{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]],"date-time":"2026-09-21T17:34:37Z","timestamp":1790012077492,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,1]],"date-time":"2024-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1704067200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diagnostics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The colloid cyst is a non-malignant tumor growth made of a gelatinous material covered by a membrane of epithelial tissue. It is usually located posterior to the foramen of Monro, in the anterior aspect of the third ventricle of the brain. Due to its location, it can cause obstructive hydrocephalus, increased intracranial pressure, and sudden cardiac death, catecholamine-mediated, through hypothalamus compression. All the mechanisms are still controversial, but the role of catecholamine has been confirmed with histological findings that highlighted myocardial injury (coagulative myocytolysis and contraction band necrosis, CBN). This study presents a case of sudden death in a previously healthy 22-year-old male due to a colloid cyst of the third ventricle. A complete autopsy was performed, highlighting in the brain an abundant quantity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and a 2 cm pale grayish-green rounded cyst formation partially filling and distending the third ventricle. The diagnosis was confirmed through immunohistochemical investigation: positivity for Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and CK7 expression. In cases such as the one reported here, a combined approach of autopsy, histology, and immunohistochemistry is mandatory in order to identify the neoformation\u2019s location and morpho-structural characteristics for a correct differential diagnosis, as well as to identify the cause of death.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics14010100","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,1]],"date-time":"2024-01-01T13:02:58Z","timestamp":1704114178000},"page":"100","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Diagnostic Methods in Forensic Pathology: Autoptic Findings and Immunohistochemical Study in Cases of Sudden Death Due to a Colloid Cyst of the Third Ventricle"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Angelo","family":"Montana","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Universit\u00e0 Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francesco Paolo","family":"Busard\u00f2","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Universit\u00e0 Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7003-1230","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giovanni","family":"Tossetta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Universit\u00e0 Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5198-8387","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gaia","family":"Goteri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Universit\u00e0 Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pasqualina","family":"Castaldo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Universit\u00e0 Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giuseppe","family":"Basile","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Trauma Unit and Emergency Department, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopedics Institute, 20161 Milano, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giulia","family":"Bambagiotti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Universit\u00e0 Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"e3417","article-title":"Third Ventricular Tumors: A Comprehensive Literature Review","volume":"10","author":"Ahmed","year":"2018","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"330","DOI":"10.23736\/S0390-5616.16.03831-5","article-title":"Out-of-third ventricle colloid cysts: Review of the literature on pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of an uncommon condition, with a focus on headache","volume":"63","author":"Barbagallo","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Neurosurg. Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1077","DOI":"10.1097\/00006123-200005000-00010","article-title":"A theory on the natural history of colloid cysts of the third ventricle","volume":"46","author":"Pollock","year":"2000","journal-title":"Neurosurgery"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"769","DOI":"10.1093\/jat\/bkaa103","article-title":"A comprehensive HPLC\u2013MS-MS screening method for 77 new psychoactive substances, 24 classic drugs and 18 related metabolites in blood, urine and oral fluid","volume":"44","author":"Mannocchi","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Anal. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"260","DOI":"10.1007\/s004140050082","article-title":"Colloid cysts of the third ventricle with fatal outcome: A report of two cases and review of the literature","volume":"110","author":"Winkler","year":"1997","journal-title":"Int. J. Legal Med."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"401","DOI":"10.2176\/nmc.46.401","article-title":"Colloid (enterogenous) cyst in the frontal lobe","volume":"46","author":"Tanei","year":"2006","journal-title":"Neurol. Med. Chir."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1186\/1477-7819-4-47","article-title":"Unexpected death after headache due to a colloid cyst of the third ventricle","volume":"4","author":"Shaktawat","year":"2006","journal-title":"World J. Surg. Oncol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"519","DOI":"10.3109\/02688699108998483","article-title":"An extraventricular colloid cyst: Case report","volume":"5","author":"Campbell","year":"1991","journal-title":"Br. J. Neurosurg."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"128","DOI":"10.3171\/jns.1999.91.1.0128","article-title":"Rare occurrence of intracerebellar colloid cyst. Case report","volume":"91","author":"Weis","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Neurosurg."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1167","DOI":"10.1007\/s007010070048","article-title":"Neuroepithelial (colloid) cyst of the parietal convexity","volume":"142","author":"Efkan","year":"2000","journal-title":"Acta Neurochir."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.3171\/jns.2001.94.1.0118","article-title":"Intrapontomesencephalic colloid cyst: An unusual location. Case report","volume":"94","author":"Inci","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Neurosurg."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"939","DOI":"10.1227\/00006123-198906000-00029","article-title":"Colloid cyst of the fourth ventricle: Diagnostic problems and pathogenic considerations","volume":"24","author":"Jan","year":"1989","journal-title":"Neurosurgery"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114","DOI":"10.1177\/002580248302300211","article-title":"Sudden death in an 11-year-old boy due to rupture of a colloid cyst of the third ventricle following \u2018disco-dancing\u2019","volume":"23","author":"Torrey","year":"1983","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Law"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"286","DOI":"10.1016\/S0002-9394(01)00933-3","article-title":"Acute asymmetric upper nasal quandrantanopsia caused by a chiasmal colloid cyst in a patient with multiple sclerosis and bilateral retrobulbar neuritis","volume":"132","author":"Killer","year":"2001","journal-title":"Am. J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clineuro.2004.09.012","article-title":"Intraventricular colloid cyst, hydrocephalus and neurogenic stunned myocardium","volume":"107","author":"Rich","year":"2005","journal-title":"Clin. Neurol. Neurosurg."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e33","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2009.04.016","article-title":"Sudden death due to a colloid cyst of the third ventricle: Report of three cases with a special sign at autopsy","volume":"189","author":"Demirci","year":"2009","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Int."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"144","DOI":"10.1186\/1746-1596-7-144","article-title":"Colloid cyst of the third ventricle, hypothalamus, and heart: A dangerous link for sudden death","volume":"7","author":"Turillazzi","year":"2012","journal-title":"Diagn. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"180404","article-title":"Diagnostic Dilemma in a Young Woman with Acute Headache: Delayed Diagnosis of Third Ventricular Colloid Cyst with Hydrocephalus","volume":"2015","author":"Rady","year":"2015","journal-title":"Case Rep. Neurol. Med."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wneu.2018.12.057","article-title":"Postexercise Death Due to Hemorrhagic Colloid Cyst of Third Ventricle: Case Report and Literature Review","volume":"123","author":"Cuoco","year":"2019","journal-title":"World Neurosurg."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wneu.2017.07.183","article-title":"Fatal Colloid Cysts: A Systematic Review","volume":"107","author":"Lagman","year":"2017","journal-title":"World Neurosurg."},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"356","article-title":"Colloid cyst of the third ventricle in flyers; report of three fatal cases","volume":"28","author":"Nelson","year":"1957","journal-title":"J. Aviat. Med."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1041","DOI":"10.3171\/jns.2002.96.6.1041","article-title":"High risk of acute deterioration in patients harboring symptomatic colloid cysts of the third ventricle","volume":"96","author":"Verstegen","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Neurosurg."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1064","DOI":"10.1161\/HYPERTENSIONAHA.115.06425","article-title":"Cardiovascular Regulation by the Arcuate Nucleus of the Hypothalamus: Neurocircuitry and Signaling Systems","volume":"67","author":"Rahmouni","year":"2016","journal-title":"Hypertension"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1685","DOI":"10.1001\/archneur.57.12.1685","article-title":"The insula and cerebrogenic sudden death","volume":"57","author":"Cheung","year":"2000","journal-title":"Arch. Neurol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15J","DOI":"10.1016\/0002-9149(87)90678-3","article-title":"Neurogenic heart disease: A unifying hypothesis","volume":"60","author":"Samuels","year":"1987","journal-title":"Am. J. Cardiol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.3171\/jns.1986.64.2.0216","article-title":"Sudden deterioration and death in patients with benign tumors of the third ventricle area","volume":"64","author":"Ryder","year":"1986","journal-title":"J. Neurosurg."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"486","DOI":"10.1007\/s11910-009-0071-0","article-title":"Neurogenic stunned myocardium","volume":"9","author":"Nguyen","year":"2009","journal-title":"Curr. Neurol. Neurosci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"414","DOI":"10.5811\/westjem.2011.2.1785","article-title":"Cardiac complications in acute ischemic stroke","volume":"12","author":"Wira","year":"2011","journal-title":"West. J. Emerg. Med."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"513","DOI":"10.1001\/archneur.1990.00530050029008","article-title":"Cerebrogenic cardiac arrhythmias. Cerebral electrocardiographic influences and their role in sudden death","volume":"47","author":"Oppenheimer","year":"1990","journal-title":"Arch. Neurol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"395","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yjmcc.2007.10.015","article-title":"Expression profiling of cardiac genes in Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy: Insight into a new cardiac entity","volume":"44","author":"Nef","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1186\/1746-1596-5-15","article-title":"Ostial plication: A rarely reported cause of sudden death","volume":"5","author":"Arena","year":"2010","journal-title":"Diagn. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"156","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1582-4934.2007.00009.x","article-title":"Correlation between cardiac oxidative stress and myocardial pathology due to acute and chronic norepinephrine administration in rats","volume":"11","author":"Neri","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Cell. Mol. Med."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1186\/1746-1596-6-8","article-title":"Cardiac beriberi: Morphological findings in two fatal cases","volume":"6","author":"Bello","year":"2011","journal-title":"Diagn. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"Koleva, M., and De Jesus, O. (2023). StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing."},{"key":"ref_35","first-page":"20220007","article-title":"Brainstem death due to intracranial hypertension with hydrocephalus, produced by a third ventricular colloid cyst","volume":"8","author":"Shoyab","year":"2022","journal-title":"BJR Case Rep."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"Munakomi, S., and Das, J.M. (2023). StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00146880","article-title":"The cause of death in patients with glioblastoma is multifactorial: Clinical factors and autopsy findings in 117 cases of supratentorial glioblastoma in adults","volume":"10","author":"Silbergeld","year":"1991","journal-title":"J. Neurooncol."}],"container-title":["Diagnostics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-4418\/14\/1\/100\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T13:37:49Z","timestamp":1760103469000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-4418\/14\/1\/100"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,1]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,1]]}},"alternative-id":["diagnostics14010100"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/diagnostics14010100","relation":{},"ISSN":["2075-4418"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2075-4418","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,1]]}}}