Choroid plexus papilloma of the posterior third ventricle during infancy & childhood: report of two cases with management morbidities.

We report two cases of posterior third ventricular choroid plexus papilloma, one in an 8-month-old infant and another in a two-year-old child. These cases presented with features of obstructive hydrocephalus. Both these patients underwent a ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt surgery prior to the tumor excision. Following the VP shunt surgery both patients developed ascitis requiring exteriorization of the abdominal end of the shunt. There was a clear proof of CSF overproduction: 1400-1500 ml/day in the eight-month-old infant and 900-1200 ml/day in the two-year-old child. In the former it was transient and could be treated with revision of the VP shunt whereas in the second case a ventriculo-arterial shunt had to be done. In the second case a staged reduction cranioplasty was also performed for an enormously enlarged head (head circumference--74 cm). Interesting clinical and radiological findings and useful management strategies are described.

Sudden bilateral foot drop: an unusual presentation of lumbar disc prolapse.

Bilateral acute foot drop is reported in a 30-year-old healthy male. He presented with a 7-day history of sudden severe backache, radiating to both the lower limbs and 1-day history of sudden bilateral ankle weakness that progressed to bilateral foot drop within 6 hours. He also developed retention of urine. Investigations revealed a large central disc prolapse at L3-4 with significant canal stenosis at that level. Following surgery the patient had progressive improvement.

Long term outcome in patients with severe head injury and bilateral fixed dilated pupils.

Patients with severe head injury with bilateral dilated unreactive pupils are considered to have a grave prognosis. Hence proper planning and aggressive management becomes mandatory for achieving good results. We present the outcome of consecutive 166 patients with severe head injury, admitted between January 1996 and December 2000 and analysed retrospectively. All the patients had an initial GCS of 8 or less and post resuscitation bilateral dilated unreactive pupils. Our aim was to analyze the long term outcome in these patients and identify the other significant prognostic factors. Of the 166 patients, 42 (25.30%) had a functional outcome (good recovery in 10.24%, moderate disability in 15.06%), and 124 (74.69%) had a poor outcome (death in 58.43% and severe disability in 16.26% of cases). There were 45 patients with polytrauma and 24 of these patients (53.33%) succumbed to the injuries. Obliteration of the basal cisterns and contusion were the common CT scan findings. Factors adversely affecting the survival included age of the patient, polytrauma with shock, initial GCS of 3 or 4, and compression of the basal cisterns on the initial CT scans. At follow up, most of the patients with a functional outcome showed a significant improvement in their motor function but continued to have neuro-behavioral and cognitive deficits.

An unusual presentation of an intra-parenchymatous frontal yolk sac tumour : case report.

Yolk sac tumours are rare conditions among the germ cell tumours. Intracerebral germ cell tumours are exceedingly rare. A 15 year old girl presenting with a one week history of raised intracranial pressure is described. She had bilateral papilloedema and a right 6th nerve palsy. CT scan showed an intra-parenchymatous right frontal ring enhancing lesion of 2 cms diameter. The patient underwent microsurgical total excision of the tumour, followed by chemotherapy. She was asymptomatic at three years following surgery.

Hypersensitivity to glucocorticoids in patients with raised ICP : report of two cases.

Corticosteroids are widely used in patients with raised intracranial pressure associated with cerebral neoplasms, cerebral vascular malformations, cerebral ischaemia and benign intracranial hypertension. In general clinical practice, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and immuno-suppressive properties of corticosteroids are commonly utilised in the management of allergic and immunological diseases. However in exceptionally rare circumstances, steroids may be the cause of hypersensitive reactions. Authors report two patients with raised intracranial pressure who developed steroid hypersensitivity. A review of the relevant literature is discussed.

Sciatica due to malignant nerve sheath tumour of sciatic nerve in the thigh.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST) is a rare malignant neoplasm arising from the supportive non-neural component of the peripheral nerves. An unusual case of pain and weakness of the foot and calf muscles due to a giant MPNST of the sciatic nerve in the posterior compartment of the thigh is presented. The patient was already investigated as a case of sciatica due to a lumbar disc disease with a negative magnetic resonance imaging and then unsuccessfully operated elsewhere twice, with a misdiagnosis of tarsal tunnel syndrome. Neurosurgical referral prompted a diagnostic magnetic resonance study of the thigh, revealing the lesion, which was completely excised microsurgically with total relief in the pain and partial improvement in the weakness and sensations in the sole of the foot.

Spinal cord and cauda equina compression in 'DISH'.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) has long been regarded as a benign asymptomatic clinical entity with an innocuous clinical course. Precise information is lacking in the world literature. Authors report the results of a retrospective analysis of 74 cases of DISH. Eleven patients presented with progressive spinal cord or cauda equina compression. In nine cases ossified posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and in two cases ossified ligamentum flavum (OLF) were primarily responsible. Surgically treated patients (eight) had far better outcome as compared to the patients managed conservatively, as they had refused surgery. 'DISH' is neither a benign condition, nor it always runs a innocuous clinical course. In fact, in about 15% of the cases, serious neurological manifestations occur, which may require a major neurosurgical intervention.

Solitary skull metastasis from mucoepidermoid mimicking a parotid tumour.

Metastatic parotid tumours in the skull are very rare. An interesting case of a mucoepidermoid parotid tumour metastasizing to the skull vault is described in a patient who had previously been operated for a pituitary adenoma 20 years back with no post operative radiotherapy; however, she required hormonal supplementation therapy. She underwent an operation for a parotid tumour 7 years ago and received postoperative radiotherapy for the parotid tumour away from the site of the skull metastases. No local recurrence of the parotid tumour was noted. The initial diagnosis was that of a solitary intradiploic meningioma. Interesting clinico-radiological findings are presented.

Gluteal neuralgia - unusual presentation in an adult with intrasacral meningocele: a case report and review of literature.

A nineteen year old man with intrasacral meningocele is reported, who presented with long standing episodic gluteal pain and progressive muscle wasting. Magnetic resonance imaging established the diagnosis. Surgical excision relieved the pain but muscle wasting persisted. Pertinent literature is reviewed.