1/23. Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy versus amygdalar epilepsy: late seizure recurrence after initially successful amygdalotomy and regained seizure control following hippocampectomy.We summarise the concept of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and the pros and cons in order to define amygdala epilepsy. We present a patient with stereotactically proven right amygdalar seizure onset, associated with fear and vegetative autonomic signs and symptoms as the most prominent clinical ictal features. Following a right stereotactic amygdalotomy, the patient experienced an 11-year seizure-free period. Similar, but not identical, semeiology of complex partial seizures then recurred. A right-sided selective hippocampectomy and excision of the previously lesioned amygdala was performed. Except for 2 complex partial seizures associated with withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs, the patient remained seizure-free 9.5 years. This case underscores the important role of the amygdala in generating the semiology, and raises several questions concerning the existence of "amygdalar epilepsy". The 11-year seizure-free period following the stereotactic destruction of the amygdala is a strong argument for this notion. The late seizure recurrence requiring a second operation might, however, be seen as an argument for the important role of the hippocampal formation in the syndrome of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy even when the amygdala has been identified as the seizure onset zone. The role of stereotactic amygdalotomy is briefly reviewed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fear (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/23. Graded exposure in vivo in the treatment of pain-related fear: a replicated single-case experimental design in four patients with chronic low back pain.The aim of this investigation was to examine the effectiveness of a graded exposure in vivo treatment with behavioural experiments as compared to usual graded activity in reducing pain-related fears, catastrophising and pain disability in chronic low back pain patients reporting substantial fear of movement/(re)injury. Included in the study were four consecutive CLBP patients who were referred for outpatient behavioural rehabilitation, and who reported substantial fear of movement/(re)injury (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia score>40). A replicated single-case cross-over design was used. After a no-treatment baseline measurement period, the patients were randomly assigned to one of two interventions. In intervention A, patients received the exposure first, followed by graded activity. In intervention B, the sequence of treatment modules was reversed. Sixty-three daily measures of pain-related cognitions and fears were recorded with visual analogue scales. Before and after the treatment, the following measures were taken: pain-related fear, pain catastrophising, pain control and pain disability. Using time series analysis on the daily measures of pain-related cognitions and fears, we found that improvements only occurred during the graded exposure in vivo, and not during the graded activity, irrespective of the treatment order. Analysis of the pre-post treatment differences also revealed that decreases in pain-related fear concurred with decreases in pain catastrophising and pain disability, and in half of the cases an increase in pain control. This study shows that the external validity of exposure in vivo also extends to the subgroup of chronic low back pain patients who report substantial fear of movement/(re)injury.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 12keywords = fear (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/23. Omental transplantation for epilepsy.Residual seizures after functional hemispherectomy occur in approximately 20% of patients with catastrophic epilepsy. These episodes are traditionally attributed to incomplete disconnection, persistent epileptogenic activity in the ipsilateral insular cortex, or bilateral independent epileptogenic activity. The authors report on the case of an 8-year-old boy with an intractable seizure disorder who had classic frontal adversive seizures related to extensive unilateral left hemispheric cortical dysplasia. The initial intervention consisted of extensive removal of the epileptic frontal and precentral dysplastic tissue and multiple subpial transections of the dysplastic motor strip, guided by intraoperative electrocorticography. Subsequently, functional hemispherectomy including insular cortex resection was performed for persistent attacks. After a seizure-free period of 6 months, a new pattern ensued, consisting of an aura of fear, dystonic posturing of the right arm, and unusual postictal hyperphagia coupled with an interictal diencephalic-like syndrome. electroencephalography and ictal/interictal single-photon emission computerized tomography were used to localize the residual epileptic discharges to deep ipsilateral structures. Results of magnetic resonance imaging indicated a complete disconnection except for a strip of residual frontobasal tissue. Therefore, a volumetric resection of the epileptogenic frontal basal tissue up to the anterior commissure was completed. The child has remained free of seizures during 21 months of follow-up review. Standard hemispherectomy methods provide extensive disconnection, despite the presence of residual frontal basal cortex. However, rarely, and especially if it is dysplastic, this tissue can represent a focus for refractory seizures. This is an important consideration in determining the source of ongoing seizures posthemispherectomy in patients with extensive cortical dysplasia. It remains important to assess them fully before considering their disease refractory to surgical treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fear (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/23. osteonecrosis in a patient with Crohn's disease unrelated to corticosteroid use.osteonecrosis is a feared complication of corticosteroid use. However, a direct association between corticosteroid use and osteonecrosis has never been proven. The present report examines the case of a patient with longstanding Crohn's disease who had never been treated with corticosteroids and who developed osteonecrosis of the talus. The association of systemic inflammatory disorders with osteonecrosis and the possible association with vascular thrombosis are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fear (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/23. Adjustable gastric banding in a patient with sarcoidosis.The use of silicone in patients with