An Unusual Presentation of a Primary Chondrosarcoma of the Cranial Vault.

Chondrosarcomas are malignant cartilaginous tumors that usually affect the pelvic bone and long bones. Primary chondrosarcomas of the skull are rare, with the cranial vault being an even more unusual localization. We report a case of a 75-year-old man presenting with headaches and outgrowth of the parietal scalp. CT scan of the head showed an extracranial cystic well-rounded mass originating at the parietal suture and eroding through the adjacent parietal bone. The patient underwent an en bloc surgical resection of the mass, and histological examination confirmed a grade I chondrosarcoma.

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy arising in the skull: a case report.

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy is a rare and usually benign neoplasm occurring in children of young age. This pigmented tumor typically presents in the head and neck region, but other locations may be involved. We report in this article a rare case of a 3-month-old girl presenting with a slowly growing mass localized in the anterior fontanelle. The patient's magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a mass extending both extracranial and intracranial, and compressing the adjacent structures. The patient underwent subtotal resection of the mass and a histological study confirmed the diagnosis of melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy. The patient presented later on with a recurrence. An early diagnosis and surgical management for these tumors remain the only guarantees to limit the progression and prevent their recurrence and metastasis.

Subacute Hydrocephalus Revealing a Cryptococcus Infection in a Seven-Year-Old Child.

Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is the third most common neurological complication in immunocompromised patients and is usually associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The most common complication of CM is intracranial hypertension (ICH), and it constitutes a poor prognosis factor. This case report describes a case of subacute onset hydrocephalus revealing a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated CM in a seven-year-old girl requiring cerebrospinal fluid diversion and fungal treatment with a favorable outcome.

Deep Frontal Lipoma With Frontal Bone Invasion: Report of a Rare Case.

Lipomas are benign masses of fatty tissue, and in the forehead, they may develop in the subcutaneous or deep fat tissue. While subcutaneous lipomas are common, deep forehead lipomas are unusual and rarely invade the underlying bone. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature, and even fewer cases are reported in children. We present a case of a slowly growing frontal mass corresponding to a deep lipoma responsible for frontal bone invasion, resulting in a bony defect reaching the dural space. Through this case, we aim to emphasize forehead lipomas' clinical and surgical characteristics.

Pediatric Hydatid Cyst of the Neck Mimicking a Cystic Tumor: A Report of a Rare Case.

Hydatidosis is a parasitic infection caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus usually occurring in the liver and lungs. Hydatid cyst of the neck is a rarely described location and more so on the back of the neck. We present a case of a six-year-old girl with a slowly evolving mass on the back of her neck. Medical investigations revealed a secondary asymptomatic liver cyst. MRI of the neck mass was consistent with a cystic lesion. Surgical removal of the neck cyst was performed. Pathological examination results confirmed the diagnosis of hydatid cyst. The patient was put on medical treatment with a complete recovery and uneventful follow-up.

Intracranial Hematoma After Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement in a Patient With Factor V Deficiency: A Rare Case Report.

Congenital factor V deficiency (FVD) is a rare bleeding disorder due to an inherited mutation. So far, there are no standard protocols for pre- and peri-operative management of patients with factor V deficiency. This poses a challenge for surgeons and requires a multidisciplinary approach. We present a case of a 60-year-old woman with factor V deficiency admitted to the neurosurgery department of Ibn Tofail Hospital for hydrocephalus requiring a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Pre-operative management of the patients as well as outcome and follow-up are described and compared with relevant literature.

Evacuation of a spontaneous massive spinal epidural hematoma by a minimally invasive surgical technique: a case report.

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematomas are a rare consequence of long-term anticoagulant therapy. Their physiopathology remains poorly understood. This pathology carries a significant risk of morbidity. The purpose of this article is to report a case of a massive spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma extending on multiple levels, detailing the surgical technique used in its evacuation described for the first time in literature. This is a case report of an 80-year-old patient on anticoagulant therapy with a thoracolumbar spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma extending from T1 to L1 vertebrae. We share the clinical and radiological presentations, the surgical treatment, outcome and follow-up. The diagnosis of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma has to be considered in patients with acute brutal onset radiculo-medullary compression. Medullary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains the exam of choice. Medical and surgical treatment must be started immediately after the diagnosis is confirmed. The prognosis remains poor despite a proper management, with debilitating complications.

Management of Central Nervous System Cavernomas: An Experience of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Ibn Tofail Hospital, Mohammed VI University Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Central nervous system cavernomas are congenital vascular anomalies posing a challenge not only in their diagnosis but also in their therapeutic management. The latter depends largely on their natural evolution and specifically their hemorrhagic potential. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This paper reports the experience of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Ibn Tofail Hospital, Mohammed VI University Hospital at Marrakech in the management of central nervous system cavernomas from January 2011 to December 2018. We collected and analyzed epidemiological, clinical, radiological, therapeutic, and evolution data from 16 cases of central nervous cavernomas using a pre-established sheet.  Results: Sixteen cases of cavernomas were treated in a period of eight years; 14 patients had cerebral cavernomas and two had brainstem cavernomas. The sex ratio was 1.66 with a male predominance, and the mean age of our patients was 42 years. The clinical presentation was dominated by epileptic seizures. Cerebral MRI was performed on all our patients. In all 16 cases, the cavernomas were solitary with the majority being supra-tentorial (13 cases) and bleeding was apparent on imaging in one case. Microsurgery was performed in 13 cases, while three patients benefited from stereotactic radiosurgery. Complete resection was obtained in all patients and pathology examination showed a radio-histological correlation in 87.5% of cases. The overall evolution in operated patients was favorably marked by neurological improvement in 87.5% of cases, deterioration in 6.2% of cases, and no clinical improvement in 6.2% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis coupled with macroscopically complete resection and long-term follow-up with MRI are all crucial steps to ensure the proper management of central nervous cavernomas, especially considering their risk of recurrence.