Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025

Microsurgical Clip Obliteration of Middle Cerebral Aneurysm Using Intraoperative Flow Assessment
Published on: September 25, 2009
Rathke's cleft cyst discovered with ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm: a case report
Nipun Lakshitha de Silva1,2, Hemantha Gunathilaka3, Saman Wadanamby3
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka. nipunlak@gmail.com.
Introduction:
Rathke's cleft cysts are thought to have a benign clinical outcome apart from associated hypopituitarism and visual defects. Synchronous central nervous system lesions, including pituitary adenoma and intracerebral aneurysms, are rarely reported. Diagnosis of Rathke's cleft cyst after presenting with a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a ruptured arterial aneurysm is reported only once before.
Case Presentation:
A 33-year-old Sri Lankan female presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a ruptured anterior communication artery aneurysm. She underwent pterional craniotomy and aneurysm clipping. She was found to have partial cranial diabetes insipidus and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. She had a cystic lesion occupying enlarged sella turcica with characteristics of a Rathke's cleft cyst. Subsequently, she underwent trans-sphenoidal excision of the sellar lesion. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of Rathke's cleft cyst.
Conclusions:
Rare co-occurrence of a Rathke's cleft cyst and an anterior communicating artery aneurysm would have been missed if subtle manifestations atypical for subarachnoid hemorrhage were not further pursued. This could have led to progressive visual deterioration and hypopituitarism.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The Arch of Aorta
Encircling the heart, the coronary arteries form a ring-like structure before...
Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Aneurysm III: Interprofessional Care
Aneurysm I: Introduction

