Presacral mature cystic teratoma associated with Currarino syndrome in an adolescent with androgen insensitivity: illustrative case

BACKGROUND

Currarino syndrome is a rare disorder that classically presents with the triad of presacral mass, anorectal malformation, and spinal dysraphism. The presacral mass is typically benign, although malignant transformation is possible. Surgical treatment of the mass and exploration and repair of associated dysraphism are indicated for diagnosis and symptom relief. There are no previous reports of Currarino syndrome in an androgen-insensitive patient.

OBSERVATIONS

A 17-year-old female patient presented with lack of menarche. Physical examination and laboratory investigation identified complete androgen insensitivity. Imaging analysis revealed a presacral mass lesion, and the patient was taken to surgery for resection of the mass and spinal cord untethering. Intraoperative ultrasound revealed a fibrous stalk connecting the thecal sac to the presacral mass, which was disconnected without the need for intrathecal exploration. The presacral mass was then resected, and pathological analysis revealed a mature cystic teratoma. Postoperatively, the patient recovered without neurological or gastrointestinal sequelae.

LESSONS

Diagnosis of incomplete Currarino syndrome may be difficult but can be identified via work-up of other disorders, such as androgen insensitivity. Intraoperative ultrasound is useful for surgical decision making and may obviate the need for intrathecal exploration during repair of dysraphism in the setting of Currarino syndrome.

[Vitrectomy for endophthalmitis : Incubation time and prognosis following intravitreal injection vs. cataract surgery]

BACKGROUND

Bacterial endophthalmitis is a rare but devastating complication following intraocular surgery. Guidelines on the diagnostics and treatment are based mainly on experience of endophthalmitis treatment following cataract surgery.

OBJECTIVE

In this study we analyzed infectious endophthalmitis cases following either intravitreal operative drug injection (IVOM) or cataract surgery for possible differences in the clinical course and prognosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All cases of endophthalmitis from January 2013 through December 2017 retrieved from our electronic database were examined and analyzed according to the type of intervention, time elapsed until diagnosis, pathogen detection, postinterventional visual acuity and the presence of comorbidities.

RESULTS

A total of 29 cases were included, 11 secondary to IVOM and 18 secondary to cataract surgery. Symptoms for all cases presented at a mean of 6.8 days, with a significant difference between patients following IVOM (5.5 days) and patients following cataract surgery (4.1 days, p < 0.05). Patients with endophthalmitis following cataract surgery had a significantly better visual outcome 1 year after treatment compared to patients with endophthalmitis following IVOM (p < 0.05). The most commonly isolated pathogen was Staphylococcus epidermidis.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of the typical clinical course in the development of endophthalmitis following IVOM or cataract surgery is a critical prerequisite for the timely diagnosis and initiation of adequate treatment measures. Our results point towards a significantly delayed clinical manifestation of endophthalmitis following IVOM, possibly also caused by the anatomical origin of the infection. In an era of increasing numbers of IVOM this clinical observation could be helpful for a careful follow-up control beyond the previous traditional timepoints.

Stereotactic laser ablation for completion corpus callosotomy

OBJECTIVE

Completion corpus callosotomy can offer further remission from disabling seizures when a prior partial corpus callosotomy has failed and residual callosal tissue is identified on imaging. Traditional microsurgical approaches to section residual fibers carry risks associated with multiple craniotomies and the proximity to the medially oriented motor cortices. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) represents a minimally invasive approach for the ablation of residual fibers following a prior partial corpus callosotomy. Here, the authors report clinical outcomes of 6 patients undergoing LITT for completion corpus callosotomy and characterize the radiological effects of ablation.

METHODS

A retrospective clinical review was performed on a series of 6 patients who underwent LITT completion corpus callosotomy for medically intractable epilepsy at Stanford University Medical Center and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford between January 2015 and January 2018. Detailed structural and diffusion-weighted MR images were obtained prior to and at multiple time points after LITT. In 4 patients who underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), streamline tractography was used to reconstruct and evaluate tract projections crossing the anterior (genu and rostrum) and posterior (splenium) parts of the corpus callosum. Multiple diffusion parameters were evaluated at baseline and at each follow-up.

RESULTS

Three pediatric (age 8-18 years) and 3 adult patients (age 30-40 years) who underwent completion corpus callosotomy by LITT were identified. Mean length of follow-up postoperatively was 21.2 (range 12-34) months. Two patients had residual splenium, rostrum, and genu of the corpus callosum, while 4 patients had residual splenium only. Postoperative complications included asymptomatic extension of ablation into the left thalamus and transient disconnection syndrome. Ablation of the targeted area was confirmed on immediate postoperative diffusion-weighted MRI in all patients. Engel class I-II outcomes were achieved in 3 adult patients, whereas all 3 pediatric patients had Engel class III-IV outcomes. Tractography in 2 adult and 2 pediatric patients revealed time-dependent reduction of fractional anisotropy after LITT.

CONCLUSIONS

LITT is a safe, minimally invasive approach for completion corpus callosotomy. Engel outcomes for completion corpus callosotomy by LITT were similar to reported outcomes of open completion callosotomy, with seizure reduction primarily observed in adult patients. Serial DTI can be used to assess the presence of tract projections over time but does not classify treatment responders or nonresponders.