Why should we use atraumatic needles in lumbar puncture? / Por que usar agulhas atraumaticas em puncao lombar?

Diagnostic lumbar puncture is essential to the diagnosis of central nervous system infections, subarachnoid haemorrhage and others neurological diseases. Myeloradicular involvement or life-threatening adverse events due to the procedure are rare, but less severe complications are more frequent. Post-lumbar puncture headache is the most common complication, by spinal fluid leakage due to delayed closure of a dural defect. Therefore, the development of fine needles, with differentiated atraumatic bevel, has contributed to minimize that problem. These generically called atraumatic needles cause less deformation of the dura mater then the Quincke® ones. So, why don't we use these atraumatic needles?.

A punção lombar é essencial para o diagnóstico de infecções do sistema nervoso central, hemorragia subaracnoídea e outras doenças neurológicas. O comprometimento mielorradicular ou efeitos adversos que envolvam risco de vida como consequência do procedimento são raros, mas complicações leves são mais frequentes. Cefaléia pós-punção lombar é a complicação mais comum, secundária a escoamento do líquido cefalorraquiano por fechamento tardio de uma lesão dural. Consequentemente, o desenvolvimento de agulhas finas, com bisel atraumático, tem contribuído para minimizar o problema. Estas agulhas, chamadas genericamente de atraumáticas, causam menos deformação da dura-mater que as agulhas tipo Quincke®. Então, porque não usar estas agulhas atraumáticas?.

Neurosarcoidosis: guidance for the general neurologist / Neurosarcoidose: orientações para o neurologista geral

Neurosarcoidosis (NS) more commonly occurs in the setting of systemic disease. The diagnosis is based on a clinical history suggestive of NS, presence of noncaseating granulomas, and supportive evidence of sarcoid pathology, laboratory, and imaging studies. NS could involve any part of the nervous system and often demands high doses of steroids for symptom control. It presents low response to isolated steroids administration and frequently requires immunosuppressive agents. In NS, lymphocytes are polarized toward an excessive Th1 response, leading to overproduction of TNF-alpha and INF-gama, as well as lL-2 and IL-15. Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the biological activity of TNF-alpha, is a new option in the NS treatment. We revised pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic work up, and treatment of NS as guidance for the general neurologist.

A neurosarcoidose (NS) ocorre frequentemente no contexto de doença sistêmica. O diagnóstico é baseado na história clínica sugestiva de NS, presença de granulomas não-caseosos e achados anatomopatológicos, laboratoriais e radiológicos de sarcoidose. A NS causa manifestações neurológicas variadas, que apresentam, em geral, baixa resposta ao corticoide isoladamente e, portanto, necessitam uso de imunossupressores. Na NS, os linfócitos estão polarizados para resposta Th1 excessiva, levando à produção aumentada de TNF-alfa e IFN-gama, assim como IL-2 e IL-15. Infliximabe, um anticorpo monoclonal quimérico que neutraliza a atividade biológica do TNF-alfa, é uma nova opção no tratamento da NS. Revisou-se a fisiopatologia, as manifestações clínicas, o diagnóstico e o tratamento da NS para orientar neurologistas gerais.

Acute Oral Poisoning Due to Chloracetanilide Herbicides

Chloracetanilide herbicides (alachlor, butachlor, metachlor) are used widely. Although there are much data about chronic low dose exposure to chloracetanilide in humans and animals, there are few data about acute chloracetanilide poisoning in humans. This study investigated the clinical feature of patients following acute oral exposure to chloracetanilide. We retrospectively reviewed the data on the patients who were admitted to two university hospitals from January 2006 to December 2010. Thirty-five patients were enrolled. Among them, 28, 5, and 2 cases of acute alachlor, metachlor, butachlor poisoning were included. The mean age was 49.8 +/- 15.4 yr. The poison severity score (PSS) was 17 (48.6%), 10 (28.6%), 5 (14.3%), 2 (5.7%), and 1 (2.9%) patients with a PSS of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The age was higher for the symptomatic patients (1-4 PSS) than that for the asymptomatic patients (0 PSS) (43.6 +/- 15.2 vs 55.7 +/- 13.5). The arterial blood HCO3 was lower in the symptomatic patients (1-4 PSS) than that in the asymptomatic patients (0 PSS). Three patients were a comatous. One patient died 24 hr after the exposure. In conclusion, although chloracetanilide poisoning is usually of low toxicity, elder patients with central nervous system symptoms should be closely monitored and cared after oral exposure.

