Access of the black population to health services: integrative review.

OBJECTIVES: demonstrate and discuss how the black population's access to health services occurs Methods: integrative literature review with the following question: How does the black population's access to health services occur? The search was carried out in the Scholar, LILACS and SciELO databases and used the descriptor "access to health services" and the term "population," resulting in a sample with twelve articles. RESULTS: studies show that the difficulty of access is a fundamental factor for the quality of life of people, directly compromising preventive services, especially for women's health and, in addition, it has significant impact on the illness process of the black population within its particularities. Final Considerations: several limiting factors compromise the black population's access to health services, including institutional and structural factors.

Neurochemical effects of motor cortex stimulation in the periaqueductal gray during neuropathic pain

OBJECTIVE Motor cortex stimulation (MCS) is a neurosurgical technique used to treat patients with refractory neuropathic pain syndromes. MCS activates the periaqueductal gray (PAG) matter, which is one of the major centers of the descending pain inhibitory system. However, the neurochemical mechanisms in the PAG that underlie the analgesic effect of MCS have not yet been described. The main goal of this study was to investigate the neurochemical mechanisms involved in the analgesic effect induced by MCS in neuropathic pain. Specifically, we investigated the release of g-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and glutamate in the PAG and performed pharmacological antagonism experiments to validate of our findings. METHODS Male Wistar rats with surgically induced chronic constriction of the sciatic nerve, along with sham-operated rats and naive rats, were implanted with both unilateral transdural electrodes in the motor cortex and a microdialysis guide cannula in the PAG and subjected to MCS. The MCS was delivered in single 15-minute sessions. Neurotransmitter release was evaluated in the PAG before, during, and after MCS. Quantification of the neurotransmitters GABA, glycine, and glutamate was performed using a high-performance liquid chromatography system. The mechanical nociceptive threshold was evaluated initially, on the 14th day following the surgery, and during the MCS. In another group of neuropathic rats, once the analgesic effect after MCS was confirmed by the mechanical nociceptive test, rats were microinjected with saline or a glycine antagonist (strychnine), a GABA antagonist (bicuculline), or a combination of glycine and GABA antagonists (strychnine+bicuculline) and reevaluated for the mechanical nociceptive threshold during MCS. RESULTS MCS reversed the hyperalgesia induced by peripheral neuropathy in the rats with chronic sciatic nerve constriction and induced a significant increase in the glycine and GABA levels in the PAG in comparison with the naive and sham-treated rats. The glutamate levels remained stable under all conditions. The antagonism of glycine, GABA, and the combination of glycine and GABA reversed the MCS-induced analgesia. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the neurotransmitters glycine and GABA released in the PAG may be involved in the analgesia induced by cortical stimulation in animals with neuropathic pain. Further investigation of the mechanisms involved in MCS-induced analgesia may contribute to clinical improvements for the treatment of persistent neuropathic pain syndromes

Neurochemical effects of motor cortex stimulation in the periaqueductal gray during neuropathic pain

