The Long-term Follow-up Result of Rathke's Cleft Cysts

Abstract

The long-term outcome of the treatment of Rathke's cleft cysts is reviewed. Fifty-one consecutive patients with Rathke's cleft cysts were treated in our department since the advent of computed tomography, including 16 symptomatic cases and 35 asymptomatic cases diagnosed radiographically. The 16 symptomatic cases underwent partial resection of the cyst wall through a transsphenoidal approach along with aspiration of cystic contents; only 3 of these cysts recurred. Of these 3 recurring cases, 2 patients presented with symptomatic recurrence and were successfully treated with additional surgery and radiation therapy. No cystic enlargement was noted for the 35 asymptomatic patients over 44 months of follow-up. These results suggest that the choice of treatment for symptomatic cysts would be a combination of partial resection of the cyst wall and aspiration of the cystic contents, while patients with asymptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts should be followed with radiographic observation.