[Tumours of chiasmatic and hypothalamic regions in children (author's transl)]. / Tumores de la región quiasmática e hipotalámica. A propósito de 31 casos infantiles.

31 cases with tumours in chiasm and hypothalamus are presented. 21 cases had glioma of chiasma (the tumor continued along one or both optic nerves), six cases had craniopharyngioma and four cases had astrocytoma in the hypothalamus. All of these tumours represent 19% of intracranial tumours observed in our service over a period of eleven years. Russell's syndrome was usually seen in cases of gliomas of chiasm. Visual alterations were observed in a high average of patients with any type of the tumours. Skull in lateral view was a positive proof in all the three types of tumours showing "omega" sella turcica in gliomas of chiasm, supra or retro-sellar calcifications in croniopharyngiomas and large sella turcica in astrocytomas of the hypophalamus. Neumoencephalography and angiography were very positives proofs in all types of tumours. Gammagraphy was specially possitive in gliomas of chiasm. Computed axial tomography is very useful in all types of tumour, but our experience is still limited in comparison with other methods. Most effective treatment for gliomas of the chiasm was radiotherapy with shunt in cases with hydrocephalus and total or partial extirpation in astrocytomas of the hypothalamus and in craniopharyngiomas. Survival rate among patients with these types of tumour is high but presence of visual and endocrinological secuelae is very high too.

[Cerebral tumours in infancy (author's transl)]. / Tumores de los hemisferios cerebrales en la infancia.

37 cases of cerebral hemispheric tumours are presented. These make up 23,1% of all the intracranial tumours observed over a period of 11 years in a Child Neurology Service. 19 cases were males and 18 females. Their ages were between 16 days and 7 1/2 years. Vomiting and headache were usually the first symptoms followed by seizures, frequently of the focal kind. Motor difficulties used to appear later. 69.6% of the cases presented a malfunctioning focus on the E.E.G. on the side of the tumor. The simple cranial X-Rays showed firstly widening of the fronto-parietal sutures, intracranial calcifications were seen in some of the cases with ependymonas and piloid astrocytoma in patients with Bourneville's disease. Pneumoencephalography as well as carotid angiography, radioisotope examination and computerized tomography gave us very positive results in the localization and determination of the size of the tumor. The ependymomas showed pathological vascularization regularly. The nature of the tumours corresponded to: 14 cases of ependymoma, 8 cases of astrocytoma I and II types, 1 case of astrocytoma of types III and IV, 3 cases of plexus papilloma, 2 cases of meningioma, 1 case of sarcoma of the basal ganglia, 1 case of teratoma, 3 cases of indifferentiated malignant tumours, 4 cases not proven. There was a 20% survival of patients five years later.

[Iatrogenic evolutive skull fracture (author's transl)]. / Fractura evolutiva de cráneo yatrogénica.

A case of growing skull fracture secondary to a maxilofacial operation is reported. Frequency, clinical symptoms, phisiopathology and treatment of growing skull fractures are reviewed and the rarity of the iatrogenic mechanism is stressed.