A Rathke's cleft cyst is a benign growth found on the pituitary gland in the brain, specifically a fluid-filled cyst in the posterior portion of the anterior pituitary gland.[1][2] It occurs when the Rathke's pouch does not develop properly, and ranges in size from 2 to 40mm in diameter.[2]
Asymptomatic cysts are common, detected during autopsies of 2 to 26 percent of individuals who have died of unrelated causes. Females are twice as likely as males to have a cyst.[2] Symptomatic cysts can trigger visual disturbances, pituitary dysfunction and headaches.[1] Close to half of symptomatic individuals have a visual disturbance, with less common symptoms including diabetes insipidus, amenorrhoea, and galactorrhea.[2]
The treatment of choice for symptomatic cysts is drainage and taking a biopsy.[3][4] Radical excision is more dangerous, because it damages surrounding brain structures, and can cause more bleeding.
The first Rathke's cleft cyst was detected during an autopsy in 1913.[2]