[Management of arachnoid cysts of the middle cranial fossa accompanied by subdural effusions]. / Traitement des kystes arachnoïdiens de la fosse cérébrale moyenne associés à une collection sous-durale.

Subdural effusions are uncommon but known complications of arachnoid cysts of the middle cranial fossa. They mainly occur after minor head traumas in young patients. Here, we report eight cases of arachnoid cyst of the middle cranial fossa associated with subdural hematoma in five cases and hygroma in three cases. Major symptoms are signs of raised intracranial pressure. CT scan and MRI showed the cyst and the subdural effusion. An excellent therapeutic result was achieved with evacuation of the subdural fluid via burr holes in the five cases of subdural hematoma while in the two cases of hygroma a subduro-peritoneal shunt was necessary. In the last case, a temporal craniotomy was performed with evacuation of the hygroma and fenestration of the cyst. We suggest treating only the complicating event in the case of a subdural hematoma via burr holes evacuation. Whereas, in the case of hygroma we think that craniotomy with fenestration of the cyst or the use of a subdural shunt are more often needed.

[Central nervous system medulloepithelioma. A report of three cases]. / Le médulloépithéliome du système nerveux central. À propos de trois cas.

Central nervous system medulloepithelioma is a rare, highly malignant childhood tumor. It might be confused with medulloblastoma or other primitive neuroectodermal tumors, but it is quite particular by its clinical, radiological, and pathological features. The mean survival varies depending on whether or not a gross-total resection is possible. Adjuvant radiochemotherapy is often indicated. Only two reported cases in the literature survived beyond 4 years after treatment by gross total resection and radiotherapy without chemotherapy. We report three cases of supratentorial medulloepithelioma occurring in three children aged 11-17 years. Two patients underwent a gross-total resection followed by radiotherapy and survived more than 4 years after treatment. The third case had, however, recurred twice within the 1st postoperative month despite a complete resection each time and metastasis to the lung developed. Chemotherapy was then carried out after the third procedure and the patient died 7 months later.