Pituicytoma.

BACKGROUND: Pituicytomas originate from pituicytes, modified glial cells derived from ependymal lineage that are found in the stalk and posterior lobe of pituitary gland. The clinical presentation is similar to other pituitary tumors and imaging exams may suggest pituitary adenoma. The diagnostic is based on histopathological analysis. Surgical treatment can be performed by transsphenoidal approach with good results. The prognostic is good after total tumor resection. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe here the case of a 17-year-old patient with a history of persistent headache and visual disturbances. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an enhancing solid sellar mass suggestive of pituitary adenoma. The intrasellar mass was resected through a transsphenoidal approach and the diagnosis of pituicytoma was made after histopathological analysis. CONCLUSION: Pituicytomas are rare tumors of the neurohypophysis derived from pituicytes. Their clinical presentation resembles that of non-functional pituitary adenomas, but these two types of tumors are histologically well distinct.

Intracranial aneurysms in sickle cell patients: report of 2 cases and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The sickle cell disease has different neurologic complications, including cerebral aneurysms. This disease may lead to endothelial damage, which favors the development of cerebral aneurysms. Only a few cases demonstrated by cerebral angiography or surgery have been reported in the English literature referring to cerebral aneurysms in sickle cell patients. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report 2 patients with sickle cell disease whose cerebral aneurysms were successfully treated by open surgery. CONCLUSION: Sickle cell patients have a high occurrence of multiple aneurysms, and a high prevalence of posterior circulation aneurysms. This must be interpreted with caution, and further studies are needed to confirm this association.

Intratumoral hydrogen peroxide injection during meningioma resection.

OBJECTIVE: Meningiomas, although histologically benign, pose a particular challenge to the neurosurgeon because of their extensive and exuberant vascularity. They often bleed extensively during resection until separated from their blood supply. There are a wide variety of hemostatic agents available to the neurosurgeon. Most of these means of hemostasis involve some sort of chemical, electrical, or compressive action. Although anecdotally known to be useful, the use of hydrogen peroxide as an intracranial hemostatic agent in meningioma surgery has not been formally reported. We report a technique of meningioma resection that uses intratumoral hydrogen peroxide injection, reducing the potential for blood loss and shortening resection times. METHODS: Seventy-five patients underwent resection of a meningioma using the direct intratumoral H2O2 injection technique. The locations of these meningiomas included convexity and cranial-based lesions. None of the patients underwent preoperative endovascular embolization. RESULTS: The use of this technique greatly facilitated the removal of these tumors. No evidence of air embolism occurred during Doppler surveillance and no other significant side effects attributable to H2O2 application were observed. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate a previously unreported technique of meningioma resection that uses direct intratumoral hydrogen peroxide injection, potentially reducing blood loss, shortening resection times, and obviating the need for preoperative embolization.

[Intramedullary epidermoid tumor: case report]. / Tumor epidermóide intramedular: relato de caso.

A rare case of an epidermoid intramedullary spinal cord tumor, extending from the second to the fourth thoracic vertebra is reported, in a 15 years old girl, surgically treated successfully. The clinical feature, the ethiopatogeny and a literature review will be discussed.