[Tumors of the neuraxis and neuraxial sheaths during pregnancy (excluding tumors of the sellar region)]. / Pathologie tumorale du névraxe et de ses enveloppes au cours de la grossesse (tumeurs de la région sellaire exclues).

An association between central nervous system neoplasm and pregnancy is uncommon although its frequency is underestimated. The most commonly observed tumors are acoustic neuromas, meningiomas and gliomas. The interactions between these tumors and pregnancy is not well known : Pregnancy could affect tumor growth by : - activating tumor growth by stimulating receptors; - increasing the peritumoral edema; - favoring immunotolerance due to pregnancy. Steroid hormone receptors and their therapeutic significance are described here, focusing particularly in meningiomas. Central nervous system tumors do not effect the progress of pregnancy per se but do the therapeutic implications. The clinical aspects are the same as in non-pregnant women. MRI appears to be the most adapted imaging technique. Neurosurgical guidelines are also described, with emphasis on symptomatic therapeutics, especially for seizure. Attitudes concerning the nature of the tumor and time of pregnancy are then discussed. The obstetrical attitude should be therapeutic abortion or delivery, with cesarean if necessary. Prognosis is getting better for the child and mother alike, but still remains poor.

[Vascular cerebral thrombosis during pregnancy and post-partum]. / Thromboses vasculaires cérébrales au cours de la grossesse et du post-partum.

Pregnancy and puerperium are associated with a number of cerebrovascular conditions that may result in stroke. Those include cerebral venous thrombosis and cerebral arteries occlusions. Comparing stroke rates during pregnancy with those of non-pregnant women showed only a marginal excess risk during pregnancy and puerperium. Strokes due to cerebral venous thrombosis represent 10-20 per 100 000 deliveries in western countries. The cause of intracranial venous thrombosis is usually unknown. However, better understanding of abnormalities in coagulation leading to intravascular clotting in the early puerperium is resulting in better understanding of this disease. Nevertheless, an etiological work up should be performed, particularly when the thrombosis occurs during pregnancy. Its clinical manifestations often include focal neurological signs, seizures and headache. Alterations in consciousness occur as intracranial pressure increases. Arterial occlusions account for about 60% to 80% of cerebral ischemic lesions. A probable cause of ischemic stroke is diagnosed on the basis of clinical, biological and radiological data. Eclampsia is the main cause of nonhemorrhagic stroke. A search for rare causes of stroke linked to pregnancy such as post-partum cardiomyopathy, paradoxical embolism, choriocarcinoma, cardiac and hematological disorders may be appropriate.

Radiation-induced optic neuropathy 4 years after radiation: report of a case followed up with MRI.

We report a case of radiation-induced optic neuropathy in a 32-year-old man with Cushing's disease and a recurrent tumour of the left cavernous sinus. The patient experienced rapid, painless loss of vision 4 years after treatment without recurrence of tumour or other visual disorder. MRI showed enlargement and contrast enhancement of the optic chiasm. A year later the patient was almost blind and MRI showed atrophy and persistent contrast enhancement of the chiasm.

Primary spinal melanoma: case report.

We report a case of primary melanoma of the thoracic spinal cord revealed by progressive bilateral lower extremity weakness associated with sensory loss and urinary dysfunction. The preoperative MRI revealed an intramedullary tumour from T7 to T9. Treatment was by complete surgical excision without radiotherapy. Histopathology and immuno-histochemical studies confirmed the diagnosis. The postoperative course was satisfactory with no sign of recurrence after 28 months of postsurgical follow-up. Primary spinal melanomas are rare intramedullary tumours that can be cured by appropriate surgical treatment.

[Cervical spine osteoarthritis]. / Arthroses cervicales.

Cervical spine is particularly susceptible to anatomical osteoarthritis, but in a good half cases it remains asymptomatic. Painful cervical spine osteoarthritis results in neck pain, sometimes acute, more commonly chronic. But cervical osteoarthritis may induce compression of the neurovascular structures contained into the cervical spine: upper arm nerve root pain by nerve root compression; myelopathy by spinal cord compression; sometimes vertebro-basilar insufficiency by compression of vertebral arteries.

Radiation-induced meningioma.

We report a case of radiation-induced meningioma that appeared 12 years after the discovery and treatment of a posterior fossa medulloblastoma. The features of the case that support the diagnosis of radiation-induced meningioma are discussed.

Multiple cerebral angiomas and Rendu-Osler-Weber disease: case report.

A 25-year-old man was hospitalized after suffering a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Arteriograms disclosed two arteriovenous malformations, one of which was asymptomatic. Rendu-Osler-Weber disease was suspected because of the concomitant existence of cutaneous telangiectases. Review of the literature shows that in 12 previously published cases involving multiple arteriovenous malformations, this diagnosis was established five times. The indications for surgical treatment are discussed.