Lateral Ventricular Epidermoid with Severe Coarse Tremor and Weakness in Opposite Limbs: A Rare Case Report

Chowdhury FH*, Md Haque R, Kawsar KA and Haque M

Department of Neurosurgery, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh

*Corresponding author: Forhad Hossain Chowdhury, Department of Neurosurgery, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Received: June 16, 2016; Accepted: July 17, 2016; Published: July 19, 2016

Abstract

Intracranial epidermoid tumor is rare and intraventricular epidermoid is rarer. For intracranial epidermoid tumor, posterior carnial fossa is the common site. Fourth ventricle is relatively common site for intraventricular epidermoid. Epidermoid tumor in lateral ventricle is very rare. Such a tumor presenting with severe progressive coarse tremor and weakness in opposite side of the body probably had never been reported. The epidermoid was removed by endoscope assisted microsurgical technique. Post operatively patient recovered from her symptoms. Here, we report a very rare case of lateral ventricular epidermoid with tremor and weakness in opposite limbs as well as surgical techniques with short review of related literatures.

Keywords: Lateral ventricle; Intraventricular epidermoid; Coarse tremor; Limb weakness; Extra pyramidal symptoms (EPS)

Introduction

0.2% to 1% of all primary intracranial tumors are epidermoid tumor. Intracranial epidermoid tumors are histologically benign, slowgrowing, congenital neoplasm of the central nervous system. They usually present in adults and are commonest in the cerebellopontine angle or suprasellar region protruding in the subarahnoid space. Epidermoids occurring within the lateral ventricles are very rare [1]. They are slow growing, and the clinical presentation is non-specific like deterioration of mental functions [1,2]. To our knowledge, there is less than 10 reports of epidermoids located in lateral ventricles [1,2].

Probably lateral ventricular epidermoid tumor with severe coarse tremor has not been published in literature. Here, we report a very rare case of lateral ventricular epidermoid with tremor and weakness in opposite limbs with surgical techniques.

Case Report

Case description

A right handed sixteen year old young girl presented with headache and progressively increasing right sided limbs tremor for last four year. Her headache was occasional, intermittent, global and not associated any visual disturbance, vomiting, unconsciousness or convulsion. Her tremor was initially postural and fine but later increased in intensity and became postural as well as intentional. Tremor also became severely coarse for which she was not able to write. Tremor was confined to her right upper and lower limb, more marked in right upper distal limb. Last one year she also developed right sided hemiparesis. Muscle power in right side of the limbs was Medical Research Council (MRC) grade4/5. Deep tendon reflex on right side were increased and right sided planter reflex was extensor. Her higher psychic functions including speech and memory were intact. Cranial nerves including fundoscopy were normal. Her autonomic functions were also intact. MRI brain showed a space occupying mass in left lateral ventricular body, trigone, part of occipital and frontal horn that enlarged the left lateral ventricle and extended to opposite side and compressed the right lateral ventricle (Figure1 and 2). It also effaced the third ventricle and put pressure over both thalamus, caudate nucleus, left upper mid brain. It was hypointense in T1W images, hyper intense in T2W images and in FLAIR it mostly hypointense except its peripheral zone and capsule where in is partly mild to moderately hyperintense in some areas. FLAIR and DW (quality of DW images were poor) images failed to differentiate whether it was epidermoid cyst, arachnoid cyst or CSF.

Figure 1: A, B, C & D-Preoperative MRI of brain FLAIR axial images showing epidermoid tumor of left lateral ventricle pressing over thalamus and left midbrain.

    
    
    Figure 1: A, B, C & D-Preoperative MRI of brain FLAIR axial images showing epidermoid tumor of left lateral ventricle pressing over thalamus and left midbrain.

Figure 2: Preoperative MRI of brain; T2W images, A-axial, B-Coronal image; T1W Images, C&F-Saggital, D-axial, F-Coronal images showing the left lateral ventricular epidermoid tumor.

    
    
    Figure 2: Preoperative MRI of brain; T2W images, A-axial, B-Coronal image; T1W Images, C&F-Saggital, D-axial, F-Coronal images showing the left lateral
ventricular epidermoid tumor.

