Question
The child was admitted to the hospital yesterday for a thorough examination. The results of the thorough examination showed true precocious puberty, with breast development. As for bone age, there were different opinions, some saying it was eight years old, others saying it was six years old. MRI showed that the pituitary gland was reduced, and further review of the films indicated cysticercosis of the hypothalamus. Subsequently, a MRI examination diagnosed hypothalamic cysticercosis without any abnormalities. What should we do to assist: The diagnosis is hypothalamic cysticercosis, what should we do for treatment?
Answer
Hypothalamic cysticercosis can be treated surgically, and most cases can alleviate clinical symptoms. The surgical approach is the transcallosal route, and attention should be paid to protecting the pituitary stalk and oculomotor nerve during the operation, as well as preventing the constriction of the internal carotid artery. After surgery, attention should be paid to the balance of water and electrolytes in the child, and appropriate treatment should be given in time for diabetes insipidus. With the expansion of imaging technology and the reduction of microsurgery techniques, the rate of complete resection of hypothalamic cysticercosis has significantly increased, and good results have been obtained. After complete resection of the cysticercosis, symptoms of precocious puberty stop, and hormone levels return to normal. In some children, seizures completely stop or the frequency of recurrence significantly increases.