%0 Journal Article
%T Colloid cyst of the third ventricle, hypothalamus, and heart: a dangerous link for sudden death
%A Emanuela Turillazzi
%A Stefania Bello
%A Margherita Neri
%A Irene Riezzo
%A Vittorio Fineschi
%J Diagnostic Pathology
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1746-1596-7-144
%X The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/4915842848034158 webciteColloid cysts are rare congenital, intracranial neoplasms, commonly located in the third ventricle, accounting for 0.2-2% of all intracranial and approximately for 15¨C20% of intraventricular neoplasms, respectively. Colloid cysts are slow growing and the initial onset of symptoms is usually between 20 and 50 years of age, although they have been reported also in younger patients [1]. Diagnosis during childhood is unusual and only 1-2% of all reported cases occurred during the patientsĄŻ first decade [2].Although colloid cysts usually represent histopathologically benign neoplasms, they can result in sudden, unexpected and potentially lethal complications. The mechanism(s) of death is still a controversial subject and several mechanisms have been postulated to explain the sudden onset of severe symptoms and of fatal rapid deterioration in patients with colloid cysts [3].Here we present the death of a previously healthy young boy harboring a colloid cyst of the third ventricle. We investigated the possible mechanism of death through a careful histological examination of heart specimens in addition to gross and histological examination of the brain.A 10 year ¨C old boy at 8.00 p.m. complained a severe headache accompanied by vomiting attacks. An emergency physician visited him and advised him to rest for some hours. He lost consciousness in the early morning and was transported to the local hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The medical history taken from the parents showed no significant signs and symptoms except for repeated mild attacks of leg weakness. Familial history was negative both for cardiovascular and neurological diseases and sudden death.At autopsy, gross examination showed an enlarged, edematous, symmetrical brain weighing 1650g. Marked brain swelling with gyral flattening, and sulcal narrowing were also detected.
%K Colloid cyst of the third ventricle
%K Hypothalamus stimulation
%K Contraction band necrosis
%K Sudden death
%U http://www.diagnosticpathology.org/content/7/1/144