Delayed persistent hyperthermia after resection of a craniopharyngioma.
OBJECTIVE
Disorders of thermoregulation are occasionally noticed after operations in the region of the third ventricle. Various factors are usually implicated, but the actual contribution of each of them is rather vague. Apart from the presumed derangement in the functional connections of the hypothalamic region, mechanical reasons of compression should be thoroughly considered.


METHODS
An 8.5-year-old patient was subjected to a radical excision of a craniopharyngioma compressing the third ventricle. Three months after the operation, he presented with a febrile syndrome of unknown origin. All usual investigations proved negative.


METHODS
A chronic subdural hygroma was evacuated, an encapsulated CSF cyst of the suprachiasmatic cistern was drained and the lamina terminalis incised resulting in a moderate control of pyrexia. The administration of chlorpromazine contributed to the final resolution of hyperthermia.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative hyperthermia may result following resection of tumors of the hypothalamic floor. It should not be blindly attributed to hypothalamic dysfunction as surgical causes could be implicated as well. Chlorpromazine could be a useful adjunct to the correction of the disorder.
Chatzisotiriou
Athanasios S
AS
Department of Neurosurgery, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Selviaridis
Panayiotis K
PK
Kontopoulos
Vasilios A
VA
Kontopoulos
Athanasios V
AV
Patsalas
Ioannis A
IA
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000601:surgery*; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013353:Subdural Effusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic