal shunting. Four years later, he complained of visual and gait disturbances, and CT disclosed a tumor in the suprasellar region. Following partial removal of the tumor, local brain irradiation was given at 40 Gy. Histological examination proved all three tumors to be oligodendrogliomas with no evidence of malignant change.     

A case of double bronchogenic cysts in the mediastinum

A 42-year-old house wife had suffered from abnormal mass lesion in the right pulmonary hilum on her chest X-ray film. MRI showed another mediastinal mass between IVC and descending aorta with high T1 and T2 intensity. Thoracic CT done before MRI missed the latter lesion because only upper mediastinal scanning had been performed. At operation subcarinal and right paraesophageal cysts were successfully removed. Histological examination of the subcarinal cyst showed ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium lining, and its thin wall consisted of partly smooth muscle bundle, lymph node, calcification, inflammatory cell infiltration and hemorrhage. The paraesophageal cyst lined by a ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium, and the wall consisted of mostly fibrous connective tissue with partly smooth muscle bundle. Although the both cysts were diagnosed as bronchogenic origin, definitive bronchial glands and cartilage could not be recognized. The postoperative course was uneventful. This is the first case report of mediastinal double bronchogenic cysts appeared in the Japanese literature.     

Solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura: an ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study.

Solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura is a benign neoplasm differing from diffuse pleural mesothelioma. It was originally thought to be a variant of mesothelioma because it consists of a spindle cell stroma associated with branching tubular structures lined by cuboidal cells. In this study of two cases the tubular structures were lined with ciliated and non-ciliated cuboidal cells. Ultrastructurally most of the non-ciliated cells had the features of type II pneumocytes, while the stromal cells had all the characteristics of fibroblasts. Immunohistochemical staining showed the epithelial cells to be positive for both keratin and carcinoembryonic antigen, whereas the stromal cells were negative. The findings support the theory that these tumours are fibroblastic in origin, and that the biphasic pattern is due to entrapment of non-neoplastic bronchiolar and alveolar epithelial cells.     

A case of non-neoplastic pineal cyst presenting Parinaud's syndrome

A case of non-neoplastic pineal cyst with Parinaud's syndrome is presented. A 54-year-old woman was admitted to the department of neurosurgery. Fukui Medical School on October, 1985, complaining of the paralysis of upward gaze. A computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a low density mass in the pineal region and the mass was not enhanced after the injection of contrast agent. Metrizamide CT cisternogram delineated the mass clearly. Bilateral carotid and vertebral angiograms showed no significant findings. On November 5, an operation was performed by means of an occipital transtentorial approach. A cyst filled with clear yellowish fluid was found in the pineal region. The cyst was evacuated and its wall was subtotally resected. The histological examination revealed the cystic cavity lined by fibrous astrocytes which were surrounded by normal pineal tissue. Therefore the cyst was diagnosed as a non-neoplastic pineal cyst. The postoperative course was uneventful. The paralysis of upward gaze was gradually improved. On December 27, the patient was discharged in excellent condition. Non-neoplastic small cysts which do not cause an enlargement of the pineal body are common incidental findings at autopsy, whereas large cysts which cause symptoms due to compression of the corpora quadrigemina and the production of internal hydrocephalus are rare. In this paper, non-neoplastic pineal cyst is discussed.     

Retroperitoneal cystadenoma containing elevated concentrations of CA125 and CA19-9 in the cyst fluid: a case report

A 67-year-old female presented with left abdominal distension. A huge retroperitoneal cystic mass, measuring over 20 cm in diameter, was found below the left kidney. The cyst was punctured percutaneously, and serous fluid was aspirated. It was noted that the concentrations of CA125 and CA19-9 in the fluid of the cyst were extremely elevated while those in the serum were normal. The cyst was resected easily without any adhesion. Microscopically, the cyst was lined with a mixture of ciliated and cuboidal serous cells and columnal mucinous cells. Immunohistochemical staining of the cyst wall proved positive for CA125 on serous cells, and for CA19-9 on mucinous cells.