Subdural hygroma associated with axillary cystic hygroma

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kaleyias, Joseph | Bharucha, Diana X. | Yorns, William | Miller-Horn, Jill W. | Finck, Christine | Piatt, Joseph H. | Kothare, Sanjeev V.

Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA | Medical Student, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA | Medical Student, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA | Department of Pediatrics, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA | Department of Surgery, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA | Department of Neurosurgery, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Note: [] Correspondence: Sanjeev V. Kothare, M.D., Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Fegan 9, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Tel.: +1 617 355 6663; Fax: +1 617 730 0463; E-mail: sanjeev.kothare@childrens.harvard.edu

Abstract: We present a case of a 4-month-old girl with a history of a huge axillary cystic hygroma since birth, with elective surgical resection of the lesion and subsequent development of infection at the surgery site. During hospitalization for the infection, she developed seizures, a bulging fontanelle, increased head circumference, and widely separated cranial sutures. Brain imaging demonstrated new, large, bilateral subdural fluid collections with membrane enhancement around the left-sided collection. She was managed by subdural tap, bilateral craniotomy, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and subduroperitoneal shunt insertion. Ultimately, she had complete recovery without complications. This case adds to the spectrum of intracranial conditions that have been associated with cystic hygroma.

Keywords: Subdural hygroma, axillary cystic hygroma, neonate

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Neurology, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 61-64, 2008