Two Cases of Intracranial Enterogenous Cysts Ventral to the Brainstem

Enterogenous cysts (ECs) of the central nervous system are considered as unusual epithelial cystic lesions. They usually occur within the spinal canal. Intracranial ECs are uncommon. Neuroimaging is the most important preoperative diagnostic measure for this kind of lesions. They appear as a cystic mass of low intensity on T1-weighted images and high intensity on T2-weighted images on magnetic resonance imaging. We present 2 new cases of ECs ventral to the brainstem; both of them presented as high-intensity lesions on T1-weighted and T2-weighted images on magnetic resonance imaging. The location is unusual and the neuroimaging is different from most cases published in the past and cited in the bibliography. The clinical, radiologic, histopathologic, and surgical aspects of the 2 lesions are detailed. A discussion of a series of intracranial ECs’ characteristics, in particular the abnormal neuroimaging and possible mechanism of our 2 cases, are also presented to complete the neuroimaging data and clarify the diagnosis and management of these lesions.