BENIGN PINEAL HEMORRHAGIC CYST - TREATMEN T BY STEREOTAXIC ASPIRATION- 4 YEAR FOLLOW-UP

We report the case of a 27 year-old male patient in whom acute intracr anial hypertension led to the diagnosis of a pineal hemorrhagic cyst a s demonstrated by CT-scan and MRI examinations. Treatment consisted in stereotactic needle-aspiration following insertion of a ventriculo-pe ritoneal shunt. Pathological examination confirmed a benign glial lesi on. The outcome was good as complete shrinkage of the cyst and complet e relief of the signs and symptoms were achieved. These clinical and r adiological results persisted over four years. Approximately 70 cases of symptomatic benign pineal cysts have been reported to-date. Surgica l excision has been the method of choice. The present case and twelve other cases of stereotactic management of the condition in the literat ure suggest the interest of a mere stereotactic needle aspiration of t hese lesions.