Tumours of the lateral ventricle

Tumours of the lateral ventrical constitute a segregate and rare entity due to the similarity in their clinical course and presentation, radiological picture and surgical management 28 cases of lateral ventricular tumours are the subject of this study with a female prepondrance [1.5: 1] and greatest incidenct in the third decade of life. The symptomatology was vagie, mainly those of increased intracranial pressure without localization or lateralization with a rather short duration [5% less than 3 months]. All the patients were subjected to C.T> scanning. The mortality rate in the series was high, mounting to 32% mainly in the first cases, while in the last 14 cases due to improvement of the technique, the results improved markedly. Postoperative haemorrhage has been the most common and serious complication faced with, followed by infection. Radiotherapy was resorted to for cases of ependymoma with postoperative residual

Microsurgical removal of sphenoidal ridge meningiomas

Twenty two cases of sphenoidal ridge meningiomas are the subject of this study. There was a female prepondrance [86.3+ACU-] with the greatest incidence in the sixth decade of life and more [60+ACU-]. The major presenting symptom was headache, followed by optic atrophy, proptosis, epilepsy and hemiparesis. The main diagnostic tool was the C.T. Scan and angiographic study was performed in most of the cases for the proper planning of the surgical technique. Frontotemporal craniotomy with outer sphenoidectomy was the commonest approach used with frontal or temporal extension accordingly, using the microneurosurgical technique and aiming at total excision. The complications faced with were cerebrospinal fluid leak, infection, visual deterioration and postoperative hemiplegia due to a major vascular injury. Follow up C.T scans were done to all cases showing complete excision in twelve cases

Cerebella pontine angle epidermoids

Epidermoids of the cerebello-pontine angle are congenital lesions that grow attaining a large size over a more or less long duration. 15 cases of cerebello-pontine angle epidermoids are the subjet of this paper in young age [a mean age 26], with their main complaint being facial and other cranial nerves affection and a definite C.T. Scan picture, showing a homogenously hypodense lesion in the cerebello- pontine angle region with finger like processes unless small so as to be accidently faced with intraoperatively [3 cases]. The patients were operated upon through a suboccipital cranioctomy or temporobasal craniotomy or even both, with excellent outcomes using the microneurosurgical techniques of dissection and suction irrigation. Some postoperative complications were dealt with accordingly like aseptic meningitis and cerebrospinal fluid leak mainly

Hemipacial spasm

Hemifacial spasm is a distressing symptom with unilateral involuntary paroxysmal twitching of the facial muscles. Eight cases of hemifacial spasm are the subject of this study, all in the fifth and sixth decades of their life, with their main complaint being the spasm of facial muscles on one side two cases having associated trigeminal neuralgia on the same side and in one patient lower motor facial palsy was found. All of the patients underwent C.T. scanning to show normal findings except for two patients, who had nonenhancing low density masses in the ipsilateral cerebello- pontine region. All the patients were operated upon through a retromastoid craniectomy with the removalof the offending lesion to the facial nerve using the microneurosurgical techniques of dissection, exploration of the nerve, and its decompression achieving a good overall result