article · Radiology Case Reports
Neuroglial cysts, also termed glioependymal cysts, are rare, benign congenital brain lesions originating from neuroectodermal tissue. Usually discovered incidentally, they are primarily detected through neuroimaging. A case involving a 40-year-old patient who presented with headaches revealed a large, well-defined right frontal intra-parenchymal cystic lesion using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The cyst exhibited homogeneous fluid signal intensity without diffusion restriction or contrast enhancement, causing only mild mass effect on the adjacent lateral ventricle. Following multidisciplinary review, the presence of characteristic radiological features and the absence of significant complications justified a conservative management strategy focused on clinical and radiological follow-up. Magnetic resonance imaging is essential for securing an accurate diagnosis and ruling out other conditions, enabling non-surgical management in mildly symptomatic patients.
Intracranial lesions can be difficult to distinguish from more serious brain conditions. Understanding the specific radiological indicators of benign neuroglial cysts prevents misdiagnosis and helps clinicians select appropriate care. By validating non-invasive imaging criteria, medical teams can safely recommend routine observation rather than invasive brain surgery for patients who present with mild symptoms and no major complications.
The abstract describes a clinical case report and does not indicate an application pathway.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Neuroglial cysts, also known as glioependymal cysts, are rare benign congenital intracranial lesions of neuroectodermal origin. They are usually incidental findings and are primarily diagnosed through neuroimaging. We report the case of a 40-year-old patient with no significant medical history who presented with headaches. Brain computed tomography (CT), followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealed a large, well-circumscribed right frontal intra-parenchymal cystic lesion. The lesion showed homogeneous fluid signal intensity, without diffusion restriction or postcontrast enhancement. A mild mass effect was observed on the frontal horn of the ipsilateral lateral ventricle. Based on typical radiological features suggestive of a neuroglial cyst and the absence of complications or significant mass effect, a conservative management approach with clinical and radiological follow-up was adopted after multidisciplinary discussion. Intracerebral neuroglial cysts are rare entities. MRI plays a central role in their diagnosis and in excluding differential diagnoses. Conservative management may be appropriate in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients without significant mass effect or complications.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2026.07.026
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
