Pediatric Rathke Cleft Cyst

  • Etiology: Non-neonplastic cyst arising from remnants of squamous epithelium of Rathke’s cleft or pars intermedia of adenohypophysis
  • Imaging MR:
    — Usually located between pars anterior and pars posterior
    — Intra or suprasellar cyst without calcification or enhancement
    — Variable cyst content – mucous (T1 bright), serous (T1 dark) and possible blood products (T2 dark)
    — Usually less than 3 millimeters in diameter
    — With or without small intracystic nodules
  • DDX: Pituitary microadenoma
  • Complications:
  • Treatment: None
  • Clinical: Normal variant

Radiology Cases of Rathke Cleft Cyst

MRI of Rathke cleft cyst
Sagittal T1 MRI with contrast of the brain shows an oval non-enhancing low signal intensity lesion located between the anterior and posterior aspects of the pituitary gland.
MRI of Rathke cleft cyst
Sagittal T1 MRI with contrast of the sella shows an oval non-enhancing lesion located between the anterior and posterior aspects of the pituitary gland.