Epidemiologial study of brain tumours in children in Alexandria university hospital

The aim of the present work was to study the epidemiological pattern of brain tumours in children in Alexandria, to study the characteristics of each pathological type and to compare pediatric brain tumours with adult ones. Records of children under 15 years of age diagnosed as brain tumours during the last five years period at the Neurosurgery Department, Alexandria University Hospital were selected. The age of the studied cases ranged from 8 months to 15 years with a mean age of 9.52 +/- 4.33 years. Out of the total cases, 103 [53.4%] were males, slightly higher than females [46.6%]. Male to female ratio was 1.14:1. The present study revealed that astrocytoma was the commonest pathological type encountered [35.2%] among all cases of pediatric brain tumours. The second prevalent type was medulloblastoma [24.9%] followed by craniophryngioma [11.4%]. Analysis of tumour site in the present work revealed that 39.9% were supratentorial and 60.1% were infratentorial. A remarkable difference in incidence of certain tumour types was found between children and adults. In adult cases, meningioma, pituitary adenoma and astrocytoma constituted the most frequently prevalent types [40.5%, 19.7% and 13.3% respectively]; while astrocytoma, medulloblastoma and craniophryngioma were the most commonly encountered pathological types among children [35.2%, 24.9% and 11.4% respectively]

use of a brain imager electroencephalograph in carotid and cardiac surgery

The use of standard electroencephalogram [EEG] during anesthesia is limited by difficulties with both the application and maintenance of scalp electrodes, and the interpretation of the large body of data generated. These problems have limited the routine use of the EEG during surgeries of high risk of neurological damage. The use of computer assisted analysis of the EEG can assist rapid and comprehensive interpretation of the EEG. This study reported the initial experience with one such system. An electrode cap, adjusted to the size of the patient's head, was used to monitor 32 channels of EEG waveform in real time. The analyzed EEG is then displayed as a continuously upgraded color map with a number of alternate displays. This system has now been used in 23 patients during open cardiac surgery or carotid artery surgery. More importantly, ischemic changes in the EEG have been recognized during times of high risk during carotid artery surgery. However, even in patients exhibiting clear ischemic changes on the analyzed EEG, no changes in postoperative neurological examination were observed