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Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Due To Acoustic Neurinoma - Case-report and Review of the Literature
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Management of head-injured patients in the emergency department: a practical protocol.
No full textThe management of head-injured patients admitted to emergency departments is not standardized.
METHODS
The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 10,000 head-injured patients admitted to the Emergency Department of our hospital in a 21-month period and, on the basis of a statistical correlation between each clinical parameter (symptoms and signs upon arrival at the hospital or risk factors) and the presence of intracranial lesions, they propose a practical protocol in an attempt to avoid the overuse of radiologic examinations and yet identify patients with possible life-threatening complications.
RESULTS
On the basis of this correlation the patients have been divided into four groups, In the first group (called group alpha) are patients with: no history of loss of consciousness, no vomiting or amnesia, a normal neurologic examination, and minimal if any subgaleal swelling. They can be released into the care of relatives who are given a special instruction sheet (X rays unnecessary). No patient in group alpha had complications of any kind. The second group (group beta) is made up of patients with at least one of the following features: transient loss of consciousness, posttraumatic amnesia, a single episode of vomiting or significant subgaleal swelling. They undergo a computed tomography (CT) scan and if this is normal, only a short period of observation is needed. If CT scan is not available, the skull is X rayed and, if this X ray is negative, the patient is sent home with the warning sheet after an observation period. If a fracture is found, CT scan should be performed promptly. No patient in group beta with normal skull X rays developed intracranial lesions. The third group (group gamma) contains patients with at least one of the following symptoms: impaired consciousness, repeated episodes of vomiting, neurologic deficits, otorrhagia, otorrhea, rhinorrea, signs of basal skull fracture, seizures, penetrating or perforating wounds, lack of cooperation for varying reasons, patients who have undergone previous intracranial operations or been affected by coagulopathy or submitted to anticoagulant therapy, and finally, epileptic or alcoholic patients. They receive a CT scan immediately and, if necessary, again prior to discharge. Six patients in group gamma with GCS = 15 upon admission were operated on for intracranial hematoma. The fourth group (group delta) is composed of comatose patients. Immediately following resuscitation maneuvers and prior to any surgical intervention, they undergo a CT scan. A linear association between the severity groups and the presence of intracranial lesions has been demonstrated.
CONCLUSIONS
The present protocol stresses the importance of the patient's clinical and anamnestic evaluation upon arrival in the Emergency Department, especially in minor head injuries
Dorsally exophytic brain stem tumors: total removal of a medullary pilocytic astrocytoma in child. Clinicopathological considerations and case report.
No full textAbstract: The authors describe the case of 4-year-old girl who was operated on for a pilocytic astrocytoma of the brain stem, exophytic and protruded backward into the fourth ventricle. The removal through a suboccipital midline approach was performed and macroscopically complete. Postoperative complications compelled a heavy reanimation with a prolonged follow-up therapy. The neurological recovery was favorable. Three years later, this little girl is almost autonomous in all daily activities. Postoperative scans showed total tumor resection. The patient received no complementary treatment such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy or corticotherapy. The long-term survival, without the need for adjunctive therapy, confirms the good prognosis for this unusual group of brain stem tumors. The clinicopathological and radiological features are described and surgical questions are discussed especially regarding complete or subtotal removal of brain stem tumors in demarcated-benign astrocytomas
Cavernous angiomas of the central nervous system.
No full textThe histopathological, epidemiological, clinical and neuroradiological findings of the cavernous angiomas of the central nervous system have been reviewed, based on an analysis of the literature. C.A. was considered a very rare lesion in the pre-CT era (5% of the vascular malformations). In the past mainly the cavernous angiomas operated on were responsible for a hemorrhagic syndrome or a space-occupying lesion syndrome and less frequently did they present with seizures. Since the introduction of the CT and moreover of MRI the reported cases of cavernous angiomas in the C.N.S. have increased considerably (25.1% of the vascular malformations). Familial cases, multiple localizations, association with tumors and other vascular malformations and extracerebral dural localizations have been documented. Angiographic examination can be negative, but in some cases a capillary blush in the late venous phase has been demonstrated. CT scan and MRI are the best procedures for the diagnosis of cavernous angiomas. MRI is able to demonstrate small and no recent traces of bleeding, but CT is more sensitive in distinguishing calcifications. Surgical results depending on the site of the angioma have been reported. Radical removal and good recovery have been documented in supratentorial cases, while partial removal and poor results have been reported in deeply sited cases (including spinal cord)
Intramedullary epidermoid cyst: preoperative diagnosis and surgical management after MRI introduction. Case report and updating of the literature.
No full textMany patients with spinal tumours of developmental origin do not receive preoperative diagnosis and the surgical management, especially as for capsule resection, is often unplanned. Like other uncommon tumours, the intramedullary epidermoid cyst is often an operative or histological finding. Since magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) introduction, evidence has accumulated that they may be preoperatively suspected. In reporting the case of a young patient with a T3-T4 intramedullary epidermoid cyst, the authors present an overview of the clinical, radiological and surgical aspects of such tumors and review the latest literature in which MRI and microsurgical excision were performed. Despite the introduction of new diagnostic and surgical instrumentation, the preoperative diagnosis and surgical management of such tumours need further discussion
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