ABSTRACT
Documented meningioma cases in Central Texas (USA) from 1976 to 2013 were studied utilizing the Scott & White Brain Tumor Registry. All the cases examined were histologically diagnosed as meningiomas. Of the 372 cases, most were benign tumors (p<0.05). A majority of the patients were females (p<0.05). Elderly individuals (>45years of age) superseded the younger patients in meningioma incidence (p<0.05). Previous data regarding meningioma epidemiology in Texas showed a higher incidence in black patients when compared to white patients. By contrast, this study's findings of Central Texas meningioma demographics show increased incidence of meningiomas in white patients (p<0.05). This interesting find in meningioma prevalence warrants further investigation with a larger sample size, in order to establish validity and further parse out possible causes of meningioma development among white individuals.
Subject(s)
Black or African American/statistics & numerical data , Meningeal Neoplasms/epidemiology , Meningioma/epidemiology , White People/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Incidence , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Sex Factors , Texas , Young AdultABSTRACT
Mapping nerve deficits during a physical exam after trauma to the upper extremity can help determine not only if the brachial plexus was injured but also which nerve roots were involved. A 28-year-old male presented with simultaneous signs and symptoms of Erb's (C5) and Klumpke's (C8, T1) palsy, with sparing of the C6 and C7 roots. The patient presented several months ago to his local emergency room with shortness of breath, which was determined to be caused by left diaphragmatic paralysis through clinical and radiographical evidence. However, the etiology of the current nerve dysfunction in the upper extremity remained unknown. With persistent questioning and establishing the patient's trust in the caregivers, it was revealed that the patient had attempted suicidal hanging. We describe the clinical features and the likely mechanism of injury leading to this previously unreported combination of brachial plexus injuries. The unique injuries to this patient's brachial plexus can be explained by the sequence of events during the attempted suicidal hanging. The upper brachial plexus was injured during the initial moments where the neck was excessively stretched and the lower brachial plexus was injured due to the patient reaching up and holding himself by his arm for an extended period of time.
