Colloid cyst of the third ventricle: Imaging-pathologic correlation

Colloid cysts are relatively rare intracranial lesions located in the rostr al aspect of the third ventricle. They may produce acute hydrocephalus, bra in herniation, and lead to death. Although the clinical and imaging feature s of colloid cysts are well known, their etiology and the factors responsib le for their imaging features continue to be a subject of debate. We presen t the imaging-pathologic correlation of a patient with a colloid cyst as we ll as data supporting the fact that the presence of cholesterol is probably responsible for the MR imaging features exhibited by some colloid cysts.