Colloid Brain Cyst

Excerpt

The colloid cyst is a benign growth usually located in the third ventricle and at or near the foramen of Monro, which is at the anterior aspect of the brain's third ventricle. The colloid cyst is an epithelial-lined cyst filled with gelatinous material. The gelatinous material commonly contains mucin, old blood, cholesterol, and ions (See Image. Colloid Cyst, Head Computed Tomography). Colloid cysts can cause various symptoms, including headaches, diplopia, memory issues, and vertigo. Rarely, colloid cysts have been cited as a cause of sudden death. When colloid cysts are symptomatic, they most commonly cause headaches, nausea, and vomiting secondary to obstructive hydrocephalus. The obstructive hydrocephalus is precipitated by blocking the cerebrospinal fluid egress from the lateral ventricles at the foramen of Monro, which connects the lateral and third ventricles.