Psychiatric presentation of third ventricular colloid cyst. A case report

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuropsychiatry
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Colloid cysts are benign tumors typically found in the third ventricle.
• Third ventricle tumors can cause obstructive hydrocephalus and neurological deficits.
• Psychiatric manifestations associated with brain lesions are increasingly recognized.

Observation:

• A patient presented with delusional depressive syndrome, clear consciousness, and minimal cognitive impairment.
• Neuroimaging revealed a colloid cyst of the third ventricle.
• The patient's presentation was unusual given the cyst's location and the absence of severe cognitive decline.

Findings:

• The colloid cyst likely caused intermittent obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow.
• This obstruction may have led to diencephalic dysfunction and subsequent hydrocephalus.
• The diencephalic dysfunction is hypothesized to be the underlying cause of the psychotic symptoms.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering structural brain lesions in patients with unexplained psychiatric symptoms.
• Early diagnosis and surgical management of colloid cysts can prevent irreversible neurological and psychiatric damage.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms linking ventricular pathology to psychiatric disorders.