No abstract

Medulloepithelioma is an uncommon tumour. Among the various sites of origin the optic nerve is rare. We report here two cases of medulloepithelioma of the optic nerve that had extended intradurally into the cranial cavity. A review of the published cases is also given.

Case records of children admitted with head injury due to TV fall in a pediatric tertiary care hospital in Chennai, during March 2007-February 2008 were analysed retrospectively. Out of the 11 children admitted 6 (54%) were in 1-2 yr age group. Bleeding from the ear, nose and throat was the commonest, finding followed by a skull fracture, seen on imaging studies. These were observed in 9 (81.81%) and 8 (72.8%) children respectively. There was no mortality.

Medulloepithelioma of the optic nerve is extremely rare and can simulate an optic nerve glioma. We report a histopathologically proven medulloepithelioma in a 3-year-old child with computer tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features.

The pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral nadolol, a long-acting beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent, were investigated in six children receiving the drug for treatment of supraventricular tachycardia. In the youngest patient (age 3 months), no distribution phase was seen. In children younger than 22 months of age, nadolol is more rapidly eliminated (t1/2 = 4.3 hours or less) than in older children, in whom elimination is more similar to that in adults (t1/2 approximately 7.3-15.7 hours). After intravenous administration, nadolol displayed two-compartment pharmacokinetics with a distribution phase (t1/2 = 0.2-1.1 hours) followed by elimination. Large changes in nadolol pharmacokinetics may occur during the first year of life. Nadolol should be used cautiously in infants.