Posterior cranial FOSSA space occupying lesions: an institutional experience

Authors

  • Natarajan Meenakshisundaram Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Neurosurgery, Madras Medical College, Tamilnadu, India
  • Balasubramanian Dhandapani Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Neurosurgery, Madras Medical College, Tamilnadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20182429

Keywords:

Early diagnosis, Histopathology, Prognosis, Posterior cranial fossa tumors

Abstract

Background: Tumors in the Posterior fossa are well known for their critical location and complications as they result in brain stem compression and hydrocephalus. This study was conducted to analyze the histological types, frequency and prognosis of the posterior cranial fossa tumors in children and adults at Institute of Neurosurgery, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamilnadu.

Methods: It was a descriptive study in which 108 consecutive cases of posterior cranial fossa tumors in children and adults were studied from December 2016 to November 2017. During this period, patients with posterior cranial fossa tumors were thoroughly studied and analysed regarding further management options.

Results: Out of 108 cases in our study, 60 (56%) cases were male and 48 (44%) were female patients. The morphological distribution of the posterior cranial fossa tumors was as follows: schwannoma 36 (33%) cases, meningioma 24 (22%) cases, medulloblastoma 14 (13%) cases, pilocytic astrocytoma 17(16%) cases, high grade astrocytoma 7 (7%) cases, metastasis 8 (8%) cases, round blue cell tumor 2 (2%) cases.

Conclusions: Brainstem compression, herniation, and death are all risks in tumors which occur in this critical location. Tumors in the posterior fossa are considered critical brain lesions, primarily because of the limited space within the posterior fossa and the potential involvement of vital brain stem nuclei.

References

Cushing H. Experience with the cerebellar medulloblastoma: critical review. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand. 1930;7:1-86.

Al-Shatoury HAH, Galhom AA, Engelhard H. Posterior fossa tumors. Emedicine Neurosurgery 2008. Available from: https://emedicine.medscape. com/article/249495-overview.

Rehman AU, Lodhi S, Murad S. Morphological pattern of posterior cranial fossa tumors. Annals. 2009;15(2):51-57.

Mishra BK. Acute post-traumatic brain edema in children. NIMHANS J. 1984;2:56.

Mahapatra AK. Head injury in children. A text book of headinjury. Modern Publishers, New Delhi, 3rd edn, 2005:151-71.

Louis DN, Perry A, Reifenberger G. The 2016 World Health Organization classification of tumors of the central nervous system: a summary. Acta Neuropathol. 2016;131:803-20. [PubMed].

Shenoy SN, Raja A. Cystic olfactory groove schwannoma. Neurology India. 2004;52(2):261-2.

Kadri H, Mawla A, Murad L. Incidence of childhood brain tumors in Syria (1993-2002). Pediatr Neurosurg. 2005;41:173-17.

Mirimanoff RO, Dosoretz DE, Linggood RM, Ojemann RG, Martuza RL. Meningioma: analysis of recurrence and progression following neurosurgical resection. J neurosurgery. 1985 Jan;62(1):18-24.

Hanif G, Shafqat S. Morphological Pattern and frequency of Intracranial tumour in children. J Coll Physicians. Surg Pak. 2004;14:150-2.

Tasdemiroglu E, Patchell RA. Cerebral metastases in childhood malignancies. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1997;139:182-7.

Lin CT, Riva-Cambrin JK. Management of posterior fossa tumors and hydrocephalus in children: a review. Childs Nerv Syst. 2015;(10):1781-9.

Lam S, Reddy GD, Lin Y, Jea A. Management of hydrocephalus in children with posterior fossa tumors. Surg Neurol Int. 2015;6 (Suppl 11):S346-8.

Millard NE, De Braganca KC. Medulloblastoma. J Child Neurol. 2015 Sep 2.

Downloads

Published

2018-06-25

How to Cite

Meenakshisundaram, N., & Dhandapani, B. (2018). Posterior cranial FOSSA space occupying lesions: an institutional experience. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 6(7), 2281–2284. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20182429

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles