Are brain MRI abnormalities associated with the semiology of functional seizures?

PURPOSE: To investigate whether radiologically apparent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities are associated with the functional seizure (FS) semiology. METHODS: All patients with a diagnosis of FS at the epilepsy centers at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Aichi Medical University Hospital, Japan; University of Michigan, USA; University of California, Los Angeles, USA; Emory University School of Medicine, USA; and Hospital el Cruce, Argentina, were studied. RESULTS: One hundred patients were included; 77 (77%) had motor functional seizures. Lobar location of brain abnormality did not have an association with the semiology (p = .83). There was no significant difference between ictal behaviors in patients with frontal or parietal lesions compared to those with temporal or occipital lesions. CONCLUSION: There were no associations between functional seizure ictal behaviors and locations of the radiologically apparent brain MRI abnormalities. Further studies are needed to evaluate the underpinnings of varying behaviors in FS.

An international study of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on characteristics of functional seizures.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the clinical characteristics of patients with functional seizure (FS) (at the time of diagnosis) in a large multicenter international study. METHODS: This was a retrospective study. We investigated all patients with FS, who were admitted at the epilepsy monitoring units at six centers in the world: 1. Shiraz, Iran; 2. Salzburg, Austria; 3. Nancy, France; 4. Atlanta, USA; 5. Kuwait City, Kuwait; and 6. Cairo, Egypt. Patients were studied during two time periods: admitted in 2018-2019 (pre-COVID era) and 2020-2021 (COVID era). RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty-six patients were studied. Two hundred and twenty-four (68.7%) patients were diagnosed before and 102 (31.3%) persons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Only, a history of family dysfunction was significantly associated with the COVID-19 pandemic era (Odds Ratio: 1.925, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.099-3.371; p = 0.022). A low level of education might also be associated with FS during the COVID-19 pandemic, at least in some cultures (e.g., the Middle-East). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has not affected the clinical characteristics of patients with FS (at the time of diagnosis). However, a history of family dysfunction was significantly more frequently associated with FS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiagency integration of law enforcement responses, social services, and social awareness is recommended to address family dysfunction and domestic violence and support the victims during this pandemic.

Post-infectious rhombencephalitis after coronavirus-19 infection: A case report and literature review.

A wide number of neurological manifestations have been described in association with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). We describe an unusual case of a young man who developed severe rhombencephalitis after COVID-19. He demonstrated clinical and radiological improvement with high dose corticosteroids, plasma exchange and intravenous immune globulin. Our findings, along with previously reported cases that we review here, support an autoimmune para- or post-infectious mechanism and highlight a possible role for immunotherapy in patients with rhombencephalitis after COVID-19.

Operative and peri-operative considerations in the management of brain metastasis.

The number of patients who develop metastatic brain lesions is increasing as the diagnosis and treatment of systemic cancers continues to improve, resulting in longer patient survival. The role of surgery in the management of brain metastasis (BM), particularly multiple and recurrent metastases, remains controversial and continues to evolve. However, with appropriate patient selection, outcomes after surgery are typically favorable. In addition, surgery is the only means to obtain a tissue diagnosis and is the only effective treatment modality to quickly relieve neurological complications or life-threatening symptoms related to significant mass effect, CSF obstruction, and peritumoral edema. As such, a thorough understanding of the role of surgery in patients with metastatic brain lesions, as well as the factors associated with surgical outcomes, is essential for the effective management of this unique and growing patient population.

Atypical Intracranial Meningioma with Metastasis to C7 Vertebral Body: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Extracranial metastasis, mainly a feature of World Health Organization (WHO) grade III meningiomas, is only rarely reported in grade II meningiomas. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case of a 48-year-old man who was initially diagnosed in 2010 with an occipital convexity meningioma based on computed tomography scan/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and treated with surgical therapy and gamma knife. The first operation achieved a macroscopically complete resection. The tumor was histologically classified as an atypical meningioma. The patient had a recurrence in 2014 on the left tentorial leaflet as noted on postcontrast MRI. The patient was asymptomatic, without focal neurologic deficits. In 2016, the patient reported new-onset pain in the neck and left upper extremity. MRI indicated complete replacement of the C7 vertebral marrow, with a soft tissue component extending posteriorly into the epidural space that appeared to be flattening the thecal sac but without evidence of abnormal cord signal. Histopathology of resection confirmed atypical meningioma. CONCLUSIONS: This case represents a rare instance of intraosseous spine as the first site of metastasis of WHO grade II atypical meningioma and is the first reported case of extracranial metastasis of a meningioma to the C7 vertebral body.