Colloid Cyst

A colloid cyst surgery is a cyst containing gelatinous material in the brain. It is almost always found just posterior to the foramen of Monro in the anterior aspect of the third ventricle, originating from the roof of the ventricle.

A colloid cyst treatment is a benign, fluid-filled sac that arises in the area of the brain known as the third ventricle. Colloid cyst surgery may interfere with the body’s ability to maintain the proper balance and circulation of this fluid.

An individual with a suspected or known treatment for colloid cyst should be evaluated by a neurosurgeon with expertise in these lesions. As with any brain anomaly, colloid cysts treatment are best treated by David W Newell, MD at Seattle Neuroscience Institute, where the combination of surgical expertise and state-of-the-art surgical facilities provide a patient with an excellent prognosis.

Symptoms

Intermittent severe episodes of headaches
Episodes of tunnel vision
Feelings of nearly passing out without warning
Episodes of passing out on multiple occasions often accompanied by headaches
Symptoms precipitated by bearing down or coughing or sneezing
Colloid cysts may cause hydrocephalus and cause problems walking, or with memory or with urinary incontinence
Colloid cysts may be found on brain imaging studies such as CT or MRI in patients who have never had symptoms
Colloid cysts may cause symptoms by obstructing the foramen of Monro, which results in sudden death in rare cases

Causes

Colloid cysts are benign brain tumors that grow from a vestigial structure in the brain called the paraphysis. They occur within the third ventricle of the brain and may obstruct the flow of CSF or cerebrospinal fluid and cause episodes of increased intracranial pressure

There is no known genetic or hereditary cause
They usually occur in patients in a random fashion

Risk Factors

There are no known risk factors

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Tests may include:

CT scan of the brain
MRI scan of the brain

Prevention

There are no current guidelines to prevent colloid cyst formation

Resources

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you.

Some colloid cyst are not treated if there are no symptoms associated with them or there is no hydrocephalus
Surgical removal is the preferred treatment if the colloid cyst is causing hydrocephalus or other symptoms
Aspiration of colloid cyst may be recommended however the cysts may recur at a higher rate without complete removal

Video

In this video, Dr. David Newell discusses the microsurgical technique of removal of a colloid cyst through a transcortical approach.

Warning: this video contains graphic depictions of neurosurgery.

Colloid Cyst. For help with pain, symptoms, risks, and treatment contact us or see Seattle Neurosciences’ website.

Dr. Newell was born in Boston, MA and attended Case Western Reserve University medical school. He then completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Washington, including one year in London at St. George’s medical school. Dr. Newell is the co-founder of the Swedish Neuroscience Institute and founder of the Seattle Neuroscience Institute.