title: Endoscopic endonasal management of encephaloceles in children: an eight-year experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Skull base encephaloceles are difficult to diagnose and to treat. Traditionally, they are approached externally via craniotomic routes. Endoscopic management of skull base defects is the standard treatment in adults. Our aim is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic endonasal repair of basal encephaloceles in the paediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective evaluation of paediatric encephaloceles managed endoscopically at a tertiary referral centre.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven subjects fitted the criteria of the study. Mean age at surgery was 6.1+/-4.6 SD years, while mean follow-up was 46.5+/-28 SD months. Most of the defects were located in the anterior cranial fossa. All patients were managed successfully with no complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endonasal endoscopic management of congenital encephaloceles is feasible in paediatric patients. Meticulous pre-op neuroimaging is of paramount importance when dealing with such cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Insubria, Varese, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castelnuovo
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bignami
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pistochini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.forename: Iacopo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dallan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004677:Encephalocele / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D044583:Neuroendoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019291:Skull Base