OBJECTIVE Motor cortex stimulation (MCS) is a neurosurgical technique used to treat patients with refractory neuropathic pain syndromes. MCS activates the periaqueductal gray (PAG) matter, which is one of the major centers of the descending pain inhibitory system. However, the neurochemical mechanisms in the PAG that underlie the analgesic effect of MCS have not yet been described. The main goal of this study was to investigate the neurochemical mechanisms involved in the analgesic effect induced by MCS in neuropathic pain. Specifically, we investigated the release of g-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and glutamate in the PAG and performed pharmacological antagonism experiments to validate of our findings. METHODS Male Wistar rats with surgically induced chronic constriction of the sciatic nerve, along with sham-operated rats and naive rats, were implanted with both unilateral transdural electrodes in the motor cortex and a microdialysis guide cannula in the PAG and subjected to MCS. The MCS was delivered in single 15-minute sessions. Neurotransmitter release was evaluated in the PAG before, during, and after MCS. Quantification of the neurotransmitters GABA, glycine, and glutamate was performed using a high-performance liquid chromatography system. The mechanical nociceptive threshold was evaluated initially, on the 14th day following the surgery, and during the MCS. In another group of neuropathic rats, once the analgesic effect after MCS was confirmed by the mechanical nociceptive test, rats were microinjected with saline or a glycine antagonist (strychnine), a GABA antagonist (bicuculline), or a combination of glycine and GABA antagonists (strychnine+bicuculline) and reevaluated for the mechanical nociceptive threshold during MCS. RESULTS MCS reversed the hyperalgesia induced by peripheral neuropathy in the rats with chronic sciatic nerve constriction and induced a significant increase in the glycine and GABA levels in the PAG in comparison with the naive and sham-treated rats. The glutamate levels remained stable under all conditions. The antagonism of glycine, GABA, and the combination of glycine and GABA reversed the MCS-induced analgesia. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the neurotransmitters glycine and GABA released in the PAG may be involved in the analgesia induced by cortical stimulation in animals with neuropathic pain. Further investigation of the mechanisms involved in MCS-induced analgesia may contribute to clinical improvements for the treatment of persistent neuropathic pain syndromes

Access of the black population to health services: integrative review / Acceso de la población negra a servicios de salud: una revisión integrativa / Acesso da população negra a serviços de saúde: revisão integrativa

ABSTRACT Objectives: demonstrate and discuss how the black population's access to health services occurs Methods: integrative literature review with the following question: How does the black population's access to health services occur? The search was carried out in the Scholar, LILACS and SciELO databases and used the descriptor "access to health services" and the term "population," resulting in a sample with twelve articles. Results: studies show that the difficulty of access is a fundamental factor for the quality of life of people, directly compromising preventive services, especially for women's health and, in addition, it has significant impact on the illness process of the black population within its particularities. Final Considerations: several limiting factors compromise the black population's access to health services, including institutional and structural factors

RESUMEN Objetivos: exponer y discutir cómo ocurre el acceso de la población negra a los servicios de salud. Métodos: revisión integrativa de la literatura a partir de la siguiente pregunta: ¿Cómo ocurre el acceso de la población negra a los servicios de salud? Se realizó una búsqueda en las bases de datos Scholar, LILACS y SciELO, utilizando el descriptor "acceso a los servicios de salud" y el término "población", lo que resultó en una muestra con 12 artículos. Resultados: los estudios demuestran que la dificultad de acceso es un factor fundamental para la calidad de vida de las personas, lo que afecta directamente los servicios preventivos, principalmente en la salud de la mujer e impacta más aún en el proceso de padecimiento de la población negra dentro de sus particularidades. Consideraciones Finales: diversos factores limitantes afectan el acceso de la población negra a los servicios de salud, desde institucionales hasta estructurales.

RESUMO Objetivos: evidenciar e discutir como ocorre o acesso da população negra aos serviços de saúde. Métodos: revisão integrativa da literatura com a seguinte pergunta: Como ocorre o acesso da população negra aos serviços de saúde? A busca foi realizada nas bases de dados Scholar, LILACS e SciELO e utilizou o descritor "acesso aos serviços de saúde" e o termo "população", resultando em uma amostra de doze artigos. Resultados: estudos demonstram que a dificuldade de acesso é um fator fundamental para a qualidade de vida das pessoas, comprometendo diretamente serviços preventivos, principalmente para a saúde da mulher e, ainda, é impactante para o processo de adoecimento da população negra dentro de suas particularidades. Considerações Finais: diversos fatores limitantes comprometem o acesso da população negra aos serviços de saúde, desde institucionais a estruturais.

Neurochemical effects of motor cortex stimulation in the periaqueductal gray during neuropathic pain.

