1/94. Parkinsonism in children resulting from mesencephalic tumors.Parkinsonism secondary to intrinsic brain stem mass lesions is rare. Two children with parkinsonism caused by mesencephalic tumors are reported. The pathophysiological mechanisms of this association are discussed and the literature describing similar cases is reviewed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/94. Bilateral symmetrical enhancing brainstem lesions: an unusual presentation of primary CNS lymphoma.We report a patient with a progressive brainstem syndrome, who on magnetic resonance imaging had large bilateral, symmetrical, contrast-enhancing, infratentorial space-occupying lesions. biopsy of one of the lesions revealed this unusual appearance to be due to a primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma of B-cell type. Symmetry of lesions may be a clue to the diagnosis, perhaps reflecting the mechanism by which CNS lymphomas spread.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/94. Histiocytic lesion mimicking intrinsic brainstem neoplasm. Case report.This 10-year-old girl presented with a 1-month history of progressive bulbar palsy and a solitary enhancing mass originating within the floor of the fourth ventricle. Results of initial imaging studies and presentation were suggestive of neoplasia. Subtotal resection was performed and pathological examination revealed the mass to be a histiocytic lesion, with no evidence of a glioma. The patient had no other stigmata of histiocytosis and was treated with steroid medications, resulting in prolonged resolution of the lesion. This case demonstrates that for discrete brainstem lesions the differential diagnosis includes entities other than glioma for which treatment is available. biopsy sampling should be considered when technically feasible.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/94. Extreme lateral supracerebellar infratentorial approach to the posterolateral mesencephalon: technique and clinical experience.OBJECTIVE: Lesions situated posterolaterally along the mesencephalon present neurosurgeons with a special challenge. The midline and paramedian variations of the supracerebellar infratentorial approaches do not adequately expose this region. The subtemporal approach risks injury to the vein of Labbe. An extreme lateral supracerebellar infratentorial approach with more radical resection of bone superiorly and laterally, and skeletonization of the sigmoid and transverse sinuses, was used to approach lesions at this location in eight methods: Five cavernous malformations, two juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas, and one peripheral superior cerebellar artery aneurysm located in this region were approached in eight patients. In this extreme lateral approach, the sigmoid sinus is unroofed more superiorly and the bone flap includes not only a posterior fossa craniotomy but also a portion that extends just above the transverse sinus. The dural opening is based along the transverse and sigmoid sinuses. After the cerebrospinal fluid has been drained, the lateral aspect of the brainstem is approached via the cerebellar surface. A proximal tentorial incision offers additional rostral exposure where needed. RESULTS: Seven patients in this series underwent successful resection of their lesion. The remaining patient's aneurysm was clipped successfully with no major complications. CONCLUSION: The extreme lateral supracerebellar infratentorial approach differs from the midline and paramedian supracerebellar infratentorial variants in the area of exposure, patient positioning, and location of the craniotomy. The technique is effective for approaching the posterolateral mesencephalon.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.0003494489881keywords = brain, injury (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/94. Brainstem encephalitis resulting from Epstein-Barr virus mimicking an infiltrating tumor in a child.A case of a child with subacute neurologic features and imaging findings consistent with a brainstem encephalitis that was discovered to be related to a primary central nervous system infection caused by Epstein-Barr virus is presented. A brainstem tumor was initially suspected, but a correct diagnosis was formulated on the basis of the favorable clinical course and the detection of positive Epstein-Barr virus serology. In contrast to a prompt recovery of neurologic signs the neuroimaging alterations persisted for a longer time. The present report emphasizes the possible role of Epstein-Barr virus in the pathogenesis of infectious neurologic disorders in childhood, underlining the unusual presentation of a brainstem encephalitis, and considers the discrepancy between the course of neurologic features and the evolution of imaging alterations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/94. Malignant pilocytic astrocytoma in the medulla oblongata: case report.A 27-year-old woman visited our hospital with chief complaints of abducens nerve palsy and cerebellar symptoms. On computerized tomographic scanning and magnetic resonance imaging, a tumor with strong enhancement was found on the dorsal side of the medulla oblongata. A tumor was excised by suboccipital craniotomy and C1 laminectomy. Histologically, many Rosenthal fibers together with pilocytic tumor cells were found in some regions, but a very high Ki-67 labeling rate accompanied by cells with nuclei of irregular size and giant cells was observed in other regions. The tumor was diagnosed as malignant pilocytic astrocytoma originating from pilocytic astrocytoma by transformation. The biological behavior of pilocytic astrocytoma is obscure in several respects. We report our experience of a case of malignant pilocytic astrocytoma that developed in the brain stem and progressed extremely rapidly.