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Intracranial xanthogranulomas (XG) are a rare benign histiocytic neoplasm and most often within the choroid. The majority are asymptomatic and are found incidentally on imaging or post-mortem examination or autopsy. We present a case of symptomatic XG in a pregnant patient who underwent a delayed transcortical, transventricular approach for lateral ventricle XG resection following the completion of her pregnancy. Four years post-operatively, the patient is neurologically intact and without recurrence. Our review of the literature showed differences among XG depending on location. The clinical and radiological features of XG are often indistinguishable from tumors arising from the choroid plexus and should be considered as a rare etiology in the differential of newly diagnosed intraventricular lesions.

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BACKGROUND: Intracranial fetus in fetu is an extremely rare entity in which a discrete vertebrate fetiform mass is found inside a diamniotic, monochorionic twin. It is a benign mass and can manifest with symptoms owing to mass effect. To establish the diagnosis, a vertebra must be present within the mass. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 5-year-old child presented at a multispecialty hospital with gradual weakness of both lower limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a midline intraventricular mass with lobulated margins having both cystic and fatty components with areas of blooming within. A provisional diagnosis of teratoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor was made. The patient subsequently presented to our hospital with drowsiness and vomiting for 1 day. Noncontrast computed tomography revealed a mass of heterogeneous density occupying the third ventricle. The mass contained a few well-formed long bones representative of the appendicular skeleton and a vertebra-like bone representative of the axial skeleton, fulfilling the Willis criteria. A biopsy sample was taken from the mass; no malignant cells were seen on histopathologic examination. Based on noncontrast computed tomography findings of well-formed long bones and a vertebra and no significant increase in the size of the mass over 2 years, an intracranial fetus in fetu was diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: Whenever bony structures are identified in an intracranial mass in a pediatric patient, we should always look for bones of the axial skeleton, as this finding will point toward a diagnosis of intracranial fetus in fetu and will help in differentiating it from teratoma, which can have malignant transformation.

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We present a case of intraventricular meningioma resected via a transcortical approach using tractography for optic radiation and arcuate fasciculus preservation. We include a review of the literature. A 54-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer presented with gait imbalance. Workup revealed a mass in the atrium of the left lateral ventricle consistent with a meningioma. Whole brain automated diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to plan a transcortical resection while sparing the optic radiations and arcuate fasciculus. A left posterior parietal craniotomy was performed using the Synaptive BrightMatter™ frameless navigation (Synaptive Medical, Toronto, Canada) to minimally disrupt the white matter pathways. A gross total resection was achieved. Postoperatively, the patient had temporary right upper extremity weakness, which improved, and her visual fields and speech remained intact. Pathology confirmed a World Health Organization (WHO) Grade I meningothelial meningioma. While a thorough understanding of cortical anatomy is essential for safe resection of eloquent or deep-seated lesions, significant variability in fiber bundles, such as optic radiations and the arcuate fasciculus, necessitates a more individualized understanding of a patient's potential surgical risk. The addition of enhanced DTI to the neurosurgeon's armamentarium may allow for more complete resections of difficult intracerebral lesions while minimizing complications, such as visual deficit.

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Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma is a histologic diagnosis based on cell morphology. These tumors are found throughout the body. They are rarely found in the central nervous system and almost never occur as a primary intraventricular tumor. We present the unusual case of a 68-year-old woman with an intraventricular undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. We go on to discuss the clinical presentation, radiographic characteristics, and management paradigm for these rare lesions. Our patient presented with acute confusion, inability to balance a checkbook, and gait imbalance. CT and MRI demonstrated a 4 x 3.6 x 3.6 cm enhancing lesion in the left lateral ventricle abutting the foramen of Monro. Pathology revealed an undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma.

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We report a rare case of Mycobacterium haemophilum presenting as an intraventricular granulomatous mass with loculated hydrocephalus and seizures in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus. M. haemophilum, a slow-growing mycobacteria, causes localized and disseminated disease among immunocompromised hosts. Central nervous system infection with M. haemophilum is extremely rare. Preoperative laboratory testing of our patient for tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, sarcoidosis and histoplasmosis were negative. Surgical resection of the mass revealed a caseating granuloma that stained positive for acid-fast bacillus suggesting possible tuberculoma. Despite negative testing for tuberculosis, a polymerase chain reaction analysis was ultimately performed from the resected mass which revealed M. haemophilum. To our knowledge, this is the first case of M. haemophilum presenting as an intraventricular mass. We review the clinical manifestations of this pathogen and discuss the medical and surgical management.

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BACKGROUND: Subependymomas are rare benign, noninvasive tumors, classified by the World Health Organization as low grade neoplasms. International data estimate their frequency between 0.2% and 0.7% of the intracranial tumors, and they usually are an incidental finding in autopsies. Preferably located in the fourth ventricle, these tumors tend to become symptomatic when they cause hydrocephalous by obstructing cerebrospinal fluid circulation. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a morbidly obese, hypertense, and diabetic patient, who presented with symptoms of gait ataxia, sphincter incontinence, and dysartria in relation to a pedunculated subependymoma in the left lateral ventricle. He underwent a biparietal craniotomy with a microscopic microsurgical approach, through which gross total resection was achieved. No perioperative complications ensued. CONCLUSIONS: Given their benign behavior and their excellent response to surgical treatment, subependymomas should be promptly diagnosed and surgically treated to avoid possible neurological damage when they become symptomatic.

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Choroid plexus masses represent approximately 0.3-0.8% of intracranial tumors. Herein we present, to our knowledge, the first reported patient with an isolated Hurthle cell papillary thyroid carcinoma metastasis to the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle. Unresponsive to iodine ablation and refusing surgery, the patient underwent Gamma Knife radiosurgery (Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden), receiving 15Gy to the 50% isodose line. The lesion regressed until 5years later at which time it was unresponsive to 18Gy and required surgical resection. Although extraneural metastatic cancers are recognized as potential sources for the single choroid plexus mass, we must consider even the unusual culprit in patients with a history of cancer.

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Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma(SEGA) is a rare intraventricular tumor that mainly occurs in patients with tuberous sclerosis. The tumor characteristrically arises in the wall of the lateral ventricle and presents as an intraventricular mass causing hydrocephalus by obstruction of the foramen of Morno. Hemorrhagic presentation of SEGA has been very rarely reported only in patients with tuberous sclerosis. A 41-year-old man presented with sudden onset of severe headache, nausea and vomiting. There was no clinical feature of tuberous sclerosis. Preoperative neuroimaging studies showed a intraventricular tumor with hemorrhage. The mass was totally removed throught interhemispheric transcallosal approach. The authors report an unusual case of hemorrhagic SEGA, which is devoid of any clinical feature of tuberous sclerosis with review of pertinent liteatures.

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