[Neurocytoma in the left frontal lobe]

We report a case of a 7-year-old right-handed girl with neurocytoma in the left frontal lobe. She developed convulsive seizures on the right side of her face at the age of 1 year and 8 months, and CT scan revealed a low density lesion in the left frontal lobe near the Sylvian fissure. CT scan at the age of 7 years showed slight enlargement of the lesion in size, and linear calcification in the mass. MRI imaging revealed the lesion to be a solid mass involving the area of Brodmann 44 of the left cerebral hemisphere. However, amytal test disclosed that her speech center was not situated in the left cerebral hemisphere. Subtotal removal of the tumor and removal of the epileptogenic focus were performed and no neurological deficits including speech disturbance resulted. The tumor was diagnosed as neurocytoma by electron microscopy. Because this tumor was considered of low malignancy, no radiation or chemotherapy was given. It is emphasized that neurocytoma can occur in parts of the brain other than in the ventricular system, though the incidence of the tumor is more frequent in the latter.