Spontaneous Rupture, Disappearance, and Reaccumulation of a Rathke's Cleft Cyst

Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs) are benign epithelium-lined intrasellar cysts containing mucoid material and are believed to originate from the remnants of Rathke's pouch. Most are asymptomatic but may cause symptoms secondary to compression of adjacent structures such as visual disturbances...

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Main Authors: Katrina Maniec, Joe C. Watson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Endocrinology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/549262
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author Katrina Maniec
Joe C. Watson
author_facet Katrina Maniec
Joe C. Watson
author_sort Katrina Maniec
collection DOAJ
description Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs) are benign epithelium-lined intrasellar cysts containing mucoid material and are believed to originate from the remnants of Rathke's pouch. Most are asymptomatic but may cause symptoms secondary to compression of adjacent structures such as visual disturbances and endocrinopathies, especially hypopituitary. Furthermore, inflammation such as an aseptic meningitis syndrome may be associated with these tumors, presumably resulting from leakage of cyst material into the subarachnoid space. We present a unique case of spontaneous rupture and complete disappearance of a known sella-suprasellar cyst associated with a severe headache syndrome, followed by cyst reaccumulation requiring surgery. Although this phenomenon is well accepted, to our knowledge, this is the first report of the complete disappearance of a Rathke's cyst presenting with the classic syndrome. Furthermore, it was remarkable how quickly it recurred and became symptomatic, providing evidence that an “empty sella syndrome” may indeed need clinical follow-up.
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spelling doaj-art-1c535d209eda41f7a2d840d2f8d295ff2025-08-20T03:54:51ZengWileyCase Reports in Endocrinology2090-65012090-651X2011-01-01201110.1155/2011/549262549262Spontaneous Rupture, Disappearance, and Reaccumulation of a Rathke's Cleft CystKatrina Maniec0Joe C. Watson1Inova Regional Neurosurgery Service and Department of Neurosurgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Inova Campus, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042, USAInova Regional Neurosurgery Service and Department of Neurosurgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Inova Campus, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042, USARathke's cleft cysts (RCCs) are benign epithelium-lined intrasellar cysts containing mucoid material and are believed to originate from the remnants of Rathke's pouch. Most are asymptomatic but may cause symptoms secondary to compression of adjacent structures such as visual disturbances and endocrinopathies, especially hypopituitary. Furthermore, inflammation such as an aseptic meningitis syndrome may be associated with these tumors, presumably resulting from leakage of cyst material into the subarachnoid space. We present a unique case of spontaneous rupture and complete disappearance of a known sella-suprasellar cyst associated with a severe headache syndrome, followed by cyst reaccumulation requiring surgery. Although this phenomenon is well accepted, to our knowledge, this is the first report of the complete disappearance of a Rathke's cyst presenting with the classic syndrome. Furthermore, it was remarkable how quickly it recurred and became symptomatic, providing evidence that an “empty sella syndrome” may indeed need clinical follow-up.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/549262
spellingShingle Katrina Maniec
Joe C. Watson
Spontaneous Rupture, Disappearance, and Reaccumulation of a Rathke's Cleft Cyst
Case Reports in Endocrinology
title Spontaneous Rupture, Disappearance, and Reaccumulation of a Rathke's Cleft Cyst
title_full Spontaneous Rupture, Disappearance, and Reaccumulation of a Rathke's Cleft Cyst
title_fullStr Spontaneous Rupture, Disappearance, and Reaccumulation of a Rathke's Cleft Cyst
title_full_unstemmed Spontaneous Rupture, Disappearance, and Reaccumulation of a Rathke's Cleft Cyst
title_short Spontaneous Rupture, Disappearance, and Reaccumulation of a Rathke's Cleft Cyst
title_sort spontaneous rupture disappearance and reaccumulation of a rathke s cleft cyst
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/549262
work_keys_str_mv AT katrinamaniec spontaneousrupturedisappearanceandreaccumulationofarathkescleftcyst
AT joecwatson spontaneousrupturedisappearanceandreaccumulationofarathkescleftcyst