OBJECTIVE: Motor cortex stimulation (MCS) is a neurosurgical technique used to treat patients with refractory neuropathic pain syndromes. MCS activates the periaqueductal gray (PAG) matter, which is one of the major centers of the descending pain inhibitory system. However, the neurochemical mechanisms in the PAG that underlie the analgesic effect of MCS have not yet been described. The main goal of this study was to investigate the neurochemical mechanisms involved in the analgesic effect induced by MCS in neuropathic pain. Specifically, we investigated the release of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and glutamate in the PAG and performed pharmacological antagonism experiments to validate of our findings. METHODS: Male Wistar rats with surgically induced chronic constriction of the sciatic nerve, along with sham-operated rats and naive rats, were implanted with both unilateral transdural electrodes in the motor cortex and a microdialysis guide cannula in the PAG and subjected to MCS. The MCS was delivered in single 15-minute sessions. Neurotransmitter release was evaluated in the PAG before, during, and after MCS. Quantification of the neurotransmitters GABA, glycine, and glutamate was performed using a high-performance liquid chromatography system. The mechanical nociceptive threshold was evaluated initially, on the 14th day following the surgery, and during the MCS. In another group of neuropathic rats, once the analgesic effect after MCS was confirmed by the mechanical nociceptive test, rats were microinjected with saline or a glycine antagonist (strychnine), a GABA antagonist (bicuculline), or a combination of glycine and GABA antagonists (strychnine+bicuculline) and reevaluated for the mechanical nociceptive threshold during MCS. RESULTS: MCS reversed the hyperalgesia induced by peripheral neuropathy in the rats with chronic sciatic nerve constriction and induced a significant increase in the glycine and GABA levels in the PAG in comparison with the naive and sham-treated rats. The glutamate levels remained stable under all conditions. The antagonism of glycine, GABA, and the combination of glycine and GABA reversed the MCS-induced analgesia. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the neurotransmitters glycine and GABA released in the PAG may be involved in the analgesia induced by cortical stimulation in animals with neuropathic pain. Further investigation of the mechanisms involved in MCS-induced analgesia may contribute to clinical improvements for the treatment of persistent neuropathic pain syndromes.

Decompression of the tympanic and labyrinthine segments of the facial nerve by middle cranial fossa approach: an anatomic study.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral facial palsy is characterized by the permanent or temporary interruption of facial muscle function. The middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach has been used to decompress the facial nerve (FN) when hearing needs to be preserved. In this work, we describe a technique for decompressing the FN through the MCF approach, which allows the direct exposure of the labyrinthine and entire tympanic segment of the FN, with preservation of inner ear function. METHODS: Twenty cadavers heads were used in this study. The reference landmarks used were the middle meningeal artery, greater superficial petrosal nerve, arcuate eminence, inferior petrosal sinus and meatal plane following the petrous apex from its most anterior and medial portion. RESULTS: The tympanic segment of the FN presented, on average, a total length of 11 ± 0.67 mm to the right and 11.5 ± 0.60 mm to the left. The longitudinal lengths of the bone window in the tegmen tympani were 16.8 ± 1.67 mm to the right and 16.8 ± 1.20 mm to the left. The cross-sectional lengths of the bone window in the tegmen tympani were 5.5 ± 1.20 mm and 5.0 ± 1.75 mm to the right and left sides, respectively. The average value of the elliptical area formed by the longitudinal and transversal lengths of the bone window made in the tegmen tympani was 72.5 ± 22.5 mm(2) to the right and 65.9 ± 30.3 mm(2) to the left. CONCLUSION: The proposed technique can be used for the surgical decompression of the tympanic, labyrinthine and meatal segments of the FN through the MCF in addition to reducing the surgical time and the risk to patients.

Spinal cord stimulation for Parkinson's disease: a systematic review.

