ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Cerebral biopsy is an invasive technique with limited, specific indications in view of the potential risk of complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed a series of 50 cases of biopsies via craniotomy done over a period of 10 years to investigate suspected non tumoural disorders. RESULTS: There was a predominance of space occupying lesions and treatable infections (36%) and of non diagnostic biopsies (40%). There was poor correlation between the initial clinical diagnosis and the histological findings (50 71%). There were no complications. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the indications should be better defined and, in view of the satisfactory tolerance of this procedure, the study group should be increased by using other less invasive procedures (stereotaxia).
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/diagnosis , Brain/cytology , Biopsy , Brain/pathology , Brain Neoplasms/epidemiology , Craniotomy/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Objetivo. La biopsia cerebral es una técnica invasiva con indicaciones selectivas y restringidas por el potencial riesgo de complicaciones. Pacientes y métodos. Revisamos una serie de 50 casos de biopsias por craneotomía, reunidos en un intervalo de 10 años tras indicación por sospecha de patología no tumoral. Resultados. Predominan los hallazgos de procesos expansivos e infecciones tratables (36 por ciento) y los de muestras no diagnósticas (40 por ciento). La concordancia entre el diagnóstico clínico (de sospecha o de salida) y el histológico es baja (50-71 por ciento). No se registraron complicaciones. Conclusiones. Deben mejorarse las indicaciones y, dada la buena tolerancia, debería aumentarse la muestra mediante otros procedimientos menos invasivos (estereotaxia) (AU)
Subject(s)
Middle Aged , Adult , Male , Female , Humans , Event-Related Potentials, P300 , Biopsy , Chlorpheniramine , Craniotomy , Histamine H1 Antagonists , Brain Neoplasms , TelencephalonABSTRACT
To perform a cross-sectional descriptive study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the general population. We studied 600 men aged between 40 and 60 from a random sample (69.9% of the total, 76.6% eligible subjects). Each subject answered a questionnaire, underwent spirometric testing and measurement of CO in expired air. Smokers accounted for 50.8% of the sample, although only 24.8% of the population had CO levels in expired air greater than 10 ppm. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis was 9.2%. Forty subjects (6.8%), only 25% of whom had previously undergone spirometry, met the criteria for air flow limitation. Air flow limitation was associated with chronic bronchitis and smoking, which were also mutually associated. Our data underline the need to combat smoking, given its relation with chronic bronchitis and airflow limitation, as well as to perform spirometry more routinely, mainly in smokers or patients with symptoms of chronic bronchitis.
