Traumatic SDEs in children following minor head injury need to be differentiated from other causes of subdural fluid collections in children. The clinical and radiological criteria proposed by us helps to identify this subset of cases in most of the children.
Objective: To evaluate the clinical profile, associated anomalies and surgical outcome of children with meningomyelocele (MMC)/lipomeningomyelocele. Methods: Out of a total of 181 cases of spinal dysraphism treated at our Institute between 1996 and 2004, 102 (56.35%) cases of MMC/lipomeningomyelocele were analyzed retrospectively and prospectively. The clinical profile and radiological findings of these children were recorded. Craniospinal MRI was the essential investigation and was done as a management protocol at our Institute for these children. Eighty-two out of 102 (80.3%) cases had pure MMC/lipomeningomyelocele and 20/102 (19.6%) had associated split cord malformation (SCM; complex spina bifida). All these children underwent surgery for their primary and associated malformations as indicated. They were clinically assessed over a mean follow-up period of 3.6 years ranging from 1.5 months to 8 years. No urodynamic or evoked potential studies were done to assess the sphincteric outcome following surgery. Results: Forty-six (45.1%) of children with MMC had other associated tethering lesions, including the presence of SCM. Craniospinal axis screening remained an important tool to understand the associated tethering lesions and malformations. Only 58.8% of children had hydrocephalus; thus the incidence was much lower compared with reports from the western literature (80–96%). 63.3% of children with overt hydrocephalus required shunt surgery prior to the definitive surgery; however, 23.3% of cases required a shunt after the MMC has been closed. Improvement in clinical profile following microneurosurgery was observed in 42.8% of cases with motor involvement, 46.8% of cases with sensory dysfunction and 39.5% of cases with sphincteric involvement. Motor improvement was seen in 43.6% of cases of pure MMC/lipomeningomyelocele as compared to only 40.0% of cases of complex spina bifida. Sensory improvement was also better in pure MMC/lipomeningomyelocele group being seen in 48.0% of cases as compared to only 42.9% of cases of complex spina bifida. Conclusion: Presence of SCM with MMC is referred to as complex spina bifida and is seen in a significant proportion (19.6%) of all cases of MMC. Thorough assessment of the craniospinal imaging needs to be done to look for the presence of multiple tethering lesions which could be present in the same case. Not all children with spinal dysraphism with hydrocephalus required shunt surgery or CSF diversion but a constant and vigilant follow up could avoid it in 13.3% of cases. Improvement in motor and sensory dysfunction was better in the pure MMC/lipomeningomyelocele group than in the complex spina bifida group. Improvement in sphincteric dysfunction, although seen in significant cases, was less compared with improvement in motor and sensory dysfunction. This probably represents a lack of definitive objective criteria for urodynamic improvement and a lack of proper rehabilitation. Electromyographic studies and uroflowmetry are required to asses the true sphincteric outcome followin...
Aim: To study the outcome and recurrence in supratentorial anaplastic ependymoma. Methods: Sixteen cases of supratentorial anaplastic ependymoma were reviewed. The average age of presentation was 8.2 years ranging from 1 to 16 years of age. The mean duration between the onset of first symptoms to time of presentation was 4.2 months. Follow-up ranged from 5 to 58 months with a mean of 16.8 months. Results: Gross total excision of tumor was achieved in 14 cases, as judged on the basis of intraoperative impression and confirmed with postoperative contrast MR or CT scan. There were 2 unfortunate deaths in the series, one as result of disseminated intravascular coagulation in view of massive blood loss and the other child had evidence of central transtentorial herniation preoperatively which failed to recover. Postoperative cranial radiotherapy was offered to all the 14 remaining cases. Twelve of 14 cases showed evidence of recurrence at follow-up. Recurrence occurred as early at 6 months and as late as 58 months. Only 2 children were recurrence free at follow-up of 6 months and 14 months, respectively. Two operated and irradiated cases of differentiated ependymomas (grade II) developed anaplastic recurrence at follow-up of 5 years and 9 years, respectively, suggesting a malignant transformation of tumor at follow-up. Four out of 12 cases were reoperated for their recurrence in view of localized nature of recurrence and good Karnofsky’s performance status. Conclusion: It is obvious that anaplastic ependymomas of the supratentorial compartment are aggressive tumors with high rates of recurrence even after gross total excision and irradiation. Gross total excision and postoperative irradiation are not effective in preventing early recurrence in anaplastic ependymomas, and other factors affecting the outcome need to be analyzed.
Children with open spina bifida, as compared to closed dysraphism, tend to have more bladder dysfunction as exemplified on clinical history and urodynamic assessment. A pre-operative urodynamic study helps to identify severity of bladder dysfunction which is clinically overt cases and also identifies subtle bladder dysfunction in clinically silent cases. Evaluation after operation tends to shows better outcome in children with closed dysraphism. The study also identifies deterioration in some patients with seemingly clinical improvement.
Gliomatosis cerebri (GC) is a diffuse infiltrating glial neoplasm of astrocytic origin. GC in children is rare and difficult to diagnose, often presenting with a variety of signs and symptoms that may mimic myriad conditions. We discuss here the presentation and diagnosis of GC in a child who was initially treated on lines of tubercular encephalitis, with transient clinical relief and disappearance of enhancing component of the disease on magnetic resonance imaging. In this report, we highlight the limitations of clinical presentation and neuroimaging as well as the essential role of histological evaluation for the diagnosis of GC in children. Also is highlighted a more benign and protracted clinical course following radiotherapy in a subset of patients, with Ki index <10%, thereby stressing earliest possible diagnosis. A new prognostic classification can also be proposed for pediatric GC based on various parameters. Since these are rare cases, a combined effort is required for this.
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