Nuestra experiencia en el manejo de los cavernomas de tronco, de tálamo y de ganglios basales / Our experience in the management of trunk, thalamus and basal ganglia cavernomas

OBJETIVO: Presentar nuestra experiencia en el manejo de los cavernomas de tronco cerebral, de tálamo y de ganglios basales. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Analizamos una serie de 16 pacientes asistidos en nuestra Institución, entre enero de 1990 y diciembre del año 2013. De ellos, 9 fueron varones y 7 mujeres. El rango de edad osciló entre 3 y 61 años. RESULTADOS: Siete debutaron con hemorragia cerebral, de ellos 4 se localizaban en protuberancia y 3 en el bulbo raquídeo. Siete pacientes tuvieron cavernomas múltiples, de ellos 3 tenían familiares con la misma enfermedad. El procedimiento diagnóstico de elección fue la resonancia nuclear magnética de cerebro en todos, y en los pacientes con cavernomas múltiples se completó el estudio con resonancia nuclear magnética de médula espinal. El tratamiento fue conservador en 9 enfermos, quirúrgico en 6 y radiocirugía estereotáctica en 1 enfermo; a éste paciente hubo necesidad de operarlo 6 meses después del tratamiento radiante por un resangrado voluminoso en la protuberancia. DISCUSIÓN: La cirugía es exitosa cuando el cavernoma se ubica a 2 mm de la piamadre, o del epéndimo. La radiocirugía puede ser causante de resangrado y de mayor volumen que las hemorragias previas. Por último, el tratamiento conservador sigue teniendo vigencia en los pacientes que se recuperaron neurológicamente y cuando se ubican en la profundidad del tronco cerebral, tálamo óptico o ganglios basales. CONCLUSIÓN: Cada paciente debe evaluarse individualmente para decidir el tipo de tratamiento, teniendo en cuenta la edad, la recuperación de los signos neurológicos, el volumen y la localización precisa del cavernoma

Objective: To present our experience in the management of brainstem, thalamus and basal ganglia cavernous malformations. Material and Method: We analyzed a series of 16 patients admitted to our Institution between January 1990 and December 2013. Nine of them were male and 7 female. Age ranged between 3 and 61. Results: Seven patients presented brainstem hemorrhage, 4 being pontine and the remaining 3 were medullary. Seven patients had multiple cavernomas, and 3 of them had a family background with the disease. The chosen diagnostic procedure was brain MRI in all patients; in patients with multiple cavernomas spine MRI was also requested. Nine patients received conservative treatment, 6 patients underwent surgery and one was treated with stereotactic radiosurgery but had to be operated on six months after radiation treatment due to voluminous re-bleeding at protuberance. Discussion: Surgery is successful when the cavernous malformation is placed 2 mm away from pia mater or ependyma. Radiosurgery can cause re-bleeding and of a greater volume than previous hemorrhages. Finally, conservative treatment is useful in patients who get neurologically recovered and when malformations are placed deep in brainstem, optic thalamus or basal ganglia. Conclusion: Each patient has to be individually assessed to individually assessed to make a decision regarding the type of treatment, taking into account age, recovery of neurological signs, volume, and precise location of cavernous malformation

Prevalence, Reasons, and Perceived Effects of Khat Chewing Among Students of a College in Gondar Town, Northwestern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The estimate of the number of people chewing Khat globally ranges from 5 to 10 million people. Its use may result in a variety of effects due to the different compounds in it with effects on the gastro-intestinal system and nervous system being the principal ones. AIM: To assess the prevalence, factors, and effects of Khat chewing among students of a college in Gondar town, northwestern Ethiopia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 15(th) to 20(th) of April 2009 on a total sample of 424 students who were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected by three of the principal investigators using a structured pretested data collection instrument and analyzed by Epi Info version 3.5.2. RESULTS: The lifetime and current prevalence of Khat chewing among the respondents were 42% (168/400) and 32.5% (130/400), respectively. Sex (P < 0.01), religion (P < 0.001), and income (P < 0.01) showed statistically significant variation in Khat chewing. The commonest frequency of Khat chewing was once a day 33.1% (43/130) while alcohol (40.8% [53/130]) and cigarette (40.0% [52/130]) were the mostly used substances with Khat. More than half of the chewers (53.85% [70/130]) reported spending 1-4 h for one Khat chewing ceremony. Financially majority of the chewers reported spending up to 10 Ethiopian Birr (ETB) (1.13 United States Dollar) on Khat ( 54.6% [71/130]) and other substances (64.6% [84/130]). Nearly two-thirds (62.3% [81/130]) of the chewers mentioned seeking concentration during study as their main reason for chewing. Among chewers, 83.1% (108/130) reported they faced problem associated to sleep disturbance, 82.3% (107/130) loss of appetite, and 80.8% (105/130) constipation. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of Khat chewing was fairly high among the students and the majority among them used other substances together with Khat. Spending of a significant amount of money and facing health problems were reported to be consequences of the habit. The college should take steps to make students aware of the ills of Khat chewing and associated habits.

