1. Learn clinical features of rathke’s cleft cyst, demographics and significance of accurate diagnosis in its further management. 2. Illustrate relevant anatomy and embryology. 3. Discuss Imaging features with special emphasis on MRI. 4. Appreciate variations in T1,T2, FLAIR & DWI characteristics depending on contents of the cyst. Correlate clinical features with cyst size,shape, optic chiasma/pituitary compression etc. 5. Imaging diagnosis and differentiation from other cystic sellar/parasellar lesions

Rathke’s cleft cyst is a non­neoplastic congenital cyst arising from the embryological remnants of Rathke’s cleft. They are lined by a single layer epithelium derived from the Rathke's pouch and typically located in intrasellar location between anterior and posterior lobes of pituitary gland. These are rare accounting for less than 1% of brain tumors. These cysts are usually symptomless and detected on neuroimaging incidentally. The larger cysts cause symptoms due to pressure effects on the adjacent structures such as optic chiasma and pituitary. The common...

This is usually an intrasellar cystic lesion having a thin uniform wall which typically doesn't enhance or calcify. Sellar bony remodelling may occur. Most symptomatic cysts have suprasellar/parasellar extension. MR signal patterns vary depending on the contents of cysts such as mucin, cholesterol, proteineous fluid etc. Sometimes an intracystic nodule is present, which is considered pathognomonic. These nodules are best seen on T2 weighted MRI images as lower signal intensity lesions than rest of the cyst. They are thought to be composed of protenaceous debris...

The surgical approach to Rathke's cleft cysts are different from other sellar/parasellar tumors such as pituitary adenomas and craniopahryngiomas. Craniopharyngiomas usually containcalcifications and have some form of contrast enhancement which are not seen with Rathke's cysts. Compressed pituitary gland may be identified with Rathke's cleft cysts and craniophayngiomas which not the case with pituitay adeomas. MR is the preferred modality in imaging of sellar/parasellar tumors in view of its multiplanar capability and better visualization of sellar/parasellar anatomy. Familiarity with the imaging spectrum and clinical correlation...

1.Omer Doron, Zeev Feldman, Jacob Zauberman. (2016) MRI features have a role in pre-surgical planning of colloid cyst removal. Acta Neurochirurgica 158:4, 671-676. 2.Edward Yang, Susan N. Chi, Victoria Michelle Silvera. 2016. Pineal Region Tumors. In Handbook of Neuro-Oncology Neuroimaging, 585-602. 3.S.B. Omay, K.K. Atsina, J.M. Baehring. 2016. Nonneoplastic Mass Lesions of the Central Nervous System. In Handbook of Neuro-Oncology Neuroimaging, 653-665. 4.Shun-yuan Guo, Xue-qiang Cai, Jie Ma, Wei-yu Wang, Gang Lu. (2015) Diagnosis of concomitant pituitary adenoma and Rathke's cleft cyst with magnetic resonance...