1/12. Medulloblastomas in neurofibromatosis type 1. Case report and literature review.A 6-year-old girl, previously diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) presented with ataxia and symptoms of raised intracranial pressure. Diagnostic work up disclosed a posterior fossa tumor. Histopathological study of the excised neoplasm showed a cerebellar medulloblastoma. We review the current literature and suggest that the association of medulloblastoma with NF-1 is not a chance occurrence, and that it might be pathogenically related. We propose that medulloblastoma should be added to the list of malignancies that are apt to occur in NF-1.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/12. MRI findings in a case of a superficial siderosis associated with an ependymoma.We present the imaging findings of superficial siderosis of the central nervous system associated with an ependymoma of the posterior fossa in a patient who presented with progressive bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and cerebellar ataxia. The ependymoma was a homogeneous well-defined mass of the fourth ventricle without hydrocephalus. Secondary siderosis due to chronic bleeding from the ependymoma appeared as linear hypointensity delineating the surface of the cortex, thin and subtle on spin-echo T2-weighted images, thick and obvious on gradient-echo T2-weighted images.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.1290906521989keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/12. Intramedullary spinal cavernous malformation following spinal irradiation. Case report and review of the literature.There is a growing body of evidence in the literature suggesting that cavernous malformations of the central nervous system may develop after neuraxis irradiation. The authors discuss the case of a 17-year-old man who presented with progressive back pain and myelopathy 13 years after undergoing craniospinal irradiation for a posterior fossa medulloblastoma. Spinal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, performed at the time of his initial presentation with a medulloblastoma, demonstrated no evidence of a malformation. Imaging studies and evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid revealed no evidence of recurrence or dissemination. Spinal MR imaging demonstrated an extensive lesion in the thoracic spine with an associated syrinx suggestive of a cavernous malformation. A thoracic laminectomy was performed and the malformation was successfully resected. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. The patient did well after surgery and was ambulating without assistance 6 weeks later. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the second reported case in the literature and the first in the young adult age group suggesting the de novo development of cavernous malformations in the spinal cord after radiotherapy. An increased awareness of these lesions and close follow-up examination are recommended in this setting.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.1290906521989keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/12. Posterior cervical haemangiopericytoma with intracranial and skull base extension. Diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of a rare hypervascular neoplasm.Haemangiopericytomas are rare hypervascular tumors arising from pericytes. They may occur anywhere in the body, but posterior cervical location is rather uncommon. A case of posterior cervical haemangiopericytoma with posterior fossa and temporal bone extension is reported. Although the patient had undergone preoperative endovascular embolization and surgical resection on three separate occasions, control of the skull base extension was not successful. Following endovascular embolization combined with radiotherapy, the patient has been asymptomatic for 48 months. Angiographic features may help in differentiating haemangiopericytomas from other hypervascular lesions. Preoperative endovascular embolization is recommended due to the pronounced tendency for haemorrhage throughout biopsy and surgical procedures.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/12. Stereotactic methods in interdisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of posterior fossa tumours.For over 2 years, we have had access to latest generation apparatus and software for planning and stereotactic treatment as well as for x-rays treatment. Until now, we have carried out over 100 procedures. These included 52 stereotactic biopsies of neoplasms, some of them located within the structures of the posterior fossa. In this report, we have discussed the possibilities and effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment of tumours located in different structures, including posterior cave. In the study, we used stereotactic methods. We have described biopsies of the following tumours: cerebellar hemisphere tumour (diagnosed as "metastatic atypic planoepitheliale carcinoma" in a patient with coexisting orbit lymphoma), a bifocal lesion (located in cerebellar hemisphere and cerebellar peduncle, diagnosed as pilocytic astrocytoma of WHO malignancy grade II/III), and lesion (located in the pons, diagnosed as pilocytic astrocytoma WHO grade II).- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/12. Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor: an unusual presentation.Atypical teratoid/ rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) of the central nervous system is a rare, highly aggressive malignancy of infancy. Although it is reported infrequently in the literature, it has often been histologically confused with a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET)/medulloblastoma (MB) but has a much worse prognosis. We present an infant with two AT/RT tumors, one suprasellar in location and the other within the vermis without evidence of tumor elsewhere. What makes this case unusual is that there were two separate lesions in different cranial compartments, with no evidence of subarachnoid seeding. In addition, the lesions had different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics even though they were histologically the same.