Rathke's cleft cyst--an uncommon cause of headache in a young boy.

ABSTRACT

Developmental disorders of the pituitary can present like a mass lesion in the region of the pituitary and produce pressure effects. Rathke's cleft cyst is one such developmental disorder of the pituitary which presents in early life producing pressure effects namely visual disturbances due to its proximity to optic chiasma, headache, and hormonal imbalance due to pituitary malfunction. In this case report a 19 years boy presented with symptoms of headache and gradual loss of vision over one year period. Neuro-imaging study demonstrated a cystic lesion in the region of the pituitary. Trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy was performed. Histopathology of the biopsied material was suggestive of Rathke's cleft cyst. Following surgery the boy had a good visual recovery. So early diagnosis and removal of a Rathke's cleft cyst has a good prognosis as compared to a craniopharyngioma which is a very close differential diagnosis.