Epicrania Fugax as the presenting symptom of a cerebellar abscess

Cephalalgia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 1200-1203 ◽  
Author(s):  
David García-Azorín ◽  
Julio Dotor García-Soto ◽  
Enrique Martínez-Pías ◽  
Angel L Guerrero-Peral

Background Epicrania fugax is included in the appendix of the International Classification of Headache Disorders and is characterized as recurrent brief attacks of linear or zigzag pain moving across the cranial surface, commencing and terminating in the distribution of different nerves. We present a new case of epicrania fugax in which the headache was the presenting symptom of a cerebellar abscess. Case report We present a 58-year-old woman with prior history of Chiari I malformation who underwent suboccipital craniectomy. Two weeks after surgery, she experienced paroxysmal pain episodes of 1–3 seconds, with constant linear trajectory from the right occipital surface to the right orbital region, remaining pain free between episodes. Cranial tomography showed a hypodense intraaxial lesion in the right cerebellar hemisphere. Magnetic Resonance Imaging exhibited intralesional bleeding and peripheral enhancement after gadolinium administration. Post-surgical cerebellar abscess was diagnosed and antibiotic therapy was started; the patient underwent urgent surgical drainage. Pain disappeared after the surgery and the patient remains pain free with 12 months of follow-up. Conclusion Posterior fossa abnormalities have been described as a possible cause of secondary epicrania fugax. The presence of red flags should encourage conducting of paraclinical tests to rule out a symptomatic form.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 01-03
Author(s):  
Chukwubuike Kevin Emeka

Background: Testicular torsion is a urological emergency in which there is a race against time to salvage the testis. The aim of this study was to evaluate our experience in the management of children who presented with acute testicular torsion. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of children aged 15 years and below who had surgery for acute testicular torsion between January 2013 and December 2017 at the pediatric surgery unit of a teaching hospital in Enugu, Nigeria. Results: Sixty-four children were managed during the study period. The ages of the patients ranged from 2 months to 14 years with a median of 6 years. The right testis was mostly affected and the mean duration from the onset of symptom to presentation was 4 hours. All the patients presented with testicular pain and half of the patients had a prior history of intermittent testicular pain. Four (6.3%) patients had a history of trauma precipitating the testicular torsion and 3 (4.7%) patients had undescended testis. Detorsion and Orchidopexy was the most performed surgical procedure and wound infection was the most common post-operative complication. There was no mortality. Conclusion: Testicular torsion is not uncommon in children and may be associated with testicular loss. The right testis is mostly involved in children. Prior history of intermittent testicular pain, trauma and undescended testis are important considerations. Prompt detorsion and orchidopexy remains the cornerstone of treatment.


1996 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas W. Mesko ◽  
Julie Friedman ◽  
Harry Sendzischew ◽  
Daniel D. Nixon

AbstractClinically evident metastases to the thyroid gland are rarely found antemortem. A case of a 59-year-old woman with a history of rectal carcinoma, who presented with low back pain and a mass in the right lobe of her thyroid gland, is presented. The tumour of the thyroid was found to be metastatic adenocarcinoma from her previous rectal cancer. Other synchronous metastases were noted in her lumbar spine and kidneys.The clinical finding of metastases to the thyroid gland is rare, particularly from a colorectal primary. One must consider, however, the possibility of a tumour of the thyroid gland representing a secondary malignancy in any patient with a prior history of cancer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. e241789
Author(s):  
Hadleigh Cuthbert ◽  
Joshua Pepper ◽  
Rupert Price

The Chiari I malformation (CM-I) is characterised by overcrowding of the posterior fossa and descent of the cerebellar tonsils and is associated with syringomyelia. With the increasing availability of magnetic resonance imaging, CM-I is placing a growing burden on neurosurgical services. However, its natural history remains poorly understood, and the timing and nature of surgical intervention is controversial. We present a case of a significant, symptomatic CM-I with associated syrinx which underwent complete spontaneous resolution over a 4-year period. Spontaneous regression of Chiari malformation and syringomyelia is exceedingly rare; a literature review reveals 15 other cases and only one case which underwent complete resolution. The present case and literature review suggest a more benign natural history of CM-I and support a more conservative approach to its management. Further studies are required to determine whether any factors can predict resolution for certain patient cohorts.


Author(s):  
Flor Wilson Giraldo ◽  
Hector Lezcano ◽  
Leonardo Barrios

<p>Introducción: Las Malformaciones de Chiari (M.C.) son alteraciones estructurales a nivel del cerebelo de etiología en estudio. Muy raras, afectan al 0,5% de la población. Más de la mitad de los pacientes cursan con siringomielia. Caso clínico: Femenina de 47 años con antecedente de M.C. Tipo I, acude con cuadro de dos semanas de evolución de cefalea holocraneana de intensidad 8/10, asociado a mareo e inestabilidad a la marcha. Hallazgos positivos de alteración en los pares craneales III, VIII, IX; hipertonía, signo de Babinski y Hoffman positivos bilaterales; ataxia truncal; nistagmus a la derecha; fuerza muscular disminuida en miembros superiores e hiperreflexia. Discusión: Ante la sospecha clínica, y las múltiples alteraciones a nivel del cerebelo y bulbo, se procede a realizar estudios de imagen y se confirma el diagnóstico de siringomielia.</p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong></p><p>Introduction: Chiari malformations (C.M.) are structural alterations in cerebellum. They are of unknown etiology, at present in study. They are very rare and affect 0,5 % of the population. More than half of the patients have syringomyelia. Clinical case: A 47-year-old female with medical record of C.M. Type I, presents with a two-week evolution holocranial headache, 8/10 in intensity, associated with dizziness and gait instability. Positive findings of alteration in cranial nerves III, VIII, IX; hypertonia, Babinski and Hoffman bilateral sign; truncal ataxia; nystagmus on the right; decreased muscle strength in the upper limbs and hyperreflexia. Discussion: Due to clinical suspicion and multiple alterations in cerebellum and bulb, imaging studies are performed and the diagnosis of syringomyelia is confirmed.</p>


