TWO UNCOMMON CASES OF COLLOID CYST OF THE THIRD VENTRICLE

Colloid cysts of the third ventricle of brain comprise 1-2% of all intracranial tumonrs [1]. They are increasingly being discovered incidentally, often in patients complaining of headache [2]. We came across two such cases in a large tertiary care service hospital in the past 20 years. Second case also had associated visual disturbances and seizures. Both met with fatal outcome. Autopsy revealed presence of colloid cyst in the third ventricle in both cases. It is proposed that to avoid fatal outcome in a patient reporting with frequent attacks of headache, the presence of colloid cyst in the third ventricle should be considered in differential diagnosis. In such cases, CT scan or MRI study of brain becomes an essential diagnostic tool.