Hemifacial spasm caused by a pilocytic astrocytoma of the fourth ventricle.
An 11-year-old male in whom hemifacial spasm was the presenting sign of a pilocytic astrocytoma within the fourth ventricle is reported. The child's hemifacial spasm decreased substantially after resection of the tumor. Hemifacial spasm is largely a disease of adults and only rarely is attributed to brain tumors. In contrast, this marks the fifth case of hemifacial spasm reported in a child, three of which have been attributed to tumors of the fourth ventricle.
Sandberg
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DI
Division of Neurosurgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York 10021, USA.
Souweidane
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MM
D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D020546:Fourth Ventricle / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019569:Hemifacial Spasm / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction