The significance of cyst remnants after endoscopic colloid cyst resection: a retrospective clinical case series.

BACKGROUND: Controversy surrounds the fate of cyst remnants after endoscopic colloid cyst resection.

OBJECTIVE: Our study evaluated recurrence rates in patients with total endoscopic resection of colloid cysts vs those with coagulated cyst remnants.

METHODS: Sixty-five consecutive patients and 67 procedures for endoscopic resection of colloid cysts from 1995 to 2011 were reviewed. Degree of resection was based on intraoperative assessment and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Recurrence rates were compared between patients with complete resection those with coagulated cyst remnants.

RESULTS: Data analysis was performed of 56 patients and 58 procedures, with no follow-up in 9 patients. All patients had MRI-defined complete resection. On intraoperative assessment, 9 procedures had coagulated remnants and 45 procedures had complete resection (4 data unknown). The overall recurrence rate was 6.89% (4/58), 33.3% (3/9) with cyst remnants, and 2.2% (1/45) with total resection (P = .0124). Maximum follow-up was 144 months (mean, 40.4 months). Mean follow-up was 66.0 months for cyst remnant cases, and 33.5 months for totally resected cases. There was no mortality or permanent morbidity. Transient morbidity included memory deficit (n = 2), aseptic meningitis (n = 1), and local wound infection (n = 1).

CONCLUSION: Endoscopic colloid cyst resection results in a low overall recurrence rate. Immediate postoperative MRI was insufficient for assessing degree of resection and was a poor predictor of recurrence. Ablation of cyst remnants rather than total removal is associated with a significantly higher rate of recurrence. The primary goal of endoscopic surgery should, therefore, be removal of all cyst contents and wall remnants.