Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Endoscopic Approach for Colloid Cyst Resection
Published on: May 23, 2025
Unexpected death from a colloid cyst
Christian Hohenstein1, Steffen Herdtle
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany. christian.hohenstein@med.uni-jena.de
Background:
Colloid cysts are usually benign brain tumors, which rarely cause acute neurological deterioration with sudden death due to an acute increase of intracranial pressure. So far, the final pathophysiology and clinical signs of impending death are unclear in this context.
Aim:
We present a case of an adolescent who presented with symptoms similar to gastroenteritis.
Results:
He unexpectedly developed a generalized seizure, acute pulmonary edema and life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmia.
Conclusion:
Subtle distinctions between symptoms due to intracranial hypertension, which typically cause headache and vomiting, and true gastroenteritis are discussed as well as the pathophysiology of neurogenic pulmonary edema and the origin of cerebral-triggered cardiac dysrhythmias.
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