scholarly journals Cervicomedullary Ganglioglioma in a Child – A Case Report

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 122-127
Author(s):  
Eshagh Bahrami ◽  
Morteza Taheri ◽  
Feyzollah Ebrahimniya

Ganglioglioma is a benign slow-growing neoplasm that most frequently occurs at the supratentorial region. Nevertheless, there are occasional reports of ganglioglioma occurring in the brainstem and spinal cord. Here we report a rare case of the craniocervical ganglioglioma. A 3.5-year-old male, presented with severe progressive quadriparesis, gait disturbance, and sphincter deficit. Physical examination demonstrated the quadriparesis, associated with positive Hoffman, Babinski, and clonus signs, and increased respond of deep tendon reflexes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated an ill-defined mass within medulla and upper cervical spinal cord, which was hypo to iso signal on T1, heterogeneous iso to hypersignal on T2 and demonstrated marked bright enhancement on T1 with gadolinium (Gad) injection. On surgery, the mass had a soft texture, ill-defined border, and grey to brown appearance. According to the frozen section report, and due to the absence of the tumour-neural parenchymal interference, only decompression of the tumour and expansile duraplasty were performed. The histopathology revealed ganglioglioma. On last follow-up 14 months after surgery, the patient was asymptomatic and neurological status was improved. The craniocervical MRI demonstrated the tumour that did not grow. Although it is rare, the ganglioglioma should be in the differentiated diagnoses of tumours with compatible clinical and radiologic features even in the unusual locations, especially in the pediatric and young patients. Safety surgical resection should be considered in these patients, whenever possible. In the case of partial resection, that is common in the tumours located within functionally critical structures, long close follow-up rather than radiation therapy is required.

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (02) ◽  
pp. 151-153
Author(s):  
Ronald Farias ◽  
Kléver Oliveira ◽  
George Mendes ◽  
Ussânio Meira

AbstractSchistosomiasis is an infectious disease caused by trematode platyhelminths of the genus Schistosoma. The involvement of the cervical spinal cord is rare, with few cases reported in the literature. The management of such patients is particularly challenging, since clinical and radiological findings may be confounded with other inflammatory diseases and/ or spinal cord tumors. We describe a 20-year old male with a history of swimming outdoors. He first presented pain in the back of the neck extending to shoulders and upper limbs paresis associated with four limbs hyperreflexia. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a hypointense T1-weighted lesion in the cervical spinal cord, which was hyperintense on T2 images. The serologic testing was negative for schistosomiasis. A cervical cord biopsy at the C5-C6 level showed Schistosoma eggs in the histopathological examination. The treatment was performed using a single dose of praziquantel 50 mg/kg, with prednisone 40 mg/day for 3 weeks. On the follow-up, 1 year later, the patient presented mild reduction of the vibratory sensitivity in the distal third of both legs. Our illustrative case strengthens that, in endemic regions, Schistosoma mansoni infestation should be included in the differential diagnosis of intramedullary expansive lesions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 1445-1452 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Mark Keegan ◽  
Timothy J Kaufmann ◽  
Brian G Weinshenker ◽  
Orhun H Kantarci ◽  
William F Schmalstieg ◽  
...  

Objective: To report progressive motor impairment from a critically located central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating lesion in patients with restricted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-lesion burden. Methods: We identified 38 patients with progressive upper motor-neuron impairment for >1 year, 2–5 MRI CNS-demyelinating lesions, with one seemingly anatomically responsible for progressive motor impairment. Patients with any alternative etiology for progressive motor impairment were excluded. A neuroradiologist blinded to clinical evaluation reviewed multiple brain and spinal-cord MRI, selecting a candidate critically located demyelinating lesion. Lesion characteristics were determined and subsequently compared with clinical course. Results: Median onset age was 47.5 years (24–64); 23 (61%) women. Median follow-up was 94 months (18–442); median Expanded Disability Status Scale Score (EDSS) at last follow-up was 4.5 (2–10). Clinical presentations were progressive: hemiparesis/monoparesis 31; quadriparesis 5; and paraparesis 2; 27 patients had progression from onset; 11 progression post-relapse. Total MRI lesions were 2 ( n = 8), 3 ( n = 12), 4 ( n = 12), and 5 ( n = 6). Critical lesions were located on corticospinal tracts, chronically atrophic in 26/38 (68%) and involved cervical spinal cord in 27, cervicomedullary/brainstem region in 6, thoracic spinal cord in 4, and subcortical white matter in 1. Conclusion: Progressive motor impairment may ascribe to a critically located CNS-demyelinating lesion in patients with highly restricted MRI burden. Motor progression from a specific demyelinating lesion has implications for understanding multiple sclerosis (MS) progression.


Neurosurgery ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 518-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Dietrich Herrmann ◽  
Michael Neuss ◽  
Dietrich Winkler

Abstract We have operated upon 15 intramedullary spinal cord tumors with the aid of a CO2 laser attached to the microscope. The operative technique is described. Most of the tumors were localized within the cervical spinal cord. Nine tumors were benign gliomas: 4 ependymomas, 1 subependymoma, 3 astrocytomas, and 1 ganglioglioma. Six were removed totally, and 3 were removed subtotally. The remaining 6 tumors consisted of 3 hemangioblastomas, 1 intramedullary neurofibroma, 1 lipoma, and 1 primary intramedullary melanoma. Neurological function postoperatively compared to the preoperative function of the upper extremities was unchanged in 13 patients (86.5%), improved in 1, and worse in 1 patient. In the lower extremities, the preoperative neurological status was unchanged in 11 patients (73.3%), improved in 1 patient, and worse in 3 patients (20%). Magnetic resonance imaging was superior to myelography and computed tomography in localizing these lesions. Enhancement with paramagnetic substances (e.g., gadolinium-DTPA) helps to localize solid tumor within cysts. Histological evaluation of small tissue biopsies or frozen section histology is unreliable. The entire lesion should be exposed in all cases, and an attempt should be made to remove the tumor totally or, if this is not possible, to resect as much of the center of the tumor as is possible until the cord is decompressed. The decision to administer further treatment is based on the histological features of the tumor. (Neurosurgery 22:518-522, 1988)


