Meningioangiomatosis with a predominant fibrocalcifying component.

A case of meningioangiomatosis, resected from the parietal lobe in a 31-year-old female is presented. Macroscopically, the lesion was composed of five calcified nodules embedded within hardened elastic tissue. Histologically, cortical and subcortical calcified masses were found surrounded by a palisade of spindle and/or oval cells. In adjacent nervous tissue many pathological microvessels were observed and some were ensheathed by a perivascular proliferation of spindle cells. Moreover, gliosis with Rosenthal fibers and prominent connective tissue elements were observed. Immunohistochemical analysis based on monoclonal antibodies was performed. The spindle cells both within the palisades and the perivascular proliferations were vimentin and usually epithelial membrane antigenpositive. The possible pathogenesis of meningioangiomatosis is discussed and the role of angiogenesis within this lesion emphasized.

[Instability of atlanto-axial complex in a boy with isolated odontoid process]. / Niestabilnosc szczytowo-obrotowa u dziecka z odosobnionym zebem obrotnika (os odontoideum).

The authors present a case of a 14-years old boy, in whom, after a mild trauma, massive signs of cervical spinal cord injury appeared. Isolated odontoid process with instability of atlanto-axial complex proved to be the cause. In course of therapy with methylprednisolone and rehabilitation full recovery was achieved. The operative management consisted in posterior interlaminar stabilization C1-C2 with autologous bone transplant and titanium cable (Sof'wire). The etiology of this disturbance is discussed and operation method is presented.

[Primitive neuroectodermal tumor of rare localization in two members of one family]. / Przypadek PNET o rzadkiej lokalizacji u dwóch czlonków jednej rodziny.

A 26-year-old man with primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) is reported. The tumour originated from the cervical spinal cord and was resected partially. Few months later dissemination of the tumour to the meninges occurred. Familial history revealed that the first daughter of the patient had died in age of 14 months three years earlier of a tumour of the right cerebral hemisphere, also diagnosed as PNET.

[Effectiveness of surgical treatment in metastases of spinal cord neoplasms: on the basis of the authors' own material]. / Skutecznosc leczenia operacyjnego przerzutowych guzów kanalu kregowego--na podstawie materiallu wlasnego.

The authors present 11 patients operated on for metastatic tumours of the vertebral canal. The main symptom was pain lasting for from 3 weeks to 8 months prior to the development of spinal cord compression. The primary focus was diagnosed and treated primarily surgically in only 2 patients. In all cases laminectomy was done for removal of the epidural or intravertebral body part of the tumour and in 3 patients posterior spondylodesis was done additionally. The fate of 3 patients is unknown. Three patients died. The results of the treatment of 5 patients were assessed from 3 to 40 months after operation. The authors review in the light of the pertinent literature the modern methods of management which depend mainly on the location of the tumour.

[A giant perineural root cyst in the sacral part of the spinal vertebrae]. / Olbrzymia torbiel korzeniowa (perineuralna) w odcinku krzyzowym kanalu kregowego.

In a 30-year-old female patient the cause of pain in lower extremities lasting for many years was a giant perineural cyst in the sacral part of the vertebral canal. After radical removal the cyst pain disappeared completely.

[Spontaneous cerebrospinal rhinorrhea--report of 2 cases]. / Samoistny plynotok nosowy--opis 2 przypadków.

The authors present 2 cases of non-traumatic, so called "spontaneous" rhinorrhea. The pathological mechanism of CSF nasal fistula and operation methods are discussed.

Multidimensional gas chromatographic determination of cotinine as a marker compound for particulate-phase environmental tobacco smoke.

Multidimensional gas chromatographic analysis of air particles for the tobacco alkaloid cotinine is described. The analytical procedure requires little sample preparation. Unambiguous identification of cotinine and nicotine in cigarette smoke and indoor air samples was achieved by precise, reproducible retention times observed with two parallel analytical columns of different polarities and a nitrogen-specific detector. Further investigation of smoking and environmental variables is needed to validate the use of cotinine as a marker compound for environmental tobacco smoke particulate matter.

Subdural haematoma associated with dural carcinomatosis in a patient with primary carcinoma of pancreas.

The authors describe a rare case of subdural haematoma in a patient with dural carcinomatosis associated with a primary carcinoma of the pancreas. The diagnosis of the intracranial lesion was established by carotid angiography and the patient was operated on but died 2 weeks after operation because of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. It is thought that the subdural fluid accumulation resulted from the occlusion of the dural capillaries with neoplastic cells with subsequent haemorrhages.

[Supraventricular subarachnoid cysts]. / Nadnamiotowe torbiele podpajeczynówkowe.

Five patients with supraventricular subarachnoid cysts are described. In most patients epilepsy was the presenting sign. Cerebral angiography showed in all cases only an avascular lesion and and the correct diagnosis was established only during the operation. In only one case recurrent filling of the cyst was observed.

Clinical evaluation of the action of dexamethasone.

The antioedematous action of dexamethasone was assessed in 28 patients with supratentorial and infratentorial intracranial tumours and craniocerebral trauma. The criteria of evaluation included the state of consciousness, signs of focal cerebral injury, autonomic disturbances and signs of raised intracranial pressure. The greatest improvement was obtained in patients having intracranial tumours with herniation of the brain stem. In cases of extensive craniocerebral trauma no evident improvement was achieved.