Intracranial colloid cyst in a young female with neurofibromatosis type 1: A case report

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION@#Intracranial colloid cysts are rare benign tumors located in the region around the foramen of Monro or around the third ventricle with an annual incidence of 3 of 1,000,000. The common clinical picture is a progressive headache due to the rapid enlargement of the cyst, resulting in hydrocephalus as it obstructs the cerebrospinal flow; brain herniation may ensue, leading to death. @*OBJECTIVES@#The objectives of this report are to (1) present a case of intracranial colloid cyst in a young female with neurofibromatosis type 1, (2) emphasize the importance of early diagnosis by clinical signs and symptoms and (3) highlight the importance of neuroimaging in arriving at a neurologic diagnosis.@*CASE REPORT@#A nineteen-year-old female was seen due to a three-month history of progressive headache, with associated signs of increased intracranial pressure and with a medical history of neurofibromatosis type 1, inherited from her mother. Neurologic findings revealed papilledema and 6th cranial nerve palsy. By radiographic imaging with clinical correlation, patient was diagnosed with a colloid cyst obstructing the foramen of Monro. Surgical intervention was done and patient improved without complications. @*DISCUSSION@#Neurofibromatosis is a hereditary neurocutaneous syndrome in which the skin, nervous system, bones, endocrine glands and sometimes other organs are the sites of a variety of congenital abnormalities, often taking the form of benign tumors. Intracranial colloid cyst was seen in this case report. Colloid cysts have an incidence of 0.5 – 1% of all primary brain tumors and are the most common masses in the third ventricle and in the Foramen of Monro. They cause obstruction of CSF flow, resulting in hydrocephalus. No published case of neurofibromatosis type 1 patients with a symptomatic intracranial colloid cyst has been reported yet. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for colloid cyst.