Interfase neurología-psiquiatría en pacientes hospitalizados por patologías del sistema nervioso central / Neurology-psychiatry interface in central nervous system diseases

Objetivo: Las enfermedades cerebrales condicionan con frecuencia alteraciones mentales y conductuales. Para analizar el área de interfase entre la neurología y la psiquiatría, analizamos todas las interconsultas neuropsiquiátricas realizadas en los servicios de Neurología, Neurocirugía, Terapia Intensiva Neurológica y Urgencias Neurológicas, en el Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía de México (2007-2009). Resultados: En 506 casos, la edad promedio fue 44.24 años (DE 17 años); 240 fueron mujeres (47.4 %). Las patologías neurológicas que generaron más interconsultas fueron neoplasias del sistema nervioso central (14.2 %), encefalitis viral (8.7 %), enfermedad vascular cerebral isquémica (7.1 %), epilepsia (6.5 %) y enfermedad vascular cerebral hemorrágica (4.7 %). Los trastornos mentales más frecuentes (de acuerdo con el DSM-IV) fueron delirium (38.5 %), trastorno depresivo (15 %), demencia (7.7 %), deterioro cognoscitivo, sin criterios de demencia (6.5 %), trastorno de ansiedad (6.9 %). El delirium fue la condición neuropsiquiátrica más frecuente independientemente de las categorías etiológicas. En las infecciones cerebrales hubo mayor frecuencia del síndrome catatónico (p < 0.001). En pacientes con enfermedad vascular cerebral se manifiesta más frecuentemente la risa y el llanto patológico (p = 0.012). Conclusiones: Este estudio muestra la relevancia clínica del delirium, la depresión, la ansiedad, la demencia, los síndromes frontales y la catatonia en pacientes hospitalizados con enfermedades neurológicas y psiquiátricas.

OBJECTIVE: Brain pathologies are frequent sources of mental and behavioral disorders. In order to analyze the boundary between neurology and psychiatry, we analyzed all neuropsychiatric consultations seen at the inpatient Neurology, Neurosurgery, Critical Medicine and Neurological Emergencies clinics of the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico between 2007 and 2009. RESULTS: A total of 506 neuropsychiatric visits were included, patient mean age was 44.2 years (SD 17 years) 240 patients were female (47.4%). The main neurological disorders for which patients sought medical care at the neuropsychiatry service, were: brain tumors (14.2%), viral encephalitis (8.7%), ischaemic cerebrovascular disorders (7.1%), epilepsy (6.5%) and haemorragic cerebrovascular disorders (4.7%). The most common DSM-IV psychiatric diagnoses included: delirium (38.5%), depressive disorders (15%), dementia (7.7%), cognitive decline, without fulfilling criteria for dementia (6.5%), and anxiety disorders (6.9%). Delirium was the most common neuropsychiatric condition among the etiological groups. Catatonic syndrome was more frequent among patients with brain infections (p < 0.001), and pathological laughter and crying were more frequent among atients with cerebrovascular disorders (p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the clinical relevance of delirium, depression, anxiety, dementia, frontal syndromes and catatonia among neurologic and neurosurgical in-patients attending a tertiary care reference center in Mexico.

