Pseudomeningocele as a complication of teratoma resection and aseptic meningitis following craniofacial reconstruction: a case report.

This is a report of two extremely unusual complications of craniofacial surgery on a single patient. A 14-year-old female underwent resection of a recurrent teratoma four times within the first 9 years of life. This left her with two large cranial cavities in the left temple and posterior to the orbit communicating with the subarachnoid space constituting a pseudomeningocele and pulsatile mass in the left temple--an unusual complication. Following resection of the pseudoepithelial cavity linings, the spaces were filled with a split temporalis muscle. Two weeks following surgery, she developed signs and symptoms of meningitis with negative cultures from the drain sites and lumbar puncture. Six days following an unsuccessful attempt to treat her with wide spectrum antibiotics, she was treated with dexamethasone. As a result, there was a dramatic disappearance of signs and symptoms in less than 36 hours; she has not experienced any recurrence since. We feel that this aseptic meningitis was the result of cerebrospinal fluid exposure to muscle--a rare, yet, previously reported complication. The details of the case history and discussion of complications and the way in which they can be avoided, are subjects of this report.