-Objective: To determine the causes of early shunt complications in 46 children with hydrocephalus. Method: A retrospective study was conducted on 46 children submitted to ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery between February 2005 and February 2007. Results: Thirteen (28%) patients presented complications, which were due to infection in 9 (69%) and to malfunction of the shunt system in 4 (31%).The mean number of surgical procedures performed on patients who presented complications was 2.8 per patient, with a total of 46 surgeries in this group. All patients with infectious complications were identified during their hospital stay. Conclusions: Infection was the most common complication. The infection rate was proportional to the length of hospital stay. All patients with hydrocephalus due to tumors or myelomeningocele presented complications. A higher incidence of infections was observed in children older than 2 years.Key words: hydrocephalus, hydrocephalus valve, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, ventriculoatrial shunt, early complications.complicações precoces de válvula de hidrocefalia em 46 crianças resumo -Objetivo: determinar e as causas das complicações precoces nas válvulas de hidrocefalia de 46 crianças. Método: Um estudo retrospectivo foi realizado com 46 crianças submetidas a colocação de válvula de hidrocefalia no período de fevereiro de 2005 a fevereiro de 2007. Resultados: obtivemos 13 (28%) pacientes com complicações sendo 9 (69%) causadas por infecção e 4 (31%) por mal funcionamento da válvula de hidrocefalia. A média de procedimentos cirúrgicos realizados nos pacientes com complicações foi de 2,8 por paciente, sendo o total de 46 cirurgias neste grupo. Todos os pacientes com complicações infecciosas foram detectados durante a internação hospitalar. Conclusões: Infecção foi a complicação mais comum. o índice de infecção foi proporcional ao tempo de permanência hospitalar. Todos os pacientes portadores de hidrocefalia secundária a tumores ou mielomeningocele complicaram. As crianças maiores de 2 anos de idade tiveram maior incidência de infecções.PAlAvrAs-chAve: hidrocefalia, válvula de hidrocefalia, derivação ventrículo-peritoneal, derivação ventrículo-atrial, complicações precoces. department of Neurosurgery, santa casa de Belo horizonte, Belo horizonte MG, Brazil: 1 resident of Neurosurgery; 2 staff Neurosurgeon.

Background:Pituicytomas originate from pituicytes, modified glial cells derived from ependymal lineage that are found in the stalk and posterior lobe of pituitary gland. The clinical presentation is similar to other pituitary tumors and imaging exams may suggest pituitary adenoma. The diagnostic is based on histopathological analysis. Surgical treatment can be performed by transsphenoidal approach with good results. The prognostic is good after total tumor resection.Case Description:We describe here the case of a 17-year-old patient with a history of persistent headache and visual disturbances. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an enhancing solid sellar mass suggestive of pituitary adenoma. The intrasellar mass was resected through a transsphenoidal approach and the diagnosis of pituicytoma was made after histopathological analysis.Conclusion:Pituicytomas are rare tumors of the neurohypophysis derived from pituicytes. Their clinical presentation resembles that of non-functional pituitary adenomas, but these two types of tumors are histologically well distinct.

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