Endoscopic transsphenoidal, transclival resection of an enterogenous cyst located ventral to the brainstem: Case report

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Enterogenous cysts are rare tumors found most commonly in the spine, but they have also been reported intracranially. Cases of enterogenous cysts located within the posterior fossa have traditionally been resected via difficult craniotomies that require prolonged retraction and risk injury to cranial nerves. We describe a method for resection of an enterogenous cyst located anterior to the brainstem via the endoscopic transsphenoidal approach. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old man was found to have a 2-cm mass anterior to the brainstem during routine screening after a trauma. The mass was located within the prepontine cistern, enhanced with gadolinium contrast, and showed no restrictive diffusion. This lesion was most consistent with an enterogenous cyst. A minimally invasive endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal transclival approach was performed for gross total resection of the tumor. CONCLUSION: We discuss the endoscopic transsphenoidal approach used for the resection of an enterogenous cyst in the posterior fossa anterior to the brainstem. The transsphenoidal approach provides direct access to lesions in this location using a minimally invasive technique while avoiding excessive brain retraction or injury to cranial nerves. In addition, we provide an updated review of the literature for enterogenous cysts located within the posterior fossa.