Effect of cervical traction on cervicogenic headache in patients with cervical radiculopathy: a preliminary randomized controlled trial.

Background: Cervical radiculopathy (CR) is a common condition, often associated with cervicogenic headache (CGH), a secondary headache arising from cervical spine disorders. Mechanical intermittent cervical traction (MICT) is frequently prescribed to treat CR symptoms. The purpose of the study was to make a preliminary estimate of efficacy of adding MICT to conventional rehabilitation on CGH in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Can we consider ventriculo-gallbladder shunt a first-line treatment in selected patients? Case report of a successful management.

Introduction: Ventriculo-gallbladder shunt (VGS) has been recognized as a last-resort alternative to treat hydrocephalus when the peritoneum and/or other distal sites can no longer receive shunts. In some specific conditions, it may be conceded as a first-line treatment.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 6-month-old girl with progressive post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus who presented a concomitant chronic abdominal symptom.

Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the orbit: A rare clinical entity.

Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma is an exceptionally rare neoplasm with a propensity for local recurrence and metastasis. We report the second case in the world literature of a primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the orbit in a 66-year-old man suffering from pain, progressive protrusion of left eye, and a deep drop in vision on the left for several weeks. His first external examination revealed significant proptosis with downward displacement of the left globe with no signs of lagophthalmos.

Whipple Disease Presenting as Cystic Brain Tumor: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Although neurological features are commonly encountered in Whipple"s disease (WD), presentation with purely neurological patterns is uncommon. Exclusive confinement to the central nervous system (CNS) is extremely rare. In these cases, the development of an isolated cerebral mass is exceptional.

Decision-making algorithm for minimally invasive approaches to anterior skull base meningiomas.

OBJECTIVE Anterior skull base meningiomas are benign lesions that cause neurological symptoms through mass effect on adjacent neurovascular structures. While traditional transcranial approaches have proven to be effective at removing these tumors, minimally invasive approaches that involve using an endoscope offer the possibility of reducing brain and nerve retraction, minimizing incision size, and speeding patient recovery; however, appropriate case selection and results in large series are lacking. METHODS The authors developed an algorithm for selecting a supraorbital keyhole minicraniotomy (SKM) for olfactory groove meningiomas or an expanded endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for tuberculum sella (TS) or planum sphenoidale (PS) meningiomas based on the presence or absence of olfaction and the anatomical extent of the tumor.

Treatment strategies for craniopharyngiomas.

Craniopharyniomas arise from the sellar region and are particularly challenging because of their close proximity to critical neurovascular structures, including cranial nerves, brainstem, internal carotid arteries, posterior cerebral arteries, hypothalamus, and the pituitary gland. The tumors are benign on histology but can cause serious symptoms by compression of surrounding vital structures. While radical surgery and gross total resection (GTR) remains the first line treatment, choosing the optimal surgical approach is critical for the minimization of complications and postoperative morbidity.

Posttraumatic Uncal Herniation in a Conscious Patient.

The incidence of primary traumatic oculomotor nerve palsies in craniocerebral trauma is approximately 1.2% and is usually persistent and associated with loss of consciousness, other neurologic deficits, and skull base or orbital fractures. This case is a rare demonstration of complete left third nerve palsy from uncal herniation after trauma without any loss of consciousness.

Simultaneous Occurrence of a Pituitary Adenoma and a Foramen Magnum Meningioma: Case Report.

The coexistence of a pituitary adenoma and a meningioma is a rare event. In all previously reported cases, only 1 of these 2 tumors was symptomatic. We present the case of 61-year-old woman with no significant medical history who was treated for a simultaneously symptomatic pituitary nonfunctioning adenoma and foramen magnum meningioma.

Epidural Venous Angioma Presenting with Spinal Cord Compression in a 42-Year-Old Woman with Previous History of Ovarian Malignancy.

Background: Venous angioma is an extremely rare vascular malformation of the epidural space. To the best of our knowledge, only 5 cases have been documented to date and none has been reported in the setting of a previous malignancy.

Case Description: We report the case of a 42-year-old woman with a previous history of ovarian cancer, treated by surgery plus chemotherapy; who presented with signs of spinal cord compression for 3 weeks.

Hemangiopericytoma of the Cerebellopontine Angle: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing.

Primary meningeal hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a rare, aggressive dura based tumor that remarkably mimics a meningioma clinically and radiologically. Its occurrence within the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) is exceptional, and establishing the exact diagnosis is of the utmost importance since total resection remains the cornerstone of treatment. A 42-year-old man presented with a three-month history of progressively worsening vertigo and difficulty in walking.

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor of the lateral ventricle.

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RTs) are rare and highly malignant embryonal central nervous system neoplasms, usually seen in very young children with rapid fatal outcome despite aggressive treatment. They are most commonly located in the posterior fossa. Intraventricular location is extremely rare.

