ABSTRACT
Objective: The non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is easy misdiagnosed due to its complex etiology, clinical manifestations. It is more difficult to diagnose and treat for elderly patients with multiple basic diseases. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with NCSE, therapy, diagnosis, and the value of long-range video electroencephalography (LV-EEG). Methods: The clinical and electroencephalography (EEG) data of the five elderly patients with NCSE in my hospital were analyzed retrospectively.Results: Five patients showed episodes of abnormal behavior during seizure (5/5). There were 3 patients with previous history of epilepsy after cerebral infarction (3/5), 1 patient diagnosed intracranial infection because of NCSE episodes to consultation (1/5), and 1 case with previous history of epilepsy (1/5). The V-EEG of the 5 patients showed persistent epileptic form discharges during seizure. Intravenous diazepam had good effect to the 5 patients during seizure. Seizure of the 5 cases was controlled acceptably with different antiepileptic drugs according to different epilepsy forms.Conclusions: The abnormal mind and behavior is still main performance in elderly patients with NCSE. The LV-EEG provides reliable foundation for diagnosis of the disease. The rational use of antiepileptic drugs is effective. Intravenous diazepam slow for elderly patients with NCSE is applied as well.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging in monitoring the therapeutic effect of argon-helium cryosurgical treatment of malignant tumors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Before and after argon-helium cryosurgical treatment, 42 patients underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging, conventional ultrasound imaging and enhanced CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for examining the number of tumor foci and the size of necrotic areas.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 80 tumor lesions were detected by contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging. Compared with conventional ultrasound imaging, contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging detected a significantly greater number of tumors and the intratumoral necrotic areas (96 vs 19) as well as a significantly increased mean size of necrotic areas (5.7∓3.6 cm vs 2.8∓1.7 cm), showing no significant differences from the results by enhanced CT and MRI (94 and 5.5∓3.3 cm, P=0.872 and 0.978, respectively). The short-term therapeutic effect of argon-helium cryosurgery evaluated by contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging were also similar to that assessed by enhanced CT or MRI (P=0.906).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging has important values in monitoring malignant tumors during argon-helium cryosurgical treatment and in evaluating the short-term therapeutic effect of the treatment.</p>