Intra- and suprasellar colloid cysts.

During the past 11 years 69 patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery for symptomatic intra- and suprasellar non-neoplastic cysts in our department. Eighteen of them harbored intra- and suprasellar colloid cysts. The most frequent presenting symptoms were oligomenorrhea, galactorrhea, and headaches. One patient presented with polydipsia. One male patient complained about mild hypogonadism and oligospermia. Two male patients presented with symptoms of panhypopituitarism. Endocrine assessment revealed hyperprolactinaemia in 72% of the female patients. Hypogonadism was found in 72%. Panhypopituitarism was found in two cases. During transsphenoidal surgery, a circumscribed collection of colloid material was removed in each case. Additional tumorous tissue was encountered in three cases that harbored a concomitant pituitary adenoma. Biopsies confirmed the surrounding tissue to be normal pituitary tissue. Postoperatively, regular menstrual cycles were found in 82% of the female patients with oligomenorrhea and headaches improved in 80%. Serum prolactin levels were restored in 92%, galactorrhea ceased in 89%. Only in one case deterioration of pituitary function occurred (diabetes insipidus). Symptomatic SIADH occurred in another one. There were no other post-operative complications. We conclude, that transsphenoidal surgery is a safe therapy for treating symptomatic intra- and suprasellar colloid cysts. Surgery is mainly indicated for female patients in childbearing age to restore fertility and to prevent further deterioration of pituitary function. The differential diagnosis is often unclear preoperatively, but a non-enhancing mass on MRI between anterior and posterior lobe may suggest the presence of an intra- and suprasellar colloid cyst.