Vascularization of the uncus - Anatomical study and clinical implications.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this paper was to describe the arterial supply of the uncus and quantify the branches directed to the anteromedial aspect of the human temporal cortex. METHODS: We studied 150 human cerebral hemispheres identifying main afferent arteries supplying the anteromedial temporal cortex with particular attention to the uncus, determining the territory supplied by each artery through either cortical or perforating branches. RESULTS: The uncus was supplied by 419 branches of the anterior choroidal artery (AChA), 210 branches of the internal carotid artery (ICA), 353 branches of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), and 122 branches of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA). The total of supplying vessels was 1104 among the 150 hemispheres studied, which corresponds to 7.36 arteries per uncus. The average of branches per hemisphere was as follows: 2.79 from AChA, 1.40 from ICA, 2.35 from MCA, and 0.81 from PCA. The relative contribution of each artery for the total of specimens studied was as follows: 38% from AChA, 19% from ICA, 32% from the MCA, and 11% from the PCA. We identified cortical anastomoses mostly between the MCA and PCA (27 cases). CONCLUSION: We described and quantified the uncus' vascularization, including anatomical variations. This updated, detailed description of the mesial temporal vascularization is paramount to improve the treatment of neurosurgical conditions.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: Clinical Differences in Patients with Exclusive Involvement of Posterior Circulation Compared to Anterior or Global Involvement.

INTRODUCTION: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical-radiologic syndrome not yet fully understood and characterized by transient neurologic symptoms in addition to typical radiological findings. There are only a few articles that describe the clinical differences between patients with PRES that involve carotid and vertebrobasilar circulations. Our study aims to further evaluate the differences between predominantly anterior and posterior circulation PRES. METHODS: We review 54 patients who had received the diagnosis of PRES from 2009 to 2015. The patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) exclusively in posterior zones; and (2) anterior plus posterior zones or exclusively anterior zones. Several clinical characteristics were evaluated, including the following: age, sex, previous diseases, the neurologic manifestations, the highest blood pressure in the first 48 hours of presentation, highest creatinine level during symptoms, and the neuroimaging alterations in brain magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis was 28.5 years old (9 men and 45 women) and mean systolic blood pressure among patients with lesions only in posterior zones was 162.1 mmHg compared to 179.2 mmHg in the anterior circulation. The most common symptoms in the 2 groups were headache and visual disturbances. DISCUSSION: PRES may have several radiological features. A higher blood pressure seems to be 1 of the factors responsible for developing widespread PRES, with involvement of carotid vascular territory. This clinical-radiological difference probably occurs because of the larger number of autonomic receptors in the carotid artery in comparison to the vertebral-basilar system.

Holmes' tremor as a delayed complication of thalamic stroke.

Movement disorders are not commonly associated with stroke. Accordingly, thalamic strokes have rarely been associated with tremor, pseudo-athetosis and dystonic postures. We present a 75-year-old man who developed a disabling tremor 1 year after a posterolateral thalamic stroke. This tremor had low frequency (3-4 Hz), did not disappear on focus and was exacerbated by maintaining a static posture and on target pursuit, which made it very difficult to perform basic functions. MRI demonstrated an old ischemic lesion at the left posterolateral thalamus. Treatment with levodopa led to symptom control. Lesions in the midbrain, cerebellum and thalamus may cause Holmes' tremor. Delayed onset of symptoms is usually seen, sometimes appearing 2 years after the original injury. This may be due to maturation of a complex neuronal network, leading to slow dopaminergic denervation. Further studies are needed to improve our understanding of this unique disconnection syndrome.

Ocular myositis: insights into recurrence and semiological presentation.

Ocular myositis (OM) is a rare clinical entity characterized by idiopathic, nonspecific inflammation of primarily or exclusively extraocular muscles (EOM). Presentation usually encompasses painful diplopia, exacerbated by eye movement. We report two cases of idiopathic OM with unique characteristics. The first presented with pseudo-sixth nerve palsy due to medial nucleus inflammation and the second presented with recurrent OM, subsequently affecting both eyes. Knowledge of different patterns of presentation and recurrence are important to manage this rare inflammatory syndrome.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: differences between pregnant and non-pregnant patients.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical-radiologic entity not yet understood, that presents with transient neurologic symptoms and particular radiological findings. Few papers show the differences between pregnant and non-pregnant patients. We review the cases of 38 women diagnosed with PRES, in order to find significant differences between pregnant (18) and non-pregnant (20) patients. We found differences among the age of patients (25.83 years old in pregnant and 29.31 years old in non pregnant; P=0.001); in the mean of highest systolic blood pressure, that was higher in non-pregnant group (185:162 mmHg; P=0.121); and in creatinine levels that was higher in non-pregnant group (3.47:1.04 mg/dL; P=0.001). To our knowledge, just a few papers analyzed whether PRES syndrome presented in the same way in pregnant and non-pregnant patients. The differences and the possible pathophisiology of this syndrome still remain enigmatic.

