[Epithelial cyst of the central nervous system. A rare abnormality]

A cystic process in the right frontal lobe of the brain in a man of 35 years of age, and an intramedullary cyst in the upper cervical spinal cord in a 29-year old woman, are described. In both cases, the wall of the cyst consisted of mucosal cells and cells having cilia pointing to the inside, located on a thin tissue layer, the structure of which resembled that of a meningioma. Central nervous cysts of this kind are usefully classified together with other, similar cysts (bronchogenic, ependymal and others) as "epithelial cysts". They must be differentiated from neoplastic tumours. Analysis of the cystic contents can prove helpful.