STUDY DESIGN: This is a case report of a 37-year-old woman who sought treatment for a large syringomyelic cavitation extending from C3 to the entire medulla, a tetraventricular hydrocephalus, and a cystic cavitation in the posterior cranial fossa communicating with the fourth ventricle (Blake's pouch cyst). The patient underwent a decompressive craniectomy, a C1 laminectomy, and the opening of the cysts to enable communication with the subarachnoid spaces. After an initial period of symptom remission, reassured by the magnetic resonance images indicating a reduction of the syringomyelia, the patient's neurologic conditions deteriorated because of further dilation of the ventricular cavities, which was resolved by the insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. OBJECTIVE: To suggest the treatment of choice in a patient with syringomyelia and hydrocephalus caused by Blake's pouch cyst. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Blake's pouch cyst is an entity often poorly understood, deriving from nonperforation of the primitive foramen of Magendie, causing a precarious equilibrium of the cerebrospinal fluid flow resulting from a defect in communication between the fourth ventricle and the encephalic and spinal subarachnoid spaces. Authors report the association of Blake's pouch cyst with cervicodorsal syringomyelia and tetraventricular hydrocephalus. METHODS: A case of syringomyelia associated with hydrocephalus and Blake's pouch cyst is described. RESULTS: Symptoms of syringomyelia and hydrocephalus disappeared only after positioning of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of choice for a case of syringomyelia associated with Blake's pouch cyst and hydrocephalus is the application of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt or, even better, an endoscopic third ventriculostomy.
STUDY DESIGN: This is a case report of a 37-year-old woman who sought treatment for a large syringomyelic cavitation extending from C3 to the entire medulla, a tetraventricular hydrocephalus, and a cystic cavitation in the posterior cranial fossa communicating with the fourth ventricle (Blake's pouch cyst). The patient underwent a decompressive craniectomy, a C1 laminectomy, and the opening of the cysts to enable communication with the subarachnoid spaces. After an initial period of symptom remission, reassured by the magnetic resonance images indicating a reduction of the syringomyelia, the patient's neurologic conditions deteriorated because of further dilation of the ventricular cavities, which was resolved by the insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. OBJECTIVE: To suggest the treatment of choice in a patient with syringomyelia and hydrocephalus caused by Blake's pouch cyst. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Blake's pouch cyst is an entity often poorly understood, deriving from nonperforation of the primitive foramen of Magendie, causing a precarious equilibrium of the cerebrospinal fluid flow resulting from a defect in communication between the fourth ventricle and the encephalic and spinal subarachnoid spaces. Authors report the association of Blake's pouch cyst with cervicodorsal syringomyelia and tetraventricular hydrocephalus. METHODS: A case of syringomyelia associated with hydrocephalus and Blake's pouch cyst is described. RESULTS: Symptoms of syringomyelia and hydrocephalus disappeared only after positioning of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of choice for a case of syringomyelia associated with Blake's pouch cyst and hydrocephalus is the application of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt or, even better, an endoscopic third ventriculostomy.
Authors: Erwin M J Cornips; Geke M Overvliet; Jacobiene W Weber; Alida A Postma; Christianne M Hoeberigs; Marcella M L L Baldewijns; Johannes S H Vles Journal: Childs Nerv Syst Date: 2010-03-03 Impact factor: 1.475
Authors: Mattia Del Maestro; Danilo De Paulis; Alessandro Ricci; Francesco Di Cola; Renato Galzio Journal: Childs Nerv Syst Date: 2014-06-05 Impact factor: 1.475