1/617. Long-term remission of malignant brain tumors after intracranial infection: a report of four cases.OBJECTIVE: This report describes four patients with malignant brain tumors in whom regression or cure seems to be related to infection with bacteria. methods: An analysis of the four clinical cases reported and a review of the literature produced a comprehensive body of both experimental and clinical data concerning the antineoplastic properties of bacteria. RESULTS: Although direct oncolytic effects from bacteria have been suggested, immune adjuvant responses to tumor suppression are emphasized. In one of our patients, infiltration of numerous granulocytes and lymphocytes into the tumor at the time of initial surgery was observed, suggesting that a spontaneous immune reaction had begun. Also, in two other patients, tumor aggression occurred in association with a bacterial process that was not in direct contact with the tumor. In three of the cases described, enterobacter aerogenes was recovered from the microbial cultures. Whether the presence of this organism was coincidental or whether this organism plays an important role in tumor defense is not known; however, a specific cross-reactive immunological attack to the tumor is suggested. CONCLUSION: The case histories presented in conjunction with the relevant literature reviewed support the concept that microbial infections may influence immune responses in brain tumor defense.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = organ (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/617. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and cerebral toxoplasmosis in an adult patient, with no symptoms of underlying immunosuppressing illness.We present a case of the coincidence of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and central nervous system (CNS) toxoplasmosis in an adult patient, without a detectable cause of cell-mediated immunity impairment. The proper diagnosis was made postmortem on the basis of histological changes typical of both pathological processes. PML was characterized by the presence of subcortical focal demyelination, containing enlarged, densely basophilic oligodendrocyte nuclei, often with intranuclear inclusion, and bizarre astrocytes, mimicking neoplastic cells. PML was confirmed by detecting numerous papova virus particles in oligo- and astroglial nuclei by thin-section electron microscopy. Cerebral toxoplasmosis was characterized by the presence of multiple well-circumscribed necrotizing abscesses. Numerous toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) cysts and free, non-encysted protozoan parasites were found among the inflammatory infiltrates. The diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis was further confirmed by immunocytochemistry. In order to detect putative immunosuppressive background underlying both pathological processes, hiv infection was taken into consideration, however, no histopathological changes indicative of AIDS either in the CNS or in the peripheral organs were eventually found. Moreover no hiv provirus genome was identified in the formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded brain tissue by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Current view on the selected aspects of the pathogenesis of both disorders were discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = organ (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/617. Primary intracranial squamous cell carcinoma--case report.A 50-year-old female presented with primary intracranial squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at the right cerebellopontine angle manifesting as right facial nerve paresis. She had undergone gross total removal of a right cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cyst 10 years before and had done well until recently. magnetic resonance imaging showed a heterogeneous tumor with markedly enhanced irregular margin. Subtotal removal of the tumor was achieved. Histological examination showed moderately differentiated SCC. After surgery, she underwent chemotherapy and gamma radiosurgery. She is now well 5 years after the diagnosis of SCC.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7.0876790195907keywords = nerve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/617. Cerebral metastasis presenting with altitudinal field defect.A 75-year-old man presented with a unilateral inferior altitudinal visual field defect and a history of weight loss and night sweats. The acuity in the affected eye was 20/200, otherwise his ocular examination was normal. neuroimaging demonstrated a post-fixed chiasm, with a frontal metastasis compressing the intracerebral portion of the optic nerve. A chest x-ray showed classical cannon ball lesions, secondary to malignant melanoma. This is the first case report of an intracerebral tumor producing an inferior altitudinal field defect.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7.0876790195907keywords = nerve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/617. Cerebral B-cell lymphoma following treatment for tolosa-hunt syndrome.We herein report a unique case of cerebral lymphoma which occurred after lymphocytic neuritis of cranial nerves causing tolosa-hunt syndrome and demonstrate the histological difference between these two diseases. A 70-year-old woman developed a sensory disturbance in the first and third divisions of the left trigeminal nerve and a left ocular movement disturbance five years before death. Although she was clinically diagnosed to have a schwannoma in the left cavernous sinus, a histologic examination verified a diffuse infiltration of T lymphocytes in the left trigeminal ganglion. Corticosteroid therapy was effective. Thereafter she demonstrated a disturbance of consciousness and dysphasia four years after surgery. A T1-weighted magnetic resonance image (MRI) disclosed high intensity lesions in both the basal ganglia and corpus callosum. She also showed progressive spastic paralysis. At autopsy a diagnosis of primary intracranial B-cell lymphoma was made. Although there was no invasion of the lymphoma cells into the left trigeminal nerves, a mild inflammatory infiltration of T cells still remained.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 21.263037058772keywords = nerve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/617. Primary intracerebral Hodgkin's disease: report of a case with Epstein-Barr virus association and review of the literature.A case of primary intracerebral Hodgkin's disease (HD) without dural attachment in a 54-year-old immunocompetent patient is described. The infiltrate was located superficially in the occipital lobe and corresponded to the histologic type of nodular sclerosis. A typical immunohistochemical profile (membrane and cytoplasmic staining with dotlike Golgi enhancement of CD30, moderate cytoplasmic staining of CD15 in the Golgi area, membrane staining of CD20 of <10% of blastic cells, CD45RB negative) and in addition Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein was detectable in reed-sternberg cells. Staging revealed no other organ sites of involvement. After combined surgery, postoperative radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, there are no signs of recurrence or systemic disease on follow-up for >1 year. To the authors' best knowledge, an association of EBV with primary central nervous system HD has not been demonstrated before.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = organ (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/617. Three AML patients with existing or pre-existing intracerebral granulocytic sarcomas who were successfully treated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantations.We report three acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients who developed intracerebral granulocytic sarcomas (GS) and were successfully treated with allogeneic BMT (allo-BMT). The diagnosis of one patient was AML M2 with myelofibrosis, and the other two patients were AML M4 with eosinophilia (AML M4 Eo), according to the FAB classification. Two patients first experienced a relapse in the brain that resulted in the formation of GS, followed by a relapse in the bone marrow. The remaining patient developed an optic nerve GS after suffering a bone marrow relapse. All three patients received irradiation for the GS and systemic chemotherapy before the allo-BMT. TBI was used for conditioning, and GVHD prophylaxis was with cyclosporine (CsA) and short-term MTX in all three cases. These patients are currently 9 to 37 months post-BMT without relapse. Thus, our experience suggests that allo-BMT is an effective treatment for AML patients with existing or pre-existing intracerebral GS.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7.0876790195907keywords = nerve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/617. Application of skull base techniques to pediatric neurosurgery.Techniques for skull base surgery have become well established over the last 10 years. Most of these techniques are used in adult patients for skull base tumors and neurovascular diseases. There are very few large series of pediatric patients in whom skull base approaches have been used, because of the rarity of these conditions. The authors would like to present a relatively large series of 26 pediatric patients who underwent skull base approaches for tumor resection. These tumors involved the anterior cranial base in 5 patients, the medial cranial skull base in 4 patients, and the posterior cranial base in 12 cases. Five patients had tumors that involved two or more fossae. The overall complication rate was 57%, which included temporary cranial nerve palsies, CSF leak and infection. patients with permanent complications were 8 in number (37%). There was 1 postoperative death from pneumonia approximately 6 weeks after surgery. Complete tumor removal was achieved in 24 of the 26 patients. skull base tumors in children are often extensive and present significant surgical challenges. Although complete tumor extirpation is the goal in most pediatric patients, this is often achieved only with some morbidity. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of skull base approaches for these tumors and underscores the high stakes involved.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7.0876790195907keywords = nerve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/617. ependymoma of the fourth ventricle presenting with hemifacial spasm. Report of a case.According to Gardner's hypothesis (1962) later confirmed by Jannetta (1982, 1985), hemifacial spasm can usually be related to a "vascular conflict" which takes place inside the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). Occasionally, the causative lesion can be identified as a mass encasing the facial nerve at its root exit zone (REZ) from the brain stem. The hemifacial spasm has been rarely reported in presence of a contralateral CPA mass ("false localising sign"). hemifacial spasm in patients with masses in anatomical regions other than the CPA has to be considered exceptional. The case of an adult man harboring an ependymoma of the fourth ventricle whose only neurological sign was a left hemifacial spasm is reported. The rarity of such a condition prompted us to review the literature. Particular attention has been paid to the possible pathogenetic mechanisms and their therapeutic implications.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7.0876790195907keywords = nerve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/617. Diffuse neonatal hemangiomatosis with extensive involvement of the brain and cervical spinal cord.BACKGROUND: Diffuse neonatal hemangiomatosis (DNH) is a rare disorder first recognized at birth or during the neonatal period. DNH is characterized by numerous cutaneous and visceral hemangiomas involving three or more organ systems. MATERIALS AND methods: Although the skin and liver are most frequently affected, we present a case of DNH demonstrating an unusual predilection for the central nervous system (CNS). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We report the imaging findings in a patient with this disorder, paying particular attention to the features seen on cranial sonography and spinal MR imaging.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = organ (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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