Understanding cerebellar liponeurocytomas: case report and literature review.

Cerebellar liponeurocytomas were recognized in the 2000 WHO 3rd edition of CNS tumors as a distinct grade I pathological entity, a tumor with a more favorable prognosis than medulloblastoma. But reports of long-term recurrences and some possible aggressive behavior led to an upgrade on the latest WHO 4th edition of CNS tumors. The case of a 64-year-old female patient is reported in this paper. More than 30 cases of this lately recognized pathological entity have been reported to date. The diagnostic, radiological, and pathological features associated with this tumor are discussed through a literature review.

Chronic subdural haematoma associated with pre-eclampsia: case report and review of the literature.

Pre-eclampsia complicates approximately 5-8% of all pregnancies and may have adverse long-term effects on both mother and child. Chronic atraumatic subdural haematoma as a complication of severe pre-eclampsia, in the absence of clotting factor abnormalities, is a very rare condition. We present the case of a 30-year-old Moroccan woman who had a pregnancy 10 years previously, with an uneventful delivery. She presented with pre-eclampsia complicating a 29-week-old pregnancy. A few days preceding maternity unit admission the patient complained of headaches and malaise. Her blood pressure at admission was 150/120mmHg and subsequently was treated with doses of methyldopa and magnesium sulphate. Her condition worsened with a loss of consciousness 24 hours later and was transferred to the neurosurgical unit. A brain computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed a left-sided subdural haematoma and the patient underwent surgery, with a good postoperative outcome. This article highlights the occurrence of neurological complications due to pre-eclampsia/eclampsia that require particular neurosurgical attention, its treatment and prognosis. We also review the literature regarding this pathology.

[Epidermoid cyst of the cisterna magna and the fourth ventricle: Report of four cases]. / Kystes épidermoïdes de la grande citerne et du quatrième ventricule : à propos de quatre cas.

INTRODUCTION: Epidermoid cyst is a congenital and benign tumor, developed from ectodermal inclusion. These cysts occur very rarely in the cisterna magna and the fourth ventricle. OBJECTIVE: To report four cases of epidermoid cyst of the cisterna magna and the fourth ventricle in the light of the data of literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report a retrospective study of four cases of epidermoid cysts of the cisterna magna and the fourth ventricle. The data was collected from January 2000 to December 2006 from to series of 18 cases of epidermoid cysts of posterior cranial fossa (14 cases were localised at the cerebellopontine angle). All the patients had a physical examination and a complete neuroradiological imagery. The treatment was surgical. The follow-up was at least 9 months. RESULTS: There were two men and two women. The mean age was 47.75 years. All patients presented with cerebellar syndrome. Three patients had intracranial hypertension. Neuroradiological explorations showed a cystic lesion developed in the cisterna magna in two cases, in the fourth ventricle in one case and in the two locations in one case. Two patients had hydrocephalus. All patients had surgery with a posterior approach and one patient had first ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination. Postoperatory outcome was favourable in all cases. One patient developed bilateral chronic subdural hematoma, which was surgically removed. A long time follow-up was good in all cases. CONCLUSION: Epidermoid cysts are characterized by a long evolution. The diagnosis is relatively characteristic in the imagery. The prognosis was favourable with a complete surgical resection.

[Intramedullary neuroglial cyst: a case report]. / Kyste neuroglial intramédullaire : à propos d'un cas.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neuroglial cysts are uncommon congenital lesion with own wall, which can be confined into or outside the central nervous system. In the central nervous system the cyst is located commonly in the brain. Spinal intramedullary neuroglial cyst are exceptional. Our objective is to present a case of intramedullary neuroglial cyst, to discuss the differentiels diagnosis and to show difficulties of its medical taking care. CASE REPORT: A 60 year-old man, without past history, was admitted to the hospital with a compression of conus medullaris since one year. The clinical examination revealed paraparesis and genito-sphincterian disorders. MRI of the spine revealed intramedullary cyst at T12-L1 level. The patient underwent cystic evacuation, a large marsupialization of the cavity and a wall biopsy. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of neuroglial cyst. The postoperative outcome was favourable with a partial improvement of motor weakness. Postoperative MRI showed a persistent residual cavity. CONCLUSION: Neuroglial intramedullary cyst is uncommon. It is a benign lesion. Complete surgical resection is very difficult seen the absence of defined plan cleavage.

[Late cervicodorsal metastasis of thyroid adenocarcinoma treated by anterior cervicotomy]. / Métastase cervico-dorsale tardive d'un adénocarcinome thyroïdien opérée par cervicotomie antérieure.

Metastasis from a thyroid adenocarcinoma is a rare entity with high mortality. We describe an unusual case in a woman displaying tetraparesis due to a late cervico-dorsal metastasis operated on via a simple anterior cervicotomy. Outcome was good at eighteen months follow-up. The histological diagnosis was follicular adenocarcinoma. The development of a vertebral metastasis from a thyroid adenocarcinoma 11 years after the treatment of the primitive cancer is rare. The anterior cervico-dorsal location in this patient required decompression via an anterior approach. Surgical treatment of the tumor and spinal stabilization were possible via a simple anterior cervicotomy which allowed adequate access to the third thoracic vertebra, without sternotomy or thoracotomy.

[Cerebellar primary germinoma. Case report]. / Le germinome cérébelleux primitif.

Germinoma cell tumors account for 1% of all primary cerebral tumors. They occur in pineal and in supra-sellar regions, and rarely, in basal ganglia and thalami. Germinoma cell tumors originating in the posterior fossa are very rare. We report a case of primary germinoma found in the cerebellar hemisphere in a 45-year-old immunocompetent man presented with intracranial hypertension and cerebellar ataxia. The CT scan revealed a heterogeneous mass in the cerebellar right hemisphere with a cystic component. Intense and heterogeneous enhancement after contrast infusion was observed. Two other nodules were identified in the frontal and occipital lobe. The pineal region was normal. Total resection was performed. The histological finding were a germinoma. Extensive systemic examination indicated that the intracranial lesion had not metastasized from a primary extracranial tumor.