Cavernous sinus haemangioma masquerading as a pituitary macroadenoma: how the unexpected lurks in neurosurgery.

Cavernous sinus haemangiomas are neoplastic lesions notoriously difficult to diagnose and excise. We present a case of a lesion that was clinically, biochemically, and radiologically consistent to a giant pituitary macroadenoma and discuss the unexpected near intra-operative exsanguination which enabled a pathognomonic diagnosis of a much rarer lesion to be made. This highlights the sinister nature of such a lesion, and its potential impact on patient care if partially excised, and that despite our advances in neurosurgical diagnostics the unexpected is to be expected.

Developmental venous anomalies--two cases with venous thrombosis.

Developmental venous anomalies (DVA) are generally considered the most common vascular anomalies. They are usually asymptomatic and display a benign clinical course. We report two cases of thrombosed developmental venous anomalies. Both patients developed venous infarcts with haemorrhagic transformation from the thrombosed DVA, and 1 patient needed decompressive craniectomy.

Case report of transient acquired Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome following sequential trauma.

Foix-Chavany-Marie Syndrome (FCMS) or bilateral opercular syndrome is characterised by faciopharyngoglossomasticatory diplegia with automatic voluntary dissociation and is a rare form of pseudobulbar palsy most commonly associated with occlusive cerebrovascular disease. We present a transient manifestation of the syndrome, in a patient who suffered two sequential traumatic brain injuries.