Intracranial cystic lesions: a review

Cysts and cystic-appearing intracranial lesions are common findings with routine cerebral imaging examination. These lesions often represent a challenge in diagnosis. Intracranial cystic lesions have wide pathologic and imaging spectra, of which some require an aggressive and tailored treatment, whereas many others remain asymptomatic and do not require follow-up or intervention. Intracranial cysts can be divided in non-neoplastic lesions that are often of developmental origin but comprise as well infectious cysts and neoplastic lesions that include benign cysts associated with low-grade tumors and cysts as a component of higher grade neoplasms. Reviewed are the pathology, origin, radiologic appearance, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic aspects of intracranial cystic lesions.