Lesiones pseudo quísticas cerebrales: diagnóstico diferencial prenatal de esquizencefalia-porencefalia / Pseudo cystic brian injury: differential and prenatal diagnosis of schizencephaly and porencephaly

Congenital anomalies of the central nervous system (CNS), although relatively frequent, can present prenatally with a wide dysmorphic spectrum. CNS anomalies can be classified into two groups; those in which a neurulation defect occurs during the first weeks of development, widely known as neural tube defects (NTDs), and those affecting lately the development of the brain during the time of neural proliferation, migration or organization. In addition, there are pseudo-cystic lesions affecting the brain parenchyma, which origin can be difficult to establish during examination of the fetal brain. Schizencephaly is a typical example of neural migration disorder and porencephaly is usually secondary to an external insult either caused by an infection, hemorrhage, or trauma. These lesions present several features at ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging that can be used in the differential diagnosis. We review this topic and propose some imaging signs which may help in establishing the prenatal diagnosis.

Las anomalías congénitas que comprometen el Sistema Nervioso Central (SNC) son relativamente frecuentes aunque presentan un amplio espectro dismorfico en la etapa fetal. Estas lesiones pueden ser clasificadas en dos grupos, aquellas con defecto de la neurulación que ocurren durante las primeras semanas de la gestación, clásicamente conocidos como defectos del tubo neural (DTN), y las anomalías que comprometen posteriormente el desarrollo del cerebro durante la etapas de proliferación, migración u organización neuronal. Existen sin embargo, lesiones pseudo quísticas del parénquima cerebral que pueden llevar a confusión durante el examen cerebral fetal. La esquizencefalia es un típico ejemplo de defecto de migración neuronal y la porencefalia habitualmente es secundaria a una injuria externa de tipo infecciosa, hemorrágica o traumática. Estas lesiones presentan algunas características típicas al ultrasonido (US) y a la resonancia magnética (RM) que pueden ser considerados criterios para el diagnóstico diferencial prenatal. Se revisa el tema y se proponen algunos signos imagenológicos para clarificar el diagnóstico prenatal.

Enfrentamiento imaginológico de las lesiones cerebrales en pacientes VIH / Imaging approach to brain lesions in HIV patients

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a neurotropic virus that crosses the blood-brain barrier at early stages of the disease. Thus, the central nervous system (CNS) constitutes the major target of HIV, and according to estimations approximately two-thirds of patients will develop CNS involvement during the course of their disease. CNS diseases spectrum is wide and can be categorized into primary effects of HIV, opportunistic infections, neoplasms and vascular disease. A prompt diagnosis and treatment of such disorders is critical. Imaging studies play a crucial role in the diagnostic process. Therefore, characteristics of neuro-images in patients with HIV and their neurological manifestations have been reviewed.

El virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) es un virus neurotrópico que cruza la barrera hemato-encefálica en etapas precoces de la enfermedad. Es así como el sistema nervioso central (SNC) es blanco mayor del virus VIH, estimándose que aproximadamente dos tercios de los pacientes desarrollarán compromiso del SNC durante el curso de su enfermedad. El espectro de enfermedades del SNC es amplio y puede ser categorizado en: compromiso directo del virus VIH, infecciones oportunistas, neoplasias y enfermedad vascular. Un pronto diagnóstico y tratamiento de tales desordenes es crítico. Los estudios de imágenes juegan un rol crucial en el diagnóstico. Hemos revisado las características de las neuroimágenes en los pacientes VIH y sus manifestaciones neurológicas.

Dolor neuropático diagnóstico y tratamiento / Neuropathic pain diagnosis and treatment

El dolor neuropático tiene características semiológicas que facilitan su sospecha y diagnóstico, pero en ocasiones este no es fácil y tiende catalogarse como dolor neuropático, algunos dolores nociceptivos refractarios. Se requiere como pilar del diagnóstico la presencia de una enfermedad neurológica de base, ya sea periférica o central, que en general posee mecanismos fisiopatológicos múltiples, pero poco definidos. El manejo terapéutico si bien involucra múltiples alternativas de tratamiento, es difícil, con un número importante de pacientes con respuesta parcial o refractarios, lo cual plantea la necesidad de equipos multidisciplinarios para su manejo.

CNS Involvement in Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: CT and MR Findings

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare disorder that is characterized by proliferation of benign histiocytes, and this commonly involves the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow and central nervous system (CNS). We report here on the CT and MR imaging findings in a case of CNS HLH that showed multiple ring enhancing masses mimicking abscess or another mass on the CT and MR imaging.

