Endoscopic surgical excision of third ventricular colloid cyst in upper Egypt: results of 2 years of practice

Background Colloid cyst is a benign rare lesion that originates in the third ventricle. Headache, vomiting, visual deterioration, and memory deficits are the most common presenting symptoms. Endoscopic excision of colloid cyst is one of the recent advances in the field of minimally invasive neurosurgery. Aim The aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of the endoscope for excision of the colloid cyst. Patients and methods In this study, we review our experience in 14 patients who presented to us in two University Hospitals in south of Egypt in 2 years (2016 and 2017). The authors used LOTTA ventriculoscope with HOPKINS wide-angle straightforward telescope 6°. Results Of fourteen patients, 13 (92.9%) improved completely postoperatively, and only one (7.1%) patient who had visual deterioration did not improve after surgery. Total to near-total excision was done in 11 (78.6%) patients, and evacuation of the cyst with partial excision was done in three (21.4%) patients. Conclusion Endoscopic excision of third ventricular colloid cyst is a safe minimally invasive approach that can be used in patients who present with colloid cyst without the need to do cerebrospinal fluid diversion (shunt).