1/12. Rotary atlanto-axial subluxation with torticollis following central-venous catheter insertion.Atlanto-axial subluxation with torticollis is an uncommon condition that occurs in children usually as a result of pharyngeal infection, minor trauma, or neck surgery. Passive motion of the head and neck during general anesthesia is probably another etiologic factor. torticollis is the most common presenting physical finding. pain may or may not be present, but is commonly present with passive neck motion. Neurologic sequelae are uncommon. Our case illustrates this condition as a complication of central venous catheter (CVC) insertion in a child under general anesthesia. The surgeon should suspect this pathology when a child presents with torticollis following CVC placement. Precautions should be taken in the operating room to avoid aggressive rotation and extension of the child's neck while under general anesthesia whether or not cervical inflammation is present. Special attention to head and neck positioning should be taken in patients with Down's syndrome since they are at increased risk for atlanto-axial subluxation. The prognosis is excellent when diagnosed early. A delay in diagnosis can result in the need for surgical intervention.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/12. Late effects of therapy of thalamic and hypothalamic tumors in childhood: vascular, neurobehavioral and neoplastic.The late effects in children with hypothalamic and thalamic tumors relate to the effects of the tumor on the surrounding brain, the effects of surgery, radiotherapy (RT) and, to a lesser extent, chemotherapy. The clinical manifestations of late effects include endocrinologic dysfunction, neurocognitive sequelae, behavioral problems and second neoplasia. The prevention of late effects is an integral part of current treatment strategies. early diagnosis, a rational use of surgery, and deferral of RT are the mainstays of the modern treatment in these patients. The improvement of RT techniques and the use of radioprotective compounds may further help spare normal brain tissue. A better understanding of chemotherapy use and the development of newer agents may increase efficacy, reduce side effects and allow deferral of RT in a greater percentage of patients. Finally, an aggressive management of endocrinological problems, physical and cognitive rehabilitation as well as psychological and school support help provide these children with maximal function within their potential.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/12. Clinical review of the Japanese experience with boron neutron capture therapy and a proposed strategy using epithermal neutron beams.Our concept of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is selective destruction of tumor cells using the heavy-charged particles yielded through 10B(n, alpha)7 Li reactions. To design a new protocol that employs epithermal neutron beams in the treatment of glioma patients, we examined the relationship between the radiation dose, histological tumor grade, and clinical outcome. Since 1968, 183 patients with different kinds of brain tumors were treated by BNCT; for this retrospective study, we selected 105 patients with glial tumors who were treated in japan between 1978 and 1997. In the analysis of side effects due to radiation, we included all the 159 patients treated between 1977 and 2001. With respect to the radiation dose (i.e. physical dose of boron n-alpha reaction), the new protocol prescribes a minimum tumor volume dose of 15 Gy or, alternatively, a minimum target volume dose of 18 Gy. The maximum vascular dose should not exceed 15 Gy (physical dose of boron n-alpha reaction) and the total amount of gamma rays should remain below 10 Gy, including core gamma rays from the reactor and capture gamma in brain tissue. The outcomes for 10 patients who were treated by the new protocol using a new mode composed of thermal and epithermal neutrons are reported.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/12. Persistent facial myokymia: a rare pathognomic physical sign of intrinsic brain-stem lesions: report of 2 cases and review of literature.Characteristically continuous facial myokymia is a pathognomonic, exceedingly rare physical sign of intrinsic brain-stem lesions e.g. multiple sclerosis (where the myokymia lasts only for a few months), pontine glioma (where it is unremitting for years). The physiopathogenesis is unclear. Electromyographic patterns are characteristic. Therapy and prognosis are related to the basic aetio-pathological process. Only two out of 132 cases of intrinsic brain-stem lesions in the department of neurosurgery, Seth G.s. Medical College, Bombay over a period of 3 decades, exemplify its rarity. These two cases are reported here and the relevant literature is reviewed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/12. Bizarre behavior during intracarotid sodium amytal testing (Wada test): are they predictable?The intracarotid sodium amytal test (ISAT or Wada Test) is a commonly performed procedure in the evaluation of patients with clinically refractory epilepsy candidates to epilepsy surgery. Its goal is to promote selective and temporary interruption of hemispheric functioning, seeking to define language lateralization and risk for memory compromise following surgery. Behavioral modification is expected during the procedure. Even though it may last several minutes, in most cases it is subtle and easily manageable. We report a series of patients in whom those reactions were unusually bizarre, including agitation and aggression. Apart of the obvious technical difficulties (patients required physical restraining) those behaviors potentially promote testing delay or abortion and more importantly, inaccurate data. We reviewed those cases, seeking for features that might have predicted their occurrence. overall, reactions are rare, seen in less than 5% of the ISAT procedures. The barbiturate effect, patients' psychiatric profiles, hemisphere dominance or selectiveness of the injection were not validated as predictors. Thorough explanation, repetition and simulation may be of help in lessening the risk of those reactions.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/12. radiation injury of boron neutron capture therapy using mixed epithermal- and thermal neutron beams in patients with malignant glioma.The purpose of this study was to clarify the radiation injury in acute or delayed stage after boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) using mixed epithermal- and thermal neutron beams in patients with malignant glioma. Eighteen patients with malignant glioma underwent mixed epithermal- and thermal neutron beam and sodium borocaptate between 1998 and 2004. The radiation dose (i.e. physical dose of boron n-alpha reaction) in the protocol used between 1998 and 2000 (Protocol A, n = 8) prescribed a maximum tumor volume dose of 15 Gy. In 2001, a new dose-escalated protocol was introduced (Protocol B, n = 4); it prescribes a minimum tumor volume dose of 18 Gy or, alternatively, a minimum target volume dose of 15 Gy. Since 2002, the radiation dose was reduced to 80-90% dose of Protocol B because of acute radiation injury. A new Protocol was applied to 6 glioblastoma patients (Protocol C, n = 6). The average values of the maximum vascular dose of brain surface in Protocol A, B and C were 11.4 /-4.2 Gy, 15.7 /-1.2 and 13.9 /-3.6 Gy, respectively. Acute radiation injury such as a generalized convulsion within 1 week after BNCT was recognized in three patients of Protocol B. Delayed radiation injury such as a neurological deterioration appeared 3-6 months after BNCT, and it was recognized in 1 patient in Protocol A, 5 patients in Protocol B. According to acute radiation injury, the maximum vascular dose was 15.8 /-1.3 Gy in positive and was 12.6 /-4.3 Gy in negative. There was no significant difference between them. According to the delayed radiation injury, the maximum vascular dose was 13.8 /-3.8 Gy in positive and was 13.6 /-4.9 Gy in negative. There was no significant difference between them. The dose escalation is limited because most patients in Protocol B suffered from acute radiation injury. We conclude that the maximum vascular dose does not exceed over 12 Gy to avoid the delayed radiation injury, especially, it should be limited under 10 Gy in the case that tumor exists in speech center.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/12. nursing care of the child with a brain stem glioma.The nursing care of the child with a brain stem tumor focuses on supporting the family and the child's adaptation to the physical and emotional problems of an illness with a variable and often fatal course. With the advent of magnetic resonance imaging and stereotaxic biopsy, a more accurate assessment of tumor type, location, and size can be made. Advances in surgery, radiotherapy, and multidrug chemotherapy have affected the course of brain stem tumors even though outcome may remain the same.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/12. A false-positive edrophonium test in a patient with a brainstem glioma.We report a photographically documented false-positive edrophonium test in a patient with a histologically verified brainstem glioma. While a positive response to intravenous edrophonium should usually be regarded as confirmatory for myasthenia gravis, the possibility of a false-positive test must be considered in patients with atypical physical findings.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/12. Long term survival with early childhood intracerebral tumours.Three young adults are described who presented during early childhood with a seizure disorder due to an underlying intracerebral tumour. The tumours were excised incompletely 14-19 years later. The histological findings were those of a temporal lobe benign capillary haemangioblastoma (Case 1), parietal lobe subependymoma (Case 2), and parietal lobe ganglioglioma (Case 3). After a mean period of follow-up of 22 years (range 18-26), only mild residual physical disabilities exist in each patient. These three cases illustrate (1) the need promptly to investigate children who present with focal seizures or whose EEG shows definite focal abnormalities, (2) the relevant investigations should include cranial CT or MRI in such cases and (3) that certain supratentorial tumours have a favourable outcome due to their benign biological behaviour rather than their location.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/12. Computerized tomography of the orbit.The potential for using CT to diagnose orbital lesions is clearly demonstrated in this chapter. The patients discussed were all suffering from proptosis and had other complaints such as visual disturbances, pain, or ophthalmoplegia. CT is superior to ultrasonography in its ability to reproduce anatomical structures, including the retroocular space, bony walls of the orbit, and extraorbital regions, such as ethmoid sinuses and the cranial cavity. Such reproduction helps distinguish lesions arising within the orbit from those invading the orbit from outside. CT not only defines the extent of a lesion but also provides information about the physical properties of the tissue. The remarkable difference on CT between proptosis caused by thyrotoxic disease and that caused by intraorbital tumor or pseudotumor is a striking example of the way in which CT may contribute to more accurate diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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