Late metastasis of breast adenocarcinoma into internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle: case report

A case of metastasis of breast adenocarcinoma into the internal auditory canal (IAC) and cerebellopontine angle (CPA) is presented, which appeared 16 years after primary tumor had been treated by surgery and radiation therapy. The 66-year old patient was considered cured from the primary disease, when she started with a rapidly developing hearing loss and intermittent facial palsy. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) displayed an intra- and extracanalicular tumor mass, which radiologically resembled a vestibular schwannoma. Surgery was performed and histopathological studies showed an adenocarcinoma compatible with breast origin. Metastasis is a rare occurrence within the IAC and CPA. Clinical history of severe facial palsy will rise suspicion of malignant tumor in spite of the radiological findings

Risk factors and outcome in 100 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: Clinical and surgical outcome of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to ruptured aneurysm were assessed in comparison to pre-operative data and risk factors such as previous medical history, clinical presenting condition, CT findings and site of bleeding. METHODS: We evaluated 100 consecutive patients with aneurysmal SAH. Gender, color, history of hypertension, smoking habit, site and size of aneurysm, admittance and before surgery Hunt Hess scale, need for cerebro-spinal fluid shunt, presence of complications during the surgical procedure, Glasgow Outcome Scale, presence of vasospasm and of rebleeding were assessed and these data matched to outcome. For statistical analysis, we applied the chi-squared test or Fisher's test using the pondered kappa coeficient. Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparison of continue variables. Tendency of proportion was analyzed through Cochran-Armitage test. Significance level adopted was 5 percent. RESULTS: Patients studied were mainly white, female, without previous history of hypertension and non-smokers. Upon hospital admittance, grade 2 of Hunt-Hess scale was most frequently observed (34 percent), while grade 3 of Fisher scale was the most prevalent. Single aneurysms were most frequent at anterior circulation, between 12 and 24 mm. The most frequent Glasgow Outcome Scale observed was 5 (60 percent). Hunt Hess upon the moment of surgery and presence of complications during surgical procedure showed positive correlation with clinical outcome (p=0.00002 and p=0.001, respectively). Other variables were not significantly correlated to prognosis. Tendency of proportion was observed between Hunt-Hess scale and Fisher scale. CONCLUSION: Among variables such as epidemiological data, previous medical history and presenting conditions of patients with ruptured aneurysms, the Hunt-Hess scale upon the moment of surgery and the presence of surgical adversities are statistically related to degree of disability

Trombose da artéria carótida interna devida a trauma penetrante no pálato mole: relato de caso / Thrombosis of the internal artery secondary to soft palate injury: case report

Descrevemos caso de trauma penetrante na região oral em criança, evoluindo com oclusão da arteria carótida interna e déficit neurológico correspondente. A tomografia computadorizada e a ressonância nuclear magnética demonstram a oclusão completa da artéria carótida interna. Enfatizamos esta rara complicação de trauma oral, comum em crianças e discutimos os aspectos patogênicos.