Enterogenous cyst of the cisterna magna

A Dorsally Located Endodermal Cyst in the Foramen Magnum Mimicking an Arachnoid Cyst: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION

Endodermal cysts are congenital benign cystic lesions in the central nervous system and cause various symptoms. Although some have been reported in the posterior fossa, endodermal cysts located dorsal to the brainstem are extremely rare.

CASE PRESENTATION

The case was of a 10-year-old girl who presented with bilateral upper limb weakness and tremor. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a 4.5-cm cystic lesion with T1-weighted hypointense and T2-weighted hyperintense content in the midline of the cisterna magna dorsal to the medulla oblongata. The cyst was cerebrospinal fluid-like, causing us to suspect a symptomatic arachnoid cyst. The lucent cyst wall had no apparent attachment, and complete recovery ensued following total excision of the cyst wall. Pathology confirmed a diagnosis of endodermal cyst.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

Herein, we review the past literature on this rare entity. An endodermal cyst in the cisterna magna tends to be less strongly attached and to show a cerebrospinal fluid-like component on magnetic resonance images that mimics an arachnoid cyst. The characteristics of dorsally located endodermal cysts may differ from those in other locations.

Supratentorial Neurenteric Cysts: Case Series and Review of Pathology, Imaging, and Clinical Management

BACKGROUND

Neurenteric cysts are rare congenital lesions along the neuroaxis, typically found in the spine, and rarely intracranially. Here, we present 3 patients who presented to our institution during a 6-year period with supratentorial intracranial neurenteric cysts and conduct a comprehensive review of the literature to describe the salient pathology, radiologic features, and clinical issues regarding these lesions.

CASE REPORTS

Three patients were treated surgically for supratentorial neurenteric cysts. One patient presented in extremis, whereas the others were treated electively. Each patient presented with significantly different signs and symptoms and unique radiologic findings. All patients were neurologically intact after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Neurenteric cysts present with a variety of signs and symptoms. Given the increased use of neuroimaging, supratentorial neurenteric cysts may be encountered more frequently and are important to include on the differential diagnosis and managed accordingly. Postoperative seizures occur in more than 20%, even in patients who had no preoperative seizures. Surgery can be performed safely with good neurologic outcomes.

Supratentorial neurenteric cyst associated with a intraparenchymal subependymoma

Neurenteric cyst is a rare developmental lesion that very infrequently is localised supratentorially. Intraparenchymal subependymoma is an even more rare benign tumour. The authors report the case of a 45-year-old gentleman with a background of drug resistant epilepsy. An MRI was performed which showed a left frontal cystic lesion with a solid component. Histopathology confirmed a type C neurenteric cyst associated with an intraparenchymal subependymoma. Following enlargement of the lesion and worsening of symptoms he was referred to our institution for further management. A frontotemporal craniotomy was performed for excision of the lesion but recurrence occurred within 1 year. The lesion was further excised and 19 months post re-excision the patient is seizure free with no evidence of recurrence on MRI.

Giant Supratentorial Enterogenous Cyst: Report of a Case, Literature Review, and Discussion of Pathogenesis

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE

To describe a histologically well-documented adult case of a giant supratentorial enterogenous cyst (EC). Fewer than 15 cases of supratentorial ECs are on record: 8 associated with the brain hemispheres or the overlying meninges, 4 with the sellar region, and 2 with the optic nerve.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

A 31-year-old woman complained of long-standing mild left brachial and crural motor deficit precipitated by headache and signs of intracranial hypertension. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a huge cyst overlying the frontoparietal brain.

INTERVENTION

Symptoms were relieved by evacuation of the cyst content by means of a Rickam's reservoir, and the lesion was subsequently removed in toto. Histological and immunohistochemical examination of the cyst wall clearly established the enterogenous nature of its epithelium. Follow-up for up to 2 years after intervention showed no sign of recurrence, and symptoms, including treatment-resistant seizures in the postoperative period, have entirely subsided.

CONCLUSION

Supratentorial ECs, distinctly rare in adult patients, may in some cases present as giant lesions. Total removal seems to be curative once careful examination has eliminated the possibility of a metastasis from an unknown primary. A correct histological diagnosis is important because, in contrast to other benign cysts of similar location and size, ECs may be prone to intraoperative dissemination.

Intracranial neurenteric cysts: a report of two cases

Neurenteric or enterogenous cysts are rare, congenital, benign lesions of the central nervous system. Not more than 35 case reports of neurenteric cysts occurring in the cranial cavity have been documented. We describe two cases of intracranial neurenteric cysts.