Child's Nervous System : ChNS : Official Journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery

OBJECTIVE: To measure the size of jugular foramina in infants affected by external hydrocephalus (EH) and in a control group, to support the hypothesis that a jugular foramen (JF) stenosis may determine dural venous sinus alterations and increased venous outflow resistance as main pathophysiological factor. METHODS: Minimum, maximum, and mean values of JF areas were measured in a series of phase-contrast magnetic resonance venous angiography (angio MRV PCA3D) performed on 81 infants affected by EH...

The embryonal central nervous system (CNS) tumor with PLAGL1 (pleomorphic adenoma gene-like) amplification is a novel type of pediatric neoplasm with a distinct methylation profile, described for the first time in 2022. It may be located anywhere in the neuroaxis and, as its name implies, it is driven by the amplification and overexpression of one of the PLAG family genes. Although the associated clinical, immunohistopathological, and molecular characteristics are well characterized in the seminal report of this entity, data on the radiological features is still lacking...

An 8-year-old boy presenting with left-angle paralysis, tremor in upper and lower extremities, and diplopia was diagnosed with hemorrhage from a mesencephalic cavernous hemangioma. He underwent hemangiomectomy through the occipital transtentorial approach 4 weeks post-hemorrhage, after which Holmes tremor (HT) markedly reduced. A year later, hemangioma has not recurred; he is now independent in his daily activities. Early intervention in the subacute stage allows for the complete removal of brainstem cavernomas (BSCs), with minimal risk of complications or sequelae...

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a well-established surgical technique for treating hydrocephalus. Many providers have transitioned to utilizing the specialized Neuroballoon for the stoma dilation in ETV; however, these devices are intermittently unavailable during supply chain shortages. We present the experience of employing cardiac angioplasty and neurovascular balloons as substitutes for the Neuroballoon in 3 patients. The scepter balloon (Microvention), priced at $1800 compared to the standard $300 Neuroballoon (Integra), proved effective, but its pliability presented technical challenges...

Spinal clear cell meningiomas (CCMs) are a rare histological subtype of meningiomas that post preoperative diagnostic challenges due to their radiographic similarities with other lesions. They are also more aggressive, exhibiting higher rates of recurrence, particularly in pediatric patients. Overcoming diagnostic challenges of these tumors can improve patient outcomes. In this report, we describe a case of a pediatric patient presenting with a lumbar CCM in whom we were able to obtain gross total resection...

BACKGROUND: Craniopharyngioma is a common intracranial tumour in children. Clinical manifestations are related to hypothalamic/pituitary deficiencies, visual impairment, and increased intracranial pressure. Defects in pituitary function cause shortages of growth hormone, gonadotropin, corticotropin, thyrotropin, and vasopressin, resulting in short stature, delayed puberty, feebleness, lethargy, polyuria, etc. However, manifestations involving precocious puberty (PP) are rare. CASE REPORT: In both patients, surgical resection was performed after the diagnosis of craniopharyngioma, and breast development occurred postoperatively at one month in one patient and at one year and three months in the other patient...

PURPOSE: Desmoplastic fibroma (DF) is an uncommon intermediate bone tumor rarely involving the skull with unidentified pathogenesis. We report the first case of pediatric temporoparietal cranial desmoplastic fibroma (DF) with a CTNNB1 gene mutation and review the previous literature. CASE PRESENTATION: A 3-year-old boy had a firm, painless mass on the right temporoparietal region for 22 months. The cranial CT scan showed isolated osteolytic destruction in the outer plate and diploe of the right temporoparietal bone...

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are rare and have distinct clinical profiles compared to adult IAs. They differ in location, size, morphology, presentation, and treatment strategies. We present our experience with pediatric IAs over an 18-year period using surgical and endovascular treatments and review the literature to identify commonalities in epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes. METHODS: We identified all patients < 20 years old who underwent treatment for IAs at our institution between 2005 and 2020...

PURPOSE: To describe the relation of the sphenoid ridge (SR) with the surrounding anatomical structures in healthy children when approaching the anterior and middle fossae. METHODS: Computed tomography of 180 pediatric patients (90 males / 90 females), aged 1-18 years were included the study. The size of the lesser wing (LW) and the distances of the LW to certain landmarks were measured. RESULTS: The LW length was 28.48 ± 8...

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the presence of catatonia in cases of pediatric postoperative cerebellar mutism syndrome (PPCMS). METHOD: A systematic review of PPCMS case reports of patients aged 0-17 years with sufficient clinical information to extract catatonic phenomena was undertaken following PRISMA guidelines. Standardized catatonia rating scales were applied to selected cases retrospectively to ascertain whether diagnostic criteria for catatonia were met. A case known to the authors is also presented...

