J Korean Endocr Soc.  2007 Feb;22(1):74-79. 10.3803/jkes.2007.22.1.74.

The Endocrinological Characteristics of Rathke's Cleft Cyst: Pathologically Confirmed in Seven Cases

• Yu SK
• Kim YK
• Kim HJ
• Kim DJ
• Chung YS
• Lee KW
• Kim SH
• Cho KG

• KMID: 2178246
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3803/jkes.2007.22.1.74

Abstract

Rathke's cleft cyst is a cystic sellar or suprasellar lesion thought to originate from the remnants of Rathke's pouch. It is characteristically lined by a single layer of ciliated cuboidal or columnar epithelium. Although small asymptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts have been reported at autopsy in 2~26% of normal pituitary glands, symptomatic cysts are rare. For patients with symptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts presentation with headache, pituitary dysfunction, and visual loss caused by compression of the optic chiasm in the event of suprasellar extension, is common. We report the endocrine characteristics of seven cases of patients with symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst diagnosed with pathologic confirmation.

Keyword

Endocrinological characteristics; Rathke's cleft cyst

MeSH Terms

Autopsy
Central Nervous System Cysts
Epithelium
Headache
Humans
Optic Chiasm
Pituitary Gland

Reference

1. Voelker JL, Campbell RL, Muller J. Clinical, radiographic and pathological features of symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst. J Neurosurg. 1991. 74:535–544.

2. el-Mahdy W, Powell M. Transsphenoidal management of 28 symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst, with special reference to visual and hormonal recovery. Neurosurgery. 1998. 42:7–17.

3. Yutaka H, Osamu T, Naoki M, Hirokatsu T, Motoyuki T, Yasuaki A, Masayuki S, Junkoh Y. Rathke's cleft cyst - MR and biochemical analysis of cyst content. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1999. 23:34–38.

4. Lach B, Scheithauer BW, Gregor A, Wick MR. Colloid cysts of the third ventricle: A comparative immunochemical study of neuraxis cysts and choroid plexus epithelium. J Neurosurg. 1993. 78:101–111.

5. Shuangshoti S, Netsky MG, Nashold BS Jr. Epithelial cysts related to the sella turcica: proposed origin from neuroepithelium. Arch Pathol. 1970. 90:444–450.

6. Naiken VS, Tellem M, Meranze DR. Pituitary cyst of Rathke's cleft origin with hypopituitarism. J Neurosurg. 1961. 18:703–706.

7. Keyaki A, Hirano A, Llena JF. Asymptomatic and symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst. Neurol Med Chir. 1989. 29:88–93.

8. Kim YH, Lee EJ, Kim SJ, Yoo JM, Baik SH, Choi DS. A case of symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst. J Korean Endocrinol. 1993. 8:94–99.

9. Cohan p, Foulad A, Esposito F, Martin NA, Kelly DF. Symptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts: a report of 24 cases. J Endocrinol Invest. 2004. 27:943–948.

10. Asari S, Ito T, Tsuchida S, Tsutsui T. MR appearance and cyst content of Rathke's cleft cysts. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1990. 14:532–535.

11. Mukherjee JJ, Islam N, Kaltsas G, Lowe DG, Charlesworth M, Afshar F, Trainer PJ, Monson JP, Besser GM, Grossman AB. Clinical, radiological and pathological features of patients with Rathke's cleft cyst: tumors that may recur. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997. 82:2357–2362.

12. Kim YK, Jung N, Park KW, Cho KG. Rathke's cleft cyst. Korean J Neurosurg. 1989. 18:477–481.

13. Steinberg GK, Koenig GH, Golden JB. Symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst. J Neurosurg. 1982. 56:290–295.

14. Kasperbauer JL, Orvidas LJ, Atkinson JL, Abbound CF. Rathke's cleft cyst: diagnostic and therapeutic considerations. Laryngoscope. 2002. 112:1836–1839.