Rafael Carrillo

Arachnoid cysts of the posterior fossa.

A series of 6 patients with arachnoid cysts of the posterior fossa who were treated surgically is presented. The diagnosis of the nature of the lesion and of the exact location within the posterior fossa could not be established on a clinical basis. CT scanning is the best method for diagnosing the lesion and for observing the postoperative evolution. Treatment consisted of removing the cyst walls, shunting the cyst to the peritoneum, or both. The differential diagnosis of arachnoid cysts of the posterior fossa from other cerebrospinal fluid collections, such as the megacisterna magna or the Dandy-Walker malformation, are discussed.

Intracerebral Schwannoma in a Child: Report of a Case

A rare case of an intracerebral schwannoma in a 10-year-old girl is presented. To our knowledge, only 4 cases of intracranial schwannoma not related to cranial nerves have been previously published, in the absence of von Recklinghausens disease.

Simultaneous posterior and middle cranial fossa neurinomas

SummaryA case of unilateral association of a neurinoma of the VIII nerve and a neurinoma of the temporal fossa in a 33-year-old woman without von Recklinghausen disease stigmata is presented.This uncommon association can mimic the picture of a trigeminal neurinoma with a dumb-bell extension into the posterior fossa.

Dissemination of pituitary adenomas

SummaryThe authors present a case of a histologically benign adenoma that seeded in the subarachnoid space with several independent nodules. A review is made of the pertinent literature, and the authors stress the possibility that a benign pituitary adenoma may spread, following operation, through the leptomeningeal spaces.

Lateral congenital spinal dermal sinus

Two children with spinal dermal sinuses of congenital origin are described. They are unusual because the skin dimples were located off the midline at the gluteal region.

Accidental stab wound of the cervical spinal cord from in front.

SummaryAn unusual case of damage to the cervical spinal cord due to a non-missile penetrating injury through an anterior route in a nine-year-old boy who fell from a bicycle is reported. There was a cerebrospinal fluid leak that lasted for two days. Clinical picture was that of incomplete Brown-Séquard syndrome and flaccid paresis of the extensor muscles of the left elbow and wrist. Treatment was conservative, with a very good functional recovery. To our best knowledge there is no myelographically documented case report of such a lesion in the literature.

Fibrous xanthomas of the brain. Report of two cases.

Summary Two patients are presented with respectively a fibrous xanthoma and a xanthosarcoma of the brain. Four cases with these rare neoplasms of the brain were described before by Kepes and coworkers in 1973. The histological characteristics and differential diagnosis are discussed.

Primary osteogenic sarcoma of the skull.

SummaryA case of primary osteogenic sarcoma of the skull with intracranial involvement is presented. The rarity of a skull location for osteogenic sarcoma is stressed. The clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of this entity are discussed.

Precocious puberty and hypothalamic hamartoma. Report on a new case with ultrastructural data.

SummaryA new case of hypothalamic hamartoma associated with precocious puberty is presented. After reviewing the literature, 23 other cases appeared. The ultrastructural study of the present case revealed common features with other hamartomatous lesions of the central nervous system and with the gangliogliomas. The data suggest that these lesions are morphologically organized in a very similar manner despite their very different growing potential.

Stereotactic localization and open microsurgical approach in the treatment of some intracranial deep arteriovenous malformations

Abstract The surgical resection of some small, deep-seated intracranial arteriovenous malformations may cause undue damage to the brain. A stereotactic method to localize them, a precise, limited approach following a probe as a guide, total resection with microsurgical technique, and intraoperative angiography to confirm total excision are advocated in selected cases. The experience of six cases is presented.