[Colloid cysts of the pituitary gland].

Colloid cysts of the pituitary gland are very rare pathological lesions occurring in sellar region. Their pathogenesis is not clear. They are located between the anterior and posterior lobe of the pituitary. Colloid cysts of the pituitary gland are space occupying lesions and induce hypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus, visual disturbances, etc. They cause pituitary apoplexy too. Magnetic resonance imaging is the preferred neurodiagnostic method in evaluating these lesions. 503 transsphenoidal procedures were performed from January 1996 to February 2001. Hypothalamo-hypophyseal dysfunction was caused by colloid cyst in seven cases. The most frequent presenting symptoms were headaches, oligomenorrhea and loss of libido. Diabetes insipidus was found in two cases before surgery. Colloid cyst induced pituitary apoplexy in one patient. Two patients presented visual disturbances. All our patients were operated on. We performed six transsphenoidal procedures and one transcranial operation. Postoperatively, the endocrine function of the pituitary gland was evaluated. We concluded that transsphenoidal operation is a safe method for treating colloid cyst located in the sellar region.