Real-Time Neuropsychological Testing (RTNT) and Music Listening during Glioblastoma Excision in Awake Surgery: A Case Report.

In this case report, real-time neuropsychological testing (RTNT) and music listening were applied for resections in the left temporal-parietal lobe during awake surgery (AS). The case is based on a 66-year-old with glioblastoma and alterations in expressive language and memory deficit. Neuropsychological assessment was run at baseline (2-3 days before surgery), discharge from hospital (2-3 days after surgery), and follow-up (1 month and 3 months). RTNT was started before beginning the anesthetic approach (T0) and during tumor excision (T1 and T2). At T0, T1, and T2 (before performing neuropsychological tests), music listening was applied. Before AS and after music listening, the patient reported a decrease in depression and anxiety. During AS, an improvement was shown in all cognitive parameters collected at T0, T1, and T2. After the excision and music listening, the patient reported a further decrease in depression and anxiety. Three days post surgery, and at follow-ups of one month and three months, the patient reported a further improvement in cognitive aspects, the absence of depression, and a reduction in anxiety symptoms. In conclusion, RTNT has been useful in detecting cognitive function levels during tumor excision. Music listening during AS decreased the patient's anxiety and depression symptoms.

Anesthetic Management for Awake Craniotomy Applied to Neurosurgery.

Our anesthetic technique proposed for awake craniotomy is the monitored anesthesia care (MAC) technique, with the patient in sedation throughout the intervention. Our protocol involves analgo-sedation through the administration of dexmedetomidine and remifentanil in a continuous intravenous infusion, allowing the patient to be sedated and in comfort, but contactable and spontaneously breathing. Pre-surgery, the patient is pre-medicated with intramuscular clonidine (2 µg/kg); it acts both as an anxiolytic and as an adjuvant in pain management and improves hemodynamic stability. In the operating setting, dexmedetomidine in infusion and remifentanil in target controlled infusion (TCI) for effect are started. The purpose of the association is to exploit the pharmacodynamics of dexmedetomidine which guarantees the control of respiratory drive, and the pharmacokinetics of remifentanil characterized by insensitivity to the drug. Post-operative management: at the end of the surgical procedure, the infusion of drugs was suspended. Wake-up craniotomy is associated with reduced hospital costs compared to craniotomy performed in general anesthesia, mainly due to reduced costs in the operating room and shorter hospital stays. Greater patient satisfaction and the benefits of avoiding hospital stay have led to the evolution of outpatient intracranial neurosurgery.

Molecular dissection of the VHL gene in solitary capillary hemangioblastoma of the central nervous system.

Capillary hemangioblastomas (HGBs) of the CNS occur either sporadically or as part of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome. Molecular characterizations of the VHL gene in sporadic HGBs at the somatic level have been limited to date. We investigated the VHL gene in 57 patients most of whom (55 [96%] of 57) had a solitary CNS HGB at the time of surgery. Tissues from 23 HGBs of these patients (2 VHL related and 21 unrelated) were also investigated at genetic and epigenetic levels. Two of the 51 patients with apparently sporadic HGBs and no additional evidence of VHL (∼4%) were found to have a germline VHL gene mutation; both of these patients subsequently developed evidence of VHL syndrome. Somatic VHL gene mutations were found in 11 (52%) of the 21 non-VHL-related cases. A germline mutation was identified in 5 (84%) of 6 VHL-associated HGBs; double gene inactivation was observed in tumor tissue from VHL syndrome patients. Seven different previously unreported VHL gene alterations (6 somatic and 1 germline) were identified; double hits were identified in 7 (12%) of 57 cases. Our findings confirm the usefulness of VHL gene analysis at the germline level in patients who present with apparently solitary HGB. Moreover, the genetic and epigenetic VHL gene investigations performed support a key role for functional alterations of the VHL gene in sporadic neuraxial HGB.

Processos proliferativos gengivais não neoplásicos em paciente sob tratamento ortodôntico / Non-neoplastic proliferative gingival processes in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment

INTRODUÇÃO: a aparatologia ortodôntica dificulta a higiene bucal e pode contribuir para a formação de lesões gengivais, como os processos proliferativos gengivais não neoplásicos. Essas lesões, dependendo de alguns fatores - como o tempo de evolução, constituintes histopatológicos e condições bucais -, podem ser reversíveis, em alguns casos, por meio da orientação sobre higiene bucal e da terapia periodontal básica. Entretanto, na maioria das vezes há necessidade de tratamento cirúrgico. OBJETIVO: o propósito deste trabalho é relatar o caso de uma paciente portadora de aparatologia ortodôntica fixa que apresentou duas lesões gengivais distintas, diagnosticadas como granuloma piogênico e hiperplasia gengival inflamatória. Foram discutidas as características clínicas e histopatológicas, incidência e frequência, modalidades terapêuticas e prevenção de ambas as lesões, demonstrando a importância do encaminhamento do material colhido ao exame histopatológico, dada a possibilidade de diversas hipóteses diagnósticas. Em ambas as lesões foi realizada a exérese cirúrgica. RESULTADOS: a lesão na arcada superior, diagnosticada como granuloma piogênico, apresentou recorrência, sendo necessária terapia periodontal básicae repetiçãodoprocedimento cirúrgico. Alesão na arcada inferior foi diagnosticada como hiperplasia gengival, sendo removida cirurgicamente e acompanhada clinicamente, com prescrição de orientação da higiene bucal ao paciente.