Operative techniques

A left sided fronto-parietal craniotomy was done near the midline without exposing superior saggital sinus. 2/3^rd of craniotomy was placed anterior to coronal suture. The skin incision was ‘U’ shaped with a base on the lateral side. Dura was opened with ‘U’ shaped flap based toward medially. Superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus and superior frontal sulcus were identified. After necessary cortical venous mobilization by arachnoid dissection right lateral ventricle was reached through trans -superior frontal sulcus approach (Figures 3A, 3B). After draining of rush ventricular CSF pearly white materials of epidermoid came in view. As CSF came out, the brain became very relaxed. With microscopic and self retaining retractor manipulation we removed the tumor near totally (Figures 3C, 3D, 3E and 3F). We left the part capsule in some places where it seemed that capsule was firmly adhering to ventricular wall and related structures. During operation we reliably identified the left surface of septum pellucidum with septal vein (Figure 3F), part of choroids plexus and foramen of Monro (left). But posterior part of septum and choroids plexus could not be seen due to firm attachment of capsule. At the end of the operation we used neuro-endoscope to inspect the operation sites for any residual tumor and residual part was removed with help of endoscopic assisted microsurgery (Figures 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D).

Figure 3: Peroperative pictures. A-Arachnoid dissection in superior frontal sulcus for mobilization of cortical vein. B-Transsulcal entrance into left lateral ventricle. C, D & F-peroperative pictures of micro surgical removal of epidermoid tumor.

    
    
    Figure 3: Peroperative pictures. A-Arachnoid dissection in superior frontal sulcus for mobilization of cortical vein. B-Transsulcal entrance into left lateral ventricle.
C, D & F-peroperative pictures of micro surgical removal of epidermoid tumor.

Figure 4: A, B & C-Pictures of neuro-endoscopic checking for residual tumor. D-removal of small residual tumor under endoscopic vision.

    
    
    Figure 4: A, B & C-Pictures of neuro-endoscopic checking for residual tumor. D-removal of small residual tumor under endoscopic vision.

Postoperative course

We used inj. Dexamethasone and inj. Phenytoin peroperatviely and post operatively to prevent chemical meningitis and seizure respectively. But two hours after the operation the patient developed generalized seizure and that was managed by i.v. bolus inj phenytoin followed by maintenance of i.v. drip of inj phenytoin for 96 hours. Immediate CT scan showed no haematoma, mass effect or hydrocephalus. Rest of the post operative period was uneventful. Her hemiparesis improved to normal by three weeks after operation. Tremor intensity began to reduce immediately after operation. By the end of six months after operation she returned to her school and was able to write comfortably but there was mild postural tremor persisted in her right upper limb. She was put on postoperative anticonvulsant for two years as she had an immediate post operative seizure. Two weeks after operation, post operative CT scan showed opening up of frontal horn, occipital horn of left lateral ventricle, right lateral ventricle and third ventricle. There was also evidence of an intact right sided wall of cavum septum pellucidum (Figure 5). But there was still residual dead space in tumor area with deformed left lateral ventricular wall. Histopathological examination of tumor tissue reported epidermoid tumor.

Figure 5: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H & I-Two weeks after operation post operative CT scan (serial axial sections) showed opening up of frontal horn, occipital horn of left lateral ventricle, right lateral ventricle and third ventricle. But there was still residual dead space in tumor area with deformed left lateral ventricular wall.

    
    
    Figure 5: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H & I-Two weeks after operation post operative CT scan (serial axial sections) showed opening up of frontal horn, occipital horn of left
lateral ventricle, right lateral ventricle and third ventricle. But there was still residual dead space in tumor area with deformed left lateral ventricular wall.

Discussion

Approximately 60% of all intracranial epidermoids occur in Cerebello-Pontine Angle (CPA). Among the intraventricular epidermoids 4th ventricular epidermoids are the most common [3]. Epidermoids occurring within the lateral ventricles are very rare. The lesions are of developmental etiology, due to migration of epiblast inclusion at the time of formation of the cerebral vesicle. Generally seen in the fifth decade, but they have also been observed in the pediatric age group [2]. Signs and symptoms of epidermoid cysts are due to gradual mass effect. The presenting features are headaches (most common), cranial nerve deficits, cerebellar symptoms, seizures, raised intracranial pressure. Recurrent aseptic meningitis is uncommon but recognized complication, similar to the less common dermoid cyst [3]. Lateral ventricular epidermoids are slow growing, and presentation is non-specific in the form of deteriorating mental functions [2]. The major differential diagnosis for a epidermoid cyst are arachnoidal cysts, hamartomatous lipomas, dermoid cysts, cystic neoplasm etc [4,5]. They can usually be differentiated by CT scan or MRI images of brain. Conventional MR images sometime cannot reliably be used to distinguish epidermoid tumors from arachnoid cysts since both lesions are very hypointense relative to brain parenchyma on T1-weighted MR images and very hyperintense on T2- weighted images. In contrary, FLAIR and DW sequences can successfully be used for diagnosis of epidermoid cysts by revealing its solid nature [1,6,7]. But in lateral ventricular epidermoid, MRI is suggestive of a cystic lesion, and is confirmed to be a typical epidermoid within the lateral ventricle at operation, often having a connection to the midline through the choroidal fissure [2]. In our case, we failed to understand preoperatively whether the lesion was epidermoid or not even in FLAIR and DW images of MRI. Epidermoid cyst was confirmed during operation. Hydrocephalus is said to be uncommon because of the long-standing nature of the lesion and also because CSF can permeate through the crevices of the lesion [3].

