Women in neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology in Brazil and other countries: can lightning strike the same place twice?

BACKGROUND: Neurosurgery is historically a specialty with a wide male predominance. Interventional neuroradiology, considered in many countries to be a subspecialty of neurosurgery (but also radiology and neurology), has never been the setting for this discussion, but the even greater gender inequality of professionals working in this area is well known. AIMS: The initial objective of this research was to describe the personal and professional profile of the few women in Brazil who practise neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology, and the difficulties they encountered throughout their careers just because they are women. However, the shocking stories they experienced led the team to expand searches around the world, obtaining data from some other countries, mainly in South America. Machismo, harassment, misogyny, discrimination and wage inequality go beyond borders. DISCUSSION: Current times do not allow these situations anymore, but which, according to the narrative descriptions of 28 interventional neuroradiology women interviewed, still occur very frequently. A more inclusive vision must be sought by interventional neuroradiology societies, and it is up to the leaders to take care of those who need more attention (which does not mean they are more fragile).

Intracranial extra-axial hemangioma in a newborn: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Congenital hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors, and the intracranial counterpart was described in very few cases. CASE DESCRIPTION: A newborn presented with an intracranial tumor associated with an arachnoid cyst, diagnosed by antenatal ultrasound at 37 weeks of gestation. Surgery was indicated due to increased head circumference and bulging fontanelle, and a complete resection of an extra-axial red-brown tumor was performed at the 3(rd) week of life. Microscopy revealed a hemangioma. CONCLUSION: Hemangioma is a rare differential diagnosis that must be considered in extra-axial intracranial tumors affecting infants and neonates. The radiological features are not helpful in differentiating from other tumors, and surgery is indicated when the diagnosis is uncertain or whenever there are signs of increased intracranial pressure.