INTRODUCTION: Orthodontic appliances render oral hygiene difficult and may contribute to the development of gingival lesions such as non-neoplastic proliferative gingival processes. These lesions, depending on such factors as development time, histopathological components and oral conditions may be reversible in some cases - through oral hygiene advice and basic periodontal therapy. In most cases, however, surgical treatment is required. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this paper is to report the case of a patient using fixed orthodontic appliance who presented with two distinct gingival lesions diagnosed as pyogenic granuloma and inflammatory gingival hyperplasia. The clinical and histopathological features, incidence and frequency, treatment modalities and prevention of both lesions were discussed, highlighting the importance of submitting the material collected from the lesions to histopathological examination given the possibility of different diagnostic hypotheses. Surgical excision was performed on both lesions. The upper arch lesion, diagnosed as pyogenic granuloma, relapsed, which led us to provide basic periodontal therapy and repeat the surgical procedures. RESULTS: The lesion in the lower arch, diagnosed as gingival hyperplasia, was surgically removed and followed up clinically, whereas the patient was instructed to perform proper oral hygiene.

Sorriso gengival: cirurgia ressectiva coadjuvante à estética dental / Gingival smile: resective surgery coadjuvant to the dental

Objetivo: relatar um caso de uma paciente que apresentou relação desarmônica entre o sorriso gengival - também causado pela presença da linha labial alta e, pela discrepância entre o comprimento curto das coroas clínicas dos dentes ântero-superiores. Descrição do caso: foram discutidas as vantagens, desvantagens, benefícios, indicações, contra-indicações, descrição da técnica de gengivectomia e a relação de harmonia entre estética dental e gengival. Conclusão: a cirurgia ressectiva gengival (gengivectomia) é um procedimento efetivo coadjuvante na adequação gengival em relação à estética dental, visando não apenas o resultado estético satisfatório, como também a manutenção salutar do periodonto.

Aim: report a case of the patient who presented relationship disharmonic between gingival smiles - also caused by presence of the high line lip - and discrepancy between the short lengths of the anterior superior teeth clinical crowns. Case description: the advantages, disadvantages, benefits, indications, contraindications, description of the gingivectomy technique and the harmony relationship between dental and gingival esthetics were discussed. Conclusion: gingival resective surgery (gingivectomy) is a co adjuvant effective procedure at the gingival conditioning reference to the dental esthetic, with purpose not only satisfactory esthetic results, how also the periodontal healthy maintenance.

Lesão periférica de células gigantes em mucosa palatina / Giant cell peripheral granuloma in palatinal mucosa

São conhecidas diversas lesões que apresentam particular predileção pelo periodonto. A lesão periférica de células gigantes é um processo proliferativo reacional não neoplásico, apresentando-se relativamente freqüente na clínica estomatológica, podendo atingir dimensão variada e, subseqüentemente necessidades terapêuticas particulares. O propósito deste trabalho foi relatar um caso de uma paciente que apresentou uma lesão de tamanho avançado, localizada em mucosa palatina de prémolares e molares, na qual dificultou a fonação e a deglutição. A lesão foi removida pela exérese cirúrgica e o diagnóstico foi lesão periférica de células gigantes. Foram discutidas as características clínicas e histopatológicas, incidência e freqüência, diagnóstico diferencial, etiopatogênese, modalidades de tratamento e prognóstico.

Many lesions with periodontal predilection are known. The giant cell peripheral granuloma is a reaction proliferative process, non neoplasic, that is relatively frequent in stomatologic clinic, can arrive variable size and, subsequently, needs particulary therapeutic. The purpose of this work is to report a patient case that show an advanced size lesion, localized in palatine mucous of molar and premolar teeth that complicated deglutition and phonation. The lesion was removed by surgical excision and the diagnosis was giant cell peripheral granuloma. Clinical and histopatological characteristics, incidence and frequency, differential diagnosis, etiopathogenesis, therapeutic modalities and follow-up were discussed.

Use of carbon fiber cages for treatment of cervical myeloradiculopathies.

BACKGROUND: Different types of intersomatic fixation systems are available for use in the treatment of cervical disc pathologies. In this paper, we report our experience using carbon fiber cages (Brantigan I/F cage, De Puy Acromed, Raynham, MA; Mikai distrib.) for acute and chronic cervical disc pathologies. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2001, 97 patients underwent surgical treatment for cervical disc pathologies. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 60 months. In all cases a microdiscectomy according to Caspar was performed; anterior stabilization was performed in cases with evidence of instability and in post-traumatic disc herniations. RESULTS: A total number of 119 carbon fiber cages, ranging in height from 4 to 8 mm, were employed as well as 10 anterior plates with screws. The type of material used to fill the cages was homologous bone (50.5%), heterologous bone (22.3%), hydroxyapatite (21.1%), and autologous bone (6%). In all cases, follow-up radiograms performed after at least 6 months demonstrated bone fusion. None of the patients had either spontaneous displacement of the implant or symptoms from nerve compression. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that anterior cervical fusion with carbon fiber cages are valid to restore intervertebral disc height and to promote bone fusion with low complications rate.