title: Fourth ventricular hamartoma presenting with status epilepticus treated with emergency surgery in an infant.
abstract: A 4-week-old infant presented with hemifacial spasms noticed from the 4th day after delivery. These progressed in severity, with generalization every 3-4 h. On admission, the infant went into refractory status epilepticus and had to be electively ventilated and taken for surgery on a semi-emergency basis. MRI showed a fourth ventricular hamartoma and video EEG showed spikes that were synchronous with the facial 'twitches' with generalization. Following the first surgery, the infant had an initial complete recovery, but developed recurrence of facial twitches after 2 weeks. Repeat MRI showed a small residual tumor which was re-operated and completely excised (at 8 weeks). Following this, the patient had complete recovery from seizures (5-year follow-up). This is the youngest patient reported presenting with status epilepticus with a fourth ventricular hamartoma operated successfully.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors: P Sarat
authors: PS
authors: Chandra
authors: Sheffali
authors: S
authors: Gulati
authors: Veena
authors: V
authors: Kalra
authors: Ajay
authors: A
authors: Garg
authors: Nalin K
authors: NK
authors: Mishra
authors: C S
authors: CS
authors: Bal
authors: Chitra
authors: C
authors: Sarkar
authors: Manjari
authors: M
authors: Tripathi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001706:Biopsy; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D020546:Fourth Ventricle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed