Lumbar spinal root compression caused by Brucella granuloma.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report of rarely seen extradural brucellosis granuloma causing spinal root compression in the lumbar region. OBJECTIVE: To point out the possibility of extradural compression caused by brucellosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Many investigators have indicated that myelopathy or radiculopathy caused by irritation or compression by tiny abscess, disc herniation, or extradural granuloma may occur in brucellosis. Failure to make the correct diagnosis is possible because of the absence of such symptoms of brucellosis as fever, sweating, or fatigue and because findings of physical examination, radiography, and myelography indicate intervertebral disc herniation. METHODS: Review and discussion of the case history are presented. RESULTS: Brucella granuloma compressing the right L5 root and dural sac was diagnosed on computed tomographic scans and was excised subtotally after laminectomy and facetectomy. CONCLUSION: The possibility of extradural compression caused by brucellosis should be considered in endemic areas and must be differentiated from an intervertebral disc herniation by means of agglutination testing and bone scan.

CT and MR imaging of vertebral osteoblastoma. A report of two cases.

Two patients with spinal osteoblastoma evaluated with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are presented. A brief literature review is added.

Cerebral salt wasting syndrome.

Hyponatremia following acute or chronic central nervous system injury which is due to excessive Na+ loss in the urine without an increase in the body fluid, has been described as Cerebral Salt Wasting Syndrome (CSWS). This syndrome is often confused with dilutional hyponatremia secondary to inappropriate ADH secretion. Accurate diagnosis and management are mandatory for to improve the course of the disease. In this study a patient with CSW Syndrome is presented and the treatment and diagnosis of this syndrome are discussed in view of the literature.

Intracerebral schwannoma: case report and review.

A case of intraparenchymal schwannoma of the brain in a 4-year-old girl is presented. Most of the small number of intracranial schwannomas unassociated with cranial nerves, reported have occurred in children or young adults. There is no male or female predominance. Most of the parenchymatous schwannomas are located supratentorially. The presence of a cyst together with the tumor appears to be characteristic of intraparenchymal schwannoma of the brain.

Multiple and infected cerebral hydatid cysts. Case report.

A case of multiple and infected cerebral hydatid cysts is described. The diagnosis was based on operation and histopathology. So far only two infected cysts have been described in the English literature.