Harmartoma of Tubar Cinereum

1. Could anyone please help me in finding out more about Harmartoma of tubar cinereum? My My boyfriend's ex-girlfriend was newly diagnosed and is afraid their 12 year old son may have it. She said that after puberty, if the child has it, it cannot be taken care of. Is this life-threatening? What can we do? Where can I find out more about this?

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2. 

   About kaceyjane2001

   Joined: Jul '03; Posts: 15

   10 Comments

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3. 
   Jul 17, '03

   OOOPS spelled it wrong. Sorry, It should be hamartoma.
4. 
   Jul 17, '03

   Kacey - at teh bottom of the screen is the google search but if you click on that section there is a drop down menu which includes medline and merck manual.
5. 
   Jul 17, '03

   Thanks , Gwenith. However, i did look there before asking this question. It gave me generalizations and nothing more. Thank you again for the suggestion. I have also looked on www.plwc.org and nothing there either. This is getting very frustrating.
6. 
   Jul 17, '03

   Sorry Kacey - this is one of those very "specialist" questions that you may find difficulty getting an answer to as the right people are not currently on the board. Best bet is to "bump" the thread every so often by adding an entry and be patient.
7. 
   Jul 17, '03

   Google search to the rescue! this was a new diagnosis for me
   
   Correct term: hamartoma of tuber cinereum
   
   non-neoplastic congenital heterotopias of grey matter located in the region of the tuber cinereum of the hypothalamus or maxillary bodies. Macroscopically they are nodules of variable size, from a few mm in diameter to 1-2 cm in diameter, sessile or pedunculated, attached to the outer surface of the tuber cinereum and lying in the interpeduncular cistern between the infundibular stalk anteriorly and the mamillary body posteriorly. Histologically they are characterized by an abnormal heterotopic collection of large and small neurons, astrocytes and oligodendroglial cells, without any potential for malignancy.
   
   Clinically they may either be asymptomatic, or produce precocious puberty and/or a specific type of seizure called gelastic ("laughing attacks"), of the partial complex type, associated sometimes with psychiatric disturbances and cognitive impairment. On CT, hypothalamic hamartomas appear as rounded, well defined masses, isodense with brain tissue, lying in the suprasellar cistern. No enhancement is usually seen after contrast injection.
   
   Surgical Treatment is possible if seizures experienced---see the articles in the links below.
   
   http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...nereum&spell=1
8. 
   Jul 17, '03

   Very interesting information. Learn something new every day.
   
   renerian
9. 
   Jul 17, '03

   Thank you , NRSKarenRN. I saw that too, and still had questions. Such as, is it fatal in adults,and when is it too late to be taken care of? One Doc said that after puberty is too late, then another one said he wasnt sure. This is a scary thing since my b/f's ex was diagnosed with this in her 30's (just yesterday as a matter of fact) and her son is 12 and going through puberty.
   I soooooo appreciate all responses.
10. 
    Jul 17, '03

    Only thing I could find in above literature google search is that they can use gama knife for surgery @times---nothing about logevity. Sounds like a neurosurgeon consult is indicated--one form large wellknown facility/
    
    Sorry--no expert this area. Calling for neuro nurse consult here!
11. 
    Jul 17, '03

    I agree with Karen - this probably needs to be in the neurosurgery nursing or neurosurgical ICU nursing rather than Oncology, as it is non-neoplastic. Treatment would most likely would include gamma knife/neurosurgery, not chemo/rad. Very few us onco gals would have dealt with this.
12. 
    Jul 18, '03

    Thank you all for yor help. Ill move this to neuro and see what i can find out. I am proud to be a new nurse. You all are so helpful and kind. I still have so much to learn.

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