title: Hydrocephalus following bilateral dumbbell-shaped c2 spinal neurofibromas resection and postoperative cervical pseudomeningocele in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1: a case report.
abstract: Study Design Case report. Objective To present a rare case of hydrocephalus following bilateral dumbbell-shaped C2 spinal neurofibromas resection and postoperative cervical pseudomeningocele in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Methods The patient's clinical course is retrospectively reviewed. A 37-year-old man affected by NF1 referred to our department for progressive weakness of both lower extremities and gait disturbance. Radiological imaging showed bilateral dumbbell-shaped C2 spinal neurofibromas. After its resection, at the 1-month follow-up evaluation, the patient reported headache and nausea. A CT brain scan showed a postoperative cervical pseudomeningocele and an increase in the ventricular sizes, resulting in hydrocephalus. Results A ventriculoperitoneal shunting was performed using a programmable valve opening pressure set to 120 mmH20. After surgery, the patient's neurological status markedly improved. Conclusion Hydrocephalus must be considered a possible complication of cervical spine tumor resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Montemurro
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Ardico
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cocciaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meola
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lutzemberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vannozzi
keywords: cervical spine; dumbbell-shaped neurofibroma; hydrocephalus; neurofibromatosis type 1; postoperative cervical pseudomeningocele; spinal cord tumor