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.1290906521989keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/12. Infratentorial giant cell ependymoma: a rare variant of ependymoma.We describe a giant cell ependymoma occurring in a 50-year-old man. The mass was located in the posterior aspect of the foramen magnum, extending from the cerebellar tonsil to the upper cervical spine. The tumor was a highly cellular neoplasm showing biphasic histology. Diffuse sheets of non-cohesive atypical giant cells, having eccentrically located single or multiple nuclei and plump eosinophilic cytoplasm, partly infiltrated the desmoplastic inflammatory stroma. Parts of perivascular pseudorosette-forming or pseudopapillary areas were composed of atypically elongated cells, which looked like conventional anaplastic ependymoma. There was a transitional area between two patterns. Numerous mitoses and focal necrosis were observed. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were immunoreactive for glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin, S-100 protein, and CD99. None of the tumor cells showed immunoreactivity for epithelial membrane antigen except for the intracytoplasmic lumen of a few vacuolated cells. Ultrastructurally, tumor cells were ependymal in nature; we noted cytoplasmic intermediate filaments and intercellular microrosettes with microvilli, cilia, and long zonula adherens. The features of this tumor, e.g. its superficial location, mixed giant cells, perivascular pseudorosettes or papillaries, complicated its differentiation from rhabdoid/papillary meningioma. However, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy confirmed the diagnosis of ependymoma. The giant cell variant should be included in the subclassification of the ependymoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/12. Meningeal melanocytoma of the posterior fossa: case report and literature review.BACKGROUND: Meningeal melanocytomas are rare primary melanotic tumors of the leptomeninges. According to our review of the literature, just 22 cases of meningeal melanocytoma (MM) of the posterior fossa have been previously reported. Some aspects related to diagnosis, radiological appearance, histopathologic features, and management are discussed in this paper. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe the case of a 42-year-old female presenting with severe headache, nausea, and vomiting. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a posterior fossa lesion that was surgically treated. Histopathologic examination showed a highly cellular melanocytic neoplasm with numerous dark pigments in the cytoplasm. Immunoperoxidase staining S-100 protein and HMB 45 demonstrated immunoreactivity for both, confirming the diagnosis of MM. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, MMs are rare histologically benign tumors that can be cured by complete surgical resection alone, which should be the goal of the treatment. These lesions, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumors of the posterior fossa.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/12. Delayed occurrence of multiple spinal drop metastases from a posterior fossa choroid plexus papilloma. Case report.choroid plexus papilloma is a benign central nervous system tumor that occasionally spreads along the subarachnoid space. The authors report the case of a 49-year-old man who presented with back pain 19 years after resection of a posterior fossa choroid plexus papilloma. magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple spinal lesions without any residual or recurrent intracranial tumor. All spinal lesions were resected and histologically diagnosed as atypical choroid plexus papilloma. The authors suggest that patients in whom choroid plexus papilloma is diagnosed should undergo total neuraxis imaging at the time of initial diagnosis as well as periodic follow-up examinations after resection to rule out drop metastases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.1290906521989keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/12. torticollis secondary to posterior fossa and cervical spinal cord tumors: report of five cases and literature review.torticollis is either congenital or acquired in childhood. Acquired torticollis is not a diagnosis but rather a sign of an underlying disorder. The causes of acquired torticollis include ligamentous, muscular, osseous, ocular, psychiatric, and neurologic disorders and may be a symptom of significant abnormalities of the spinal cord and brain, such as spinal syrinx or central nervous system neoplasia. torticollis is rarely considered to be an initial clinical presentation of posterior fossa and cervical spinal cord tumors. We report five cases of pediatric tumors with torticollis at the onset: an astrocytoma originating from the medulla oblongata, another presumptive astrocytoma of the spinal cord located between C1 and C6 cervical vertebrae (not operated), an ependymoma located throughout the whole cervical spinal cord extending into the bulbomedullary junction, an astrocytoma originating from the bulbus and extending into the posterior fossa, and another case of a eosinophilic granuloma located extradurally through the anterior and posterior portions of the vertebral bodies from C3 to C7 producing the collapse of the sixth cervical vertebra. All five cases were seen in children, aged between 3 and 12 years. All these cases reflect the misinterpretation of this neurological sign and the lack of association with the possibility of spinal or posterior fossa tumor. This delay in the diagnosis of these diseases led to progressive neurological deterioration and to the increase in the tumor size, which made surgical intervention difficult and the prognosis unfavorable. Although torticollis secondary to tumors is rarely seen, it is necessary to be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.1290906521989keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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