Neurosurgery ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. E393-E394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yakov Gologorsky ◽  
Scott A. Meyer ◽  
Alexander F. Post ◽  
H. Richard Winn ◽  
Aman B. Patel ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE Pulsatile tinnitus is a relatively common, potentially incapacitating condition that is often vascular in origin. We present a case of disabling pulsatile tinnitus caused by a transverse-sigmoid sinus aneurysm that was surgically treated with self-tying U-clips (Medtronic, Inc., Memphis, TN). We also review the literature and discuss other described interventions. CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 48-year-old woman presented with a 5-year history of progressive pulsatile tinnitus involving the right ear. Her physical examination was consistent with a lesion that was venous in origin. Angiography demonstrated a wide-necked venous aneurysm of the transverse-sigmoid sinus that had eroded the mastoid bone. INTERVENTION The patient underwent a retromastoid suboccipital craniectomy to expose the aneurysm and surrounding anatomy. The aneurysm dome was tamponaded and the aneurysm neck was coagulated until the dome had shrunk to a small remnant. The linear defect in the transverse sigmoid junction was then reconstructed with a series of U-clips and covered with Gelfoam hemostatic sponge (Pfizer, Inc., New York, NY). The patient awakened without neurological deficit and with immediate resolution of her tinnitus. A postoperative angiogram demonstrated obliteration of the aneurysm, with minimal stenosis in the region of the repair and good flow through the dominant right transverse-sigmoid junction. CONCLUSION This technical case report describes a novel definitive surgical treatment of venous sinus aneurysms. This technique does not necessitate long-term anticoagulation, has a low likelihood of reintervention, and provides immediate resolution of pulsatile tinnitus.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Klekamp

Abstract BACKGROUND: Foramen magnum decompression is widely accepted as the treatment of choice for Chiari I malformation. However, important surgical details of the procedure are controversial. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzes 371 decompressions focusing on intraoperative findings, analysis of complications, and long-term outcomes. METHODS: Among 644 patients between 1985 and 2010, 359 patients underwent 371 decompressions. Surgery for symptomatic patients consisted of suboccipital craniectomy, C1 laminectomy, arachnoid dissection, and duraplasty. Short-term results were determined after 3 months; long-term outcomes were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier statistics. RESULTS: The mean age was 40 ± 16 years; mean follow-up was 49 ± 56 months; 75.8% demonstrated syringomyelia. The complication rate was 21.8% with permanent surgical morbidity of 3.2% and surgical mortality of 1.3%. Of the patients, 73.6% reported improvement after 3 months; 21% were unchanged. Overall, 14.3% demonstrated a neurological deterioration within 5 years and 15.4% within 10 years. The severity of neurological symptoms correlated with the grade of arachnoid pathology. Outcome data correlated with the number of previous decompressions, severity of arachnoid pathology, handling of the arachnoid, type of duraplasty, and surgical experience. First-time decompressions with arachnoid dissection and an alloplastic duraplasty resulted in surgical morbidity for 2.0%, a 0.9% mortality rate, postoperative improvement after 3 months for 82%, and neurological recurrence rates of 7% after 5 years and 8.7% after 10 years. CONCLUSION: Arachnoid pathology in Chiari I malformation has an impact on clinical symptoms and postoperative results. Decompressions with arachnoid dissection and an alloplastic duraplasty performed by surgeons experienced with this pathology offer a favorable long-term prognosis.


Author(s):  
Matthew Carey ◽  
William Fuell ◽  
Thomas Harkey ◽  
Gregory W. Albert

1991 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 791-794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric L. Rhoton ◽  
Albert L. Rhoton

✓ A 69-year-old white woman presented with a left hemiparesis which progressed to quadriparesis and encephalopathy. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a Chiari I malformation and a hydromyelic cavity extending from C-2 to T-6. Rostrally, the cavity extended through the ventral medulla, pons, and right cerebral peduncle into the right cerebral hemisphere, where the cavity enlarged and was associated with mass effect. The patient has made a dramatic neurological recovery following suboccipital craniectomy with insertion of a dural graft to decompress the Chiari malformation and upper cervical laminectomy and dorsal root entry zone myelotomy to decompress the hydromyelia.


Author(s):  
A Ghare ◽  
K Langdon ◽  
A Andrade ◽  
R Kiwan ◽  
A Ranger ◽  
...  

Background: Myeloid sarcoma (MS) is a rare solid tumour made of myeloblasts or immature myeloid cells in an extramedullary site or in bone, associated with systemic hematologic neoplasms. When they occur in the brain parenchyma, they can often be misdiagnosed. Methods: The authors report a case of a 4-year old boy 6 months out of remission from AML, presenting with a short history of headaches and vomiting, and found to have a heterogenous contrast-enhancing lesion in the right cerebellar hemisphere, with differential diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma and ATRT. Preliminary diagnosis was made flow cytometry from an intraoperative biopsy. The patient had a long course of chemotherapy and radiation, but eventually died from the systemic burden of his AML. Results: The authors present a literature review on 178 published cases of CNS myeloid sarcomas, and their radiological presentation and the basis of immunohistochemical and pathological diagnosis is discussed. Conclusions: Diagnosis rests on a combination of immunohistochemistry and histopathology of biopsied tissue. Surgical resection is controversial, especially given the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation, and prognosis remains unclear. As with all uncommon and rare clinical entities, further investigation is warranted to determine prognosis and optimal management of CNS myeloid sarcomas.


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