Enfermedad de Sturge-Weber-Dimitri: del angioma leptomeníngeo a la hemiatrofia cerebral: aporte diagnóstico de la RM cerebral con gadolinio en 7 casos / Disease Sturge-Weber-Dimitri: leptomeningeal angioma of the cerebral hemiatrophy: diagnostic contribution of MRI with gadolinium in 7 cases

Propósito: Demostrar el interés diagnóstico de la RM cerebral con gadolinio en 7 casos con enfermedad de Sturge Weber Dimitri. Material y Métodos: Se estudiaron 7 pacientes, 5 de sexo masculino y 2 de sexo femenino, cuyas edades oscilaron entre 3 meses y 24 años. En 6 casos se observó angioma hemifacial "rojo vinoso" y la RM cerebral fue indicada por la aparición de una o más crisis convulsivas. Sólo en uno de los casos de ésta serie no existía angioma hemifacial ni corporal y la RM cerebral se realizó en un contexto clínico de cefaleas refractarias con nauseas y vómitos. Resultados: En los 7 casos las secuencias SET1 con gadolinio demostraron refuerzo caracteristico de un angioma leptomeningeo de la convesidad temporoparietal ubicado del lado derecho en 6 casos e izquierdo en uno; asociando incremento en el refuerzo de uno o ambos plexos coroideos como signo de angiomatosis. También en los 7 casos hubo asimetría en el tamaño de los hemisferios cerebrales por menor desarrollo en los lactantes, y por hemiatrofia progresiva en niños y adultos jóvenes. Los dos lactantes presentaron además señal anormal en la sustancia blanca del hemisferio cerebral afectado como signo de mielinogénesis acelerada. Las típicas calcificaciones corticales aparecen tardíamente y se observaron en un caso. Conclusión: En un contexto de crisis convulsivas de etiología no aclarada, la RM cerebral con gadolinio puede demostrar alteraciones morfológicas características de la enfermedad de Sturge Weber Dimitri.

Isolated neurosarcoidosis: Case Report and Literature Review

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology with a rare tendency to the nervous system. Isolated neurosarcoidosis is rare and difficult to be diagnosed clinically. A 53-year-old Jordanian male admitted to Jordan University Hospital with a history of urine retention, low back pain and feet parasthesia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral enlargement of certain cranial nerves and meningeal masses. Magnetic resonance imaging of the whole spine revealed meningeal and lumbar nerves thickening

Recurrent neuromyelitis optica with diffuse central nervous system involvement: case report

Diversas doenças desmielinizantes podem ocorrer em crianças, sendo muitas vezes o diagnóstico diferencial entre elas difícil. Critérios diagnósticos têm sido propostos para algumas destas entidades, entretanto nenhum deles pode ser considerado definitivo. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar o caso de um paciente de 10 anos de idade, com quadro recorrente de neurite óptica bilateral e mielopatia. Os dados clínicos e liquóricos preencheram critérios para o diagnóstico de neuromielite óptica de Devic. O diagnóstico diferencial foi especialmente difícil em relação à esclerose múltipla, pois não apenas os nervos ópticos e medula foram acometidos, visto que em um dos surtos registrou-se hemiparesia, com acometimento facial. A ressonância magnética foi também compatível com esclerose múltipla. Este caso ilustra que pacientes com doenças desmielinizantes do SNC podem preencher critérios diagnósticos para mais de uma delas, o que torna o julgamento clínico uma ferramenta ainda importante na abordagem e condução clínica destes casos.

