[A cause of neonatal respiratory distress: cerebral tissue heterotopia in the cavum].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Brain heterotopia can be reflected in disturbances of the oropharynx during the neonatal period, such as acute upper airway obstruction. The main differential diagnosis is encephalocele, which must be recognized before undertaking any surgical procedure.

CASE REPORT:

A boy, aged 5 days, with a cleft palate and bifid uvula, was admitted for respiratory distress. The distress initially occurred during bottle-feeding, but later became permanent. A solid mass, seemingly implanted in the superior wall of the pharynx, was successfully removed by forceps. A later CT scan showed the absence of any defect in the cribriform plate, thus excluding diagnosis of encephalocele. Histological, examination of the mass showed glial tissue without neurons.

CONCLUSION:

The presence of a pharyngeal mass in a newborn signals three possibilities: teratoma, heterotopic brain tissue or encephalocele. Encephalocele must by ruled out by a preoperative CT scan with a water soluble contrast agent in order to avoid CSF leakage and meningitis. Respiratory distress should be treated by oral endotracheal intubation to allow time for CT scan investigation.

• Authors: P Josset, L Boccon-Gibod, H Lacombe
• Journal: Archives francaises de pediatrie (Arch Fr Pediatr) 1992 Jun-Jul Vol. 49 Issue 6 Pg. 535-8 ISSN: 0003-9764 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Une cause de détresse respiratoire néonatale: hétérotopie de tissu cérébral dans le cavum.
• PMID: 1449356 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Brain (embryology)
• Choristoma (complications, diagnosis, embryology)
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Male
• Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms (complications, diagnosis, embryology)
• Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn (etiology)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed