[Transverse myelopathy in an adult with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: case report]. / Mielopatia transversa em adulto portador de leucemia aguda linfoblástica: relato de caso.

We report a case of transverse myelopathy in a 31 year old white man with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, subtype L3 (ALL-L3). This is a severe form of leukemia that affects children more often than adults. Less than 1% of leukemic patients develop neurologic complication in the spinal cord. The symptomatology in the present case started with back pain, flaccid paraplegia, and loss of sensibility and vegetative functions below the lesion. The etiologic diagnostic was obtained through peripheral blood study, bone marrow cytology, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and magnetic resonance image of the dorsal cord. The antileukemic treatment with specific drugs had no influence on the fatal outcome of the disease.

[Transitory cerebellar mutism: report of 2 cases]. / Mutismo cerebelar transitório. Relato de dois casos.

We present two cases of mutism observed after resection of tumors of the cerebellum, in two children of the feminine sex, being in the first case of medulloblastoma and in the second of juvenile astrocytoma. In both patients there was pre-operative lesion of low cranial nerves. The pathophysiology of the mutism involves anatomical, vascular and emotional factors, being its essential characteristics discussed with base in revision of the literature.

[Isolated fourth ventricle: report of 2 cases]. / Quarto ventrículo isolado. Relato de dois casos.

Two cases of isolated fourth ventricle are reported, the first due to cerebellar haemorrhage, and the second due to congenital hydrocephalus with multiple shunt revisions and Dandy-Walker cyst. In our opinion, there are two basic treatment for isolated forth ventricle. The direct approach to the fourth ventricle is indicated when there is presence of an intraventricular cyst. The fourth ventricular shunting, independent of the supratentorial shunt, is the best treatments for patients with an isolated fourth ventricle without the presence of a cyst.

[Intracranial arachnoid cyst. Report of 9 operated cases]. / Cisto aracnóideo intracraniano. Relato de nove casos operados.

Analysis of nine patients with intracranial arachnoid cysts surgically treated from 1974 to 1995. The treatment consisted of cystoperitoneal shunt in seven patients and craniotomy with excision of cyst membrane in the other two cases. After surgery, bacterial meningitis and failure shunt device were observed in three cases. Both the infectious process and the shunt device were respectively treated and corrected at once. It has been observed total clinical improvement in all nine cases. A review of the literature has been made and some pathophysiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects are discussed.

[Surgical findings in 260 cases of basilar impression and/or Arnold-Chiari malformation]. / Achados cirúrgicos em 260 casos de impressão basilar e/ou malformação de Arnold-Chiari.

The surgical findings observed in a series of 260 patients with craniovertebral anomaly are presented. There were 29 (11.1%) patients only with basilar impression, 18 (6.9%) cases of pure Arnold-Chiari malformation and 213 (81.9%) cases of basilar impression associated with Chiari malformation. The surgical findings on bone, dura-mater, nervous tissue and blood vessels of this region are reported.

[Autonomic nervous system disorders in 230 cases of basilar impression and Arnold-Chiari deformity]. / Neurovegetative Störungen bei 230 Fällen basilärer Impression und Arnold-Chiarischer Missbildung.

Within the period of 1971 to 1989 we operated on 230 cases of craniocervical malformations characterised by 189 cases of basilar impression associated with Arnold-chiari malformation, 28 cases of isolated basilar impression and 13 cases of Arnold-Chiari malformation. Autonomic disturbance was observed in 136 (59.1%) cases: sexual disorders like reduced potency and impotency were observed in 86 (60.9%) out of 141 male patients, urinary symptoms in 39 (17%) patients; and other autonomic features like dyspnea, anhidrosis, hyperhidrosis, Claude Bernard-Horner syndrome and constipation in 41 (17.8%) patients.

[Ataxia-telangiectasia. Report of 4 cases]. / Ataxia-telangiectasia. Registro de 4 casos.

The clinical, immunologic and radiologic aspects of 4 cases of ataxia telangiectasia are reported. Comparing with a large revision of literature, the authors justify the publication of the report by the scarse occurrence of the disease and by its incidency in 3 brothers of one same family.