Rathke’s cleft cysts are benign lesions. They originate from remnants of Rathke’s pouch, an embryonic diverticul from the roof of the stomodeum (primitive mouth cavity). Asymptomatic cysts are relative common autoptic findings in pars intermedia of hypophysis. Their symptomatic accumulation is very rare. Cysts are generally lined by epithelium of cuboidal or columnar type and contain a mucoid material. In our series of transnasal procedures we have operated on 3 patients with this diagnose in last 7 years. Transnasal, transsphenoidal evacuation of cysts is the procedure of choice, recurrences are not usual. The embryology, pathogenesis, histopathology and clinical presentation are in general presented.

        Key words: Rathke’s cleft cysts, pituitary cysts, transsphenoidal surgery