Craniopharyngioma - Case 2

A 51 year-old man presented with severe nausea. While in the hospital, he was noted to have episodes of shaking of the arms and would not respond to verbal stimuli. An urgent head CT scan was ordered, followed by emergency neurosurgical intervention and a subsequent MRI scan.


Note the Suggestion of a Third Ventricular Mass   Note the Enlarged Temporal Horns   Note the Transependymal Edema   Note the Effacement of the Sulci   

Craniopharyngioma. Axial CT scans. The most obvious abnormality in these scans is the presence of acute hydrocephalus, as evidenced by the enlarged temporal horns, the transependymal edema and the absence of sulci over the convexities. If one looks closely, one can see a subtle abnormality in the region of the anterior third ventricle. The presence of an abrupt change in mental status due to acute hydrocephalus is a neurosurgical emergency requiring urgent ventricular drainage or shunting. In this case, an MRI scan was needed to determine the cause of the hydrocephalus.

Revised 11/30/06.
Copyrighted 2006. David C Preston