Cavernous haemangioma of the skull

Clavarial cavernous haemangioma is a rare tumour, comprising about 0.2% of all benign neoplasms of the skull. The authors report the case of a 42-year-old woman admitted for a slow growing right parietal mass, hard to pressure, with freely mobile skin above the lesion. Cranial CT scan showed osteolytic lesion with erosion of the tabula extema. Surgery was performed with en bloc resection of the tumour completed by reconstruction of the osseous defect with methylmethacrylate

Arachnoid cyst of the posterior fossa

Arachnoid cysts of the posterior fossa are uncommon. Our case of a 49-year-old man presented with a 2 month history of headaches, nausea, and vertigo associated with walking instability. An MRI revealed a median well-circumscribed cystic lesion of the posterior fossa, with similar signal characteristics to CSF, and without connection to the fourth ventricle. This aspect suggested either arachnoid or hydatid cysts. Direct open surgery was performed allowing complete removal of the cyst wall, with a good outcome

Primary spinal epidural hydatid cyst with intrathoracic extension

Spinal epidural localization of hydatid cyst is quite rare. We report a case of a 33-year-old patient who experienced paraparesis over 2 years, with an umbilical sensitive level. A CT scan and MRI showed an intrathoracic multilobar lesion, probably of intra-spinal origin. An anterolateral transpleural surgical approach confirmed the hydatic character of the observed lesion and enabled total spinal cord decompression. No osseous involvement was noted. We report a case of spinal epidural hydatid cyst successfully managed by an anterior approach, and we discuss epidemiological, diagnosis, and therapeutical features of this rare localization of hydatid cyst

Tuberculous osteitis of the skull in a child

Tuberculosis is endemic in developing countries. However, skull tuberculosis is uncommon with few cases reported in the literature. We report a 10-year-old boy admitted for a left parietal painless swelling. A CT scan demonstrated a left parietal bony defect, destroying both inner and outer tables. This was associated with an enhanced epidural collection and scalp swelling. The patient was operated, and the microscopic examination revealed typical tuberculosis granuloma. The clinical presentation and management of this rare location of tuberculosis are discussed

Primary melanotic progonoma of skull

Melanotic progonoma is a rare tumour that generally arises in the maxilla during the first year of life. The involvement of cranial vault bones is extremely rare. The authors report the case of a 7-month-old female infant admitted for a congenital right parieto-occipital bone tumour. The radiological examination showed a spicular opacity pattern. The surgical resection was complete. We highlight the rarity of this neoplasm and discuss epidemiological, clinical, radiological and therapeutical characteristics of this pathology