title: Unilateral facial palsy in an infant: an unusual presentation of familial multiple cerebral cavernous malformation.
abstract: Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) in infants tends to have genetic predisposition. These cavernomas have a progressive course of events and associated neurological symptoms with increase in age. They most commonly present with seizure and syndrome of increased intracranial pressure comprising of headache, vomiting and focal neurological signs. We describe a case of a 7-month-old infant who presented with an acute onset of right facial paralysis with a background of familial CCM. The CT and MRI scan revealed fresh haemorrhage in the right cerebellar and pontine cavernomas with surrounding oedema and no evidence of obstructive hydrocephalus. These two cavernomas re-bled in a week duration causing episodes of incessant crying and irritability. After discussing the pros and cons of treatment, owing to stable clinical status, the patient is currently been managed conservatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Zaitun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zakaria
authors.forename: Chandrasekaran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaliaperumal
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caird
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sattar
mesh_terms: D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone