Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Bobble-head doll syndrome due to a suprasellar arachnoid cyst: endoscopic treatment in two cases
A Fioravanti1, U Godano, A Consales
1Department of Neurosurgery, Bellaria Hospital, Via Altura n. 3, 40139 Bologna, Italy. antonio.fioravanti@ausl.bologna.it
Object:
We report two cases of bobble-head doll syndrome associated with a large suprasellar arachnoid cyst successfully treated with a minimally invasive endoscopic approach.
Methods:
The clinical history, surgical treatment and results of two children, a 9-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl, both presenting the clinical features of the bobble-head doll syndrome, are described. As a first procedure, a ventriculo-cystostomy was endoscopically performed in both patients, obtaining either resolution of the symptoms or notable cyst reduction. In the girl, a re-closure of the stoma, with cyst re-expansion, was observed after 18 months. She then underwent a second procedure, a ventriculo-cysto-cisternostomy, with a good result. After 3 years' follow-up, the neurological condition of both patients remains good with complete resolution of abnormal head movement.
Conclusion:
In our opinion, endoscopic treatment is the procedure of choice for this condition, as it involves few complications and gives good results.

