When Cysts Seize the Brain: A Rare Presentation of Colloid Cyst with Seizure

Abstract

Colloid cysts are rare intracranial tumors, accounting for approximately 2% of all primary brain tumors. Although histologically benign and often asymptomatic, they can occasionally lead to abrupt neurological deterioration and sudden death. We present the case of a 26-year-old man with a previously diagnosed colloid cyst who arrived at the emergency department unconscious after a night of severe headache and repeated vomiting. Despite prompt diagnosis and neurosurgical intervention, the patient’s condition rapidly declined, and he passed away the following day. This case highlights the potentially fatal outcomes associated with colloid cysts, despite their benign histological characteristics. It emphasizes the urgent need for clearer, evidence-based guidelines to inform management decisions. Developing reliable risk stratification tools may help prevent similar catastrophic outcomes.