Axial symptoms are a late-developing phenomenon in the course of Parkinson's disease (PD) and represent a therapeutic challenge given their poor response to levodopa therapy and deep brain stimulation. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) may be a new therapeutic approach for the alleviation of levodopa-resistant motor symptoms of PD. Our purpose was to systematically review the effectiveness of SCS for the treatment of motor symptoms of PD and to evaluate the technical and pathophysiological mechanisms that may influence the outcome efficacy of SCS. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases for the period from January 1966 through April 2014. The methodology utilized in this work follows a review process derived from evidence-based systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials described in the PRISMA statement. Reports examining SCS for the treatment of PD are limited. Eight studies with a total of 24 patients were included in this review. The overall motor score of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale in the on/off-stimulation condition remained unchanged in 6 patients and improved in 18 patients after SCS. SCS appears to yield positive results for PD symptoms, especially for impairments in gait function and postural stability. However, evidence is limited and long-term prospective studies will be required to identify the optimal candidates for SCS and the best parameters of stimulation and to fully characterize the effects of stimulation on motor and nonmotor symptoms of PD.

The Role of the IntraoperativeAuxiliaryMethods in the Resection of Motor Area Lesions / O papel dos métodos auxiliares intraoperatórios na ressecção de lesões em área motora

Objective In recent years, technologies have advanced considerably in improving surgical outcome following treatment of lesions in eloquent brain areas. The aimof this study is to explore which method is best in the resection of motor area lesions. Methods Prospective, non-randomized study Evaluate on 74 patients who underwent surgery to remove lesions around the motor area. Results Total lesion removal was achieved in 68 patients (93.1%). Fifty-four patients (73.9%) presented normal motor function in the preoperative period; of these, 20 (37.3%) developed transitory deficits. Nevertheless, 85% of these patients later experienced a complete recovery. Nineteen patients presented with motor deficits preoperatively; of these, five presented deteriorating motor abilities. Intraoperative stimulation methods were used in 65% of the patients, primarily in cases of glioma. Conclusions The morbidity in patients submitted to resections of motor area lesions is acceptable and justify the surgical indication with the purpose of maximal resection. Intraoperative stimulation is an important tool that guides glioma resection in many cases.

Objetivo Nos últimos anos, consideráveis avanços tecnológicos têm surgido no sentido de melhorar os resultados cirúrgicos no tratamento de lesões em áreas eloquentes do cérebro. O objetivo deste estudo é investigar qual o melhor método para ressecção de lesões em área motora. Método Estudo prospectivo não aleatório que avaliou os resultados pós-operatórios em 74 pacientes submetidos à ressecção de lesões em área motora ou adjacente. Resultados A ressecção cirúrgica foi considerada total em 68 (93,1%) pacientes. 54 pacientes (73,9%) apresentavam força muscular normal no pré-operatório. Destes, 20 (37,3%) apresentaram déficit no pós-operatório imediato, sendo que 17 (85%) recuperaram completamente o déficit. 19 pacientes apresentavam déficit no préoperatório, sendo que 05 apresentaram piora do déficit no pós-operatório imediato. A estimulação intraoperatória foi utilizada em 65% dos casos, principalmente nos gliomas. Conclusão Amorbidade empacientes operados de lesões emáreamotora é bastante aceitável e justifica a indicação cirúrgica com objetivo de ressecção máxima. A estimulação intraoperatória é uma ferramenta importante para guiar a resseção dos gliomas em muitos casos.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for the treatment of Glomus Jugulare Tumors.

BACKGROUND: The glomus jugulare tumor is a slowly growing benign neoplasm originating from neural crest. There is a high morbidity associated with surgical resection of glomus jugulare. Radiosurgery play a relevant role as a therapeutic option in these tumors and its use has grown in popularity. The authors describe a retrospective series of 15 patients and reviewed the literature about the glomus jugulare tumors. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the data of 15 patients treated with stereotactic linear accelerator stereotactic radiosurgery (LINAC) radiosurgery between 2006 and 2011. RESULTS: The average tumor volume was 18.5 cm(3). The radiation dose to the tumor margin ranged between 12 and 20 Gy. The neurological status improved in three patients and remained unchanged in 12 patients. One patient developed a transient 7(th) nerve palsy that improved after clinical treatment. All tumors remained stable in size on follow-up with resonance magnetic images. CONCLUSIONS: The radiosurgery is a safe and effective therapy for patients with glomus jugulare tumor. Despite the short follow-up period and the limited number of patients analyzed, we can infer that radiosurgery produce a tumor growth control with low morbidity, and may be used as a good option to surgical resection in selected cases.

Management of trigeminal neuralgia in sclerosteosis.

BACKGROUND: Sclerosteosis is a rare bone disorder characterized by a progressive craniotubular hyperostosis. The diagnosis of sclerosteosis is based on characteristic clinical and radiographic features and a family history consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance. The skull overgrowth may lead to lethal elevation of intracranial pressure, distortion of the face, and entrapment of cranial nerves, resulting in recurrent facial palsy or secondary trigeminal neuralgia. CASES DESCRIPTION: The authors reported cases of two siblings who were diagnosed with familial sclerosteosis and presented with secondary trigeminal neuralgia. The patients were 28 and 40-year-old and presented with pain in the right V2-V3 and V3 distributions, respectively. The facial pain was resistant to medications and was treated with percutaneous techniques. The foramen ovale puncture was complicated initially and the difficulty increased over the years due to stenosis of the foramen. CONCLUSION: The treatment of the trigeminal neuralgia secondary to hyperostosis and resistant to medications presents a dilemma. The narrowing of the foramen oval and difficulty in the identifying and approaching of the foramen makes the percutaneous technique a challenge for the neurosurgeon in patients harboring sclerosteosis. Microvascular decompression should not be considered since the primary cause of the trigeminal neuralgia is the nerve entrapment by the narrowing of neurovascular foramina and not the neurovascular conflict related to essential trigeminal neuralgia. Stereotactic radiosurgery may be a good treatment option, but there is a lack of published data supporting the use of this method in cranial hyperostosis.

Hand hygiene compliance in the critical care setting: a comparative study of 2 different alcohol handrub formulations.

BACKGROUND: Hand hygiene (HH) compliance can be affected by the accessibility of products (alcohol-based products or chlorhexidine) and by the formulations of these products. There are few published studies comparing different alcohol-based hand disinfection formulations. METHODS: This study was conducted in a 41-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit at a private tertiary care hospital. Over a 16-week period, we assessed HH compliance by direct observation of practice using iPods and measurement of the amount of product used [alcohol and chlorhexidine] in two 4-room pods in which an alcohol gel product was used compared with two other 4-room pods in which an alcohol-based foam formulation was used. RESULTS: A total of 3,895 opportunities for HH were observed, and the overall rate of HH compliance was 36.9%. No statistically significant differences were found in overall HH compliance or alcohol-based HH compliance between the alcohol foam unit and the alcohol gel unit. However, there was a statistically significant difference in chlorhexidine HH compliance between the alcohol foam unit and the alcohol gel unit (7.0% [130 of 1,853] vs 3.8% [77 of 2,042]; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol handrub use was greater than chlorhexidine use, but HH compliance was low in both units independent of the alcohol formulation available. The similarity of use of both alcohol formulations suggests that health care workers tend to use whatever product is readily available.

Symptomatic spinal cord metastasis of glioblastoma multiforme / Metástase espinhal sintomática de glioblastoma multiforme

Metástases espinhais sintomáticas de glioblastoma multiforme são raramente descritas na literatura. Relatamos o caso de um paciente de 27 anos que apresentou quadro de dor lombar e em membros inferiores bilateralmente nove meses após diagnóstico de GBM intracraniano. Exame de ressonância magnética da coluna lombar mostrou tumor em L1-L2 que foi removido com sucesso, e análise anatomopatológico foi consistente com metástase de GBM. Metástase espinhal deve ser investigada e incluída no diagnóstico diferencial de paciente com história prévia de GBM intracraniano e queixa de sintomas espinhais.

