Nonneoplastic cyst arising from remnants of embryonic Rathke cleft
Benign, sellar region endodermal cyst lined by ciliated, mucus-producing epithelium
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Agarwalla PK et al: Stereotactic radiation as salvage therapy for recurrent Rathke cleft cysts. Neurosurgery. ePub, 2020
Azuma M et al: Usefulness of contrast-enhanced 3D-FLAIR MR imaging for differentiating Rathke cleft cyst from cystic craniopharyngioma. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 41(1):106-10, 2020
Ijare OB et al: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy characterization of Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs): Relevance to the differential diagnosis of pituitary adenomas and RCCs. Cancers (Basel). 12(2), 2020
Jung HN et al: Rathke cleft cysts with apoplexy-like symptoms: Clinicoradiologic comparisons with pituitary adenomas with apoplexy. World Neurosurg. ePub, 2020
Barkhoudarian G et al: Rathke's cleft cysts: a 6-year experience of surgery vs. observation with comparative volumetric analysis. Pituitary. 22(4):362-71, 2019
Mahdi ES et al: Prevalence of pituitary cysts in children using modern magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Pediatr Radiol. 49(13):1781-7, 2019
Doknic M et al: Single center study of 53 consecutive patients with pituitary stalk lesions. Pituitary. 21(6):605-14, 2018
Shepard MJ et al: Presentation and outcomes in surgically and conservatively managed pediatric Rathke cleft cysts. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 21(3):308-14, 2018
Tang C et al: The coexistence of growth hormone-producing pituitary adenoma and Rathke cleft cyst: How can we diagnosis preoperation? J Craniofac Surg. 29(7):1887-9, 2018
Alomari AK et al: Craniopharyngioma arising in a Rathke's cleft cyst: case report. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 15(3):250-4, 2015
Chotai S et al: Characteristics of Rathke's cleft cyst based on cyst location with a primary focus on recurrence after resection. J Neurosurg. 1-10, 2015
Esteves C et al: Pituitary incidentalomas: analysis of a neuroradiological cohort. Pituitary. ePub, 2015
Han SJ et al: Rathke's cleft cysts: review of natural history and surgical outcomes. J Neurooncol. 117(2):197-203, 2014
Ogawa Y et al: Spontaneous alteration from Rathke's cleft cyst to craniopharyngioma--possible involvement of transformation between these pathologies. Endocr Pathol. 25(4):422-6, 2014
Oh YJ et al: Clinical and radiological findings of incidental Rathke's cleft cysts in children and adolescents. Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 19(1):20-6, 2014
Kitajima M et al: Differentiation of common large sellar-suprasellar masses effect of artificial neural network on radiologists' diagnosis performance. Acad Radiol. 16(3):313-20, 2009
Binning MJ et al: Hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic Rathke cleft cysts mimicking pituitary apoplexy. J Neurosurg. 108(1):3-8, 2008
Glezer A et al: Rare sellar lesions. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 37(1):195-211, x, 2008
Rao VJ et al: Imaging characteristics of common suprasellar lesions with emphasis on MRI findings. Clin Radiol. 63(8):939-47, 2008
Kunii N et al: Rathke's cleft cysts: differentiation from other cystic lesions in the pituitary fossa by use of single-shot fast spin-echo diffusion-weighted MR imaging. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 149(8):759-69; discussion 769, 2007
Kim JE et al: Surgical treatment of symptomatic Rathke cleft cysts: clinical features and results with special attention to recurrence. J Neurosurg. 100(1):33-40, 2004
Byun WM et al: MR imaging findings of Rathke's cleft cysts: significance of intracystic nodules. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 21(3):485-8, 2000
Naylor MF et al: Rathke cleft cyst: CT, MR, and pathology of 23 cases. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 19(6):853-9, 1995
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KEY FACTS
Terminology
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TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Rathke cleft cyst (RCC)
Definitions
Nonneoplastic cyst arising from remnants of embryonic Rathke cleft
Benign, sellar region endodermal cyst lined by ciliated, mucus-producing epithelium
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Agarwalla PK et al: Stereotactic radiation as salvage therapy for recurrent Rathke cleft cysts. Neurosurgery. ePub, 2020
Azuma M et al: Usefulness of contrast-enhanced 3D-FLAIR MR imaging for differentiating Rathke cleft cyst from cystic craniopharyngioma. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 41(1):106-10, 2020
Ijare OB et al: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy characterization of Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs): Relevance to the differential diagnosis of pituitary adenomas and RCCs. Cancers (Basel). 12(2), 2020
Jung HN et al: Rathke cleft cysts with apoplexy-like symptoms: Clinicoradiologic comparisons with pituitary adenomas with apoplexy. World Neurosurg. ePub, 2020
Barkhoudarian G et al: Rathke's cleft cysts: a 6-year experience of surgery vs. observation with comparative volumetric analysis. Pituitary. 22(4):362-71, 2019
Mahdi ES et al: Prevalence of pituitary cysts in children using modern magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Pediatr Radiol. 49(13):1781-7, 2019
Doknic M et al: Single center study of 53 consecutive patients with pituitary stalk lesions. Pituitary. 21(6):605-14, 2018
Shepard MJ et al: Presentation and outcomes in surgically and conservatively managed pediatric Rathke cleft cysts. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 21(3):308-14, 2018
Tang C et al: The coexistence of growth hormone-producing pituitary adenoma and Rathke cleft cyst: How can we diagnosis preoperation? J Craniofac Surg. 29(7):1887-9, 2018
Alomari AK et al: Craniopharyngioma arising in a Rathke's cleft cyst: case report. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 15(3):250-4, 2015
Chotai S et al: Characteristics of Rathke's cleft cyst based on cyst location with a primary focus on recurrence after resection. J Neurosurg. 1-10, 2015
Esteves C et al: Pituitary incidentalomas: analysis of a neuroradiological cohort. Pituitary. ePub, 2015
Han SJ et al: Rathke's cleft cysts: review of natural history and surgical outcomes. J Neurooncol. 117(2):197-203, 2014
Ogawa Y et al: Spontaneous alteration from Rathke's cleft cyst to craniopharyngioma--possible involvement of transformation between these pathologies. Endocr Pathol. 25(4):422-6, 2014
Oh YJ et al: Clinical and radiological findings of incidental Rathke's cleft cysts in children and adolescents. Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 19(1):20-6, 2014
Kitajima M et al: Differentiation of common large sellar-suprasellar masses effect of artificial neural network on radiologists' diagnosis performance. Acad Radiol. 16(3):313-20, 2009
Binning MJ et al: Hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic Rathke cleft cysts mimicking pituitary apoplexy. J Neurosurg. 108(1):3-8, 2008
Glezer A et al: Rare sellar lesions. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 37(1):195-211, x, 2008
Rao VJ et al: Imaging characteristics of common suprasellar lesions with emphasis on MRI findings. Clin Radiol. 63(8):939-47, 2008
Kunii N et al: Rathke's cleft cysts: differentiation from other cystic lesions in the pituitary fossa by use of single-shot fast spin-echo diffusion-weighted MR imaging. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 149(8):759-69; discussion 769, 2007
Kim JE et al: Surgical treatment of symptomatic Rathke cleft cysts: clinical features and results with special attention to recurrence. J Neurosurg. 100(1):33-40, 2004
Byun WM et al: MR imaging findings of Rathke's cleft cysts: significance of intracystic nodules. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 21(3):485-8, 2000
Naylor MF et al: Rathke cleft cyst: CT, MR, and pathology of 23 cases. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 19(6):853-9, 1995
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