1
|
Badaloni ME, Ramos JDG. Giant brainstem cavernoma in pediatrics: diagnosis and treatment-case report. Childs Nerv Syst 2024; 40:1957-1960. [PMID: 38451297 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-024-06347-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Brain cavernomas or cavernous angiomas are a rare vascular malformation in the general population, even more so in pediatric patients. Their incidence in this group is less than 5% of all vascular malformations. They are typically found in the cerebral hemispheres in cortico-subcortical locations and, more rarely, in the brainstem. OBJECTIVE To describe the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of a case involving a pediatric patient with a giant cavernoma in the brainstem at J.P. Garrahan Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS The clinical history of the case was retrieved from the database of J.P. Garrahan Pediatric Hospital. Additionally, a literature search was conducted in high-impact factor journals using the PubMed database. CONCLUSION Both the authors of this study and experts consulted through the literature agree that, given the eloquence of the affected area and its challenging accessibility, close monitoring and an expectant approach are advisable for such patients. Nevertheless, when the onset of the case warrants it, surgical intervention is deemed necessary in emergency situations and following the acute phase for complete resolution of the pathology.
Collapse
|
2
|
Phi JH, Kim SK. Clinical Features and Treatment of Pediatric Cerebral Cavernous Malformations. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 2024; 67:299-307. [PMID: 38547881 PMCID: PMC11079565 DOI: 10.3340/jkns.2024.0047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is a vascular anomaly commonly found in children and young adults. Common clinical presentations of pediatric patients with CCMs include headache, focal neurological deficits, and seizures. Approximately 40% of pediatric patients are asymptomatic. Understanding the natural history of CCM is crucial and hemorrhagic rates are higher in patients with an initial hemorrhagic presentation, whereas it is low in asymptomatic patients. There is a phenomenon known as temporal clustering in which a higher frequency of symptomatic hemorrhages occurs within a few years following the initial hemorrhagic event. Surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment for pediatric CCMs. Excision of a hemosiderin-laden rim is controversial regarding its impact on epilepsy outcomes. Stereotactic radiosurgery is an alternative treatment, especially for deepseated CCMs, but its true efficacy needs to be verified in a clinical trial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ji Hoon Phi
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung-Ki Kim
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Khatri K, Balraj A. Popcorn in the Brain: A Rare Case of Millard-Gubler Syndrome in an 8-Year-Old Child. J Neuroophthalmol 2024:00041327-990000000-00582. [PMID: 38381531 DOI: 10.1097/wno.0000000000002113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Kaavya Khatri
- Aravind Eye Hospital, Thavalakuppam, Pondicherry, India
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Albalkhi I, Shafqat A, Bin-Alamer O, Mallela AN, Kuminkoski C, Labib MA, Lang MJ, Lawton MT, Morcos JJ, Couldwell WT, Abou-Al-Shaar H. Long-term functional outcomes and complications of microsurgical resection of brainstem cavernous malformations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosurg Rev 2023; 46:252. [PMID: 37726558 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-023-02152-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Brainstem cavernous malformations (CMs) encompass up to 20% of all intracranial CMs and are considered more aggressive than cerebral CMs because of their high annual bleeding rates. Microsurgical resection remains the primary treatment modality for CMs, but long-term functional outcomes and complications are heterogenous in the literature. The authors performed a systematic review on brainstem CMs in 4 databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar. We included studies that reported on the long-term functional outcomes and complications of brainstem CMs microsurgical resection. A meta-analysis was performed and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The search yielded 4781 results, of which 19 studies met our inclusion criteria. Microsurgery was performed on 940 patients (mean age 35 years, 46.9% females). Most of the brainstem CMs were located in the pons (n = 475). The pooled proportions of improved, stable, and worsened functional outcomes after microsurgical resection of brainstem CMs were 56.7% (95% CI 48.4-64.6), 28.6% (95% CI 22.4-35.7), and 12.6% (95% CI 9.6-16.2), respectively. CMs located in the medulla were significantly (p = 0.003) associated with a higher proportion of improved outcome compared with those in the pons and midbrain. Complete resection was achieved in 93.3% (95% CI 89.8-95.7). The immediate postoperative complication rate was 37.2% (95% CI 29.3-45.9), with new-onset cranial nerve deficit being the most common complication. The permanent morbidity rate was 17.3% (95% CI 10.5-27.1), with a low mortality rate of 1% from the compiled study population during a mean follow-up of 58 months. Our analysis indicates that microsurgical resection of brainstem CMs can result in favorable long-term functional outcomes with transient complications in the majority of patients. Complete microsurgical resection of the CM is associated with a lower incidence of CM hemorrhage and the morbidity related to it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahem Albalkhi
