Report of two brain cancer cases with survey more than 15 years

Brain tumors are considered in regarded to their size, position and aggressive manner. Brain tumors cause several neurologic symptoms. For instance, they increase intracranial pressure due to local damage and displacement of surrounding tissues. In this paper, two glioblastoma multiform cases with more than 15 year- survival have been reported. The first patient was a 52 year- old woman who suffered from seizure. The CT scan demonstrated a focal low density in the left temporoparietal lobe, and Carbamazepine was prescribed. However, after 12 years, the patient started to suffer from seizures with transient awareness repletion and vomiting. Therefore, daily injection of 16 mg of dexamethason in two divided dosages was prescribed. Fourteen years after illness, biopsy with stereotaxy method was used and glioblastoma multiform was diagnosed by a pathologist. Unfortunately, this patient died due to progression of her illness 16 years after beginning of the seizures. The second patient was a 47 year- old man who also suffered from seizure. In the CT scan, a low density lesion was observed in his left parietal lobe. The patient was treated with 400 mg of Carbamazepine per day in two divided dosages. Dosage of drug was increased to 1200 mg per day. After one year, due to drug resistance, Phenytoin and Phenobarbital were also added to Carbamazepine because of repeated seizures. After 15 years, the soberness disorder of the patient increased and CT scan was repeated. However, due to increase in the tumor size, hydrocephaly surgery was performed and the pathologist reported glioblastoma multiform. Following the surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were also used. This patient is in a good condition now and he has no serious problems. Glioblastoma multiform is a high degree astrocytic tumor. In this paper, two patients who were afflicted with glioblastoma multiform in fourth and fifth decades of their life were presented. The life span of these patients is considerable in contrast to several articles which indicated that a- five -year life span is rare in patients with glioblastoma multiform

Prednisolone as a new approach for treatment of HTLV-1 associated polyneuropathy

We have previously shown the implication of HTLV-1 in polyneuropathy in a HTLV-1 endemic area in Mashhad. Treatment with corticosteroids [prednisolone and methylprednisolone] have been recommended for HTLV-1 associated diseases. In the current study we attempted to evaluate the efficiency of prednisolone in HTLV-1 associated polyneuropathy. All recognized cases of HTLV-1 polyneuropathy admitted to Imam Reza Hospital [between 1999-2004] were selected for the study. The other common causes of polyneuropathy were excluded using biochemical, hematological, and neurologic examination. Anti-HTLV1 IgG assays were carried out and positive anti-HTLV-1 results were then confirmed by Western Blot Analyzing. All of the HTLV-1 associated polyneuropathy patients were given prednisolone, 1mg/ kg and tapering 5mg/ per week, for three month. Muscle force and paresthesia of all cases were returned to normal pattern. This therapeutic regimen led to reduction of disease severity. Muscle force increased to V/V and paresthesia of all cases were severely decreased. The results of present study suggest that immunosuppressive treatment is very effective for HTLV-1 associated polyneuropathy patients