Localización y frecuencia de placas ateromatosas intracraneales en pacientes mayores de 40 años

Si bien la ateromatosis intracraneal (AIC) es una entidad frecuente, está subvalorada en la práctica clínica. Los avances tecnológicos en los diferentes métodos radiológicos y especialmente el advenimiento de la tomografía computada multicorte (TCMC) han mejorado la precisión diagnóstica de esta patología. Objetivos: Demostrar la utilidad de la TCMC en el diagnóstico de la AIC y determinar la frecuencia y localización de las placas ateromatosas, así como su distribución etaria y genérica. Materiales y métodos: Se estudió retrospectivamente a 280 pacientes (140 mujeres y 140 hombres) entre octubre de 2011 y marzo de 2012. Todos eran mayores de 40 años y contaron con una TCMC de cerebro sin contraste, realizada con un tomógrafo Toshiba Aquilion de 16 filas de detectores. Se evaluaron solamente placas cálcicas (considerándose así a aquellas cuya densidad superaba las 80 unidades Hounsfield). Resultados: Se encontró AIC en un 65% de los pacientes examinados, con una incidencia no significativa en el sexo masculino (relación: 1,16/1). Los vasos más comprometidos, en orden de frecuencia, fueron el sifón carotídeo y la arteria vertebral en su segmento V4. Conclusión: La ateromatosis es una de las causas frecuentes de ictus cerebral. La TCMC es el método de elección para determinar la localización y frecuencia de las calcificaciones intracraneales de manera no invasiva. Al igual que el score de calcio, la determinación del calcio a nivel de las arterias permitiría establecer el riesgo que tiene el paciente de desarrollar complicaciones vasculares, en este caso en el territorio cerebral.(AU)

Even though intracranial atheromatosis (IA) is a frequent entity, it is undervalued in clinical practice. The technological advances in different radiological methods and especially multislice computed tomography (MSCT) have improved the diagnostic accuracy of this pathology. Objectives: To prove the multislice computed tomography usefulness in intracranial atheromatosis diagnostic, and establish the frequency and location of atheromatous plaques, and also the age and gender distribution. Materials and methods: Two hundred and eighty patients (140 male and 140 female) were studied retrospectively, between October 2011 and March 2012. All of them were more than 40 years old and counted with a brain MSCT without contrast, made it with a Toshiba Aquilion 16 multidetector computer tomograph. Calcium plaques were only evaluated (considering calcium plaques those whose density was over 80 Hounsfield units). Results: It was showed the presence of IA in 65% of the examined patients, being the male gender the mostly affected in a 1.16:1, non significant relation. The most affected vessels in frequency order were carotid siphon and vertebral artery in their V4 segment. Conclusion: The atheromatosis is one of the frequent causes of cerebral stroke. The MSCT is the selected method to determine the location and frequency of the intracranial calcification in a noninvasive way. In the same way as the calcium score, determining the level of calcium in the arteries allows to determine the risk that the patient has of developing vascular complications, in this case in the cerebral territory.(AU)

Localización y frecuencia de placas ateromatosas intracraneales en pacientes mayores de 40 años / Location and frequency of intracranial atheromatous plaques in patients over 40 years