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Neuroradiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Areez Shafqat
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Othman Bin-Alamer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Arka N Mallela
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Chloe Kuminkoski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mohamed A Labib
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michael J Lang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michael T Lawton
- Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Jacques J Morcos
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - William T Couldwell
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ndandja DTK, Musa G, Nosov I, Chmutin GE, Livshitz MI, Annanepesov NS, Mwela BM. A rare case of rebleeding brainstem cavernoma in a 5-month-old-girl. Surg Neurol Int 2023; 14:227. [PMID: 37404517 PMCID: PMC10316179 DOI: 10.25259/sni_308_2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Brainstem cavernomas (BSCs) are relatively rare intracranial vascular lesions that, if left untreated, can be devastating to the patient. The lesions are associated with a myriad of symptoms, depending on their size and location. However, medullary lesions present acutely with cardiorespiratory dysfunction. We present the case of a 5-month-old child with a BSC. Case Description A 5-month-old child presented for the 2nd time with sudden respiratory distress and excessive salivation. On the first presentation, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 13 × 12 × 14 mm cavernoma at the pontomedullary junction. She was managed conservatively but presented 3 months later with tetraparesis, bulbar palsy, and severe respiratory distress. A repeat MRI showed enlargement of the cavernoma to 27 × 28 × 26 mm with hemorrhage in different stages. After hemodynamic stabilization, complete cavernoma resection was performed through the telovelar approach with neuromonitoring. Postoperatively, the child recovered motor function, but the bulbar syndrome persisted with hypersalivation. She was discharged on day 55 with a tracheostomy. Conclusion BSCs are rare lesions that are associated with severe neurological deficits due to the compactness of important cranial nerve nuclei and other tracts in the brainstem. Early surgical excision and hematoma evacuation for superficially presenting lesions can be lifesaving. However, the risk of postoperative neurological deficits is still a major concern in these patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dimitri T. K. Ndandja
- Department of Neurological Diseases and Neurosurgery, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Gerald Musa
- Department of Neurological Diseases and Neurosurgery, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ilya Nosov
- Department of Neurosurgery, Morozov Children’s City Clinical Hospital, Center for the Treatment of Cerebrovascular Pathology in Children and Adolescents, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Gennady E. Chmutin
- Department of Neurological Diseases and Neurosurgery, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Matvey I. Livshitz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Morozov Children’s City Clinical Hospital, Center for the Treatment of Cerebrovascular Pathology in Children and Adolescents, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Nazar S. Annanepesov
- Department of Neurological Diseases and Neurosurgery, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Bupe Mumba Mwela
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russian Federation
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Goyal A, Fernandes-Torres J, Flemming KD, Williams LN, Daniels DJ. Clinical presentation, natural history, and outcomes for infantile intracranial cavernous malformations: case series and systematic review of the literature. Childs Nerv Syst 2023; 39:1545-1554. [PMID: 36917267 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-023-05903-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Intracranial cavernous malformations (CMs) are rare vascular malformations of the central nervous system in children. Infantile patients, being a developmentally vulnerable age group, pose a special challenge for management of these lesions. We pooled data from infantile patients diagnosed at our institution and individual cases published in the literature to provide input towards therapeutic decision-making. METHODS A systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to identify all reported cases of intracranial CMs in the literature for infantile patients aged ≤ 2 years. In addition, cases from our institution diagnosed between 2010 and 2020 were also included. Individual cases were pooled and analyzed for clinical presentation, natural history, and outcomes from conservative and surgical management. RESULTS A total of 36 cases were included, of which 32 were identified from the literature. Median age at presentation was 14 months (range: 2 days to 24 months) months; 53% (n = 19) were females. Most cavernomas (64%, 23/36) were supratentorial, while 30% (n = 11) were located in brainstem and 5.5% (n = 2) in the cerebellum. With the exception of one patient, all cases were reported to be symptomatic; seizures (n = 15/31, 48.3%) and motor deficits (n = 13/31, 42%) were the most common symptom modalities. A total of 13 patients were managed conservatively upon initial presentation. No symptomatic hemorrhages were observed during 26 total person-years of follow-up. A total of 77% (28/36) underwent surgery; either upfront (23/28, 82%) at initial presentation or following conservative management. Among 12 patients who had preoperative seizures, 11/12 (91.6%) achieved seizure freedom post-resection. Among 7 patients who presented with hemiparesis preoperatively, 5 (71%) demonstrated some improvement, while 1 remained unchanged, and another patient with a brainstem cavernous malformation had worsening of motor function postoperatively. Postoperative recurrence was noted in 3 cases (3/27, 11%). CONCLUSION Annual risk of repeat hemorrhage may be low for infantile patients with intracranial cavernous malformations; however, better follow-up rates and higher number of cases are needed to make a definitive assertion. Surgical resection may be associated with high rates of epilepsy cure and provide improvement in neurological function in a select number of cases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anshit Goyal
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Jenelys Fernandes-Torres
- City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | | | - David J Daniels
- City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hirschmann D, Czech T, Roessler K, Krachsberger P, Paliwal S, Ciobanu-Caraus O, Cho A, Peyrl A, Feucht M, Frischer JM, Dorfer C. How can we optimize the long-term outcome in children with intracranial cavernous malformations? A single-center experience of 61 cases. Neurosurg Rev 2022; 45:3299-3313. [PMID: 35678924 PMCID: PMC9492558 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-022-01823-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The objective is to provide a treatment algorithm for pediatric patients with intracranial cavernous malformations (CMs) based on our experience. Patients < 18 years of age who were treated either surgically or conservatively at the authors' institution between 1982 and 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. A total of 61 pediatric patients were treated at the authors' institution: 39 with lobar CMs; 18 with deep CMs, including 12 in the brainstem and 6 in the basal ganglia; and 4 with CMs in the cerebellar hemispheres. Forty-two patients underwent surgery, and 19 were treated conservatively. The median follow-up time was 65 months (1-356 months). In surgically treated patients, lesions were larger (2.4 cm vs 0.9 cm, p < 0.001). In patients with lobar CMs, seizures were more common (72% vs 21%, p = 0.003) in the surgery group than in conservatively managed patients. In deep CMs, modified Rankin scale (mRS) was higher (4 vs 1, p = 0.003) in the surgery group than in conservatively treated patients. At the time of last follow-up, no differences in Wieser outcome class I were seen (86% vs 67%) in lobar CMs, and mRS scores had aligned between the treatment groups in deep CMs (1 vs 0). We encountered no new permanent neurological deficit at time of last follow-up. We propose a treatment algorithm according to lesion location and size, burden of symptoms, epilepsy workup, and further clinical course during observation. A conservative management is safe in pediatric patients with asymptomatic CMs. Gross total resection should be the aim in patients with symptomatic lobar CMs. A less aggressive approach with subtotal resection, when required to prevent neurological compromise, sustainably improves neurological outcome in patients with deep CMs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dorian Hirschmann
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Czech
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karl Roessler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul Krachsberger
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shivam Paliwal
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Anna Cho
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Peyrl
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martha Feucht
- Center for Rare and Complex Epilepsies, ERN EpiCARE. Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Christian Dorfer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|