PRESENTATION, MANAGEMENT AND FOLLOW-UP OF SCHILDERS-DISEASE

Schilder's diffuse myelinoclastic sclerosis is a rare demyelinating di sease which often mimics intracranial neoplasm or abscess. We have tre ated 3 patients with this disorder in the past 5 years and followed th eir postoperative course. Certain distinct features of this disease wi ll allow neurosurgeons to preoperatively entertain this diagnosis. We discuss postoperative treatment and propose a new hypothesis regarding the variable prognoses of this disorder. Schilder's disease constitut es an important diagnosis for any neurosurgeon to be aware of (especia lly those treating the pediatric age group) which has not received ade quate coverage in the neurosurgical literature.