Twenty one cases of epithelial
cysts in the central nervous system including six
colloid cysts of the third ventricle, eight
Rathke's cleft cysts in the sella, two enterogenous
cysts in the posterior fossa, two epithelial
cysts in the spinal canal and three neuroectodermal
cysts in the cerebrum were examined immunohistochemically for expression of intermediate filamentous
proteins-simple type, stratified type and skin type cytokeratins and GFAP.
Colloid cysts of the third ventricle.
Rathke's cleft cysts in the sella and epithelial
cysts in the spinal canal expressed complexed type cytokeratins while enterogenous
cysts and neuroectodermal
cysts showed only simple type cytokeratins. In addition, several
Rathke's cleft cysts demonstrated skin type differentiation and expressed GFAP in occasional lining cells. The characteristic composition and distribution of cytokeratins in various kinds of epithelial
cysts in the central nervous system are demonstrated and discussed with regards to their origins.