Sudden and unexpected death in childhood due to a colloid cyst of the third ventricle

A nine-year-old boy died suddenly and unexpectedly following a two day history of intermittent headaches. At autopsy a colloid cyst of the third ventricle was found that had obstructed the foramen of Monro and caused hydrocephalus with prominent cerebral edema. Colloid cysts are rare entities in childhood and are not usually included in the differential diagnosis of pediatric sudden death. This report describes the clinicopathological features of such a case.