Symptomatic spinal cord metastasis from glioblastomamultiforme (GBM) has rarely been reported in the literature.We report the case of a 27-year-old man that presented withback and bilateral leg pain nine months after the primarydiagnosis of intracranial GBM. A magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) of the lumbar spine showed a L1-L2 tumor that wasremoved successfully and histopathological examination wasconsistent with GBM metastasis. Spinal metastasis shouldbe investigated and included in the differential diagnosis if apatient with a previous history of intracranial GBM presentswith spinal symptoms.

Metástase espinhal sintomática de glioblastoma multiforme / Syntomatic spinal cord metastasis of glioblastoma

Metastasis espinhais sintomáticas de glioblastoma multiformesão raramente descritas na literatura. Relatamos o casode um paciente de 27 anos que apresentou quadro de dor lombare em membros inferiores bilateralmente nove meses apósdiagnóstico de GBM intracraniano. Exame de ressonânciamagnética da coluna lombar mostrou tumor em L1-L2 quefoi removido com sucesso, e análise anatomopatológico foiconsistente com metástase de GBM. Metástase espinhal deveser investigada e incluída no diagnóstico diferencial de pacientecom história prévia de GBM.

Cistos sinoviais espinhais causando déficit neurológico: relato dois casos distintos / Spinal synovial cists causing neurological deficit: report of two distinct cases

Cistos sinoviais da coluna são normalmente assintomáticos e raramente determinam compressão radicular ou medular. Os autores relatam dois casos de cistos sinoviais da coluna vertebral. Um paciente possuía um cisto cervical causando mielopatia, e um segundo paciente apresentava um cisto lombar, com gradual quadro de radiculopatia. Em ambos os casos, os pacientes tiveram melhora dos sintomas e boa evolução clínica após remoção cirúrgica dos cistos. Os cistos sinoviais devem ser incluídos no diagnóstico diferencial de lesões extradurais raquidianas. A literatura é revista e a etiologia, apresentação clínica, diagnóstico e tratamento são discutidos.

Association of aesthetic and orthodontic treatment in Parry-Romberg syndrome.

Parry-Romberg syndrome (PRS) is an uncommon degenerative condition characterized by a slow, progressive, and, generally, unilateral atrophy of facial tissues, including muscles, bones and skin. Ophthalmological and neurological manifestations have frequently been observed and few oral changes have been reported. This article reports a case of PRS in a 22-year-old woman, exhibiting facial asymmetry, hypoplasia of the right side of the face, areas of skin hyperpigmentation, and oral alterations, involving the mandible and teeth. These clinical and radiological findings led to the diagnosis of PRS. In an attempt to improve the patient's facial aesthetic and the dental functions, oral pentoxifylline, orthodontic rehabilitation, and subcutaneous injections of polymethylmethacrylate microspheres were used as part of the treatment for the facial atrophy. Together, these approaches accounted for a minimal invasive treatment with long term satisfactory results.

Processos infecciosos e torcicolo, há algo com que se preocupar? / Infectious process and torticollis, is there something to worry about?

A subluxação rotatória atlantoaxial em associação com processos infecciosos da cabeça e do pescoço (Síndrome de Grisel)é uma doença rara e pobremente relatada e não reportada. A patogênese da síndrome é incerta e diversas teorias foram propostas para explicá-la. Este trabalho relata uma criança de 7anos de idade com s Síndrome de Grisel e a literatura sobre o tema é brevemente revisada.

Meningiomas induzidos por radiação: a importância seguimento contínuo após irradiação craniana / Radiation-induced meningiomas: the importance of continued follow up after cranial irradiation

O surgimento de tumores é uma complicação tardia após irradiação craniana, e destes a maior parte corresponde a meningiomas intracranianos. O período de latência entre a exposição à radiação e o diagnóstico de um meningioma induzido por radiação varia com o período inicial de exposição à radiação e a dose total recebida. Os autores relatam dois casos de meningiomas resultantes de altas doses de radiação recebidas para tratamento de um PNET. Ambos os pacientes foram submetidos à ressecção cirúrgica do tumor, e a análise imunohistoquímica revelou se tratar de meningioma típico.Estes casos ilustram a importância do seguimento contínuo após irradiação craniana na população pediátrica.