Si bien la ateromatosis intracraneal (AIC) es una entidad frecuente, está subvalorada en la práctica clínica. Los avances tecnológicos en los diferentes métodos radiológicos y especialmente el advenimiento de la tomografía computada multicorte (TCMC) han mejorado la precisión diagnóstica de esta patología. OBJETIVOS: Demostrar la utilidad de la TCMC en el diagnóstico de la AIC y determinar la frecuencia y localización de las placas ateromatosas, así como su distribución etaria y genérica. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se estudió retrospectivamente a 280 pacientes (140 mujeres y 140 hombres) entre octubre de 2011 y marzo de 2012. Todos eran mayores de 40 años y contaron con una TCMC de cerebro sin contraste, realizada con un tomógrafo Toshiba Aquilion de 16 filas de detectores. Se evaluaron solamente placas cálcicas (considerándose así a aquellas cuya densidad superaba las 80 unidades Hounsfield). RESULTADOS: Se encontró AIC en un 65% de los pacientes examinados, con una incidencia no significativa en el sexo masculino (relación: 1,16/1). Los vasos más comprometidos, en orden de frecuencia, fueron el sifón carotídeo y la arteria vertebral en su segmento V4. CONCLUSIÓN: La ateromatosis es una de las causas frecuentes de ictus cerebral. La TCMC es el método de elección para determinar la localización y frecuencia de las calcificaciones intracraneales de manera no invasiva. Al igual que el score de calcio, la determinación del calcio a nivel de las arterias permitiría establecer el riesgo que tiene el paciente de desarrollar complicaciones vasculares, en este caso en el territorio cerebral.

Even though intracranial atheromatosis (IA) is a frequent entity, it is undervalued in clinical practice. The technological advances in different radiological methods and especially multislice computed tomography (MSCT) have improved the diagnostic accuracy of this pathology. OBJECTIVES: To prove the multislice computed tomography usefulness in intracranial atheromatosis diagnostic, and establish the frequency and location of atheromatous plaques, and also the age and gender distribution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and eighty patients (140 male and 140 female) were studied retrospectively, between October 2011 and March 2012. All of them were more than 40 years old and counted with a brain MSCT without contrast, made it with a Toshiba Aquilion 16 multidetector computer tomograph. Calcium plaques were only evaluated (considering calcium plaques those whose density was over 80 Hounsfield units). RESULTS: It was showed the presence of IA in 65% of the examined patients, being the male gender the mostly affected in a 1.16:1, non significant relation. The most affected vessels in frequency order were carotid siphon and vertebral artery in their V4 segment. CONCLUSION: The atheromatosis is one of the frequent causes of cerebral stroke. The MSCT is the selected method to determine the location and frequency of the intracranial calcification in a noninvasive way. In the same way as the calcium score, determining the level of calcium in the arteries allows to determine the risk that the patient has of developing vascular complications, in this case in the cerebral territory.

Valoración no invasiva de la estenosis carotídea de causa aterosclerótica: correlación entre la ecografía Doppler color y la angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio

Introducción: La angiografía carotídea se utiliza para confi rmar la presencia de estenosis de la bifurcación carotídea (BC). Sin embargo, dado que este método resulta invasivo y presenta cierta morbimortalidad, existe un creciente interés en los métodos no invasivos, como la angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio (ARM-Gd) y la ecografía Doppler color (EDC). El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar la correlación que existe entre la ecografía Doppler color y la angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio en la determinación del grado de estenosis. Materiales y métodos: Se analizaron por ecografía Doppler color y angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio 100 estudios de la bifurcación carotídea, realizados entre enero de 2009 y agosto de 2011 en el Sanatorio Allende. Se determinó el coefi ciente de concordancia Kappa, evaluando por ecografía Doppler color el porcentaje de estenosis carotídea según la reducción del diámetro y la velocidad sistólica máxima (VSM) y por angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio la reducción de la luz visualizada. En ambos métodos se empleó el criterio de NASCET. También se analizó la superfi cie de la placa. Resultados: Se obtuvo una muy buena correlación entre la ecografía Doppler color y la angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio, con un coefi ciente de concordancia Kappa de 0,90 y un intervalo de confi anza (IC) de 95% (0,786-0,99). Sin embargo, existió una discordancia para valoar la superfi cie de la placa, que dejó en evidencia la superioridad de la angiografía por resonancia magnética con gadolinio para defi nir la superfi cie irregular y/o ulcerada. Conclusión: El avance de la tecnología y el creciente número de estudios que demuestran la fi abilidad y correlación diagnóstica de los métodos no invasivos hacen suponer que en un corto plazo estos reemplazarán a la angiografía en el diagnóstico y valoración de la patología carotídea.