The cysts should be excised with no additional morbidity [2]. The surgical approaches for such a lesion is trans cortical (Transgyralmiddle frontal gyrus, transsulcul-trans superior forntal sulcul) and transcollosal approach. We prepared trans-superior frontal sulcul approach for less manipulation of veins and less destruction of cerebral cortex. The surgical approach is generally determined by the location and the extent of the lesion. There is a controversy regarding the extent of removal. Although the aim of surgery is complete removal but only few authors advocate total removal of the tumor [8- 10]. A conservative approach with decompression and the removal of the non-adherent portion of the capsule has been suggested by many authors [3,11,12]. Chemical meningitis can occur by spillage of the cyst contents during operation, which usually is transient and self-limiting10 and can be managed successfully with steroids. Histopathology reveals typical stratified squamous epithelium [2].

Nevertheless, epidermoids are often the most troublesome to cure because of their insinuating growth which make it difficult for radical excision [10]. It is not surprising that, prior to the microsurgical era, operative mortality ranged from 20% to 57% [12]. But now a days, surgery induced mortality is very low. Partial removal of a lesion leads to recurrence, which often occurs after a prolonged period [8,11]. As the hypodense areas revealed by CT persist for a prolonged period, even after complete removal of the tumor, possibly because of a long-standing deformation of the neural structures, a diagnosis of recurrence at an early stage is often not possible. MRI is useful to diagnose an early recurrence [9].

Epidermoid can occur not only in lateral ventricle but also in cavum pellucidum [13]. In our case, post operative CT showed there was also evidence of an intact right sided wall of cavum septum pellucidum and absent of left sided cavum wall. But during operation we identified the part of septum pellucidum with septal vein and part of choroids plexus on left side that might suggest, tumor was in lateral ventricle but it might be an epidermoid originated from cavum pellucidum that extended in lateral ventricle.

Although there is reports of tremor from intracranial lesion such as meningioma, intraventricular and thalamic gliomas [14,15] but probably there is no report of tremor caused by intraventricular epidermoid. Such tremors can be explained by pressure or infiltration of ventroanterior and ventrolateral thalamic nuclei, dentate rubrothalamic tract [15,16] and pressure on midbrain (red nucleus). Borremans JJ et al. [17] reported patient who developed hemichoreahemiballism ipsilateral to and intraventricular cyst after resection of a meningioma of the lateral ventricle while under medication with phenytoin. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated distortion of the upper brainstem and diencephalon compatible with functional involvement of the contralateral subthalamic nucleus. The movement disorder disappeared after drainage of the cyst. Hemichorea and hemiballism have been reported to be associated with ipsilateral cerebral lesions in a rare cases.17 Most of the hemiplegia- Extra Pyramidal Symptoms (EPS) syndromes are caused by hemispheric lesions including tumors, but there are reported etiologies with central and basifrontal lesions like pituitary adenoma and craniopharyngioma can cause such syndromes [18,19].

In our patient we think, hemiparesis was due to pressure over corona radiata, internal capsule and upper midbrain but it might be conditional effect from dyskinetic movement disorder. Regarding the pathogenesis of contralateral hemiparesis with extrapyramidal symptoms, the former is often considered a conditional effect from dyskinetic movement disorderes as reported by Krauss et al. [20].

EPS syndromes may be self limiting are usually managed symptomatically with neuorlectics (haloperidol, fluphanazine), dopaminergic antagonist (tetrabenazine), GABAergic (gabapntine, valproate) and benzodiazepines (diazepam, pimozide) [21-23] but nontumoral intractable cases may need surgical treatment (i.e. DBS, thalamotomy, pallidotomy) [24-26]. EPS syndromes associated with surgical lesion (cavernoma, angioma, tumor) are less responsive to drugs treatment, surgical removal of lesion is usually needed and may be curative in benign lesion [27-29]. Definitive treatment with fetal cell transplantation or neuro-stem cell transplantation is still in infancy [30,31].

Conclusion

Lateral ventricular epidermoid is very rare, can present with tremor and weakness. Surgical excision can bring cure to the patient.

References

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Citation: Chowdhury FH, Md Haque R, Kawsar KA and Haque M. Lateral Ventricular Epidermoid with Severe Coarse Tremor and Weakness in Opposite Limbs: A Rare Case Report. Austin Neurosurg Open Access. 2016; 3(2): 1048.

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