Neurenteric Cyst of the Cerebellopontine Angle With Fetal-type Posterior Circulation
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Date
2010
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NEUROSURGERY QUARTERLY
Abstract
Intracranial neurenteric cysts are rare congenital tumors, which are located largely in the posterior fossa. The benign nature of the lesion allows them to attain large proportions before they are diagnosed. Histopathogenesis of neurenteric cysts is controversial and they are thought to develop during the third week of gestation as a result of endodermal dysgenesis. This is also the period during which the fetal cerebral circulation develops. The transformation from fetal-type to adult-type circulation begins from the eighth week, and theoretically, any disturbance during this process may lead to persistent fetal-type posterior cerebral circulation. We report a unique case of neurenteric cyst in the posterior fossa with bilateral full fetal-type posterior circulation. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no reported case of a congenital cyst in the posterior fossa associated with fetal-type posterior circulation. As angiography for such benign cystic lesions in the posterior fossa is not routinely practiced, the incidence of their association with persistent fetal circulation is not known. We postulate that congenital lesions in the posterior fossa can affect the normal vascular development leading to known arterial variations.
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Neurosurgery
Citation
NEUROSURGERY QUARTERLY. 20; 4; 311-313