[Neuronal tumors: gangliocytoma]. / Tumores neuronales: gangliocitoma.

INTRODUCTION: Gangliocytomas are neuronal tumors of the central nervous system. They tend to appear in children and young adults. These tumors usually appear in the supratentorial compartment in the temporal lobe. Their clinical presentation is frequently as refractory epilepsy. CASE REPORTS: Three gangliocytoma cases in different locations are presented and a review is made. CONCLUSIONS: Immunochemistry is of great value in the pathological study of these lesions, using neuronal markers for the diagnosis. They are usually benign lesions. Therefore, surgical complete removal is the goal to pursue.

Tumores neuronales: gangliocitoma / Neuronal tumors: gangliocytoma

Los gangliocitomas son tumores de estirpe neuronal que se presentan en individuos jóvenes y niños.Su localización más habitual es supratentorial (lóbulo temporal...). La presentación más habitual es en forma de epilepsia refractaria. Casos clínicos. Se presentan tres casos clínicos en diferentes localizaciones. Conclusiones. La anatomía patológica se ayuda de la inmunohistoquímica para enfocar el diagnóstico, utilizando marcadores neuronales. Son lesiones de naturaleza habitualmente benigna que requieren extirpación lo más completa posible

Gangliocytomas are neuronal tumors of the central nervous system. They tend to appear in childrenand young adults. These tumors usually appear in the supratentorial compartment in the temporal lobe. Their clinical presentation is frequently as refractory epilepsy. Case reports. Three gangliocytoma cases in different locations are presentedand a review is made. Conclusions. Immunochemistry is of great value in the pathological study of these lesions, using neuronal markers for the diagnosis. They are usually benign lesions. Therefore, surgical complete removal is the goal to pursue

[Chronic subdural haematoma. Presentation and therapeutic attitudes]. / Hematoma subdural crónico. Presentación y actitudes terapéuticas.

INTRODUCTION: The chronic subdural haematoma (CSH) is a present pathology in the day by day of any Neurosurgical Department, and even in the beginning of the xxi century, the different therapeutic options are of current debate. OBJECTIVE: To compare retrospectively the results obtained by different types of surgical techniques, different modalities of drainage systems, and the application or not of perioperative intrathecal solutions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data have been obtained by the review of 109 clinical cases treated of CSH between 1996 and 2000 in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Hospital de Cruces (Bilbao). We have analysed the age, sex, background, presenting symptomatology, type of treatment, evolution and mean hospital stay. RESULTS: The report is centred in the analysis of the recurrence rate of the CSH, its principal feature, and so, according to the type of evacuation technique, a burr hole presents 17,2% recurrences, two burr holes 31%, a small craniotomy 50%, and an ordinary craniotomy 66%. According to the drainage system, the subgaleal shunt presents 33,3% recurrences, the subdural 24,5%, and the subdural subgaleal 15,4%. The intrathecal solutions present 37% recurrences. CONCLUSION: After studying all the data, we can conclude that for the treatment of the CSH, the choice of a burr hole and subdural subgaleal shunt and intrathecal solution, can result beneficial in relation to other techniques, although with a minimum difference over the subdural shunt.

Hematoma subdural crónico. Presentación y actitudes terapéuticas / Chronic subdural haematoma. Presentation and therapeutic attitudes

Introducción. El hematoma subdural crónico (HSC) es una entidad presente en el día a día de cualquier servicio de Neurocirugía, y, a inicios del siglo XXI, todavía son de actual debate las distintas opciones terapéuticas. Objetivo. Comparar retrospectivamente los resultados obtenidos a partir de la realización de diversos tipos de técnicas quirúrgicas, diferentes modalidades de sistemas de drenaje, y la aplicación o no de soluciones intratecales perioperatorias. Pacientes y métodos. Los datos se han obtenido mediante la revisión de 109 casos clínicos tratados de HSC, entre 1996 y 2000, en el Servicio de Neurocirugía del Hospital de Cruces (Bilbao). Se han analizado: la edad, el sexo, los antecedentes, la clínica de presentación, el tipo de tratamiento, la evolución y la estancia media hospitalaria. Resultados. El trabajo se ha centrado en el análisis de la tasa de recidiva del HSC, característica principal, y así, según el tipo de técnica evacuadora, un agujero de trépano presenta el 17,2 por ciento de reacúmulos, dos trépanos el 31 por ciento, una trefina el 50 por ciento, y una craneotomía el 66 por ciento. Según el sistema de drenaje, el subgaleal presenta el 33,3 por ciento de recidivas, el subdural un 24,5 por ciento, y el subdurosubgaleal el 15,4 por ciento. Las soluciones intratecales presentan un 37 por ciento de reacúmulos. Conclusión. Tras el estudio de todos los datos, se puede concluir que para el tratamiento del HSC, la elección de un agujero de trépano más drenaje subdurosubgaleal y solución intratecal, puede resultar beneficiosa respecto a otras técnicas, aunque con una mínima diferencia sobre el drenaje subdural (AU)

[The consumption of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs by adolescent Spanish students]. / El consumo de tabaco, alcohol y otras drogas en los adolescentes escolarizados españoles.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken in the mid-1990s (1994) to describe the use of tobacco, alcohol, and non-institutionalized drugs among pre-adolescent and adolescent Spanish students. METHODS: Information was collected within the framework of a periodic transversal study of life styles among European students, with particular emphasis on health-related habits. In the current study we present the results of the last survey carried out in Spain within the context of this study (1994), which involved a representative sample of Spanish students 11, 13, 15, 17 and 18 years-old (n = 6,711). An anonymous questionnaire was completed by the students in class. The survey sampling uses proportionate stratification and multistage sampling. RESULTS: In 1994, 49% of the Spanish students in this age group had tried tobacco. Twenty-four percent were sporadic or regular smokers. There was a large proportion of female smokers than male smokers (27% vs 20%). The overall proportion of smokers increased from 3% at 11 years to 47% at 18 years. One third (33%) of the 18-year-old students smoked daily. Eighty-four percent of the students of this age indicated that they had tried one or more types of alcoholic beverage. Twenty-one percent consumed alcohol regularly (at least once a week). Regular alcohol use was somewhat more common among males (24%) than among females (19%). Forty-six percent of the 18-year-old students consumed alcoholic beverages regularly and 66% had been intoxicated one or more times. Almost one fifth (18%) of the 13-to-18 year-old students indicated that they had tried some type of non-institutionalized drug, although the current rate of consumption was 8%. Cannabis was the drug most frequently tried (18%) and the drug most often consumed at present (8%), followed by cocaine and heroin. More males than females had tried non-institutionalized drugs. DISCUSSION: Analysis of the data revealed that adolescent tobacco use is increasingly frequent among females. Alcohol use continues to be widespread among Spanish pre-adolescents and adolescents. Alcohol use begins in childhood and becomes consolidated in adolescence. The results suggest, in relation to gender differences in the use of tobacco, alcohol, and non-institutionalized drugs, that there is a strong tendency toward the homogenization of these habits between genders. It is necessary to emphasize the preventive measures of drug dependence among Spanish pre-adolescents and adolescents.