Anatomic correlates of painful tonic spasms in multiple sclerosis.

Painful tonic spasms (PTS) are now regarded as a typical symptom of multiple sclerosis but pathologic or radiologic findings rarely have been described. We report clinical and magnetic resonance imaging records of five original cases. In all of them, lesions likely responsible for unilateral PTS involved the motor pathway at the level of the posterior limb of the internal capsule or the cerebral peduncle on the opposite side. Closeness of motor fibers seems to be the most important underlying anatomic factor because it enables involvement of a higher proportion of axons by a single demyelinating lesion and radial spread of ephaptic activation. In turn, preservation of the underlying pyramidal-spinal tract could make it easier for the pathologic discharge to reach the peripheral effectors and generate PTS.

Fahr's disease in postthyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism. A case report.

The onset of Fahr's disease in a patient with postoperative hypoparathyroidism is described. The genesis of this rare pathological occurrence could be ascribed, in our opinion, to the combined action of "local" (precedent encephalic circulation disorders) and "general" factors (Ca and P metabolism disorders following postoperative hypoparathyroidism).

[Aspects and behavior of x-ray computed tomographic studies in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis]. / Aspetti e comportamento dell'indagine tomodensitometrica nella panencefalite sclerosante subacuta.

The authors reports cerebral Computerized Axial Tomography findings examined, in association with other diagnostic tests, in 5 cases of Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis in the acute phase and repeated in 2 of these patients later, during the state and terminal phases of the disease. Hypodensity of the white matter was the main sign of initial cerebral parenchymal involvement and an atrophic aspect was most indicative of the terminal phase. Moreover, it has been shown that associated with clinical symptomatology, immunologic data and EEG signs, cerebral Computerized Axial Tomography may offer the possibility for evaluating the nature and the evolutive stage of the disease and facilitate differential diagnosis from other degenerative encephalopathies.

Computerized cranial tomography in presymptomatic and hepatic form of Wilson's disease.

Computerized cranial tomography was performed in 14 patients affected with hepatolenticular degeneration (4 presymptomatic and 10 with a hepatic form). 1 case showed brain stem atrophy with atypically located hypodense areas and another subject showed frontal atrophy with prevalence to the right side. The abnormalities found in another 7 cases were slight. In 5 patients, CT was normal.