Moiyadi AV, Shetty PM. Indigenous customized sponge shunt for a recurrent brainstem cyst.
World Neurosurg 2010;
73:417-9. [PMID:
20849804 DOI:
10.1016/j.wneu.2010.01.016]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2009] [Accepted: 01/14/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Various treatment modalities are available for treatment of cystic lesions of the brainstem. However, cyst refilling and recurrences are very common. This article describes a young boy who presented with an intra-axial brainstem cyst following radiation for a pilocytic astrocytoma.
METHODS
The cyst was decompressed surgically once but it soon refilled. The use of a novel customized synthetic sponge acting as a shunt for the treatment of a cystic brainstem lesion is discussed. The sponge was fashioned like a dumbbell and inserted across the fenestration in the cyst wall.
RESULTS
The dumbbell design made it self-retaining. The characteristics of the sponge permitted continuous capillary drainage, with a low risk of occlusion. There was a dramatic decrease in the cyst size on follow-up scans, with resolution of clinical deficits.
CONCLUSIONS
A customized sponge shunt can serve as an easily available and effective internal shunt for intra-axial craniospinal cysts.
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