Aneurysmal bone cysts of the cranium in children. Report of three cases and brief review of the literature.

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) of the cranium in children are rare, with only 3 to 6% of cases occurring in this anatomical location. Consequently, not much is known about ABCs and the most effective modality of treatment. The authors present the cases of three patients with ABCs and discuss the origin, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, pathological features, and imaging characteristics of these lesions.

Risk factors for developing epilepsy after craniotomy in children.

Introduction: We performed a retrospective analysis of children undergoing supratentorial craniotomy, attempting to identify possible risk factors for postoperative epilepsy and the need for prophylactic anticonvulsant therapy.

Materials And Methods: We analysed 107 consecutive patients (55% males) who had supratentorial craniotomy for a variety of diagnoses (tumours, trauma, infection, vascular malformations and others) during 1995-1999. Mean age at operation was 89 months (range: 1-180 months).

Familial Dandy-Walker syndrome: a case report supporting an autosomal inheritance.

Introduction: We report an isolated pedigree in which a consanguineous couple had twin sons with Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM). The mother is similarly affected with the disorder.

Discussion: DWM is an abnormality of the central nervous system, which leads to hydrocephalus and is associated with other abnormalities.

Management of pyopagus conjoined twins.

Introduction: Approximately 18% of conjoined twins (1 in 200,000 live births) are joined at the sacrum ("pyopagus"). As the joined structures are not life-threatening, there is generally a good prognosis, with time for investigation and planning of operative separation.

Case Report: This paper reports on the management of pyopagus twin girls, the first in the UK delivered at 36 weeks by Caesarean section.

Maxillary volume growth in craniosynostosis.

Craniosynostosis, and in particular, craniofacial dysostosis, exhibits abnormalities of the nasomaxillary complex in form, position, and development. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the volumetric maxillary abnormality in patients at the time of initial diagnosis of craniosynostosis and to make comparisons with a "normal" reference range for maxillary volumes throughout childhood. The technique of segmentation was applied to preoperative computed tomographic head scans obtained in 31 children (14 boys, 17 girls), between 1 and 34 months of age (mean, 11.

Maxillary volume growth in childhood.

Nasomaxillary abnormalities in form, position, and development in children are often prominent features of craniosynostosis, and in particular, craniofacial dysostosis. While attempting to quantitatively assess the volumetric maxillary deficiency in these patients, it became apparent that there was no "normal" reference range for maxillary volumes throughout childhood that could be used for comparison. The aim of this study was to generate a model for measuring maxillary volume and subsequent changes throughout childhood.

Influence of shunt type on ventricular volume changes in children with hydrocephalus.

Object: The goal of this study was twofold: to investigate the change in ventricular volume in children with hydrocephalus in response to shunt placement and to assess the effects of two different valve types (Medium Pressure [MP] cylindrical valve and Delta [model 1.5] valve).

Methods: Ventricular volume was measured using segmentation techniques on computerized tomography scans and magnetic resonance images obtained in 40 children with hydrocephalus who ranged in age from 4 days to 16 years.

Changes in orbital volume during childhood in cases of craniosynostosis.

Object: Controversy remains concerning the timing of frontoorbital advancement (FOA) surgery performed for craniosynostosis. Reduced orbital volume and degree of exorbitism are often cited as reasons for early surgical intervention. To date, however, little attention has been given to orbital volume and its changes during the first few years of life as an indicator of orbital growth in children with craniosynostosis.

Normal changes in orbital volume during childhood.

Object: The aim of this study was to construct a model of changes in orbital volume that occur throughout childhood from the age of 1 month to 15 years, which could be used for comparative studies of disease states affecting orbital growth.

Methods: Using the procedure of segmentation on magnetic resonance images obtained in 67 healthy children, orbital volume was measured and plotted against age. During the first few months of life left orbital volume is on average 15 cm3 in male and 13 cm3 in female infants; these volumes increase to 26 cm3 and 24 cm3, respectively, by the time the child reaches 15 years of age.