Adecuado uso del perímetro cefálico de lactantes en sus controles de salud / Adequate use of head circumference measurement in infants during health controls

Introducción: La evaluación del perímetro cefálico (PC) constituye una valiosa herramienta que alerta sobre alteraciones del desarrollo del lactante. Objetivo: Conocer la situación de medición del PC en los controles de salud. Método: Revisión retrospectiva de todos los registros de PC en los controles de niños de 18 a 24 meses de edad, de julio de 2002 a la fecha, atendidos en dos centros de salud de Colina, consignando el PC, el diagnóstico y las indicaciones y reclasificándolo (NCHS) para diagnóstico comparativo. Resultados: Se revisaron 424 controles de salud contenidos en 58 fichas, de los cuales 85,3% tenían registro del PC. De ellos el 17.7% tenía consignado el diagnóstico. Al clasificar nuevamente los diagnósticos encontrados según las curvas del NCHS, se encontró que 14% de los registros correspondía a un PC fuera del rango normal y no tenía diagnóstico registrado, el único caso en que se registró diagnóstico de alteración del PC no se registró la conducta tomada. Un 92.2% de los diagnósticos fueron catalogados concordante con el equipo investigador. Conclusiones: La medición del PC se realiza en la mayoría de los controles, pero no conduce a un diagnóstico y manejo terapeutico. Falta reforzar la importancia y utilidad de esta herramienta antropométrica para una adecuada pesquisa diagnóstica y una derivación oportuna a especialista.

Diagnostic utility of squash (smear) technique in the inflammatory lesions of central nervous system.

Smears of histologically verified inflammatory lesions of central nervous system (CNS) during 12 years were analysed to determine the diagnostic utility and accuracy of squash (smear) technique. Two hundred and sixteen (216) lesions were analysed. Smears could not be interpreted in 72 lesions (33.33%) as the tissue could not be spread or not representative. Tuberculosis was the commonest etiology (70.83%) followed by bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections. To conclude, smear technique is a useful modality in establishing diagnosis in inflammatory lesions of CNS, but its usefulness is limited by difficulties in spreading tissue.

Episodic ataxia type 2: an uncommon inherited CNS channelopathies.

The author reports the first Thai patient with a rare inherited ataxic disorder characterized by intermittent episodes of ataxia, headache and vertigo. The patient was well between attacks despite persistent nystagmus on examination. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed cerebellar atrophy. All symptoms were ameliorated by acetazolamide therapy. This clinical syndrome was previously described as acetazolamide-responsive episodic ataxia which was subsequently shown to be associated with mutations in a alpha1A-subunit of P/Q type voltage-gated calcium channel gene, known as 'episodic ataxia type 2'. Clinical and molecular aspects of episodic ataxia type 2 were also reviewed.

Análise comparativa das imagens convencionais e espectroscopia de prótons do SNC por ressonância magnética na adrenoleucodistrofia ligada ao X / Comparative analysis of magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of CNS in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy

Objetivou-se descrever as imagens convencionais de ressonância magnética (IRM) e correlacioná-las à 1H ERM em 20 pacientes com ALD-X. Foram realizadas seqüências pesadas em T1, T2, FLAIR, T1 pós-Gd e STEAM com voxel único na substância branca frontal e parietoccipital. O estudo das IRM foi feito através do escore radiológico de LOES et al. (1994). As 1H ERM foram comparadas às IRM através de 4 categorias propostas: (1) aparentemente normal, (2) alteração de sinal com realce, (3) alteração de sinal sem realce e (4) gliose. Notou-se um maior comprometimento da substância branca parietoccipital. Na maioria dos casos o padrão característico de sinal foi o da categoria 2, que apresentou os maiores valores de Co/Cr e Lip/Cr. A relação Co/NAA demonstrou uma correlação positiva significativa com os escores de Loes/This study objetives to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and correlates them to 1H MRS of 20 patients with X-ALD. We performed sequences weighted on T1, T2, FLAIR, Gd-T1, and single voxel STEAM technique in the frontal and parietoccipital white matter. The study of MRI was done by assessment of a radiologic score (LOES et al., 1994). The 1H MRS were analysed comparative to MRI by 4 proposed categories: (1) aparent normal, (2) gadolinium-enhancement, (3) signal changes without gadolinium-enhancement, (4) gliosis. Parietoccipital white matter was the most common affected area. The category 2 was the pattern signal found in the most cases that was characterized by the higher values of Cho/Cr and Lip/Cr ratios. The Cho/NAA ratios presented a positive and significant correlation to Loes´score...