Endoscopic Treatment of Colloid Cysts of Third Ventricle: Study of Three Cases

Introduction: Colloid cyst of the third ventricle is a rare intracranial benign tumor. Traditionally, treatment is carried out by transcallosal or transcortical transventricular approach. Currently, the endoscopic treatment of these lesions is increasingly used. We reported our preliminary experience about three cases of colloid cysts treated by neuroendoscopy. Methods and Patients: We conducted a retrospective study on the analysis of medical records of three patients with colloid cyst who had been operated endoscopically in our department. We used a rigid neuroendoscope of 2.7 mm in diameter, with an optical 30°. Coagulation of the wall, followed by a puncture aspiration of cystic contents and partial resection of its wall were performed during the surgery. The mean follow-up time was two years. Results: Patients were 35, 47, and 53 years old. They were male. The dominant clinical symptom was headaches with consciousness disorder. Brain MRI allowed the diagnosis in all cases. The mean operation time was 100 minutes. A case of intraoperative hemorrhage was observed, necessitating the installation of an EDV. The outcome was favorable in two patients, and after surgery we observed one case of meningitis treated. One case of transient amnesia and one death were reported. Conclusion: Preliminary results of endoscopic treatment of colloid cysts were encouraging. It is a promising technique in our department. However, more investigation is necessary.