[Endoscopic treatment of suprasellar arachnoid cysts].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical manifestation and neuroendoscopic techniques in treatment of suprasellar arachnoid cysts. METHODS: Between October 2000 and June 2006, 42 patients (22 male and 20 female with a mean age of 10.4 years) with suprasellar arachnoid cysts were treated by endoscopy. All patients presented with hydrocephalus in CT and MRI scanning before operation. Endoscopic ventriculocystostomy was performed in 39 patients and cystocisternostomy was also performed in the other 3 patients. The mean duration of follow-up was 20.8 months. RESULTS: There was no surgery-related death and only two patients (4.8%) had postoperative complications. 25 cases (59.5%) recovered completely and 14 cases (33.3%) improved clinically. Ventriculoperitoneal shunting was performed in 3 patients because of recurrent hydrocephalus. Postoperative CT or/and MRI showed cyst volume decreased in all cases. Cine-MR imaging was performed in 21 patients that confirmed CSF could flow through all fenestration sites and aqueduct fluently. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic ventriculocystostomy (ventriculocystocisternostomy) is an effective and safe method in the treatment of suprasellar arachnoid cysts.