Intracranial neurenteric cyst in the cerebellopontine angle: a case report

Neurenteric cysts, rare benign tumors, are most often found in the cervical or thoracic spinal cord, with intracranial occurrences being extremely uncommon. This case report describes a 52-year-old female with a neurenteric cyst in the cerebellopontine angle, presenting with headaches and balance disturbances. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a cystic lesion causing hydrocephalus, and surgical removal was performed using a retrosigmoid approach. Histopathological analysis confirmed the cyst as Type A neurenteric, characterized by ciliated columnar epithelium and goblet cells. Postoperatively, the patient showed significant improvement with resolved symptoms. Neurenteric cysts can mimic other cystic lesions radiologically, complicating diagnosis. Management typically involves surgical excision, although complete removal is often challenging due to cyst adherence to nearby structures. Recurrence rates remain high, necessitating long-term follow-up. This case highlights the importance of differential diagnosis and careful surgical planning in managing neurenteric cysts to optimize patient outcomes.