Endoscope-assisted removal of colloid cysts of the third ventricle

Colloid cysts are benign space-occuping lesions, which arise from the velum interpositum or the choroid plexus of the third ventricle and are able to produce symptomatic obstruction of the foramina of Monro with resultant hydrocephalus. In our department, we have operated on colloid cysts routinely in an endoscope-assisted microsurgical manner via a key-hole approach. During a period of 10 years, 28 microsurgical resections of colloid cysts of the third ventricle were performed. Seven patients demonstrated colloid cysts inside the third ventricle with obstruction of the right foramen Monro, two patients demonstrated cysts with obstruction of the left foramen Monro. Twelve patients suffered from cysts inside the third ventricle with obstruction of both foramina Monro and five patients demonstrated cysts lying into the third ventricle without obstruction of the foramina. In 21 patients no preoperative therapy was performed outside. Three patients had received shunt systems before in other hospitals, two patients received aspiration of the cysts under stereotactic conditions and two patients received external ventricular drains. Total removal of the cyst was achieved in all patients (100%). No patient received a second operation, because none had a recurrent cyst. All cysts were removed with the cyst wall. Overall clinical improvement was achieved in a long-standing period between 6 and 83 months in 27 (96%) patients. In one patient (4%) the psychomotor disturbance was unchanged and no patient deteriorated. From the microsurgical point of view, the combination of keyhole surgery under endoscopic visual control using preexisting anatomical windows offers an effective minimally invasive approach.