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Paroxysmal sympathetic storm (PSS), or diencephalic seizure, usually appears in patients with severe traumatic brain injury and is characterized by various sympathetic symptoms. The physiological effects of this syndrome are not well studied. The authors monitored intracranial pressure (ICP) in a patient with PSS and reviewed its impact on the physiology and management of the syndrome. A 12-year-old male patient was involved in a traffic accident. Upon arrival at the emergency room, his Glasgow Coma Scale score was 5 and he showed decerebration. A brain CT showed an intracerebral hematoma in the right basal ganglia, at which point craniotomy and removal of the hematoma were performed. Continuous intracranial monitoring was performed using the fiber-optic intraparenchymal method. Beginning the day after the trauma, the patient began exhibiting sympathetic symptoms including intermittent episodes of fever, tachycardia, increased blood pressure, tachypnea, diaphoresis and decerebrate rigidity. These episodes were accompanied by ICP elevation of greater than 20 mm Hg. ICP was decreased during hyperventilation, and the episodic symptoms subsided as ICP normalized. PaCO2 was periodically altered in association with hyperventilation. Electroencephalogram did not show epileptiform discharges, and the sympathetic spells were aborted by continuous intravenous midazolam infusion. The authors report on a pattern of ICP monitoring in association with PSS. Traumatic PSS should be recognized in the appropriate setting to prevent secondary brain damage. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The authors describe 9 cases of children with eosinophilic granuloma (EG) of the skull and report on their clinical manifestations, treatment, and prognosis. Method: Nine consecutive patients were diagnosed as EG of the skull and confirmed pathologically between 1996 and 2005. In the present study, multi- and single-system Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis without skull involvement were excluded. Patients with EG of the skull were divided into two groups: (1) those with only a single bone lesion and those with (2) multiple bone lesions. Surgical removal was performed between 2 and 10 years of age (mean, 4.2 years). Results: Eight (88.9%) of the study subjects were found to have a single bone lesion at diagnosis, and 1 had multiple bone lesions. Seven patients had a painless skull mass and 2 patients had a painful skull mass. Total removal was performed in all 9 patients. Eight patients received postoperative chemotherapy or indomethacin as adjuvant therapy. Of the 8 patients who received adjuvant therapy, 4 were treated with indomethacin and the remaining 4 received methotrexate-based chemotherapy. Eight patients did not experience EG recurrence, however, 1 patient developed additional lesions 2 years after surgical excision. Conclusions: EG of the skull is a clinicopathological entity with a good outcome. However, therapies and prognoses are dependent on age at diagnosis and the number of bony involvements. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a medical case of a male infant diagnosed with subacute epidural hematoma caused by a vacuum extraction. Findings of an X-ray; Information on magnetic resonance imaging which revealed a huge crescent-shaped cephalohematoma communicating to the massive epidural hematoma through a fracture of the skull; Treatment of subacute epidural hematoma.