Introduction: Carotid angiography is used to confi rm carotid bifurcation (CB) stenosis. However, it is an invasive method that involves some morbidity. For this reason there is growing interest in non-invasive methods for the evaluation of carotid stenosis, including magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium (MRAG) and color Doppler ultrasound (USDC). The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between the color Doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium in the evaluation of the degree of stenosis. Materials and methods: One hundred carotid bifurcations were studied by color Doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium between January 2009 and August 2011 in Sanatorio Allende. The level of agreement was determined using the Kappa coeffi cient, analyzing the percentage of carotid stenosis with color Doppler ultrasound according to the maximum systolic speed and the stenosis seen by magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium, using the NASCET criteria for both methods. Results: An excellent correlation was obtained between Doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium, with a Kappa coeffi cient of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.786-0.99). There was disagreement between the two methods in assessing the plaque surface, showing that magnetic resonance angiography with gadolinium was better for detecting an irregular surface and / or ulcerated plaque. Conclusion: The technological improvement and the increase in reliable studies that have a good diagnostic correlation with non-invasive methods, it could be assumed that, in a short period of time, Doppler ultrasound will gradually replace angiography in the diagnosis of carotid pathology.

Gliomas cerebrales de bajo grado en el adulto / Low grade gliomas un adults

Objetivo. Bajo esta denominación se incluyen a los astrocitomas fibrilares y protoplasmáticos, a los oligodendrogliomas, y a los oligoastrocitomas o tumores mixtos, que corresponden a los grados II de la nueva clasificación de la OMS . Los astrocitomas de bajo grado representan el 15% de los gliomas hemisféricos cerebrales en el adulto. Los oligodendrogliomas tienen una incidencia del 4% (2,4). Presentamos la experiencia de nuestro grupo de trabajo con este tipo de tumores entre enero de 1972 y diciembre de 2006.Material y método. Se analizaron las historias clínicas de 25 pacientes adultos que presentaron esta variedad de tumor, de los cuales 15 eran mujeres y 10 varones, que representan el 15,6% de los gliomas cerebrales en este grupo etario. Resultados: Quince eran astrocitomas fibrilares, ocho oligodendrogliomas y dos oligoastrocitomas. El principal estudio de imagen fue la resonancia nuclear magnética con espectroscopia. El tratamiento dependió de la ubicación y del volumen tumoral, siendo la cirugía y la radioterapia las modalidades terapéuticas mas empleadas. El tumor recidivó en 16 enfermos, con una media de 37 ± 21 meses después del diagnóstico, cuyas histopatologías mostraron ser: astrocitomas anaplásicos en 7 y glioblastomas multiformes en 9. Han fallecido 16 enfermos, 14 por el tumor cerebral, uno por cáncer de lengua y otro por embolia pulmonar producida a los 10 días de la cirugía, con una mediana de sobrevida de 44 meses (10 días a 120 meses). De los 9 pacientes que viven, 7 tienen oligodendrogliomas, 2 astrocitomas, y uno tiene un oligoastrocitoma; 7 requieren medicación antiepilética, ninguno tiene secuelas neurológicas, con una mediana de sobrevida de 36 meses (6 a 120 meses); dos han tenido recidiva, correspondientes a un oligodendroglioma y a un oligoastrocitoma, a los 22 y 60 meses respectivamente del diagnóstico, en los dos casos el tumor pasó de ser un grado II a grado III...

Objective. Gliomas reviewed in this article are grade II tumors according to the World Health Organization (WHO), that include: fibrillary and protoplasmic astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and oligoastrocytomas or mix tumors (1,2,3).Low grade astrocytomas constitute 15% of brain tumors in adults, while low grade oligodendrogliomas represent 4% (2,4). We present our experience with this type of tumor operated on between January 1972 and December 2006.Material and Method. The clinical reports of 25 patients with this type of tumor were analyzed, 15 women and 10 men, which represent 15,6% of hemispheric brain gliomas in adults in our series.Results. Fifteen were fibrillary astrocytomas, 8 oligodendrogliomasand 2 oligoastrocytomas. Treatment depended on tumor localization and size. Surgery and radiotherapy were thetherapeutic modalities most frequently used. Tumor recurrence was observed in 16 patients, with a media of 37+/- 21 months after diagnosis: 7 anaplastic astrocytomas and 9 glioblastomasmultiforme. In this series, 16 patients died with a median of 44 months (10 days to 120 months) after diagnosis. Cause of death were: tumor itself, in 14 cases, tongue cancer in 1, and pulmonaryembolism after surgery in another. From the 9 surviving patients, 6 have oligodendrogliomas, 2 astrocytomas and 1 an oligoastrocytoma. Seven patients need antiepileptic drug and none of them presents neurological sequels. The survival mediana was 36 months (6 to 120 months). Two of them had tworecurrences between 22 and 60 months after diagnosis, one oligodendroglioma and the other an oligoastrocytoma; in both cases tumors grade II became tumors grade III. Conclusion. The relative incidence of 15,6% in adult gliomas of our series is similar to the international experience. Age, younger as 40 years, seizures, as clinical presentation, extension of surgical resection, low Ki 67 index in astrocytomas, and...

