Rathke cleft cyst treatment
Typically treated via a transsphenoidal approach with cyst fenestration and drainage. At present, there is limited evidence to guide patient selection for operative treatment. Furthermore, there is minimal literature describing factors contributing to cyst recurrence.
Cyst evacuation combined with or without biopsy/removal of the cyst wall is the optimal management strategy for symptomatic cases 1) 2) 3) 4).
1)
Aho CJ, Liu C, Zelman V, Couldwell WT & Weiss MH. Surgical outcomes in 118 patients with Rathke cleft cysts. Journal of Neurosurgery 2005 102 189–193doi:10.3171/jns.2005.102.2.0189.
2)
Baskin DS & Wilson CB. Transsphenoidal treatment of non-neoplastic intrasellar cysts. A report of 38 cases. Journal of Neurosurgery 1984 60 8–13doi:10.3171/jns.1984.60.1.0008.
3)
Benveniste RJ, King WA, Walsh J, Lee JS, Naidich TP & Post KD. Surgery for Rathke cleft cysts: technical considerations and outcomes. Journal of Neurosurgery 2004 101 577–584doi:10.3171/jns.2004.101.4.0577.
4)
el-Mahdy W & Powell M. Transsphenoidal management of 28 symptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts, with special reference to visual and hormonal recovery. Neurosurgery 1998 42 7–16doi:10.1097/00006123-199801000-00003.