Empty sella secondary to suprasellar colloid cyst of foregut (respiratory) origin

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Abstract
An enlarged sella turcica was discovered in a 40 yr old man who had bitemporal headaches. A pneumoencephalograph revealed a 3rd ventricular cyst, dilated lateral ventricles and an empty sella. The colloid cyst was lined by foregut epithelium, probably originating in the respiratory tract, and dense connective tissue. This case is the 1st instance of an empty sella associated with a colloid cyst of the 3rd ventricle. Enlargement of the mass in the 3rd ventricle caused increased pulsation pressure of the CSF, and in the presence of an incompetent diaphragma sellae the subarachnoid space expanded into the sella. The origin of 3rd ventricle cysts is reconsidered. Suprasellar colloid cysts may arise from endoderm, ectoderm, neuroepithelium, or a combination of these epithelia.