Interstitial stereotactic radiosurgery of pilocytic astrocytomas in paediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical presentation, tumour response, clinical improvement and complications in 12 children and young people with a pilocytic astrocytoma, WHO I grade 1, who were treated with interstitial radiosurgery using Iodine-125 seed implants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 12 patients aged under 18 years (mean 8.4 years, ranging from 8 months to 17 years of age) with a pilocytic astrocytoma treated between 1993 and 2006. Iodine-125 seeds were used as temporary implants with low-dose rate (

Alteración de los sistemas antinociceptivos en las cefaleas crónicas diarias / Alteration of the antinociceptive systems in chronic daily headaches

Introducción. La cefalea crónica diaria (CCD) es un cuadrodoloroso crónico frecuente en la práctica neurológica. El diagnósticoes clínico y el abordaje terapéutico resulta complejo. No estáclaro todavía cuál es su mecanismo de producción, pero se reconoceun componente genético como factor predisponente. Son múltipleslas áreas que participan en la generación de cefaleas primarias,entre las que se encuentra la sustancia gris periacueductal (SGPA),que participa como neuromoduladora tanto en cefaleas como enotros cuadros dolorosos crónicos. Objetivos. Para evaluar posiblescambios bioquímicos en pacientes con CCD se estudiaron los espectrospor resonancia magnética en la SGPA. Sujetos y métodos. Seestudiaron los espectros en la SGPA en 17 pacientes con CCD y secompararon con el espectro promedio de 17 sujetos sanos a travésdel análisis espectroscópico diferencial. Resultados. Los sujetos conCCD presentan una reducción mayor del 70% del metabolito N-acetilaspartato glutamato (NAAG) en la SGPA. El NAAG es un péptidorelacionado con actividad antinociceptiva. Conclusión. La reduccióndel NAAG en la SPGA sugiere una alteración de la neuromodulaciónde sistemas antinociceptivos en sujetos con CCD. Queda pendientede que se establezca si la CCD es la causa o la consecuencia

Introduction. Chronic daily headache (CDH) is a chronic painful clinical condition that is frequently found inneurological practice. Diagnosis is clinical and the therapeutic approach is complex. Its mechanism of production is still notaltogether clear, but a genetic component is acknowledged as a predisposing factor. Numerous areas are involved in thegeneration of primary headaches, including the periaqueductal grey matter (PAGM), which plays a role as a neuromodulatorboth in headaches and in other chronic painful conditions. Aims. In order to evaluate possible biochemical changes inpatients with CDH, magnetic resonance imaging was used to study the spectra produced in the PAGM. Subjects and methods.The spectra in the PAGM were studied in 17 patients with CDH. These were compared with the average spectra in 17 healthysubjects by means of differential spectroscopy. Results. Subjects with CDH show a reduction of over 70% in the level of themetabolite N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate (NAAG) in the PAGM. NAAG is a peptide involved in antinociceptive activity. Conclusions.The reduction of NAAG in the PAGM suggests altered neuromodulation of the antinociceptive systems in subjects with CDH.Whether CDH is the cause or the consequence has still to be determined

[Alteration of the antinociceptive systems in chronic daily headaches]. / Alteracion de los sistemas antinociceptivos en las cefaleas cronicas diarias.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic daily headache (CDH) is a chronic painful clinical condition that is frequently found in neurological practice. Diagnosis is clinical and the therapeutic approach is complex. Its mechanism of production is still not altogether clear, but a genetic component is acknowledged as a predisposing factor. Numerous areas are involved in the generation of primary headaches, including the periaqueductal grey matter (PAGM), which plays a role as a neuromodulator both in headaches and in other chronic painful conditions. AIMS: In order to evaluate possible biochemical changes in patients with CDH, magnetic resonance imaging was used to study the spectra produced in the PAGM. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The spectra in the PAGM were studied in 17 patients with CDH. These were compared with the average spectra in 17 healthy subjects by means of differential spectroscopy. RESULTS: Subjects with CDH show a reduction of over 70% in the level of the metabolite N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate (NAAG) in the PAGM. NAAG is a peptide involved in antinociceptive activity. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction of NAAG in the PAGM suggests altered neuromodulation of the antinociceptive systems in subjects with CDH. Whether CDH is the cause or the consequence has still to be determined.