1,720,976 research outputs found

    Dermoid cysts of the asterion. an unusual location for unusual dermoids, radiological findings and neurosurgical implications

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    Asterion is an uncommon site for lesions, especially dermoid cysts. We report a case series of three asterional intracranial dermoid cysts, which, to the best of our knowledge, have never been described before. Patients presented with non-specific symptoms and underwent surgical excision of the lesions. It is crucial to correctly diagnose intracranial masses and to identify their relationships with surrounding anatomical structures, especially if the location is unusual as the asterion, to plan surgery. The challenge of this tumor location is to preserve the venous drainage system during surgical procedures, because of the contiguity between the asterion and the transverse–sigmoid junction. Rupturing or damaging of the venous drainage system have been proven to be catastrophic because they lengthen surgical time and present dire consequences for patients. In conclusion, it is crucial to familiarize with atypical dermoid presentation to ensure proper diagnoses and to perform adequate imaging for optimal surgical plannin

    Spinal arachnoiditis ossificans: Report of three cases

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    Although the clinical and histological features of the pathological entity of spinal arachnoiditis ossificans (AO) have been established for some time, less attention has been paid to the treatment. We propose a classification of spinal AO evaluating the possibilities and indications for surgical or conservative treatment. Type III has a lumbar localization, presents with less neurological involvement, and usually requires conservative treatment. In Types I and II, which are usually thoracic, clinical worsening justifies surgical decompression or partial removal, whereas total removal is rarely achievable. The literature was reviewed, and the reports on three patients were added to the published cases. On the basis of a reappraisal of the computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging documentation and the surgical descriptions, the cases of AO were classified into three types: semicircular (Type I), circular (Type II), and englobing the caudal fibers (Type III). The indications for treatment were evaluated in terms of surgical possibilities and outcome

    Simultaneous Contralateral Vestibular Schwannoma and Middle Ear Paraganglioma Tumor

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    To the best of our knowledge, only 2 cases of a simultaneous contralateral vestibular schwannoma (VS) and middle ear paraganglioma (MEP) have previously been reported in literature. We report the third case observed in a 43-year-old male, who presented with an 11-year history of right-sided hearing loss and a 1-year history of left-sided pulsatile tinnitus. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a VS on the right side and computer tomography (CT) identified a Fisch type A1 paraganglioma on the left side. The VS was treated using a translabyrinthine approach and the MEP was kept under radiological observation for 1 year. Due to the growth of the MEP (Fisch type A2), it was treated with excision via a retroauricular approach. Our case was very challenging because there was a different and important pathology on each side, both carrying a risk of deafness as a consequence of the disease and/or the treatments

    Does chemotherapy have a role in low-grade astrocytoma management? A report of 13 cases

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    Surgery is the treatment of choice for low-grade astrocytoma while radiotherapy is carried out only when total resection is not possible. This study assessed the effectiveness of chemotherapy in nonresectable cases. Thirteen children with nonresectable astrocytoma were treated with carboplatin and etoposide and after four cycles the response to treatment was evaluated according to radiologic criteria. The results were: one with complete response (CR), three with minor response (MR), six with stable disease (SD), and three with progressive disease (PD). Moreover, in 77% there was an improvement in the neurologic picture. In particular, two cases with hypothalamic astrocytoma showed a regression of the diencephalic syndrome following chemotherapy. In six cases chemotherapy was carried out, at reduced dosage, after the first four cycles either because there was clinical improvement or because it was necessary to postpone radiotherapy in very young patients. After a follow-up period ranging between 11 and 63 months (average: 30 months), nine of the 13 patients are alive (69%) while four died of disease progression. Further studies would be useful to evaluate the role of chemotherapy in the management of low-grade astrocytoma

    Gelastic epilepsy without hypothalamic hamartoma. Three additional cases

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    We describe three children with gelastic seizures without hypothalamic hamartoma whose seizures were characterized by typical laughing attacks associated or not with other seizure types. Ictal/interictal EEG and magnetic resonance imaging were performed. All three subjects showed a good response to carbamazepine therapy with complete seizure control in addition to a benign clinical and cognitive outcome. These three cases confirm that gelastic epilepsy without hypothalamic hamartoma, both in cryptogenic or symptomatic patients (one child showed a dysplastic right parietotemporal lesion), usually has a more benign natural history, and carbamazepine seems to be the most efficacious therapy to obtain both immediate and long-term seizure control. These findings need to be confirmed in a larger sample of children affected by gelastic epilepsy without hypothalamic hamartoma

    Epidural bleeding secondary to a synovial cyst rupture: a case report and review of literature

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    Hemorrhage into a juxtafacet cyst is rare and cyst rupture with hemorrhagic extension into the epidural space is even less commonly seen. We describe the case of a patient with a hemorrhagic synovial cyst with rupture associated to abundant bleeding in the epidural space. A 61-year-old man had a 5-month history of worsening low back pain radiating into the right leg with associated weakness and numbness. A magnetic resonance imaging scan showed the presence of a mild anterior spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1 with increased synovial fluid into both facet joints. A suspected synovial cyst of the right facet joint at level L5-S1, with signal characteristics consistent with hemorrhage was seen. Caudally, epidural blood was evident from S1 to S2 that involved spinal canal and right S1 and S2 foramens. These findings were confirmed at surgery

    A case of cavernous hemangioma of the infratemporal fossa causing recurrent secretory otitis media

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    Secretory otitis media causes aural fullness and hearing loss secondary to Eustachian tube obstruction or incomplete resolution of acute otitis media. Every patient with unilateral middle ear effusion should undergo nasopharyngoscopy to assess the nasopharyngeal space. Expansive lesions at the level of pterygopalatine fossa may cause Eustachian tube compression with tube dysfunction with clinical findings of recurrent unilateral secretory otitis media. In this paper, a 55 years old man presented with a history of hearing loss and fullness in the left ear. Brain MRI scan showed the presence on the left side of a solid mass in the infratemporal masticatory space and the patient underwent endoscopic transnasal resection of the lesion. At 6 months follow-up there was no evidence of disease recurrency. In our opinion, it is important to add an imaging tool to the diagnostic algorithm in all those cases of secretory otitis media lasting more than 3 months that present a negative nasopharyngoscopy evaluation
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