Intracranial arachnoid cysts (IAC) are benign lesions containing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Most of them are clinically silent and remain static in size. However some may present with mild and slow progressive symptom...Intracranial arachnoid cysts (IAC) are benign lesions containing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Most of them are clinically silent and remain static in size. However some may present with mild and slow progressive symptoms caused by the cyst. The authors present the case of 54-year-old woman who presented with acute symptoms of severe headache, vomiting, and gait disturbance of 2 day’s duration. She had no history of head trauma. On admission, neurological examination revealed that the patient had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15, and a left side hemiplegia. A CT scan revealed a hypodense fluid collection in the right frontoparietal region that mimicked an arachnoid cyst. The symptoms were improved after an emergency marsupialisation via craniotomy.展开更多
Background: Spinal schwannomas are common tumors of spinal neoplasm and account for about 25% of intradural spinal cord tumors in adults. They are generally benign and slow-growing. Advanced in radiologic and surgical...Background: Spinal schwannomas are common tumors of spinal neoplasm and account for about 25% of intradural spinal cord tumors in adults. They are generally benign and slow-growing. Advanced in radiologic and surgical techniques have brought about better surgical results. The goal of surgical treatment must be total resection if possible. In this report, the authors present the incidence, clinical presentation, localization, and results of surgically treated spinal schwannomas. The results of a literature review are also presented. Methods: Eleven consecutive patients with histologically confirmed spinal schwannomas were treated from January 2013 to December 2016 in the neurosurgical department of Gabriel Touré Hospital, Bamako, Mali. Neuroradiological diagnosis was made, CT scan in 7 patients, and MRI in 4 patients. All patients were operated on via the posterior approach. All cases were surgically excised, and they were confirmed to be schwannomas by pathologists. The patients were followed for 6 to 38 months (mean 28 months). Functional outcome was assessed using the motor grade and sensory change. Results: There were 11 patients with 7 (63.6%) males and 4 (36.4%) females. The mean age was 40.3 years (range 23 - 62 years). The most common symptom at the time of diagnosis was radicular pain in 9 (81.8%) patients followed by motor weakness in 8 (72.7%) patients. The most frequent site of spinal schwannomas was the thoracic region in 5 (45.5%) patients. During surgery, Gross-total resec-tion was achieved in 8 patients (72.7%) and subtotal removal in 3 (27.3%) patients. Histological findings were benign schwannoma in all cases. Postoperative complications developed in two patients, including one with cerebrospinal fluid leakage and other one with wound infection. In the short-term follow-up period, most of the patients (90.9%) appeared to be improved in comparison with their preoperative neurological status. There was no operative mortality. Conclusion: In this study, the clinical manifestations and surgical results of 11 cases of spinal schwannoma have been reviewed. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential for good outcome.展开更多
Background: Encephaloceles are congenital neural tube defects characterized by the protrusion of meninges and/or brain tissue from a defect in the skull. The incidence of the disease is about 0.8 - 5.6/10,000 live bir...Background: Encephaloceles are congenital neural tube defects characterized by the protrusion of meninges and/or brain tissue from a defect in the skull. The incidence of the disease is about 0.8 - 5.6/10,000 live births. They are classified based on the location and type of skull defect as occipital encephalocele, encephalocele of the cranial vault, frontoethmoidal encephalocele, and basal encephaloceles. Surgical reduction being the first line treatment and resection of herniated structures may be necessary when the encephalocele is large. In the present study, the authors present their experience in treating 17 patients with encephaloceles. Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of 17 patients from January 2013 to December 2016 in Gabriel Touré Hospital, Bamako, Mali. A history was obtained from the family at presentation. Medical information before and during the pregnancy was compiled. All patients underwent CT scan as a routine preoperative imaging study, to evaluate the encephalocele and to plan the surgical procedure. The following data were recorded for analysis: age, sex, location of encephalocele, neurological status, operative method, postoperative complications and surgical results. Results: There were 10 (58.8%) female and 7 (41.2%) male patients. The patients ranged in age from 3 days to 36 months. The most common site of encephalocele sac was the occipital region in 14 (82.4%) cases followed by the frontal region in 2 (11.8%) cases and the vertex in 1 (5.9%) case. The sac size was less than 3 cm in 5 (17.6%) cases, 3 - 5 cm in 8 (47.1%) cases and more than 5 cm in 4 (23.5%) cases. Three (17.6%) children presented with CSF leakage. Hydrocephalus was present in the preoperative period in 6 (35.3%) cases;all of them required VP shunt procedure. None of the cases had a preoperative neurologic deficit. Surgical excision was performed in all cases. In the postoperative period, meningitis developed in 2 cases (11.8%), wound infection in 1 case (5.9%) and seizure in 1 case (5.9%). Three patients (17.6%) died during postoperative follow-up. Postoperative hydrocephalus occurred in 1 (5.88%) patient requiring a VP shunt. Conclusion: Encephaloceles are commonly seen in the practice of neurosurgery in the world as well as in Mali. In this study, the clinical manifestations and surgical results of 17 cases have been reviewed. We recommend early repair and excision of encephaloceles to avoid rupture or skin excoriation.展开更多
文摘Intracranial arachnoid cysts (IAC) are benign lesions containing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Most of them are clinically silent and remain static in size. However some may present with mild and slow progressive symptoms caused by the cyst. The authors present the case of 54-year-old woman who presented with acute symptoms of severe headache, vomiting, and gait disturbance of 2 day’s duration. She had no history of head trauma. On admission, neurological examination revealed that the patient had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15, and a left side hemiplegia. A CT scan revealed a hypodense fluid collection in the right frontoparietal region that mimicked an arachnoid cyst. The symptoms were improved after an emergency marsupialisation via craniotomy.
