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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
07:43
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst with cavernous sinus syndrome
Yoshiteru Miyajima1, Hidehiro Oka, Satoshi Utsuki
1Department of Neurosurgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. y_miyajima05@ybb.ne.jp
Neurologia Medico-Chirurgica
|December 27, 2007
Summary
Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC) can present as complete cavernous sinus syndrome, a rare manifestation. This case highlights an unusual presentation of RCC, emphasizing its potential to cause significant neurological symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC) is a congenital anomaly originating from remnants of the Rathke's pouch.
- Typically, RCCs are asymptomatic or present with headaches, visual disturbances, or pituitary dysfunction due to mass effect.
Observation:
- An 88-year-old male presented with complete cavernous sinus syndrome without typical symptoms like headache or endocrinopathy.
- Neuroimaging demonstrated an intrasellar cystic lesion with lateral extension.
Findings:
- Surgical transsphenoidal removal of the lesion was performed.
- Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of Rathke's cleft cyst, revealing squamous and cuboidal epithelium.
Implications:
- This case demonstrates an atypical presentation of Rathke's cleft cyst.
- It underscores the importance of considering RCC in the differential diagnosis of cavernous sinus syndrome, even in the absence of classic symptoms.
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