Hydrocephalus as a Presenting Manifestation of Neurosarcoidosis : Easy to Misdiagnose as Tuberculosis

We present a case of hydrocephalus as the primary manifestation of neurosarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is a rare disease in Korea and its incidence is much lower than that of tuberculosis. Diagnosis is made by pathologic findings and by exclusion of other granulomatous disorders. Neurosarcoidosis is observed in approximately 5% of sarcoidosis. Its common manifestations are facial palsy (50% of patients with neurosarcoidosis) and optic neuritis. Hydrocephalus is a very uncommon reported finding. Although the typical presentation of sarcoidosis such as facial palsy is not a diagnostic dilemma, more atypical presentations such as hydrocephalus with altered mentality in a tuberculosis patient can lead to a misdiagnosis.

A Case of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Pseudomyxoma Peritonei is a condition in which, as a result of ruptured mucinous tumors of the ovary or appendix, the peritoneal surface and omentum are involved with mucin secreting cells. This is a rare disease which occurs predominantly in middle aged women, characterized by histologically benign but whicth is clinically malignant. We have experienced a case of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei due to rupture of borderline mucnous tumor of the ovary and report with a brief review of literatures.

A Case Report: Recurrent Intravenous Leiomyomatosis / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Intravenous leiomyomatosis is an uncommon uterine tumor characterized by the growth of histologically benign smooth muscle initially into venous channels within the broad ligament, intrauterine, and iliac vein, and can extend to inferior vena cava, and right side of the heart. Intravenous leiomyomatosis is always grossly visible as worm-like plugs within the involved vessels. A 41-year-old woman presented with lower abdominal mass, and she had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy and left salpingoophorectomy for leiomyoma of uterus. On pathological examination it was diagnosed as intravenous leiomyomatosis. 16 month later, She was admitted with lower abdominal mass on retroperitoneal cavity. The patient was successfully treated by resection of recurred mass and right salpingoophorectomy. A case of recurrent intravenous leiomyomatosis is presented with a brief review of literatures.

Pulmonary Embolism in Neurosurgical Patients

The purpose of this study was to understand the general features of pulmonary embolism in neurosurgical patients. The authors retrospectively reviewed 24 cases of pulmonary embolism from 1981 to 1994. The overall incidence of pulmonary embolism was 0.2%, but in the most prevalent year(194) it was 1.3%. Lower extremity weakness and immobilization was the most common predisposing condition. Of 24 patients with pulmonary embolism, 23 patients showed lower extremity weakness, and the mean duration of immobilization was 47 days. Most patients(80%) had symptoms of pulmonary embolism within 4 weks after operation. Medical prophylactic method had not been used in patients other than physical prophylactic method-graduated compression stocking, position change or physical therapy. Heparinization was given to 18 patients(75%), and minor hemorrhagic complication developed in 2 patients, but no major bleeding occurred. Inferior vena cava filter was applied in 2 patients. Only one patient suffered from recurrence and it w as not fatal. Of the 24 patients, 7 died, however only one patient died of pulmonary embolism. In our study, the prognosis of pulmonary embolism was not as serious as it has been reported in the literature. However, more precise studies will be needed to understand the fate of pulmonary embolism in Korean neurosurgical patients.