Surgical Management and Long-Term Results of Rathke’s Cleft Cyst

• DOI: 10.3340/jkns.2022.0143
• Publication Date: 2022-10-24T05:36:42Z
• Authors: Seung-Ho Seo; Kihwan Hwang; So Young Ji; Jung Ho Han; Chae-Yong Kim
• Keywords: Transsphenoidal surgery; Craniopharyngioma

Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs) are nonneoplastic cysts. Most of them asymptomatic and stable; when symptomatic, RCCs surgically fenestrated drained. However, the outcomes remain unclear. The authors evaluated RCC decompression.Between 2004 2019, 32 were decompressed in a single tertiary institution. clinical characteristics, intraoperative findings, postoperative complications, endocrinological surgical retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent sequential imaging at least twice 12 months after surgery included analysis.Patients' mean age was 40.8±14.9 years, 62.5% women. follow-up duration 62.3±48.6 months. In 21 patients (65.6%), no residual identified on magnetic resonance imaging. Of 18 with preoperative visual field defects, 17 (94.4%) experienced improvement. Postoperative complications deterioration 11 (34.4%), permanent diabetes insipidus infection four (12.5%), intrasellar hemorrhage three (9.4%), cerebrospinal fluid leak two (6.3%). Follow-up images revealed cyst recurrence nine (28.1%), an average 20.4 surgery; patients, resection repeated. Multivariable analysis that only independent factor associated (p=0.028; hazard ratio, 6.800).Our findings showed although fenestration for decompression performed to preserve pituitary function, more dysfunction occurred than expected. Besides, hormonal itself acted as risk recurrence. conclusion, should be careful.