Central nervous system mycosis: analysis of 10 cases.

Aim: To describe the clinicopathological features in patients with fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS) presenting as mass lesions.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of records obtained from 10 patients was done with histopathologically confirmed fungal infections presenting as ICSOL, diagnosed in the department of pathology. Clinical features at presentation, findings of radiological investigations performed and histopathology were noted for each patient and subjected for analysis.

Intraventricular meningiomas: a surgical challenge.

Background: Primary intraventricular meningiomas (IVM) pose a surgical challenge as they often remain asymptomatic until they become very large; have close proximity to vital intraventricular structures; and, their vascular supply is often encountered only after significant tumor debulking. In this study, the surgical management of IVM is discussed.

Methods: Between 1989 and 2003, nine patients (7 with lateral and 2 with fourth ventricular) IVM, were operated upon.

Surgical management of remote, isolated type II odontoid fractures with atlantoaxial dislocation causing cervical compressive myelopathy.

Objective: The remote (more than 6 mo after injury) and isolated (not associated with any other cervical spinal fractures) Type II fractures of the odontoid (RI IIO) are unique in being inherently unstable and prone to malunion or nonunion, leading to cervical compressive myelopathy. The present study discusses their surgical management.

Methods: Nineteen patients with RI IIO with atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) causing compressive myelopathy were treated.

Surgery of vestibular schwannomas: an institutional experience.

Aims: To report management results of vestibular schwannomas (VS) treated surgically in our institute, with particular reference to completeness of tumor excision, facial nerve and hearing preservation and complications of surgery.

Study Design And Settings: Retrospective study of 259 patients treated during the years 1988 to 2002.

Materials And Methods: The facial nerve function and hearing assessment was done according to House-Brackmann [HB] grading and pure tone audiometry (PTA) respectively.

Atlantoaxial dislocation associated with the maldevelopment of the posterior neural arch of axis causing compressive myelopathy.

The craniovertebral junction has a predilection for a variety of congenital anomalies due to its complex development. The association of atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) with the maldevelopment of the posterior arch of axis is extremely rare. We report two such cases and present the management strategy.

Factors influencing the outcome in symptomatic Chiari I malformation.

Background: To study the clinico-radiological determinants of outcome in patients with Chiari I malformation (CIM).

Materials And Methods: The disability assessment of 48 patients with C I M who underwent posterior decompression was done by modified Klekamp and Samii scoring system. The outcome was regarded as good when the patient was ambulant without any aid with an improvement in the disability score; and, poor when (a) there was postoperative deterioration or lack of improvement; (b) the patient was non-ambulant without aid, irrespective of the improvement in the clinical score; or, (c) there was a perioperative mortality.

Solitary Langerhans-cell histiocytosis of the clivus and sphenoid sinus with parasellar and petrous extensions: case report and a review of literature.

Background: In Langerhans-cell histiocytosis, there occurs an uncontrolled clonal proliferation of dendritic cells that have Langerhans cell like characteristics. In this report, a unique case of a solitary, skull base Langerhans-cell histiocytosis (LCH) is described.

Case Description: A 15-year-old boy presented with raised intracranial pressure, decreased visual acuity, bilateral abducent nerve palsy, and 25% hypoesthesia in all three divisions of the right trigeminal nerve.

Surgical approach to C1-C2 nerve sheath tumors.

Background: C1 and C2 nerve sheath tumors (NST) are unique in presentation, relationship to neighbouring structures and surgical approaches when compared to their counterparts in other regions of the spine.

Aim: The strategies involved in the surgery for C1-C2 NST are discussed

Setting And Design: Retrospective study.

Methods: 21 patients with C1 (n=6) and C2 (n=15) NST were operated based on their position with respect to the cord i.

Intrinsic third ventricular craniopharyngiomas: report on six cases and a review of the literature.

Background: Craniopharyngiomas constitute 2 to 4% of intracranial neoplasms. However, the purely intraventricular variety are rare. Their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristically shows an intact third ventricular floor, a patent suprasellar cistern, an intact pituitary stalk, and the absence of sellar abnormalities.

Multiple subpial lipomas with dumb-bell extradural extension through the intervertebral foramen without spinal dysraphism.

Background: Intradural subpial lipomas not associated with spinal dysraphism, account for less than 1% of spinal cord tumors. The simultaneous existence of multiple intradural subpial lipomas with dumb-bell extradural extension through the intervertebral foramen in the same patient without any evidence of spinal dysraphism has not been previously reported.

Case Description: A 38-year-old man presented with progressive spastic paraparesis, and weakness of right elbow extension and opposition of the medial three fingers.

Craniocervical tuberculosis: protocol of surgical management.

Objective: Craniovertebral junction tuberculosis (CVJ-TB) is rare and occurs in only 0.3 to 1% of patients with tuberculous spondylitis. In the available literature, the treatment options offered for this entity have ranged from a purely conservative approach to radical surgery without well-defined guidelines.

Occurrence of split cord malformation in meningomyelocele: complex spina bifida.

Objective: To describe the clinical features and surgical outcome of a combined anomaly, i.e. split cord malformation (SCM) with meningomyelocele (MMC), and to propose an addition to Pang's classification of SCM to accommodate a combined form of anomaly.