Influence of the gender on cerebral vascular diameters observed during the magnetic resonance angiographic examination of willis circle

The present study evaluated the calibers and anatomic configurations based on the Magnetic Resonance analysis (MRA), assaying the cerebral vascular territories and sex-linked variations. A randomized sample of 30 angiographic examinations in adult patients of both sexes was obtained and components of the circle of Willis were identified. Branch diameters were measured on a transversal cut 5mm from the vessel origin in a typical angiographic frontal incidence. For the comparative statistical analysis, tests were divided in the groups considering the patients' sex and age. The classical Circle of Willis configuration was oberved in only 15 samples (50%). Greater calibers were observed in the arteries of the posterior circulation and multiple linear regression analysis established that the caliber of the posterior circulation was influenced by an independent variable related to the gender. Additional variations included unilateral and bilateral fetal and hypoplasic Posterior communicating arteries. In the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), the presence of an accessory developed ACA, an ACA giving branches to the distal portion of the two hemispheres and a third median ACA the variants were observed. Gender influenced the variations on internal diameters of posterior circulation vessels, with larger measurements in men.

Risk factors among stroke subtypes in Brazil.

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability in Brazil. Among the risk factors for cerebrovascular disease, some have more influence than others in certain stroke subtypes. Little data are available in the literature on the prevalence of stroke subtypes in Latin America. We analyzed data from 688 patients with acute ischemic stroke (52.3% women; mean age, 65.7 years) who were enrolled in a stroke data bank. Standardized data assessment and stroke subtype classification were used. The most common stroke subtype was large-artery atherosclerosis (n = 223; 32.4%), followed by cardioembolism (n = 195; 28.3%), and microangiopathy (n = 127; 18.5%). Stroke risk factors differ among stroke subtypes. The population of South America is ethnically diverse, and few previous studies have describe the distribution of risk factors among stroke subtypes in this population. In this study, the most important risk factors were hypertension and dyslipidemia.

Nevralgia do trigêmeo associada à hanseníase / Hanseniase associated Trigeminal Nevralgia

A hanseníase é uma doença infecto-contagiosa, que além de alterações dermatológicas, possui manifestações neurológicas. Relatamos o caso de um homem de 66 anos, que apresentou nevralgia do trigêmeo após ter apresentado quadro de hanseníase.

Hansen's disease is an infectious disease that presents with skin changes, as well as neurological features. We report a case of a 66 years man, who presented with trigeminal neuralgia after developing Hansen's disease.

Chronic syphilitic aortic aneurysm complicated with chronic aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: Historically, tertiary syphilis infection has been the most common cause of thoracic aortic aneurysm, resulting in 5% to 10% of cardiovascular deaths until the era of antibiotics. METHODS: A 49-year-old Caucasian man presented to our institution with progressive dysphagia, weight loss, incomplete bladder emptying, alcohol and tobacco consumption, systemic arterial hypertension, Argyll Robertson pupil, leg paresthesias, and mediastinal widening. He was admitted to investigate clinical alterations. Thoracic computed tomography revealed an aortic aneurysm complicated with chronic aortic dissection from the ascending aorta to the iliac vessels with 2 communicating lumens. Cerebrospinal fluid examination tested positive for neurosyphilis in a venereal disease research laboratory test (titre 1/32). RESULTS: Chronic syphilitic aortic aneurysm complicated with chronic aortic dissection was diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: This is a unique presentation of a syphilitic infection. Syphilitic aortitis, the hallmark of cardiovascular syphilis, has become rare and is hardly considered by today's clinicians in their differential diagnosis.

Angioedema orolingual após infusão de alteplase no tratamento de acidente vascular cerebral: relato de caso / Orolingual angioedema after alteplase infusion for treatment of brain stroke: case report

O angioedema é uma reação inflamatória local potencialmente grave. Estudos evidenciam uma incidência destes casos após uso de alteplase entre 0,02% e 5,1%. Relatamos um caso de acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico agudo tratado com alteplase que evoluiu com angioedema e piora clínica. Este paciente teve expressiva melhora neurológica com posterior declínio clínico após o angioedema. O mecanismo inflamatório neste caso pode ter desempenhado papel determinante na reoclusão.

Angioedema is a potentially severe local inflammatory reaction. There is an incidence of 0.02% to 5.1% in patients treated with alteplase. We report a case of acute ischemic stroke that was treated with alteplase and presented a life threatening allergic reaction. This patient had an important neurologic improvement in the beginning, but this benefit was lost after angioedema. The inflammatory mechanism that causes angioedema is sometimes decisive in re-occlusion.

Epilepsia pós-traumática

Uma grande proporçäo de pacientes que sofreram traumatismo crânio-encefálico (TCE) desenvolve crises compulsivas após o trauma, as quais podem se repetir muitas vezes ao longo do tempo, transformando a qualidade de vida do doente. No presente artigo é feita uma revisäo na literatura médica a respeito da Eplepsia Pós-traumática (EPT), sua apresentaçäo clínica, sua fisiopatogenia, seu tratametno, sua profilaxia e seu prognóstico

Artérias órbito-frontal e pré-frontal humanas: estudo anatomocirúrgico / Human orbitofrontal and pre-frontal arteries: anatomosurgical study

Foram estudadas as artérias órbito-frontal e pré-frontal em 50 encéfalos humanos, empregando-se resina de Batson, com a finalidade de estabelecer a possível utilizaçäo destas artérias como receptoras nas técnicas de revascularizaçäo cortical. As artérias pré-frontais mais freqüentemente (88% à direita e 86% à esquerda) tinham diâmetro e extensäo superficial compatíveis com sua utilizaçäo