RESUMO
Tumors of the pineal region typically present with symptoms and signs of mass effect and increased intracranial pressure. However, although rare and can be overlooked, hearing impairment is a potential clinical finding in these cases. The authors describe a 24-year-old male who presented to the emergency room complaining of bilateral hearing impairment. Brain computed tomography showed a pineal region tumor. Histopathological examination demonstrated features consistent with germinoma. This case reports a rare presentation rarely seen in the literature and in practice as evident by the conducted literature review. Therefore, we highlight the importance of considering hearing impairment as a presenting symptom of pineal region tumors since prompt recognition and intervention, as demonstrated in this case, can lead to successful outcomes.
RESUMO
Background: Neuroglial cysts (NCs) are uncommon benign cysts covered by an epithelial layer, accounting for <1% of all intracranial cysts. The optimal management approach for these cysts remains a subject of debate. Given their rarity, management principles used for arachnoid cysts can be applied to NCs. Case Description: We present a case of a 35-year-old male without prior medical history, who presented to the neurosurgery clinic with complaints of absence seizures. A neurological examination revealed subtle weakness in the left upper limb. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a large cystic lesion in the posterior frontal and anterior parietal lobes of the right hemisphere. The patient underwent an awake craniotomy, during which a cystoventricular fenestration was performed on the motor cortex cyst. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of NC. At the 4-month follow-up, the patient experienced complete recovery, with normal strength (5/5) in all limbs and absence of seizure remission. Conclusion: This case highlights the successful use of awake craniotomy for the fenestration of an NC in the motor cortex. Given the rarity of NCs, there is no consensus on the optimal treatment strategy. However, in this particular case, the patient achieved complete recovery without any new neurological deficits following the procedure.
