[Cervical teratoma in a child]. / Tératome cervical chez l'enfant.

Teratomas are unusual tumors derived from all 3 germs cells layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm, with varying proportions. The cervical area is exceptionally affected. We report 4 cases of cervical teratoma. The clinically and radiologically suggested diagnosis was confirmed by histology. We describe herein the main clinical, radiological, and histological aspects and outcomes of this disease. Despite its most often benign histologic nature, cervical teratoma may threaten newborn infants' life due to airway compression. A multidisciplinary approach to the disease starting at delivery is required to improve the prognosis.

Reversible dilated cardiomyopathy caused by hypothyroidism.

The association between lack of thyroid hormones and cardiac dysfunction has been well described. We report two new cases of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), revealing a periphery hypothyroidism and for whom cardiac function significantly improved after L thyroxin substitutive treatment. Our cases highlight the necessity to perform thyroid function testing to investigate the etiology of non ischemic DCM.

A clinical and magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of a brain tumor in a patient with segmental neurofibromatosis.

INTRODUCTION: Segmental neurofibromatosis 1 (segmental NF-1) is a rare genodermatosis caused by somatic mutations in the NF-1 gene. It consists of localized characteristic skin lesions. A serial study using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of a brain tumor in a 16-year-old patient with segmental NF-1 is reported. CASE REPORT: A 16-year-old boy with congenital dorsal scoliosis and segmental NF-1 was evaluated for bilateral optic atrophy. Neurological examination showed an isolated tetra pyramidal syndrome. The cerebral MRI showed a bilateral brain lesion involving the basal ganglia, optic pathways, temporal lobes, and the midbrain. Serial MRSs showed a decreased N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine ratio and increased choline/creatine ratio. An increase in the myoinositol (MYO)/creatine ratio and the presence of a lipid/lactate peak were also recorded. A neuroimaging follow-up with MRI and MRS performed 2 years later showed similar findings. COMMENTS AND CONCLUSION: We describe an MRS study of a brain tumor in a patient with segmental NF-1 for the first time. The MRS study showed similar findings, described earlier in rare studies of patients with the classic form of NF-1. MRS is a noninvasive technique for detecting the presence of tumor tissue in the brain through its metabolic activity. MRS plays an important role in clinical studies and it can be used to differentiate malignant and nonmalignant brain lesions from normal brain tissue.

[Isolated hypophyseal tuberculoma: often mistaken]. / Tuberculome hypophysaire isolé: un diagnostic souvent oublié.

Hypophyseal tuberculoma is extremely rare and difficult to diagnose without a clearly suggestive context. Its radiologic features are not specific and are better recognized on MRI with a mass of a variable signal related to the percentage of caseous necrosis. A frequently associated thickening of the pituitary stalk suggests tuberculosis, requiring the search for another tuberculosis location. This paper reports an original case of hypophyseal tuberculoma since it occurred with no other tubercular infection, which delayed the diagnosis despite thickening of the pituitary stalk on MRI.

[Pituitary necrosis and antiphospholipid syndrome]. / Syndrome des anticorps antiphospholipides et nécrose hypophysaire.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired thrombotic disorder. It mainly occurs with systemic disease or as a primary disorder. All organs may be involved by thrombosis, but to date the most common endocrine manifestation is chronic adrenal insufficiency. Very few cases of hypopituitarism with primary APS have been reported. We report the case of a 27-year-old woman, victim of a stroke leading to double vision and intracranial hypertension. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a macro-adenoma with hemorrhage of a suprasellar lesion. Hormone assessment showed hyper prolactinemia with positive anticardiolipin antibody. Our case is the second reported associating APS with apoplexy. We discuss the clinical, biological and radiological features observed in our case. We conclude that APS should be searched for whenever a history of adenoma with apoplexy is found associated with recurrent thrombosis.

[Osteogenesis imperfecta and hearing loss in childhood]. / L'ostéogenèse imparfaite, cause rare de surdité chez l'enfant.

We report a case of bilateral hearing loss in a child, caused by osteogenesis imperfecta and we evaluate CT scan findings. A 12-year-old child consulted for bilateral hearing loss. A computed tomography scan of the petrous temporal bone showed bilateral extensive unmineralized bone involving the cochleae, vestibules, and semicircular canals extending to the internal auditory canals. Osteogenesis imperfecta of the temporal bone is a genetic connective tissue disorder with increased bone fragility, low bone mass, and other extraskeletal manifestations. Hearing loss is rare in the first 2 decades of life, but it is one of the frequent features of this disorder in adult patients. Thin-section CT scans of the temporal bone show a remarkable proliferation of unmineralized bone involving the otic capsule. This demineralization is similar to that observed in the cochlear form of otospongiosis.

[Maxillo-facial location of hydatic cyst]. / Kyste hydatique du massif facial.

OBJECTIVE: A maxillofacial location of a hydatid cyst is rare, accounting 2% of cases. The purpose of this study was to review clinical and radiological features by emphasizing diagnostic difficulties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two observations of hydatid cyst with a maxillofacial location are presented. Two cases were investigated by panoramic dental radiography, an ultrasound and CT scan. MRI was done in one case. RESULTS: The first observation reports a 23-year-old woman who consulted for jugal tumefaction with pharyngeal extension evolving in spurts. The second observation was a 16-year-old girl, which consulted for a genian and masseter tumefaction with a tight trismus. In both cases, the imaging studies suggested the diagnosis of the hydatid cyst confirmed by the anatomopathologic exam. CONCLUSION: The hydatid cyst is an endemic parasitic pathology involving most often the lung and the liver. The maxillofacial location is exceptional. In cases of a cyst mass in an endemic zone, the diagnosis of the hydatid cyst must be entertained. CT scan and MRI provided a complete lesion workup. Treatment is surgical.