Foramen magnum menningiomas: a report of 14 patients

This is a retrospective analysis of 14 patients with foramen magnum meningiomas over 12 years. Two types were encountered: craniospinal type [64.3%] and spinocranial type [35.7%]. The mean age was 51.8 years with 9 women. The clinical features were vague and bizard. Misdiagnosis and incorrect surgical intervention were common. Hemiparesis or quadriparesis were found in all patients, dysesthesias in 50%, C2 sensory hypoalgesia in 35.7% and cranial nerve dysfunction in 28.6%. MRl was the diagnostic procedure in all cases. Meningiomas were of large size in 81.4%. Partial transcondylar approach was used in 3 patients, retromastoid approach in 6 patients. Gross total tumor resection was possible in 43%, while operative complications occurred in 57%. On conclusion: the patients got benefit from surgery with good functional recovery in 50% without perioperative deaths [P < 0.005]

Coloid cysts: endoscopic VS. microsurgical treatment

Twenty patients with colloid cysts of the third ventricle had operative procedures for excision in the period from October 1995 to October 2000 [5 years]. Ten cases had microneurosurgical excision [7 cases via transcallosal-transventricular approach and 3 cases via transcortical-transventricular approach]. The other ten [10] patients had transcortical endoscopic excision. There was 12 men and 8 women, and the age of patients ranged from 12-60 years [mean 38.5]. The most common clinical symptoms of both groups included headache [in all patients], diplopia, syncope, ataxia, vertigo, memory deficits and seizure. Papilloedema was present in the majority of cases [70%]. All survived patients had follow-up ranged from 6 months to 36 months [mean 22.5 months]. The results of this study revealed that endoscopic removal of colloid cyst is promising technique that saves the operative and recovery time and decreases the risks of complications

Traumatic posterior fossa extradural hematoma: observations on a series of 17 cases and a review of the literature

Seventeen patients with posterior fossa extradural hematoma were managed at Zagazig University Hospital between January 1995 and December 2000, accounted 2.9% of all cranial epidural hematomas. The mean age was 23.1 years, with 7 children and 10 adults. Impaired conscious level was noted in 14 patients [82.4%]. None of the patients had localizing cerebellar signs. Occipital soft tissue injury in 14 patients [82.4%]. Fall from height was the causative trauma in 7 patients [41.0%]. Delayed appearance of the hematoma was noted in only one patient [5.9%]. Occipital fissure fracture was found in 15 patients [88.2%], supratentorial extension in 9 patients [52.9%,], hydrocephalus in 6 patients [35.3%] and supratentorial associated injuries in 6 patients [35.3%]. Surgery was performed on 14 patients [82.4%]. Good recovery was noted in 12 patients [70.6%], severe disability in one patient [5.9%,] and death in 4 patients [23.5%]. Patients