Supratentorial hydatid cyst with cerebellar signs: a rare case of diaschisis.
BACKGROUND
Intracranial hydatid disease has a distinct predominance in the pediatric age group and still causes serious problems in endemic areas.


METHODS
A 7-year-old girl admitted with a 3-month history of illness involving the main symptoms of ataxic gait, apraxia, headache, and tremor and with positive cerebellar signs and papilledema is presented.


RESULTS
Cranial computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right temporoparietal spherical lesion measuring 50 x 60 x 80 mm, which had a significant mass effect. A preoperative diagnosis of intracranial hydatid cyst was confirmed during the surgical procedure, which allowed removal of the cyst intact. The postoperative course was uneventful.


CONCLUSIONS
The aim of this presentation is to emphasize the necessity for considering diaschisis--inhibition of function produced by a focal disturbance in a portion of the brain at some distance from the original site of injury, but anatomically connected with it through fiber tracts. We believe that this case, with a mass lesion in a temporoparietal location and definite clinical manifestations with plentiful cerebellar signs, is a good example of this rare phenomenon.
Onal
C
C
Division of Neurosurgery, Inonu university School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey. conal_tr@yahoo.com
Yakinci
C
C
Erten
F
F
Erguvan
R
R
Cayli
S
S
Gül
A
A
Aydin
E
E
D001284:Atrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed