Intracranial neurenteric cyst mimicking prepontine subarachnoid hemorrhage

Surgical Experience and Management of Intracranial Neurenteric Cysts: Single-Center Experience and Review of the Literature

Introduction  Neurenteric cysts (NECs) are rare, congenital lesions lined by endodermal cell-derived columnar or cuboidal epithelium. Based on previous studies, gross total removal of the capsule has been presumed to be the ideal surgical goal. Objective  This series was undertaken to further understand the risk of recurrence based on the extent of capsule resection. Methods  Records were retrospectively reviewed for all patients with radiographic or pathological evidence of intracranial NEC from 1996 to 2021. Results  A total of eight patients were identified; four of eight (50%) presented with headache, and four had signs of one or more cranial nerve syndromes. One patient (13%) presented with third nerve palsy, one (13%) had sixth nerve palsy, and two (25%) with hemifacial spasm. One patient (13%) presented with signs of obstructive hydrocephalus. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated T2 hyper- or isointense lesions. Diffusion-weighted imaging was negative in all patients (100%) and T1 contrast-enhanced imaging demonstrated minimal rim enhancement in two patients (25%). In three of eight (38%), a gross total resection (GTR) was achieved, while in four (50%), a near-total resection, and in one (13%), a decompression was performed. Recurrences occurred in two (25%) patients, one with decompression and another with near-total resection, among these 1/2 required repeat surgery after a mean follow-up of 77 months. Conclusion  In this series, none from GTR group demonstrated recurrence, while 40% of those receiving less than GTR recurred, underpinning the importance of maximally safe resection in these patients. Overall patients did well without major morbidity from surgery.

Impact of DTI tractography on surgical planning for resection of a pediatric pre-pontine neurenteric cyst: a case discussion and literature review

We report a case of a four-year-old male who presented with symptoms of brainstem compression and lower cranial nerve neuropathies. MRI revealed a large, pre-pontine mass causing brainstem compression with an uncertain intra-axial component. Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography and other imaging modalities, we were able to confirm that the lesion was extra-axial and did not involve the corticospinal tracts. In addition, DTI tractography illustrated that corticospinal tracts were displaced to the right obligating a left-sided approach. Upon resection, the mass was identified as a pre-pontine, extra-axial neurenteric cyst (NEC), which represents a rare finding in the pediatric population. The patient ultimately did well following the drainage and resection of the cyst wall and had excellent recovery. In this paper, we discuss the pathophysiology of and treatment options for NECs and explain how DTI tractography in our case assisted in planning the surgical approach.