Isolated Unilateral Tongue Atrophy: A Possible Late Complication of Juxta Cephalic Radiation Therapy.

BACKGROUND Isolated unilateral hypoglossal nerve injury is extremely rare. It may be caused by radiation therapy targeting neoplasms of the cephalic region. CASE REPORT A 51-year-old man with synovial sarcoma of the left upper arm status post extensive radiation therapy in 1980 presented in late 2014 with gradual onset of speech difficulty and difficulty moving his tongue for a couple of weeks. Neurological examination revealed isolated left-sided unilateral tongue atrophy. Postradiation residual extensive cicatrix with erythema over the whole left upper extremity extending to the neck on the affected side was noticed. On head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after administration of gadolinium, he was found to have asymmetrically fatty striations, atrophy, and fibrosis in the left tongue consistent with radiation toxicity. The patient's tongue weakness persisted without improvement. CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis of unilateral hypoglossal nerve injury is usually difficult. Detailed neurological examinations and thorough investigations including head MRI are very helpful. Previous exposure to radiation therapy is a potential cause of hypoglossal nerve injury. To our knowledge, this is the first case report that presents isolated unilateral tongue atrophy as a late complication of juxta cephalic radiation therapy.

Central and extrapontine myelinolysis affecting the brain and spinal cord. An unusual presentation of pancreatic encephalopathy.

Pancreatic encephalopathy refers to a gamut of neuropsychiatric symptoms complicating acute pancreatitis. Osmotic myelinolysis is a known complication of pancreatic encephalopathy. We evaluated a 58-year-old woman with pancreatic encephalopathy associated to pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis involving the brain and spinal cord. To our knowledge, this is the first clinic pathological case report of pancreatic encephalopathy involving the spinal cord.

Bevacizumab is active as a single agent against recurrent malignant gliomas.

Bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor, is effective in combination with chemotherapy against malignant gliomas. We examined the therapeutic effects and toxicity of bevacizumab as a single agent for the treatment of recurrent malignant glioma. This is a retrospective analysis of a case series of 18 adult patients, diagnosed with recurrent WHO grade III and IV gliomas. Patients were divided into two groups: group A (n=8) received bevacizumab at a dose of 10 mg/kg every two weeks; group B patients (n=10) were treated with salvage chemotherapy of lomustine (n=4), liposomal doxorubicin (n=4), temozolomide (n=1), or the combination of procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (n=1). The main study outcome measure was the 12-month progression-free survival probability; the objective radiological response was a secondary endpoint. Half of the patients treated with bevacizumab remained progression-free at 12 months as compared to none in group B (log-rank p=0.0067). In addition, 7/8 patients in group A showed a radiological response as compared to 4/10 in group B. Toxicity was mild and no intracranial hemorrhage was observed. The finding that bevacizumab has significant activity as a single agent against malignant glioma is important, particularly for those patients who are unable to tolerate traditional chemotherapy.