Plagiocephaly due to Frontosphenoidal Suture Synostosis: Report of 2 Cases and Literature Review.

Background/aims: The most common cause of anterior plagiocephaly is the fusion of the unilateral coronal suture. In some rare cases, however, the fusion of the frontosphenoidal suture may lead to a resembling pattern with specific clinical and radiological features. The aim of the present study is to further enlighten this entity as it is misdiagnosed most of the time.

Intraventricular Glioblastomas.

Background And Importance: Although glioblastoma is the most common primary brain tumor, primary intraventricular locations are extremely rare; only 21 cases have been reported to date.

Methods: A retrospectively acquired database of all intracranial glioblastomas treated in 2 different neurosurgical departments during the last 10 years was queried. Patients with histologically proven intraventricular glioblastomas were included in the study.

Primary Cerebellar Gliosarcoma with Extracranial Metastases: An Orphan Differential Diagnosis.

Background: Gliosarcomas are rare, malignant primary brain tumors, most commonly located in the temporal lobe, that contain both glial and mesenchymal elements. Gliosarcomas located within the cerebellum are exceedingly rare. The previously unreported finding of a cerebellar gliosarcoma concurrently with an extracranial metastasis to the lungs is discussed here.

Metastatic sacrococcygeal yolk sac tumor: A misleading diagnosis.

Sacrococcygeal yolk sac tumor (YST) is an extremely rare malignant extra-gonadal germ-cell tumor, which usually succeeds to the degeneration of more common benign teratoma. We describe here an unprecedented case of conus medullaris compression by a spinal metastasis from a pure sacrococcygeal YST in a 1½ years old girl, which was misdiagnosed initially as an anal fissure and stress the need of a meticulous clinical examination and further screening in young patients presenting with sphincter disturbances.

Giant cell tumor of the sixth thoracic vertebra: case report.

Giant cell tumor is an uncommon but most aggressive benign tumour of the spine with unpredictable outcome and challenging treatment. Spinal giant cell tumors located above the sacrum are rare and treatment recommendations are still unclear. We report a rare case of this lesion in an adult and discuss the management and outcome of such uncommon tumors.

Calcified Suprasellar Xanthogranuloma Presenting with Primary Amenorrhea in a 17-Year-Old Girl: Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Xanthogranuloma, also known as cholesterol granuloma, is an extremely rare intracranial neoplasm most commonly located in the middle ear, petrous apex, or choroid plexus. Exclusively suprasellar xanthogranulomas are exceptional and this report presents a very rare case in the pediatric population, particularly unique due to the presence of calcification.

Case Description: A 17-year-old girl presented with primary amenorrhea with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showing a large calcified enhancing suprasellar mass, which was presumptively diagnosed as a craniopharyngioma on the basis of its clinical and radiologic appearance.

Congenital Glioblastoma: Lessons Learned from a Rare Case with Unusual Presentation.

Congenital glioblastomas are uncommon tumors of infancy with unique molecular features and usually better prognosis compared to their pediatric and adult counterparts. A 15-day old newborn harboring a congenital glioblastoma undiagnosed at pregnancy presented to our emergencies with rapid neurological deterioration. Radiological investigations revealed an 8 by 9 cm space occupying and enhancing lesion in the left temporoparietooccipital region with intratumoral hemorrhage.

Primary pure and nonsecreting embryonal carcinoma of the anterior third ventricle: a case report.

Central nervous system germ cell tumors (GCTs) account for less than 5% of primary brain tumors in children and adolescents but continue to attract much attention. To the best of our knowledge, a primary pure and nonsecreting embryonal carcinoma of the anterior third ventricle has never been previously reported. A 15-year-old boy presented with signs of increased intracranial pressure for the past 2 weeks complicated by 2 episodes of generalized tonic-clonic seizures 1 day before admission.

Uncommon progression of an extradural spinal meningioma.

Extradural spinal meningiomas are rare. Our understanding of purely extradural spinal meningiomas is still incomplete and they may be easily confused with malignant neoplasms, much more common in this location. We report a rare case of a purely extradural thoracic spine meningioma in a 70-year-old man, with an unusual progression.

Hematogenous pasteurella haemolytica brain abscess.

Pasteurella infections are common in domestic animals and very rare in human. We report a hematogenously acquired Pasteurella haemolytica brain abscess, mimicking brain tumor on magnetic resonance imaging, in an 18-year-old female patient known with cardiac interventricular communication, without recent history of animal contact. The outcome was good after abscess complete removal and antimicrobials therapy for 6 weeks.

Cervico-occipital meningioma in a 5-year-old child: a case report.

Aim: Childhood meningiomas are scarce in clinical practice with an incidence ranging from 0.4 to 4.6% of all pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors.