[Benign hemorrhagic cyst of the pineal region. Treatment by stereotactic puncture. 4-year follow-up].

We report the case of a 27 year-old male patient in whom acute intracranial hypertension led to the diagnosis of a pineal hemorrhagic cyst as demonstrated by CT-scan and MRI examinations. Treatment consisted in stereotactic needle-aspiration following insertion of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. Pathological examination confirmed a benign glial lesion. The outcome was good as complete shrinkage of the cyst and complete relief of the signs and symptoms were achieved. These clinical and radiological results persisted over four years. Approximately 70 cases of symptomatic benign pineal cysts have been reported to-date. Surgical excision has been the method of choice. The present case and twelve other cases of stereotactic management of the condition in the literature suggest the interest of a mere stereotactic needle aspiration of these lesions.