Primary Hypothalamic Lymphoma in an Adult Male: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma is a well-known entity. However, the hypothalamus is a rare location, especially in adults. Few cases of secondary lymphomas have been reported. We report a case of primary hypothalamic lymphoma in an adult male with normal pituitary functions. Lymphoma should be considered as one of the differential diagnosis of lesions involving the hypothalamic/third ventricular area.

Pediatric Intracranial Hydatid Cyst: A Case Series with Literature Review.

Hydatid disease is an endemic zoonotic disease in many areas of the world. An intracranial hydatid cyst is a relatively rare entity, accounting for only 1-2% of all intracranial space-occupying lesions. Most commonly they are seen in children and young adults. Here, we present 9 cases of pediatric intracranial hydatid cyst operated at Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, India, between 2009 and 2015. The mean age of presentation was 11.5 years. The male to female ratio was 5: 4. In 7 cases, a history of contact with pet dogs was present. Seizure was the most common finding, present in 7 cases. Seven patients had solitary cysts and 2 had multiple cysts on presentation. All patients were operated on, and recurrence was observed in 2 patients. The features of this rare disease are retrospectively analyzed in this presentation and the literature is reviewed.

A Unique Case of Primary Intracranial Melanoma.

Primary intracranial melanoma is an uncommon entity and only case reports have been published in the literature. We report a case of an elderly male who was operated with a preliminary diagnosis of meningioma, but it proved to be a histological surprise as it came out to be melanoma with no primary anywhere in the body.

A Rare Case of Spinal Schwannoma in a Child Presenting with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Case Report with Review of Literature.

Pediatric spinal schwannomas/neurofibromas constitute only 2.5%-4% of all pediatric spinal tumors. However, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) because of spinal pathologies is very rare, representing 1.5% of all cases of SAH. Spinal nerve sheath tumors such as schwannomas rarely present with SAH, especially before the appearance of overt signs of spinal cord or root compression. We report a case of dorsolumbar schwannoma in an 11-year-old girl presenting clinically with signs and symptoms mimicking meningitis, but meningeal signs later proved to be due to SAH associated with spinal (D12-L1) schwannoma and hydrocephalus. Mass was excised and ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted. In our clinical practice, we may sometimes come across some uncommon diseases with even more uncommon presentations as happened with us at our institute. We must always consider that there is a possibility of SAH owing to silent spinal lesion in patients with angiographic negative intracranial SAH as in this case.

Conservative management of craniovertebral junction injuries: Still a good option.

BACKGROUND: Injuries to the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) are not uncommon, and are among the few skeletal injuries that carry a high mortality rate. Successful management of these injuries depends on familiarity with the normal anatomic relationships of this region, as well as prudent decision making regarding surgical versus conservative management alternatives. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to analyze the indications for conservative treatment of CVJ trauma and to analyze the outcomes. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients admitted with CVJ injuries were managed conservatively. More than half were nearly neurologically intact on admission; 91% improved whereas 80% (excluding deaths/lost to follow) ultimately achieved bony union without surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: This study documents that conservative management of CVJ injuries in a select population can yield good clinical results.

A solitary osteochondroma of the cervical spine: a case report and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Osteochondromas are usually found in the extremities and are rarely seen in the spine. They are most commonly found in the posterior elements of the spine, and intraspinal extension is uncommon. Compressive myelopathy as a presentation of vertebral osteochondroma in a child is a rare entity. METHODS: We report a case of vertebral osteochondroma arising from the lamina of C3 vertebra, presenting with features of compressive myelopathyin a 15 year old boy.Total excision of the tumor was carried out along with lamina of C3 vertebra.Patient recovered significantly. CONCLUSION: Spinal osteochondromas must be considered as rare etiology of spinal cord or root compression in the pediatric age group and utmost care should be taken while excising these benign lesions.

Hydrocephalus after decompressive craniotomy: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Post-craniectomy hydrocephalus in patients with intracranial hypertension is becoming a major concern for neurosurgeons because of the increasing number of hospital admissions for head trauma, stroke and other lesions which may lead to severe brain oedema requiring decompressive craniectomy. METHODS: We collected records of all the paediatric patients who developed hydrocephalus following decompressive craniotomy from October 2011 to October 2013 and analysed their clinical profiles. RESULTS: We had 3 patients in this group, ranging in age from 6 to 18 years; 1 patient died and the other 2 patients continue to remain in follow-up. CONCLUSION: Post-traumatic hydrocephalus is one of the rare complications of decompressive craniotomy; CSF diversion remains the only option for improvement in neurological status.

Spinal epidural hematomas in fast bowlers: report of two unusual cases.

We report 2 cases of spinal epidural hematomas (SEDH) after a spell of fast bowling in 2 young boys. Both patients presented with spinal pain followed by weakness in both lower limbs. MRI of the spine revealed cervical SEDH in 1 patient and thoracic SEDH in the other. The authors want to highlight this peculiar mode of sports-related spinal injury. This type of injury has not been reported before.