Hydatid cyst of the thyroid. Apropos of 2 cases

Two cases of hydatid cyst of the thyroid are reported and the rare cases in the literature reviewed. Hydatidosis located in the thyroid is an infrequent finding, even in endemic countries. Finding on clinical examination are usually those of a cold thyroid nodule, and diagnosis is by detection of other sites for the lesion, positive results of immunologic tests, or often only after histology of an operative specimen. The spontaneous course of the affection may be interrupted by complications due either to the size of the lesion or the parasite itself. Treatment is surgical, usually by a hemithyroidectomy.     

Aneurysmal temporal bone cyst. Apropos of 2 new cases

Aneurysmal bone cyst is a well known lesion on the metaphyse of lung tubular bones or on the spine. Unusually, it is detected on the skull and more rarely again on the temporal bone. The authors, talking about the eleven cases they have found in the literature and two recent personal cases, try to describe the main diagnostic dates of this temporal lesion which one has never known if it is a real tumor or a reactional dystrophic pseudotumor secondary to an intrabone circulatory incident, perhaps a phlebitis. As for all other locations, these temporal bone forms are more frequently encountered among adolescents or young adults and, because their blowing bone effect, give clinical signs which directly result from their aggressive behavior on the surrounding structures, in this particular location: temporal fossa swelling, otologic, ophthalmologic or stomatologic symptoms, facial or trigeminal nerves troubles and rarely central neurological signs. On CT-scan, it appears as a space-occupying lesion located in the temporal fossa, with a blowing bone aspect, with intracranial and infratemporal expansions. This CT scan lesion is heterogeneous and contrast enhanced except in its center which is hypodense, as a cyst. The MRI shows comparable pictures. Its total excision, made easier by a preoperative embolization, gives a total and definitive recovery.     

Hydatid cyst of the pancreas. Apropos of 2 cases]

Two new cases of pancreatic hydatidosis are reported. The diagnosis of a cystic lesion of the pancreas has been easily established owing to the modern imaging techniques, especially to computed tomography. The hydatid nature has also been recognized before surgery on the basis of the epidemiological data, the existence of a calcified shell in one case, and positive serology in the other. Retrograde endoscopic cholangiowirsungography allowed specifying the relationships between the cyst and the pancreatic duct in one case. The treatment consisted in the resection of the protruding dome and in total cystectomy. There were no postoperative complications. The preoperative diagnosis of the lesion must no longer be regarded as difficult. The treatment does not raise any specific difficulties when there is no fistula into the pancreatic duct. Retrograde endoscopic cholangiowirsungography is a good means of recognizing a possible fistula and makes a scheduled surgical treatment possible.     

Post-traumatic intracavernous aneurysms. 2 cases

The authors describe two cases of post-traumatic aneurysms of the intracavernous carotid artery. They analyze the difficulties they have encountered during direct approach. Direct cure was impossible for the first patient because of the arterial wall dilaceration. In the second case, the aneurysm has been treated upon by stitching. A second operation with injection of biological glue into the cavernous sinus was required because of the secondary formation of a carotido-cavernous fistula in front of a second metal fragment.     

Hydatid cyst of the pancreas. Apropos of 3 cases

Hydatid cyst of the pancreas is rare since it accounts for less than 1% of the various sites of hydatid disease even in those countries where the latter is endemic. The diagnosis is rarely made before surgery but is currently facilitated by ultrasonography and CAT scan. The authors report 3 cases, including one with a cyst ruptured into the peritoneal cavity.     

Intrascrotal epidermoid cyst: report of two cases]

A 41-year-old man and a 47-year-old man presented with an intrascrotal mass. The routine studies and ultrasonography showed that the mass was not associated with the testis, epididymis or spermatic cord, but the magnetic resonance imaging was the most useful for making a preoperative diagnosis. Both patients received transscrotal resection of the mass, the histopathological diagnosis of which was epidermoid cyst. A total of 24 cases of epidermoid cyst have been reported in the Japanese literature.     

Giant epidermoid cyst of penis.

We believe this is the first published case report of a giant epidermoid cyst located on the dorsum of the penis.     

Hydatic cyst of the psoas muscle. Apropos of 3 cases

In the three patients, the localization and the hydatic origin have been determined by preoperative ultrasonography in two instances, the diagnosis was confirmed by CT scan. Ultrasonography and computed tomography allowed a direct and simple surgical approach of the cyst.     

Slit-ventricle. Apropos of 2 cases

The so called slit-ventricle syndrome appears as a potential complication of the CSF derivations, whatever their types. It consists of repetitive episodes of elevated intracranial pressure, associated with collapsed ventricles as demonstrated by CT scan. Clinical symptoms happen after several months or years during which the derivation worked well, and then get more and more frequent. Between the episodes, the only statement one can do is the slow re-filling of the pump after it has been depressed with finger. The valveless lumbo-peritoneal derivations, and the ventriculo-atrial or ventriculo-peritoneal derivations using a low-pressure valve, are most often found in patients with the slit-ventricle syndrome. This suggests that overdrainage of the CSF is likely to be the main cause of this syndrome. Possible managements comprise: changing the valve, for an other one with a higher opening pressure,--adding to the derivation an antisyphon device, and making a subtemporal decompression.     

Orbital epidermoid cyst. Case report

Epidermoid tumors represent 1% of all primary intracranial tumors. Most of them occur intradurally in cerebellopontine angle and parasellar citerns. The intra-orbital location accounts for 4 to 5% of all primary intra-orbital tumors. We report the case of a 23-year-old girl with progressive right proptosis who had developed 6 months earlier. The tumor was removed via an external orbitotomy approach. Histology confirmed the diagnosis.