Subdural cysts and diencephalic tumor

Four children with diencephalic emaciation, three of whom had subdural cysts (effusions), are described. In two of these cases the initial diagnosis was subdural effusion, which delayed the correct diagnosis. Three of the four patients with emaciation of diencephalic origin had large tumors in which the involved part of the diencephalon accounted for only a small part of the total tumor bulk. The fourth patient had a large glioma of the optic chiasm.