immune-compromising diseases is controversial because of fears that there may be inflammatory reactions against the material. We report the case of a patient who suffered from cutaneous sarcoidosis with bihilar lymphadenopathy and obesity (110 kg; BMI, 38 kg/m2) that was exaggerated by cortisone therapy. The patient underwent adjustable gastric banding because of aggravating comorbid hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Six months postoperatively, she had achieved an excess weight loss of 33%. During this period, she had a relapse of scar sarcoidosis of the right elbow and bilateral hilar lyphadenopathy. Although she was treated with a double dose of cortisone (8 mg daily), the scars from the laparoscopy as well as those in the gastric region adjacent to the band remained unaffected. We therefore believe that preexisting immune-compromising diseases are not an absolute contraindication against gastric banding, particularly since our patient experienced a notable improvement in her quality of life.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fear (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/23. Primary antiphospholipid syndrome presenting as pseudobulbar palsy in a young male.Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is now recognized as an important risk factor for young stroke. Recurrent stroke seems to be common in patients with APS and a first stroke, recurrent stroke and vascular dementia are feared consequences of APS. We are reporting a case of primary APS with recurrent stroke presenting as pseudobulbar palsy in an young man.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fear (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/23. Isolated superior mesenteric artery thrombosis: a rare cause for recurrent abdominal pain in a child.A 4-year-old boy was evaluated for recurrent abdominal pain and failure to thrive over a 1-year period in a pediatric subspecialty clinic. Results of the extensive workup mostly were unremarkable. Eventually, imaging studies of the abdominal aorta revealed an isolated thrombosis of the superior mesenteric artery trunk and compensatory hypertrophy of the inferior mesenteric artery. He had been having abdominal angina symptoms and fear of eating. A detailed family history suggested a possible hypercoagulable state. However, an extensive hematologic evaluation did not reveal a recognizable defect that could produce thrombotic events. He was treated by arterial graft bypass surgery and started on conventional anticoagulants. Several months later, he developed repeat, near-total thrombosis of the graft with recurrence of his symptoms. After balloon dilation of the graft and starting him on appropriate anticoagulant maintenance regimen, he had good symptom relief, and the graft remained patent. This presentation was unusually prolonged for the type of vascular problem identified. The possibility of vascular problems in children, therefore, should be considered. Unidentified cause of hereditary clotting tendency is another challenging aspect of this case.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fear (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/23. Recurrent attacks of fear and visual hallucinations in a child.The case of a 7-year-old boy suffering from recurrent nocturnal and occasional daytime attacks with intense fear and complex visual hallucinations is presented. His state was otherwise normal, as were routine electroencephalographic (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigations in the past. Several differential diagnoses such as panic disorder, pavor nocturnus, and nightmares were considered but could not be definitely established or excluded. Since the attacks appeared after the divorce of his parents, an adjustment disorder was suspected, and the patient received psychotherapy for more than 2 years without an effect on the attacks. Only when long-term video-EEG recorded two typical attacks with left temporal ictal seizure patterns was focal epilepsy diagnosed and successfully treated with antiepileptic medication. A suspected origin of seizures in the amygdala was supported by a high-resolution MRI showing a cortical dysplasia extending from the left anteromedial temporal lobe to the amygdala. The case exemplifies difficulties in the differential diagnosis of panic-like attacks and underlines the value of long-term video-EEG, which may be necessary to establish the correct diagnosis and to prevent ineffective therapeutical approaches.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = fear (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/23. Recurrent abdominal pain: when should an epileptic seizure be suspected?Recurrent episodes of abdominal pain are common in childhood. Among the diagnostic possibilities are migraine and abdominal epilepsy (AE). AE is an infrequent syndrome with paroxystic episodes of abdominal pain, awareness disturbance, EEG abnormalities and positive results with the introduction of antiepileptic drugs. We present one 6 year-old girl who had short episodes of abdominal pain since the age of 4. The pain was followed by cry, fear and occasionally secondary generalization. MRI showed tumor in the left temporal region. As a differential diagnosis, we report a 10 year-old boy who had long episodes of abdominal pain accompanied by blurring of vision, vertigo, gait ataxia, dysarthria, acroparesthesias and vomiting. He received the diagnosis of basilar migraine. In our opinion, AE is part of a large group (partial epilepsies) and does not require a special classification. Pediatric neurologists must be aware of these two entities that may cause abdominal pain.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fear (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/23. Pulmonary involvement in a case of juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.Juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is primarily a disease of children and adolescents. Although most patients experience spontaneous regression at a later age, some patients continue to be affected throughout their lives. We report the case of a 35-year-old woman with a 33-year history of juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis who developed pulmonary dissemination with malignant transformation. Malignant transformation is the most feared sequela of pulmonary dissemination, and it should be addressed aggressively. If treated promptly, the patient can enjoy prolonged survival. Computed tomography is superior to plain radiography for detecting and evaluating the extent of disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fear (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |