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J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2022; 83(S 02): e598-e602
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1735635
Original Article

A Surgical Perspective on the Association between Cystic Lesions of the Pineal Gland (Descartes' Seat of the Soul) and the Pituitary (the Master Gland)

Alaa S. Montaser
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Elise Y. Cho
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Michael P. Catalino
2   Department of Neurosurgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
,
Jack Hanna
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Timothy R. Smith
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Edward R. Laws
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Introduction Rene Descartes (1596–1650), the famous philosopher and scientist, identified the pineal gland as the only cerebral structure not represented bilaterally, the “seat of the soul”; and the source of rational thought. Pineal cysts (PCs) are often incidentally identified in MRI studies, with a reported prevalence of 1 to 4.3%. Rathke cleft cysts (RCCs) are pituitary lesions accounting for <1% of intracranial masses. There are scant data in the literature addressing any association between these two midline cystic lesions.

Methods We reviewed the medical records of patients presenting at our institution from April 2008 through February 2020, whose records indicated a diagnosis of RCC, and those whose records included pineal lesions. Our objective was to evaluate the association between these two midline lesions. Brain MRI studies were reviewed for the presence of PCs; only patients with PCs that measured ≥5 mm in diameter were included.

Results We identified 116 patients with RCCs, and 34 patients with PCs, treated from April 2008 through February 2020. Among the RCC group, 14/116 patients (12%) had PCs. Among the PC group, 3/34 patients (8.8%) had RCCs. Overall, 17 patients (11.3%) had concomitant RCCs and PCs. The mean maximal diameter of the PCs was 7.5 mm (range = 5–17 mm), whereas the mean maximal diameter of RCCs was 13 mm (range = 5–40 mm).

Conclusion The incidental diagnosis of cystic lesions of the pineal and pituitary gland is increasingly reported, primarily because of advances in current diagnostic modalities. Our data demonstrated no clear consensual association between pineal and pituitary cysts.

Keywords

Rathke cleft cyst - pineal cyst - pituitary lesions


Publication History

Received: 12 May 2021

Accepted: 11 August 2021

Article published online:
24 September 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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