ABSTRACT
Introduction Facial nerve hemangiomas (FNH) are rare tumors. Although it can occur in any portion of the nerve, it predominantly appears near the geniculate ganglion. We present a case of facial nerve hemangioma of an unusual location. Case Report A 30-year-old woman presented with right-sided severe hearing loss and progressive facial palsy. Magnetic resonance showed a 5 mm lesion in the lateral portion of the right internal auditory canal. Due to facial palsy, the patient was submitted to a translabyrinthine approach and a total tumor resection, followed by hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis. Discussion The facial nerve is susceptible in its path to expansive lesions, which have high morbidity. FNH is a rare and difficult-to-diagnose lesion. Computerized tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance can be used in its diagnosis. The differential diagnosis of FNH includes, in addition to schwannomas, meningiomas, cholesteatomas, paragangliomas, and other temporal bone tumors. There is no well-established consensus on the best approach. Because of its slow growth and benign behavior, some studies suggest conservative treatment and serial imaging. However, surgery is the cornerstone of treatment, as it is the only curative option. Conclusion FNHs are often small but very symptomatic. Its high morbidity demands early diagnosis and, sometimes, surgical treatment.
ABSTRACT
The choroidal fissure is a narrow cleft in the medial part of the lateral ventricle, in a C-shaped arc, between the fornix and the thalamus, where the choroidal plexus join. Due to absence nervous tissue between ependyma and pia-mater along this invagination, it is an important route in brain ventricles and cisterns. Five brains were studied by injecting colored silicone arteries and veins and five brains without colored silicone, in a total number of 20 brain hemispheres. It was analyzed and revised the neural, arterial and venous relationships and surgical approaches in all parts of the choroidal fissure. In conclusion, the previous knowledge detailed this microanatomy is primordial for neurosurgeons that will approach brain ventricular and cisternal lesions because the neurosurgeons gain a tridimensional notion that will be indispensable during surgery.
A fissura coroidéia é uma estreita fenda situada na parte medial dos ventrículos laterais, em formato de "C", entre o fórnix e o tálamo e onde o plexo coróide se adere. O fato de não haver tecido nervoso entre o epêndima e a pia-máter ao longo deste acidente anatômico torna-o uma importante via no acesso aos ventrículos e cisternas cerebrais. Foram estudados cinco cérebros, injetando-se artérias e veias com material siliconado colorido e cinco cérebros sem realce colorido dos vasos, num total de 20 hemisférios cerebrais. Foram analisadas e revisadas as relações neurais, arteriais e venosas, bem como as abordagens cirúrgicas em cada parte da fissura coroidéia. Concluiu-se que o conhecimento prévio detalhado desta microanatomia é fundamental para os neurocirurgiões que vão abordar lesões nos ventrículos e cisternas cerebrais, pois se obtém uma noção tridimensional que será indispensável durante o ato cirúrgico.
