Clinical case study: a 4-year-old boy with posterior fossa syndrome after resection of a medulloblastoma.

Posterior fossa syndrome can occur after neurosurgical resections of childhood posterior fossa tumors, such as medulloblastomas. Posterior fossa syndrome is characterized by transient mutism, emotional lability, cognitive deficits, weakness, ataxia, and cranial nerve dysfunction. Symptoms generally appear 1 to 3 days after surgery and persist for months to years. Neuroscience nurses play an integral role in helping affected children and their families through the diagnosis, treatment, and sequelae of this frightening syndrome.

Posterior fossa tumors in children: a case study.

Brain tumors are the second most common malignancy to occur during childhood and the posterior fossa is the most common region of the brain affected. Diagnosis and treatment are complex and challenging. Once a child suffering from a posterior fossa tumor is identified, a multidisciplinary team must be assembled to provide comprehensive care through all phases of treatment. The nursing staff is vital to this team because they are often the individuals who coordinate services involved in the care of the child with a posterior fossa tumor. This case study illustrates the phases of diagnosis and treatment of a child with a medulloblastoma and highlights critical care nursing challenges. Following the case study presentation, a summary describes posterior fossa tumors including epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and outcome. The case study is integrated throughout this review to highlight key issues for critical care nurses to explore.

[Body image concerns and behavioral responses in a patient with cerebellopontine angle tumor].

This case report investigates the behavioral responses of body image change of a cerebellopontine angle tumor patient. Twelve process recordings obtained from a field study comprised the data for analysis. The dimensions of the subject's body image change were body structure, body function, body sensation, and social function change. Two types of behavioral response were delineated and categorized as the following: (1) Identifying the individual's body image change, such as seeking information, seeking reassurance, and comparative behavior. (2) Maintaining the integrity of individual's body image, such as rationalizing behavior, maintenance behavior, cooperative behavior and seeking religious support. This paper reports how the investigators used nursing interventions to help the subject gradually get through the process and adapt to the body image changes properly.