Differenzialdiagnose von Raumforderungen im Kleinhirnbr�ckenwinkel

Cerebellopontine angle ependymoma in a 2-year- old child

The management of cerebellopontine angle (CPA) ependymoma in children below 3 years of age is challenging. In addition to the rare occurrence of disease, the difficulty also lies in achieving gross total resection and providing radiotherapy in this subset of patients. We describe a case of CPA ependymoma in a 2-year-old child. Gross total excision was achieved followed by administration of radiotherapy. In this article, a review of literature for this rare entity and the difficulties faced in the surgery and adjuvant treatment has been discussed.

Vaskuläre Erkrankungen des Kleinhirnbrückenwinkels

Vascular anomalies of the cerebellopontine angle are rare compared to tumors in this area. Irritation of the trigeminal, facial, or vestibulocochlear nerve may cause trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm and vertigo, or tinnitus accordingly. Vessel loops in the cerebellopontine cisterns may cause compression at the root entry or exit zone of the cranial nerves V, VII, and VIII, a phenomenon which is called "vascular loop syndrome." Megadolichobasilar artery and aneurysms of the vertebrobasilar system can also lead to dislocation and compression of the cranial nerves and brain stem. Three-dimensional CISS MR imaging and MR angiography are useful in the detection of neurovascular compression. Microvascular decompression is an effective surgical procedure in the management of compression syndromes of the cranial nerves V, VII, and VIII.