Frontal lobe alterations in schizophrenia: a review / Alterações no lobo frontal na esquizofrenia: uma revisão

Abstract Objective: To highlight the changes in the frontal lobe of the human brain in people with schizophrenia. Methods: This was a qualitative review of the literature. Results: Many schizophrenic patients exhibit functional, structural, and metabolic abnormalities in the frontal lobe. Some patients have few or no alterations, while some have more functional and structural changes than others. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows structural and functional changes in volume, gray matter, white matter, and functional activity in the frontal lobe, but the mechanisms underlying these changes are not yet fully understood. Conclusion: When schizophrenia is studied as an essential topic in the field of neuropsychiatry, neuroscientists find that the frontal lobe is the most commonly involved area of the human brain. A clear picture of how this lobe is affected in schizophrenia is still lacking. We therefore recommend that further research be conducted to improve understanding of the pathophysiology of this psychiatric dilemma.

Resumo Objetivo: Descrever as alterações no lobo frontal do cérebro humano em indivíduos com esquizofrenia. Métodos: Esta foi uma revisão qualitativa da literatura. Resultados: Muitos pacientes esquizofrênicos exibem anormalidades funcionais, estruturais e metabólicas no lobo frontal. Alguns pacientes apresentam poucas ou nenhuma alteração, ao passo que outros apresentam mais alterações funcionais e estruturais quando comparados com seus pares. A ressonância magnética é capaz de demonstrar alterações estruturais e funcionais em volume, substância cinzenta, substância branca e atividade funcional do lobo frontal, porém os mecanismos subjacentes a essas alterações ainda não são completamente compreendidos. Conclusão: Quando a esquizofrenia é estudada como um tópico central na área da neuropsiquiatria, os neurocientistas observam que o lobo frontal é a área do cérebro humano mais comumente envolvida. Uma imagem clara de como esse lobo é afetado na esquizofrenia permanece inexistente. Portanto, recomendamos que mais pesquisas sejam conduzidas para melhorar nosso entendimento sobre a fisiopatologia desse dilema psiquiátrico.

A Case Report of Preoperative and Postoperative 7.0T Brain MRI in a Patient with a Small Cell Glioblastoma

A 45-yr-old female patient was admitted with one-month history of headache and progressive left hemiparesis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a mass lesion in her right frontal lobe. Her brain tumor was confirmed as a small cell glioblastoma. Her follow-up brain MRI, taken at 8 months after her initial surgery demonstrated tumor recurrence in the right frontal lobe. Contrast-enhanced 7.0T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was safely performed before surgery and at the time of recurrence. Compared with 1.5T and 3.0T brain MRI, 7.0T MRI showed sharpened images of the brain tumor contexture with detailed anatomical information. The fused images of 7.0T and 1.5T brain MRI taken at the time of recurrence demonstrated no significant discrepancy in the positions of the anterior and the posterior commissures. It is suggested that 7.0T MRI can be safely utilized for better images of the maligant gliomas before and after surgery.

Extensive CT scan abnormality in Wilson's disease.

A case of Wilson's disease with extensive white matter hypodensity, including in the basal ganglia, on CT scan is presented. Such extensive CT scan abnormality has not been described in Wilson's disease.