文摘Background: Spinal schwannomas are common tumors of spinal neoplasm and account for about 25% of intradural spinal cord tumors in adults. They are generally benign and slow-growing. Advanced in radiologic and surgical techniques have brought about better surgical results. The goal of surgical treatment must be total resection if possible. In this report, the authors present the incidence, clinical presentation, localization, and results of surgically treated spinal schwannomas. The results of a literature review are also presented. Methods: Eleven consecutive patients with histologically confirmed spinal schwannomas were treated from January 2013 to December 2016 in the neurosurgical department of Gabriel Touré Hospital, Bamako, Mali. Neuroradiological diagnosis was made, CT scan in 7 patients, and MRI in 4 patients. All patients were operated on via the posterior approach. All cases were surgically excised, and they were confirmed to be schwannomas by pathologists. The patients were followed for 6 to 38 months (mean 28 months). Functional outcome was assessed using the motor grade and sensory change. Results: There were 11 patients with 7 (63.6%) males and 4 (36.4%) females. The mean age was 40.3 years (range 23 - 62 years). The most common symptom at the time of diagnosis was radicular pain in 9 (81.8%) patients followed by motor weakness in 8 (72.7%) patients. The most frequent site of spinal schwannomas was the thoracic region in 5 (45.5%) patients. During surgery, Gross-total resec-tion was achieved in 8 patients (72.7%) and subtotal removal in 3 (27.3%) patients. Histological findings were benign schwannoma in all cases. Postoperative complications developed in two patients, including one with cerebrospinal fluid leakage and other one with wound infection. In the short-term follow-up period, most of the patients (90.9%) appeared to be improved in comparison with their preoperative neurological status. There was no operative mortality. Conclusion: In this study, the clinical manifestations and surgical results of 11 cases of spinal schwannoma have been reviewed. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential for good outcome.
文摘Background: Encephaloceles are congenital neural tube defects characterized by the protrusion of meninges and/or brain tissue from a defect in the skull. The incidence of the disease is about 0.8 - 5.6/10,000 live births. They are classified based on the location and type of skull defect as occipital encephalocele, encephalocele of the cranial vault, frontoethmoidal encephalocele, and basal encephaloceles. Surgical reduction being the first line treatment and resection of herniated structures may be necessary when the encephalocele is large. In the present study, the authors present their experience in treating 17 patients with encephaloceles. Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of 17 patients from January 2013 to December 2016 in Gabriel Touré Hospital, Bamako, Mali. A history was obtained from the family at presentation. Medical information before and during the pregnancy was compiled. All patients underwent CT scan as a routine preoperative imaging study, to evaluate the encephalocele and to plan the surgical procedure. The following data were recorded for analysis: age, sex, location of encephalocele, neurological status, operative method, postoperative complications and surgical results. Results: There were 10 (58.8%) female and 7 (41.2%) male patients. The patients ranged in age from 3 days to 36 months. The most common site of encephalocele sac was the occipital region in 14 (82.4%) cases followed by the frontal region in 2 (11.8%) cases and the vertex in 1 (5.9%) case. The sac size was less than 3 cm in 5 (17.6%) cases, 3 - 5 cm in 8 (47.1%) cases and more than 5 cm in 4 (23.5%) cases. Three (17.6%) children presented with CSF leakage. Hydrocephalus was present in the preoperative period in 6 (35.3%) cases;all of them required VP shunt procedure. None of the cases had a preoperative neurologic deficit. Surgical excision was performed in all cases. In the postoperative period, meningitis developed in 2 cases (11.8%), wound infection in 1 case (5.9%) and seizure in 1 case (5.9%). Three patients (17.6%) died during postoperative follow-up. Postoperative hydrocephalus occurred in 1 (5.88%) patient requiring a VP shunt. Conclusion: Encephaloceles are commonly seen in the practice of neurosurgery in the world as well as in Mali. In this study, the clinical manifestations and surgical results of 17 cases have been reviewed. We recommend early repair and excision of encephaloceles to avoid rupture or skin excoriation.
