The absence of changes over time in the diagnostic features of suspected hypothalamic hamartomas is of paramount importance. Since magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is very sensitive to modifications in the brain parenchyma, a late MR follow-up study was performed in five children. In all cases, the diagnosis of hypothalamic hamartoma has been suspected on the basis of the association of central precocious puberty and the presence of a mass in the inferior aspect of the hypothalamus, demonstrated on previous MR studies. Late MR evaluation (after a mean of 39 months) demonstrated stability of the lesions in shape, size, and signal intensity. In three cases the lesions demonstrated a rim of isointense signal with a hyperintense center on T2-weighted sequences. In two cases a Chiari I malformation was found in association with the hypothalamic malformation. In one case a pineal cyst was demonstrated. These unusual findings are discussed. Late MR follow-up showed the absence of changes in the lesions over time, allowing the diagnosis to be confirmed.

We report the radiological features, including Doppler sonography and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) findings, of a nongalenic arteriovenous fistula diagnosed in the neonatal period. Hypertensive hydrocephalus developed in infancy. Emergent percutaneous transarterial embolization with n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate was successfully performed and lead to clinical improvement. MRA allowed a noninvasive follow-up.

Five children (3 girls, 2 boys, aged from 1 to 18 years) presenting with Sturge-Weber syndrome were explored by MRI with contrast injection in 2 cases. The respective positions of CT and MRI are discussed: CT is the method of choice to display leptomeningeal calcifications. MRI seems to be more accurate than CT to determine the location of the lesions and to demonstrate the enhancement of the angioma after contrast injection.

Monoclonal antibody (Mab) mediated immunotherapy of brain tumours requires the identification of tumour-restricted cell surface antigens. We have characterised four primitive neuroectodermal tumours, which included pineoblastoma, medulloblastoma and ependymoblastoma cultures, that demonstrated in vitro evidence of malignant behaviour (anchorage-independent growth and nu/nu xenograft tumour formation). The cytogenetic findings ranged from normal G-banded and Q-banded karyotypes through mixed near-diploid/hyperdiploid. These cultures resembled the cell surface immunophenotypic spectrum of malignant gliomas. They were distinguished from normal glia in vitro by the expression of restricted fetal mesenchymal, neuronal, myoblastic, melanocytic, epidermal, chondrocytic, lymphoid and epithelial antigens. Certain antigens appeared sufficiently represented among central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms to afford potential targets for Mab-mediated immunotherapy.

MR imaging (0,5 T) was performed in twenty patients with a tumor of the pineal region (17 pathological correlations). To establish the place of this technique, MR imaging data are studied. There is a great variety of tumor types, but the signal of the tumor is usually non specific. The main indication of MR imaging appears to be the evaluation of the extension of the tumor before surgery.

Between 1970 and 1986, 20 patients were treated for the ‘Slit-ventricle syndrome’. Six patients had intermittent proximal shunt malfunction and 14 children had increased intracranial pressure with normal shunt function. All of the children in the second group had a relatively small calvarium. Treatment consisted of proximal shunt revision in the first group and a calvarial expansion procedure in the second. The authors discuss the differential diagnosis of the slit-ventricle syndrome and offer guidelines to appropriate treatment.

✓ The authors report a case of sarcoidosis of the pineal gland with no other organ manifestation of the disease. The tumor was successfully removed by a direct surgical approach.