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Salazar Davern ◽  
Sumeet Garg ◽  
Todd C. Hankinson

This report describes the presentation and operative treatment of a 3-year-old boy who survived a motor vehicle accident that resulted in a C6–7 distraction injury, complete avulsion of the spinal cord, and gross spinal instability. Only 5%–10% of all spinal cord and vertebral column injuries occur in children. Survival after such an injury is exceptionally rare in very young patients and is associated with severe neurological deficits. The authors discuss the substantial ethical challenges involved in the care of a patient with this injury. To their knowledge, only two other cases of survival have been reported in pediatric patients following motor vehicle trauma resulting in complete injury to the lower cervical spinal cord.


1970 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 168-172
Author(s):  
NK Karn ◽  
BP Shrestha ◽  
GP Khanal ◽  
R Rijal ◽  
P Chaudhary ◽  
...  

Objective: To see the role of methyleprednisolone succinate in the management of acute spinal cord injury. Methods: A randomized control trial was done including the patients with acute spinal cord injury. They were divided into age and gender matched two groups. Patients with presence of active infection, associated open fracture, those on long term steroid and those who did not give consent to participate in the trial were excluded. One group received methyleprednisolone succinate within 8 hours of injury and another group did not receive the drug. Both the groups were managed nonoperatively. The neurological status of the patients was assessed at presentation, once spinal shock was over, at 6th week and 6th month and after one year according to ASIA scoring. Frankel grading was also assessed in every follow up. Conclusion: Methylprednisolone succinct prevents secondary cord injury to a great extent and hence its administration within 8 hours of injury results in a better functional (motor and sensory) outcome. Keywords: acute spinal cord injury; methyleprednisolone succinate DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v9i3.5585   HR 2011; 9(3): 168-172


2006 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Fernando Guedes-Corrêa ◽  
Ricardo Caratta Macedo ◽  
Rafael Pereira Vaitsman ◽  
Jorge Gomes de Mattos ◽  
Jovita Marques Agra

Cysticercosis is an endemic condition in many developing countries. Although it is the most common parasitic disease of the central nervous system, cysticercal involvement of the spinal cord is rare. It may occur as intradural extramedullary, intramedullary, intramedullary associated with intradural-extramedullary or as the vertebral presentation. We report the case of a 53-year-old woman who presented with low back pain of acute onset and no other symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an intramedullary cyst of the conus medullaris region which, at pathological examination, was diagnosed as a cysticercal cyst. She refused anticysticercal agents and steroids postoperatively. After an eight-year follow-up, the patient performs the activities of her daily living with no difficulties, and annual spinal MRIs show no residual signs of the disease. Clinical, pathofisiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of spinal cord intramedullary cysticercosis are discussed.


2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Higgins ◽  
Ryan T. Tierney ◽  
Jeffrey B. Driban ◽  
Steven Edell ◽  
Randall Watkins

Abstract Context: Removal of the lacrosse helmet to achieve airway access has been discouraged based only on research in which cervical alignment was examined. No researchers have examined the effect of lacrosse equipment on the cervical space available for the spinal cord (SAC). Objective: To determine the effect of lacrosse equipment on the cervical SAC and cervical-thoracic angle (CTA) in the immobilized athlete. Design: Observational study. Setting: Outpatient imaging center. Patients or Other Participants: Ten volunteer lacrosse athletes (age  =  20.7 ± 1.87 years, height  =  180.3 ± 8.3 cm, mass  =  91 ± 12.8 kg) with no history of cervical spine injury or disease and no contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Intervention(s): The lacrosse players were positioned supine on a spine board for all test conditions. An MRI scan was completed for each condition. Main Outcome Measure(s): The independent variables were condition (no equipment, shoulder pads only [SP], and full gear that included helmet and shoulder pads [FG]), and cervical spine level (C3–C7). The dependent variables were the SAC and CTA. The MRI scans were evaluated midsagittally. The average of 3 measures was used as the criterion variable. The SAC data were analyzed using a 3 × 5 analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures. The CTA data were analyzed with a 1-way repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: We found no equipment × level interaction effect (F3.7,72  =  1.34, P  =  .279) or equipment main effect (F2,18  =  1.20, P  =  .325) for the SAC (no equipment  =  5.04 ± 1.44 mm, SP  =  4.69 ± 1.36 mm, FG  =  4.62 ± 1.38 mm). The CTA was greater (ie, more extension; critical P  =  .0167) during the SP (32.64° ± 3.9°) condition than during the no-equipment (25.34° ± 2.3°; t9  =  7.67, P  =  .001) or FG (26.81° ± 5.1°; t9  =  4.80, P  =  .001) condition. Conclusions: Immobilizing healthy lacrosse athletes with shoulder pads and no helmets affected cervical spine alignment but did not affect SAC. Further research is needed to determine and identify appropriate care of the lacrosse athlete with a spine injury.


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