PURPOSE: Over the past several decades, numerous articles have been published on brainstem tumors. However, there has been limited bibliometric analysis in this field. Therefore, we conducted a bibliometric analysis to elucidate the evolution and current status of brainstem tumor research. METHODS: We retrieved 5525 studies published in English between 1992 and 2023 from the Web of Science Core Collection database. We employed bibliometric tools and VOSviewer to conduct the analysis...

BACKGROUND: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) represents one of the most classic and widely used treatments for hydrocephalus in pediatric patients. Migration and externalization of the distal end of the catheter through the rectum are extremely rare complications of intestinal perforation with devastating consequences such as meningitis or peritonitis due to enteric bacteria that are significantly life-threatening. Besides, one of the biggest topics with that is that it can happen without producing symptoms, like the patient we present in this case report, which further masks the condition and puts the patient's life more at risk...

PURPOSE: Children under 3 years old represent a notable portion, about 25 to 30%, of all central nervous system tumor (CNS) cases. Their clinical course, prognosis, and treatment significantly differ from older children. This single-center retrospective study aims to comprehensively analyze survival factors in children under three diagnosed with CNS tumors. METHODS: Between April 2012 and December 2023, cases under 3 years of age with CNS tumors diagnosed at our center were retrospectively evaluated...

PURPOSE: Pediatric-type diffuse high-grade gliomas are the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in children. More than 30% of diffuse hemispheric gliomas (DHG) in adolescents harbor histone H3 G34 mutations and are recognized by the World Health Organization as a distinct tumor entity. By reporting bibliometric characteristics of the most cited publications on H3 G34-mutant DHG (H3 G34 DHG), we provide an overview of emerging literature and speculate where future research efforts may lead...

Mirror movements, characterized by involuntary symmetrical movements in contralateral body parts during intentional movements, have been associated with various neurological conditions. Limited dorsal myeloschisis (LDM), a rare form of spinal dysraphism, is defined by a focal closed midline defect and a fibro-neural stalk connecting the skin lesion to the underlying cord. We present a unique case of a 4-year-old girl with cervical LDM exhibiting mirror movements. The patient underwent surgical exploration, skin tag excision, fibrous tract removal, and cervical spinal cord detethering...

PURPOSE: This study aims to provide an exhaustive analysis of pediatric low-grade gliomas (pLGGs) in the cerebellar hemispheres, focusing on incidence, clinical characteristics, surgical outcomes, and prognosis. It seeks to enhance understanding and management of pLGGs in the pediatric population. METHODS: We conducted an observational, descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study at a pediatric hospital, reviewing medical records of 30 patients with cerebellar hemispheric pLGGs treated from December 2014 to January 2023...

BACKGROUND: Cavernous malformations (CMs), also known as cavernomas or cavernous angiomas, are vascular malformations characterized by sinusoidal spaces lined by endothelial cells. Giant CMs (GCMs) are extremely rare, with limited understanding of their presentation and management. We present a case of symptomatic GCM in a newborn and review the literature on this rare entity. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 1-month-old newborn presented with focal seizures and signs of increased intracranial pressure...

OBJECTIVES: Prenatally diagnosed complex arachnoid cysts are very rare. While the true prenatal incidence is still unknown, they account for approximately 1% of intracranial masses in newborns. They rarely exhibit rapid growth or cause obstructive hydrocephalus, but if they increase to such a dimension during pregnancy, the ideal management is not well established. We present our detailed perinatal experience, covering prenatal diagnosis, a compassionate delivery process, and neonatal stabilization...

PURPOSE: Telemetric monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) facilitates long-term measurements and home monitoring, thus potentially reducing diagnostic imaging and acute hospital admissions in favour of outpatient appointments. Especially in paediatric patients, telemetric ICP monitoring requires a high level of collaboration and compliance from patients and parents. In this study, we aim to systematically investigate (1) patient and parent perception of telemetric ICP system utility and (2) hospital contact history and thus the potential cost-benefit of telemetric ICP monitoring in paediatric patients with a cerebrospinal fluid disorder...

PURPOSE: In craniofacial surgery, the stable fixation of transposed bone segments is crucial in order to ensure good long-term results. The use of absorbable material in fixation avoids the need for a second surgery, which would otherwise be required to remove osteosynthesis material. The authors of the present manuscript have already demonstrated that absorbable sutures ensure the stable fixation of bone segments in patients up to 24 months of age. However, it has thus far remained unclear whether stable fixation is possible in older patients by using only absorbable sutures due to the slower bone remodelling and prolonged healing time in this cohort...