Fully automated measurement of intracranial CSF and brain parenchyma volumes in pediatric hydrocephalus by segmentation of clinical MRI studies.

Background: Brain parenchyma (BP) and intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (iCSF) volumes measured by fully automated segmentation of clinical brain MRI studies may be useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of pediatric hydrocephalus. However, previously published segmentation techniques either rely on dedicated sequences, not routinely used in clinical practice, or on spatial normalization, which has limited accuracy when severe brain distortions, such as in hydrocephalic patients, are present.

Purpose: We developed a fully automated method to measure BP and iCSF volumes from clinical brain MRI studies of pediatric hydrocephalus patients, exploiting the complementary information contained in T2- and T1-weighted images commonly used in clinical practice.

Dural venous sinus anatomy in children with external hydrocephalus: analysis of a series of 97 patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the anatomical variations of dural venous sinuses in children with external hydrocephalus, proposing a radiological grading of progressive anatomic restriction to venous outflow based on brain phase-contrast magnetic resonance venography (PC-MRV); to evaluate the correlation between positional plagiocephaly and dural sinuses patency; and to compare these findings with a control group to ascertain the role of anatomical restriction to venous outflow in the pathophysiology of external hydrocephalus.

Methods: Brain MRI and PC MRV were performed in 97 children (76 males, 21 females) diagnosed with external hydrocephalus at an average age of 8.22 months.

Non-Oncological Neuroradiological Manifestations in NF1 and Their Clinical Implications.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), the most frequent phakomatosis and one of the most common inherited tumor predisposition syndromes, is characterized by several manifestations that pervasively involve central and peripheral nervous system structures. The disorder is due to mutations in the NF1 gene, which encodes for the ubiquitous tumor suppressor protein neurofibromin; neurofibromin is highly expressed in neural crest derived tissues, where it plays a crucial role in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and structural organization. This review article aims to provide an overview on NF1 non-neoplastic manifestations of neuroradiological interest, involving both the central nervous system and spine.

Brain Herniation into the Subdural Space: Rare Iatrogenic Complication of Treatment of a Giant Calcified Subdural Hematoma.

Background: Chronic subdural hematoma associated with dural calcifications in previously pediatric shunted patients is a rare condition. The inner dural membrane opening can lead to progressive brain herniation into the subdural space due to brain reexpansion.

Case Description: A 15-year-old boy, previously shunted at birth for congenital hydrocephalus, presented with a giant chronic right hemispheric subdural hematoma.

Spinal epidural abscess in children: a case-based review.

Background: Pediatric spinal epidural abscess is a major suppurative infection of the central nervous system. It is an extremely rare pathology carrying serious risk of permanent neurological sequelae if is not properly treated.

Methods And Results: All the pertinent literature was analyzed, focused on pediatric cases of spinal epidural abscess and its peculiar features.

Pediatric lung adenocarcinoma presenting with brain metastasis: a case report.

Background: Diagnosis and treatment of primary lung adenocarcinoma in children remains challenging given its rarity. Here we highlight the clinical history, pathological evaluation, genomic findings, and management of a very young patient with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma.

Case Presentation: A 10-year-old white girl presented with brain metastases due to primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Surgical treatment of thalamic tumors in children.

OBJECTIVE In the past, the outcome of surgical treatment for thalamic tumor was poor. These lesions were often considered inoperable. However, contemporary microsurgical techniques, together with improvements in neuroimaging that enable accurate presurgical planning, allow resection to be accomplished in a safer way.

Giant melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (melanotic progonoma) of the head and neck: report of a malignant case.

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy is a rare congenital pigmented neoplasm of neural crest origin, locally aggressive, growing rapidly and developing during the 1st year of life. It most commonly arises from the maxilla, cranial vault, and mandible. Occasionally, it exhibits malignant behavior with local lymph nodes involvement.

Contemporary occurrence of hydrocephalus and Chiari I malformation in sagittal craniosynostosis. Case report and review of the literature.

Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) and hydrocephalus are often associated with complex craniosynostosis. On the contrary, their simultaneous occurrence in monosutural synostosis is extremely rare. The pathophysiological hypothesis is that they may alter posterior fossa growth and lead to cerebellar tonsil herniation also without skull base primary involvement.

Posterior fossa tumors in infants and neonates.

Introduction: Management of posterior fossa tumors in infants and neonates is challenging. The characteristics of the young babies make surgery very difficult, sometimes precluding a safe complete removal.

Methods: A review of the literature was undertaken to examine the incidence, histology, surgical aspects, and prognosis of posterior fossa tumors in the first year of life.