Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria
-
Tolosa-Hunt syndrome is an entity of rare occurrence and unknown etiopathogenesis, expressed clinically by unilateral orbitary pain associated with simple or multiple oculomotor paralysis, which resolves spontaneously but may recur. We present a series of six cases taken care in our ambulatory, which fulfill the diagnostic criteria for Tolosa Hunt syndrome according to the International Headache Society Classification of 2004. There are also emphasized the demographic data of this series of patients, their 12 months follow-up, investigative studies and responsiveness to corticosteroids. As the diagnosis is always of exclusion, literature revision is focused on differential diagnosis of painful ophthalmoplegic syndromes.
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Analysis of the best therapeutic alternative for intracranial dural arteriovenous malformations.
The material for this research consisted of 93 patients with dural arteriovenous malformations (DAVMs) who were studied retrospectively with regards to therapeutic success and failure, who had undergone either neurosurgery, or embolization or a combination of both methods and whose disease was located in the cavernous sinus, the superior sagittal sinus, the transverse-sigmoid sinus of the anterior fossa and the tentorium. Thus, it was possible to arrive at the following conclusions: treatment of the DAVMs must be indicated, jointly, by an interventionist neuroradiologist and a neurosurgeon; DAVMs of the transverse-sigmoid sinus were better treated when a combination of both methods was used; DAVMs of the tentorium were also better treated with a combined method; the endovascular method ensured only a 50% chance of therapeutic success for DAVMs of the superior sagittal sinus; DAVMs of the cavernous sinus are better treated when the endovascular method was used with a transvenous approach, relative to the transarterial approach.
-
Historical Article
The history of spinal surgery for disc disease: an illustrated timeline.
This article presents the evolution in medical history which leads to the surgical treatment for ruptured discs. Only at the last century the precise diagnosis of a ruptured lumbar disc could be made after tremendous efforts of the many medical pioneers in the study of the spine. The experience gained with the lumbar spine was rapidly transferred to the cervical spine. ⋯ Our understandings of the relation between symptoms and signs and of that between anatomy and pathophysiology have led to more successful surgical treatment for this disease. Nowadays lumbar and cervical discectomies are the most frequent operations carried out by neurosurgeons. Our current care of patients with this kind of spinal disorders is based on the work of our ancient medical heroes.
-
Case Reports
Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy and Bethlem myopathy: clinical and genetic heterogeneity.
Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy (UCMD), due to mutations in the collagen VI genes, is an autosomal recessive form of CMD, commonly associated with distal joints hyperlaxity and severe course. A mild or moderate involvement can be occasionally observed. ⋯ Bethlem myopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of UCMD, even in patients without fingers contractures; overlap between Ullrich and Bethlem phenotypes can be supposed.
-
Vestibular paroxysmia is a syndrome of cross-compression of the VIII cranial nerve and was first described by Jannetta who used the term "disabling positional vertigo". This syndrome is characterized by brief attacks of vertigo, tinnitus, vestibular and auditory deficits. MRI may show the VIII nerve compression from vessels in the posterior fossa, such as the basilar, vertebral, anterior-inferior cerebellar or the posterior-inferior cerebellar arteries. ⋯ This study describes eight patients with vestibular paroxysmia. Four of them showed also clinical signs suggesting cross-compression of the V and/or VII nerve. Seven patients treated with carbamazepine had significant improvement of vertigo and tinnitus.