Two cases of cerebral infestation with Paragonimus westermani complicating obstructive hydrocephalus are presented. The diagnosis was aided by brain CT scan and Conray ventriculogram. Both cases showed a strong positive intradermal test with relevant histories of eating crayfishes in roast form. In simple skull X-ray, one showed characteristic shell-like calcifications over the temporo-occipital region and the other showed multiple round calcifications over the suboccipital region. Brain CT scan demonstrated much more characteristic calcifications with marked ventricular dilatation. Conray ventriculogram disclosed obstructive hydrocephalus in both cases, one at the level of the cerebral aqueduct and the other at the level of the fourth ventricle outlet. Both patients were subjected to ventriculoatrial shunts and concomitant Bithionol therapy with marked improvement. The case involving the cerebellum and the fourth ventricle outlet was submitted to the posterior fossa exploration to be verified as a rare cerebellar paragonimiasis.
Astacoidea ; Bithionol ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Aqueduct ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Eating ; Fourth Ventricle ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Intradermal Tests ; Paragonimiasis ; Paragonimus westermani ; Skull ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The authors report 3 cases of primary intramedullary glioblastoma multiforme which is relatively rare among spinal cord tumors. They were located at the thoracolumbar, cervical and conus medullaris region respectively. Clinical, radiographic and pathological material are presented and the literature is discussed.
Conus Snail ; Glioblastoma* ; Prognosis ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms

One case of craniopharyngioma confined to the third ventricle is reported. His symptom was only headache without visual disturbance or endocrine dysfunction. The CT scan showed isodense round mass in the anterior portion of the third ventricle with strong homogeneous enhancement. There was no calcification.
Craniopharyngioma* ; Headache ; Third Ventricle ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

An unusual case of glioependymal cyst radiographically simulating arachnoid cyst is reported. The cyst wall contained not only ependyma-like epithelium but also neuroglial tissue. The possible pathogenesis of this lesion is discussed.
Arachnoid ; Epithelium ; Fourth Ventricle

Schwannomas arising from the cranial nerves of the jugular foramen are rare, only 50 cases including 15 glossopharyngeal schwannomas have been reported. They may be confused with the far more common acoustic schwannoma because of the presenting symptom of hearing loss. With the symptoms and signs of the lower cranial nerve involvement, the characteristic radiographic findings of enlarged jugular foramen and normal internal acoustic meatus can make the diagnosis. The authors review the literature and present a unique case of glossopharyngeal schwannoma which had intra-and extracranial growth with intrapetrosal extension.
Acoustics ; Cranial Nerves ; Diagnosis ; Hearing Loss ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neuroma, Acoustic

Cysticercosis is a hardly manageable parasitic infestation of the central nervous system because of its diversity in clinical manifestation and unsatisfactory result in treatment. Leptomeningeal cysticercosis, less frequent clinically than parenchymatous or ventricular type has rarely been diagnosed preoperatively with conventional diagnostic procedures. We have recently experienced a case of cysticercosis in a large cisterna magna diagnosed with an aid of CT scan.
Central Nervous System ; Cisterna Magna* ; Cysticercosis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

The usual symptoms of brain tumors are signs of increased intracranial pressure, seizures, and focal neurologic deficits. Hemorrhage occasionally occurs in brain tumor, and it may sometimes be sudden and massive. The apoplectic symptom due to sudden tumor bleding can mimic cerebrovascular accident. The authors review literatures and present 2 cases of oligodendrogliomas initially manifested as spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage.
Brain Neoplasms ; Hemorrhage ; Intracranial Hemorrhages* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Oligodendroglioma* ; Seizures ; Stroke

The authors have studied six patients with histologically proven primary malignant lymphoma of the brain which is still a rare primary brain tumor. The clinical, radiological and pathological findings with results of the treatment are presented. All cases showed a good response to radiation therapy. Therefore, the early diagnosis by computerized tomography scan followed by biopsy or excision is considered to be very important for the BEST results in the treatment. Related reports are discussed briefly.
Biopsy ; Brain Neoplasms ; Brain* ; Drug Therapy ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymphoma*

Authors report 10 cases of intracranial inflammatory granulomatous lesions which were identified on CT scan and proven pathologically after surgical excision. They were composed of three cases of tuberculoma, three cases of degenerated cysticercus, two cases of healed abscess and two cases of non-specific inflammatory lesions. Most patients were children or young adults. Seizure was the most frequent presenting symptom. All cases had characteristic CT findings in common : a small nodular or ring-like lesion with strong enhancement surrounded by irregular-shaped low density area. Surgical exploration is of value in that specific diagnosis would not be possible with clinical and radiological findings only.
Abscess ; Child ; Cysticercus ; Diagnosis ; Granuloma* ; Humans ; Seizures ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed* ; Tuberculoma ; Young Adult

The authors reviewed 37 consecutive cases of histologically proven oligodendroglioma who were treated at the Seoul National University Hospital, between 1979 and 1986. There was a 1.5 : 1 male to female ratio. The age of patients at the time of diagnosis varied between 6 and 64 years(mean 38 years), with 51% in the fourth and fifth decades. The incidence of oligodendrogliomas represented 5% of all brain tumors and 15.5% of all gliomas. All but one were located supratentorially and 54% of them involved the frontal lobe. The mean duration of symptoms prior to the surgery was 27.2 months, but seizures had a considerably longer duration of 6.4 years. The common symptoms were headache(62%), seizures(38%), and motor weakness(22%). The common neurological findings were papilledema(51%), motor dificit(24%), and change in cognition(19%). Six out of 37 cases(16%) presented as the spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. Calcifications were detected on plain X-ray films of the skull in 19% of patients and fine vascular stains were found on carotid angiograms in 30% of the cases. Brain CT revealed calcification(57%), cyst formation(43%), low density(35%) and heterogenous contrast enhancement(35%). The important factors affecting the prognosis and the recurrence rate were (1) the extent of surgical excision, (2) postoperative radiation therapy, and (3) the pathologic grading. There was a significant difference in the recurrence rate between patients treated with postoperative irradiation and patients treated with surgery alone.
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Coloring Agents ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; Glioma ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Male ; Oligodendroglioma* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Seizures ; Seoul ; Skull ; X-Ray Film