ABSTRACT
Stroke-like migraine attacks after radiation therapy (SMART) syndrome is a rare and delayed complication of brain irradiation involving impaired cerebrovascular autoregulation, and diagnosis is based on distinct clinic-radiographic findings and exclusion of differentials. We report a 38-year-old man, who received cranial irradiation 28 years before and developed episodes of headache and visual aura, followed by left hemianopia, aphasia, behavioral disturbances, and focal seizures. An MRI of the brain revealed gyral swelling with restricted diffusion and mild contrast enhancement over the right temporoparietal and occipital region, and fludeoxyglucose-FDG PET scan showed hyperperfusion in the corresponding brain region. He improved completely with pulse steroids and antiseizure medications. The recognition of this syndrome is important as we can reassure patients and their families and help avoid unnecessary and invasive diagnostic tests.
ABSTRACT
Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of limb arteries are relatively rare. A 70-year-old gentleman, with history of mechanical aortic valve implantation on warfarin, presented to the emergency department with pain and swelling in the right leg. He had sustained blunt injury to the leg, a week prior to presentation. On examination, the lateral compartment of the leg was swollen, ecchymotic, and tense. Distal pulses were well palpable. An ultrasound Doppler evaluation revealed a large intramuscular hematoma in the lateral compartment with a pseudoaneurysm of a muscular branch of the anterior tibial artery. An ultrasound-guided compression of the pseudoaneurysm was initially attempted for 24 hours, which failed in closing off the pseudoaneurysm. He was subsequently taken up for thrombin injection into the pseudoaneurysm, which resulted in instant thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm, with an uneventful clinical course thereafter. Thrombin injection is an effective and safe modality to treat pseudoaneurysms of limb arteries.
ABSTRACT
A dilemma exists in context to the timing of surgery in a case presenting with explosive onset seizures secondary to a focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). This case report highlights the challenges faced in the management of a 4-year-old child with recent onset cluster seizures refractory to anti-epileptic drugs. A 4-year-old girl presented with an acute onset of cluster seizures (up to 32 in a day), semiologically characterized by tonic upper limb extension and laughter lasting for few seconds with no response to multiple anti-epileptic drugs. The clinical, electrographic, neuroimaging and interictal positron emission tomography data were concordant and consistent with a left middle frontal gyrus dysplasia which was successfully resected under electrocorticographic guidance. Patient is seizure free at 2 months of follow up. (Engel Class 1). Surgical resection is feasible and potentially more effective in the early phase of clinical presentation of FCD.