[Colloid cysts of the 3d ventricle: an underestimated danger?]

Five cases of colloid cysts of the third ventricle discovered only at autopsy are presented. In 3 cases, colloid cysts were identified as the actual cause of death; clinical symptoms had been unspecific (mostly intermittent headaches) and of varying duration. The pathogenesis of "sudden death" as it may occur in some of these benign, dysembryogenic neoplasms, is still not fully understood. Neither the size of the cyst and the degree of ventricular dilatation, nor the duration of clinical symptoms, seem to provide reliable prognostic indicators of this potentially fatal complication. That an extended indication for surgery might be advisable even in cases of asymptomatic colloid cysts without hydrocephalus, as advocated by some authors, is considered in the discussion.