[Thoracic spine meningioma mimicking intramedullary tumor]. / Sródrdzeniowy oponiak odcinka piersiowego kanalu kregowego.

This report presents a case of a meningioma of the thoracic spine with a wide range of symptoms in a 23-year-old woman. The factor, which was making difficult the proper diagnosis, was atypical for a meningioma MRI--scan, mimicking intramedullary tumour. The tumour was removed radically with a favourable clinical outcome. Clinical history, surgical treatment and neuropathologic findings are described. A review of pertinent literature is included.

[Intradural lumbar disk herniation (ILDH). Case report and literature review]. / Wewnatrzoponowe wypadniecie jadra miazdystego. Opis przypadku i przeglad literatury.

In this report, the author presents a rare case of a 59 year-old man with ILDH. It was the only case of ILDH among 960 patients surgically treated, during the period 1989-1996. Clinically the patient demonstrated an acute cauda equina syndrome. The diagnosis was established by radiculograms, which showed a total block at the L3-L4 level. There was a 3 days time interval between the diagnosed syndrome itself and the operation. At surgery the L3-L4 level was intact, whereas dense adhesions were found between the L4-L5 disc and the dura. Root retraction to expose the nucleus pulposus mass was impossible. A laminectomy of the L4 was undertaken. An incision was made in the dura and arachnoid, revealing an extruded discal mass, lying between the roots of the cauda equina. It was carefully removed. The state of the patient at follow-up 1 year after surgery was unsatisfactory. The patient has moderate flaccid paraparesis, bladder dysfunction improved. The prognosis appeared to be linked to the preoperative duration of symptoms.

[Metastases to the spinal cord and cauda equina]. / Przerzuty do rdzenia kregowego i ogona konskiego.

The authors present 3 rare cases of metastases to the spinal cord and cauda equina. In 2 cases the tumours were of epithelial, and in the third neuroepithelial origin. In one case the tumour was localized in the thoracic segment of spinal cord, and in the second case in the conus and cauda equina, whereas in the third at the cauda equina. The diagnosis was established by CT and myelography. Total removal of the tumour in the cauda equina was carried out. The most significant neurologic symptoms in the two cases were pain and paresis in one case. In our series the rate of metastases to intramedullary and cauda equina constitute 11.1% of all metastases to vertebral column and vertebral canal, and 8% of all epithelial metastases to central nervous system. Death were reported in all the patients within the 1st-5th month of diagnosis of tumour in the spinal cord.

[Delayed post-traumatic intracerebral pneumatocele: a case report and literature review]. / Odroczona odma sródmózgowa w przebiegu urazu czolowo-podstawnego. Opis przypadku i przeglad literatury.

In this report, the author presents an unusual case of a 19-year-old man with delayed intracerebral pneumatocele following a fronto-basal trauma. Clinically the patient demonstrated the frontal syndrome. The diagnosis was established by CT and plain skull X-ray. There was a 7-week interval between the trauma itself and the diagnosis of intracerebral pneumatocele. The patient underwent surgical intervention and the pneumatocele resolved after operation. During the operation it was found that the intracerebral pneumatocele in the right frontal lobe communicated with the ipsilateral ethmoidal sinus. The postoperative course was uneventful. The coincidence of a fronto-basal trauma and contusion of brain may lead to this kind of complications. The author believes that, surgical intervention in this circumstances is recommended.

[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.