DC reduces ICP in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury. The mortality rate is low and long-term prognosis in survivors is good. Complications related to surgery are frequent. Wide craniectomy with duraplasty seems to be the most common technique. Defining the most appropriate indications and timing for DC in pediatric patients should be the objective of future prospective studies.

The authors review eight cases of thalamic tumors in children. Radical surgery was performed in seven cases. All cases were diagnosed by computed tomographic scanning, and histological diagnosis showed seven benign astrocytomas and one malignant astrocytoma. All patients are still alive. The treatment of these tumors is discussed.

A case of tension pneumocephalus that occurred after ventriculoperitoneal shunting is presented. We have reviewed 12 cases of pneumocephalus in association with ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. This phenomenon occurs when air is forced through the shunt or enters through the cranial base because of: iatrogenic postsurgical connection, congenital fistula, trauma, or thinning of the cranial base. Ways of preventing and treating this problem are outlined.

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We review the neurological and neurosurgical complications in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The mistake in the diagnosis was due to the clinical symptoms and to the MR images.

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