Intracranial meningioma: findings from Sudan

The objective of this article is to determine the pattern of neurological presentation of meningiomain adult Sudanese patients. In this study we described the clinical presentation and neuroimaging findings in fifty patients with Intracranial meningioma. In all patients the diagnosis was histologically verified. The age distribution of the patients ranged between 19 -70 years, the mean age was 44.5 +/- 13.33 years. Females were 36 [72%] and males 14 [28%]. Male: female ratio was 1:2.6. The presenting symptoms were headache and nausea in 37 [74%] patients, behavioral changes in 34 [68%], visual disturbance in 23 [46%], generalized seizure in 20 [40%], limb weakness in 20 [40%], vomiting in 13 [26%], speech disturbance in 13 [26%], sphincteric disturbances in 11 [22%], focal seizures in 10 [20%], anosmia in 4 [8%], and deafness in 2 [4%]. Meningiomas were located in anterior fossa in 18 patients [40%], parasagittal in 9 [20%], sphenoidal ridge in 8 [18%], posterior fossa in 7 [15.9%], lateral convexity in 5 [11.3%], olfactory groove in 4 [9%], middle fossa in 2 [4.5%] and supraseller area in one [2.2%]. All meningiomas enhanced with gadolinium. Peritumoural oedema was found in 24 [54.5%] patients, hydrocephalus in 11 [25%] and hyperostosis in 9 [20.5%] patients. It has been concluded that the clinical presentation and MRI findings did not differ much from what is reported worldwide

Invasive aspergillosis of paranasal sinuses: findings from the Sudan

The Sudan is endemic for Aspergillus species, especially Aspergillus flavus. They commonly invade the paranasal sinuses, but massive invasion of the brain in immunocompetent patients is rare. To describe the clinical presentation and MRI findings in immunocompetent patients with massive paranasal aspergillosis with extensive invasion of the brain. Four patients, who are negative for HIV and other immunocompromizing disorders were studied in this article. Two females 55 and 25 year old, 2 males 29 and 62 year old were described. All cases showed extensive invasion of the paranasal sinuses and the adjacent structures. Invasive paranasal Aspergillosis can affect immunocompetent patients and the commonest organism is Aspergillus flavus

Osteopetrosis: a rare disease with rare presentations

At least eight types of osteopetrosis have been described in humans. The primary underlying mechanism involved in all forms is the failure of normal osteoclastic bone resorption. Osteopetrosis tarda, the benign adult form, is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Patients typically are asymptomatic and have good long-term survival rates because bone marrow failure rarely occurs. A more common and malignant form, osteopetrosis congenita, presents in infancy and results in bone marrow failure caused by complete replacement of the marrow spaces with osteoclasts. Other forms are rare and have variable manifestations. In this communication we report 2 cases on possibly a rare form of osteopetrosis, the intermediate form