[Cerebral neuroblastoma in the newborn infant]. / Neuroblastome cérébral du nouveau-né.

The authors report the exceptional case of a cerebral neuroblastoma responsible for intracranial hypertension at birth. In spite of neurosurgical intervention on the seventh day the newborn died. Histological and immunohistochemical study with Protein S 100 and "anti LEU 7" are consistent with the diagnosis of neuroblastoma.

[Peripheral neuropathy during treatment with ornidazole]. / Neuropathie périphérique au cours d'un traitement par l'ornidazole.

The case is reported of an 18 year old patient who developed a peripheral neuropathy after being given 1.5 g ornidazole daily for 6 days and 2 g daily for 16 days (total dose: 41 g). Bilateral radial paralysis was noted clinically, whilst electrical investigations showed diffuse motor and sensitive anomalies. Three months after the drug had been stopped, all symptoms and signs had disappeared. The pathogenesis of this complication is discussed. The part played by ornidazole is suggested but cannot be proved because of the multiple disorders presented by the patient.

[Response factors in the treatment of malignant gliomas in the adult (author's transl)]. / Les facteurs de réponse aux traitements des gliomes malins de l'adulte.

A statistical study was used to determine the significant prognostic factors in a protocol containing surgery, radiotherapy and polychemotherapy applied to 121 consecutive unselected patients suffering from malignant gliomas. The histological grade of the malignant tumor, the age of the patient and the neurological state if it could be evaluated after surgery appeared to be significant. It is therefore possible to suggest a clinical classification into three groups. Group 1 consists of patients aged 50 or less and a postoperative neurological state of 1 or 2 according to Order's classification; group 2 consists of patients with one pejorative factor, i.e. aged over 50 or a postoperative neurological state of 3 or 4; group 3 is those patients with two pejorative factors (aged over 50 and postoperative neurological state of 3 or 4) or aged 65 or over. Methods of application of treatment are also involved in the therapeutic response: Excision surgery appears to be essential. It improves the duration and quality of survival and influences the efficacy of combined radio-chemotherapy. By contrast, the effects of cobalt and chemotherapy must be envisaged in an efficacy/tolerance ratio which is difficult to evaluate, but for which the suggested clinical classification as a certain indicative value. Finally, the various factors lead to an approach to the concept of therapeutic responses and to determine within the total population of malignant gliomas various categories of patients in whom the profile is defined both by clinical characteristics and the tolerance of treatment and in whom different treatment techniques must be envisaged.

[Lateral interscalenic approach for tumors of the cervical intervertebral foramina (author's transl)]. / L'abord interscalénique des tumeurs des trous de conjugaison cervicaux.

The authors report six cases of tumours limited to the cervical inter-vertebral foramen. The patients presented with cervico-brachial neuralgias occasionally accompanied by radicular sensitivo-motor impairment. Radiographs and tomographs of the cervical spine demonstrated enlargement of the intervertebral foramen with bone proliferation depending on the etiology and provided in easy diagnosis in all the cases. A myelogram showed the absence of extension into the spinal canal thus allowing distinction from the group of dumbell tumors. In the six cases vertebral angiography gave information regarding the vascularisation and relationships of the tumour. The histological diagnosis was different in each case : neurofibroma, chordoma, osteochondroma, osteoma, osteoblastoma and an aneurysmal bone cyst. The same surgical approach was used in the six cases. Neither a laminectomy with facettectomy, nor a classical antero-lateral approach allow for a satisfactory exposition of the tumor. On the contrary a lateral interscalenic approach including dissection of the brachial plexus lead to a trouble free excision. This approach was precised by anatomical dissections.