Coloid cysts: endoscopic VS. microsurgical treatment

Twenty patients with colloid cysts of the third ventricle had operative procedures for excision in the period from October 1995 to October 2000 [5 years]. Ten cases had microneurosurgical excision [7 cases via transcallosal-transventricular approach and 3 cases via transcortical-transventricular approach]. The other ten [10] patients had transcortical endoscopic excision. There was 12 men and 8 women, and the age of patients ranged from 12-60 years [mean 38.5]. The most common clinical symptoms of both groups included headache [in all patients], diplopia, syncope, ataxia, vertigo, memory deficits and seizure. Papilloedema was present in the majority of cases [70%]. All survived patients had follow-up ranged from 6 months to 36 months [mean 22.5 months]. The results of this study revealed that endoscopic removal of colloid cyst is promising technique that saves the operative and recovery time and decreases the risks of complications