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/94. Neuroendoscopic biopsy of tectal glioma: a case report.OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: A type of intrinsic dorsal midbrain glioma known as benign tectal glioma can cause obstructive hydrocephalus. Because of its slow progress and relatively good prognosis, initial treatment should be cerebrospinal fluid diversion and biopsy. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We report a 24-year-old man with obstructive hydrocephalus from a tectal glioma, who was admitted to the hospital for malfunction of a shunt placed 16 years previously. INTERVENTION: magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated enlargement of the dorsal midbrain associated with increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images and fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) images. No enhancement occurred with contrast administration. We performed a neuroendoscopic third ventriculostomy and biopsy of the tumor. Histologic examination of the specimen obtained disclosed a low-grade astrocytoma. No postoperative neurologic complications occurred. CONCLUSION: FLAIR images were superior to T2-weighted images in demonstrating abnormal intensity in the dorsal midbrain. neuroendoscopy confirmed a yellowish tumor inferior to the posterior commissure occluding the entrance of the aqueduct, an observation useful in planning biopsy of the lesion. As the tumor apparently had existed for a number of years, the case supports the notion that the prognosis associated with these tumors is good.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/94. Familial brainstem glioma.Two young males with a high degree of consanguinity presented with similar brainstem gliomas. As the patients were raised separately, their presentation with similar tumors suggests a genetic basis for the occurrence of these gliomas.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/94. Respiratory control and respiratory sensation in a patient with a ganglioglioma within the dorsocaudal brain stem.We encountered a young woman with severe central sleep apnea caused by a medullary glioma located slightly dorsal to and to the right of the midline, a region not generally associated with CO(2) chemosensitivity. The patient had normal spirometric readings, lung volumes, diffusing capacity, maximal inspiratory pressure, and alveolar-arterial oxygen difference. While awake, she displayed marked irregularity in her breathing pattern; her end-tidal CO(2) (FET(CO(2))) ranged from 5.3 to 10.9%. During voluntary hyperpnea, she could quickly reduce her FET(CO(2)) to 4.2%, but her PCO(2) did not change after administration of acetazolamide or progesterone. Like patients with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), our patient had a relatively intact ventilatory response to exercise; her PCO(2) was high at the start of exercise and increased slightly thereafter. In contrast to CCHS patients, however, our patient had an intact hypoxic ventilatory response (DeltaVE/ DeltaSa(O(2)) = -0.37 L/min/Sa(O(2))). In further contrast to CCHS patients, our patient had a very short breathholding time and described a sensation of air hunger as the factor limiting her breathholding ability. Her heart rate and blood pressure responses to the valsalva maneuver were normal.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/94. MKM-guided resection of diffuse brainstem neoplasms.OBJECTIVES: Some primary brainstem tumors, when extensive, are considered inoperable. We wanted to assess the value of robotic image-guided microscopic surgery in the resection of these tumors and to improve survival and quality of life for these patients. methods: Two patients with extensive brainstem tumors were evaluated at our center. They previously underwent several biopsies, attempted partial resections, radiotherapy and shunting. They presented with progressive neurological deterioration, 'coma vigil' for several months, and required life-supporting measures prior to surgery. Both patients underwent frameless stereotactic craniotomy using a MKM robotic microscope, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, and extensive resection of their recurrent brainstem tumors. RESULTS: In the immediate weeks after surgery, both patients became interactive and regained major motor and cranial nerve deficits present prior to surgery. Nine months after surgery, 1 patient succumbed to pneumonia. At 2 years after the operation, 1 patient has maintained his neurological status and showed no recurrence on imaging studies. CONCLUSIONS: Image-guided surgery with an MKM microscope allows surgical outlines to be injected in the microscope viewer and facilitates resection of extensive brainstem tumors previously considered inoperable.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 8keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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