Cognitive Assessment in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health problem inWestern countries. ATBI brings many negative consequences, including behavioral and cognitive changes, which affect social adjustment and the performance of functional activities. Cognitive evaluation after TBI is a complex issue in what pertains to definition of the most appropriate questionnaires for clinical use in a comprehensive analysis of the condition of the patient. In this paper, we described a critical review of the main cognitive assessment tests currently used in clinical and research settings in patients with TBI.

Atypical Virchow-Robin SpacesMimicking Cystic Primary Brain Tumor ­ Clinical Report and Literature Review

The Virchow-Robin spaces (VRSs), which are often incidentally observed in modern structural neuroimaging examinations, are small cystic cavities that usually surround the small arteries and arterioles at the level of basal ganglia, the anterior perforated substance and the thalamic-mesencephalic junction. Typically, they have similar physicochemical characteristics to cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and there is no contrast enhancement on brain CT andMRI images. Its real meaning is unknown, although some contemporary studies have suggested that it might be related to certain traumatic brain injury or several other central nervous system (CNS) disorders, as degenerative diseases. Occasionally, some wide and atypical VRS may be mistaken for primary cystic brain tumors, especially in the context of large and symptomatic lesions, multiple clustered cysts, cortical lesions and if there is adjacent reactive gliosis. The present paper reports four patients who were affected by atypical VRS mimicking brain tumors that required imaging follow-up or even a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis or to indicate the correct approach. Although it is not so unusual, one of them occurred concomitantly and adjacent to a diffuse glioma (co-deleted 1p19q, WHO-GII).

Evaluation of Head Computed Tomography Assessment of Brain Swelling after Acute Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot study

Objective To evaluate the interobserver reliability of a new scale created for quantitatively assessing brain swelling in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients using the computed tomography (CT) findings in three levels. Methods Computed tomography scans of severe head injury patients were randomly selected from a tertiary hospital image database and evaluated by independent groups of neurosurgeons, neurosurgery residents, radiologists, and intensivists from the same hospital. Each specialist assessed the tomographic findings, applying zero to six points in a new scale. The Kappa coefficient was calculated to assess interobserver agreement. Results The highest reliability coefficient was obtained by the neurosurgeons group (0.791; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.975­0.607; p < 0.001), followed by the neurosurgery residents group (0.402; 95%CI: 0.569­0.236; p < 0.001) and by the radiologists group (0.301; 95%CI: 0.488­0.113; p < 0.002). The lowest coefficient was found among the intensivists (0.248; 95%CI: 0.415­0.081; p » 0.004). Conclusion The proposed scale showed good reliability among neurosurgeons, and moderate overall reliability. This tomographic classification might be useful to better assist severe TBI victims, allowing to identify the worsening or amelioration of brain swelling, which should be further investigated. The scale seems to be feasible, even in low income countries,where the costof intracranial pressure (ICP)monitoring is higher than thatofCTs.

Tratamento das hemorragias intracranianas espontâneas: o dilema continua / Treatment of Spontaneous Intracranial Hemorrhages: the Dilemma Continues

Introdução As doenças cerebrovasculares (DCV) são a principal causa de morte no Brasil, sendo um grande problema de saúde pública em todo o mundo. Métodos Revisão da literatura utilizando o banco de dados do MEDLINE. Buscados os termos "intracerebral" e "hemorrhage" presentes no título e no resumo publicados em qualquer data. Resultados As hemorragias intracranianas (HIC) acometem, principalmente, os lobos cerebrais, gânglios da base, tálamo, tronco cerebral (predominantemente a ponte) e cerebelo como resultado da ruptura de vasos cerebrais afetados pelos efeitos degenerativos da hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS) ou da angiopatia amiloide. O diagnóstico pode ser feito através da tomografia computadorizada de crânio (TCC), sendo auxiliado pela ressonância nuclear magnética (RNM) do encéfalo e a angiografia dos quatro vasos cerebrais na investigação etiológica. Tratamento: dividido em clínico e cirúrgico. Atualmente, não há consenso sobre a seleção do tipo de tratamento para pacientes com HIC, e esta decisão deve levar em consideração idade do paciente, estado neurológico, tamanho e profundidade do hematoma, presença de hidrocefalia e de efeito compressivo. Os estudos atuais mostram uma tendência de superioridade dos procedimentos cirúrgicos minimamente invasivos, commenor risco de lesão encefálica secundária decorrente do acesso cirúrgico ao hematoma. Conclusão A escolha da melhor estratégia para o tratamento das HIC permanece um desafio e ainda deve ser feita de forma individualizada.

Introduction Cerebrovascular Diseases are the major cause of death in Brazil and a public health issue in the world. Methods Review of the literature using the MEDLINE's data bank. We have searched the keywords "intracerebral" and "hemorrhages" in the title and abstract. Results Intracranial hemorrhages (ICH) affect, mainly, the cerebral lobes, basal ganglia, thalamus, brain stem and the cerebellum as a result of the rupture of diseased cerebral vessels by the effects of hypertension or amyloid angiopathy. Diagnosis can be done with the use of a non-contrast computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebral angiogram (useful in investigation of the etiology). Treatment can be divided in clinical and surgical. This decision still should be taken considering individual features, such as patient's age and neurological status, hematoma's size and deep, time between ictus and the procedure, presence of hydrocephalus and compressive effects. The studies has shown a preference for the minimally invasive procedures, since the secondary brain lesions caused by the surgery tend to be less. Conclusion The choice of what would be the best strategy to treat the ICH is still a challenge and this decision should be taken individually.

Atypical Presentation of Temporal Dermoid Cyst: Case Report / Apresentação atípica de cisto dermoide temporal: caso clínico

Dermoid account for 0.04­0.06% of intracranial tumors. The rupture of these slowgrowing lesions are a rare event, generally taking place spontaneously. Their presentation are clinically variable according to cyst topography and integrity. Surgery remains the first-line therapy and gross total resection should be attempted if feasible. We report on a case of a 22-year-old male with a 2-year history of seizures and cognitive impairment and a temporal mesial dermoid cyst successfully treated with gross total resection microsurgery.

Os Cistos dermoides compreendem 0,04­0,06% dos tumores intracranianos. É uma lesão de crescimento lento, e sua ruptura é um evento raro e espontâneo. A variabilidade clínica vai de acordo com a topografia do cisto e sua integridade. A cirurgia continua a ser a terapia de primeira linha, e a ressecção total é a opção sempre que for possível. Os autores relatam um caso de paciente com 22 anos de idade com histórico de 2 anos de convulsões e comprometimento cognitivo e diagnosticado com um cisto dermoide mesial temporal, tratado com sucesso com ressecção microcirúrgica.