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Abstract: Hydatidosis is an endemic affection in Tunisia. Cerebral echinococcosis is a relatively rare entity accounting for only 1–2% of all hydatid cysts in humans. Extradural hydatid cyst of the posterior fossa is a very uncommon site for the disease. We report the case of a four-year-old child admitted for high intracranial pressure. Brain CT scan showed an extradural posterior fossa cyst without enhancement after contrast medium injection. Operative finding revealed a hydatid cyst. The histological examination of the tissue sample confirmed the diagnosis. The patient was given albendazole post operatively. She feels well six months later. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Central nervous system tumours represent 20% of all childhood cancers, and are the second most common group of neoplasms after leukaemias., Objective: To describe epidemiological characteristics of central nervous system tumours in a paediatric Tunisian population., Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of 492 childhood central nervous system tumours operated between 1990 and 2004 was undertaken. We investigated the age-related location, gender distribution and the histology of all tumours, and adopted the latest WHO classification (2007) in grouping all the tumours., Results: There were 488 primary and 4 secondary tumours; 426 (86.6%) were intracranial and 66 (13.4%) were intraspinal. Of the 426 intracranial tumours, 214 (50.24%) were supratentorial and 212 (49.76%) were infratentorial. The median age at diagnosis was 8 years, with a male:female ratio of 1.14:1. Low-grade tumours (WHO I/II) constituted 67.3% of all lesions and the rest (32.7%) were high-grade tumours (WHO III/IV). The most common tumour found in our series was astrocytoma (38%), followed by medulloblastoma (16.2%), then ependymoma (6.9%), cystic tumours (6.3%) and craniopharyngioma (5.3%). The overall 5-year survival rate was 45% with a mean follow-up period of 36 months., Conclusion: In our patient population, the incidence and distribution of central nervous system tumours were similar to those reported in literature. Overall survival rates varied according to tumour location and histopathology., ((c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Among a series of 155 brain hydatid disease patients hospitalized between 1965 and 1998, 117 were children. The mean age was approximately 7.2 years, with a slight male predominance. Eighteen patients presented with another visceral localization. Symptoms and signs of intracranial hypertension are currently encountered (75%) followed by hemiparesis, epilepsy, mental changes, skull deformities and, more rarely, dyskinetic phenomenon. Brain hemispheric localization is the rule, with some exceptions. CT scans reveal an intra-parenchymal lesion with clearly defined, rarely enhanced margins. Medical treatment has virtually no place in the management of cerebral solitary cyst. Albendazole has been used in cases of multiple involvement, with controversial results. Surgical hydrostatic expulsion is the only effective treatment. Recovery is expected when the cyst is extracted completely unruptured.