Articles: cations.
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Sellar/suprasellar cystic lesions can cause compression of the optic pathways and result in a decline in vision. There have been reports of optic pathways being fenestrated by intracranial aneurysms. This is the first report of a sellar/suprasellar arachnoid cyst causing fenestration of an optic nerve. ⋯ Sellar/suprasellar arachnoid cysts likely form when a communication exists between the suprasellar arachnoid space and the sella turcica. We believe that our patient's cyst grew slowly enough to allow normal functioning of the optic nerve as it was being penetrated. Though visual symptoms may be gradual and not present until after the optic nerve has been penetrated, these symptoms and signs may still improve with removal of the cyst. Prognosis for visual improvement is difficult to predict with cases of compressive sellar/suprasellar cystic masses. Improvement in the vision examination after surgical resection is possible even when the optic nerve has been penetrated.