[Aneurysmal bone cyst of the cranial base treated by partial resection and calcitonin injection. A case report]. / Kyste anevrysmal de la base du crane. à propos d'un cas traité par exérèse partielle et injection de calcitonine.

STUDY DESIGN: First published report of a cranial aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) treated successfully with intralesional injection of calcitonin. OBJECTIVES: To describe a safe and effective treatment method for ABCs of the cranial base. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: ABC is a rare form of dystrophic pseudotumor. Less than 100 cases involving the skull have been reported in the literature, most of them localised in the cranial vault. Cranial base locations are rare and difficult to treat. We selected this treatment after a very rapid recurrence of the lesion following a partial resection. Method. - After a partial resection of a 10 cm petro-occipital ABC that encased the vertebral artery and the lower cranial nerves, an Ommaya reservoir was implanted with a catheter tip inside the ABC. Repeated intralesional injections of calcitonin were performed through the reservoir. RESULTS: Shrinkage of the cyst occurred with disappearance of its heterogeneous cystic content and ossification of its walls. There was no complication and the lesion remains quiescent at a 3 year follow-up. CONCLUSION: We reviewed the pertinent literature concerning percutaneous treatment of ABC. The percutaneous intralesionnal injection of calcitonin was reported in the literature only in 3 publications reporting 9 cases that did not involve the skull. This treatment seems safe and effective, worthy in cranial base ABCs that are difficult to resect completely.

5-Methoxytryptamine-induced head twitches in rats.

In rats pretreated with pargyline ip injection of 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MT), but not of 5-HT, produced characteristic head twitches. 5-HT receptor blocking agents (cyproheptadine, methergoline, mianserine, WA-335-BS, and methsergide) reduced the effect of 5-MT. These substances in doses 20-160 times higher than their ED50 in head twitch test did not antagonize the pinna reflex. 5-MT-induced head twitches were also inhibited by imipramine, morphine, phenoxybenzamine and aceperone. However, their ED50 were only 3-8 times below the doses necessary to inhibit the pinna reflex. Reserpine, phentolamine, spiroperidol, pimozide and LiCl did not modify head twitches produced by 5-MT, while PCPA even potentiated them. Our results suggest the 5-MT-induced head twitches are due to the activation of the central 5-HT mechanisms probably as a result of direct stimulation of 5-HT receptors by 5-MT. Antagonism of 5-MT-induced head twitches and the dissociation of doses effective in this test from those inhibiting the pinna reflex may be of value in the prediction of central 5-HT receptor blocking properties.