Ependimoma simulando cavernoma do terceiro ventrículo: relato de caso / Ependymoma mimicking cavernous malformation of the third ventricle: case report

Introdução: Erro diagnóstico de lesões do terceiro ventrículonão são raras. Descrição do caso: Os autores relatamum paciente que se apresentou com uma lesão no terceiroventrículo cuja aparência inicial em exames de neuroimagemlevou ao diagnóstico de malformação cavernosa. Um acessotranscaloso transcoroídeo foi realizado e ressecção completada lesão foi obtida. Análise histopatológica e imunohistoquímicarevelaram um raro diagnóstico de ependimoma doterceiro ventrículo. Conclusão: Ependimomas não devem seromitidos dos diagnósticos diferenciais de lesões do terceiroventrículo, apesar de tal localização não ser usual para estaslesões e serem raramente descritas.

Relationship between the coronal suture and the central lobe: how important is it and how can we use it in surgical planning?

The surgical treatment of the lesions located in the central lobe is a very difficult task for the neurosurgeon. The overall aim of this study is to verify the correlation of the coronal suture and the structures of the central lobe in 32 cadaver hemisphere brains and the importance of this information in surgical planning. The measurement of the nasion to the coronal suture ranged from 11.5 to 13.5 cm. The distance between the coronal suture in the midline to the central, precentral and paracentral sulcus ranged from 5.0 to 6.6, 2.5 to 4.5 and 1.3 to 4.0 cm respectively. Particularly in the normal cortex these measurements can be used to guide the surgical access. However, the identification of the central sulcus is not easy when the anatomical pattern is distorted or displaced by a lesion or edema. In cases such as these the use of other tools becomes crucial for good surgical planning and cortical mapping or awake craniotomy for a safer resection of the lesion as well.

Relationship between the coronal suture and the central lobe: how important is it and how can we use it in surgical planning? / Relação entre a sutura coronária e o lobo central: qual a sua importância e como podemos usá-la no planejamento cirurgico?

The surgical treatment of the lesions located in the central lobe is a very difficult task for the neurosurgeon. The overall aim of this study is to verify the correlation of the coronal suture and the structures of the central lobe in 32 cadaver hemisphere brains and the importance of this information in surgical planning. The measurement of the nasion to the coronal suture ranged from 11.5 to 13.5 cm. The distance between the coronal suture in the midline to the central, precentral and paracentral sulcus ranged from 5.0 to 6.6, 2.5 to 4.5 and 1.3 to 4.0 cm respectively. Particularly in the normal cortex these measurements can be used to guide the surgical access. However, the identification of the central sulcus is not easy when the anatomical pattern is distorted or displaced by a lesion or edema. In cases such as these the use of other tools becomes crucial for good surgical planning and cortical mapping or awake craniotomy for a safer resection of the lesion as well.

O tratamento cirúrgico de lesões localizadas no lobo central é difícil para o neurocirurgião. O objetivo deste estudo é verificar a relação da sutura coronária com as estruturas do lobo central utilizando-se de dissecção realizada em 32 hemisférios cerebrais de 16 cadáveres, assim como, a importância desta informação no planejamento cirúrgico. A medida da distância entre o nasion e a sutura coronária variou entre 11,5 e 13,5 cm. A distância da sutura coronária na linha média para os sulcos central, pré-central e paracentral variou de 5,0 a 6,6 cm, 2,5 a 4,5 cm e 1,3 a 4,0 cm respectivamente. O conhecimento destas medidas pode ser usado no planejamento cirúrgico principalmente num córtex normal. Porém, a identificação do sulco central é difícil quando as estruturas anatômicas estão deslocadas pela lesão ou quando há edema. Nestes casos a utilização de outros meios diagnósticos para o planejamento cirúrgico torna-se necessária, como também a estimulação cortical ou a craniotomia com o paciente acordado pode proporcionar uma ressecção mais segura da lesão.