Clinical and immunologic follow-up study of patients with neurocysticercosis after treatment with praziquantel.

In a prospective study, 17 Brazilian patients with parenchymatous neurocysticercosis were monitored for a period of 12 months after treatment with praziquantel. Taenia solium-specific IgG antibodies, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha, neopterin, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were measured in serum and CSF before starting the therapy, on the last day of treatment, 5 weeks after treatment, and 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. The most common symptoms and signs found in patients before treatment were headache, neck stiffness, and seizures. Six months after commencement of therapy, 13 of the 17 patients were free of complaints. Clinical normalization was paralleled by a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the amount of intrathecally produced anti-T solium IgG 1 year after treatment. IL-1 beta was undetectable in serum at all times, whereas in the CSF it was within the normal range during the whole study period. The mean concentration of sIL-2R in the CSF was 65 kU/l (normal, < 50 kU/l) 5 weeks after treatment, whereas in all subsequent investigations sIL-2R was undetectable. The median CSF neopterin level was slightly elevated before treatment (6.8 nmol/l). One year after treatment, it had dropped by 69% (p < 0.001) to a median value of 2.1 nmol/l. The size of planimetrically measured focal cystic brain lesions on CT correlated with the amount of intrathecally synthesized anti-T solium IgG at the end of the study (r = 0.89, p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Arachnoid cyst of the 3d ventricle: report of 2 cases]. / Cisto aracnóide do terceiro ventrículo: relato de dois casos.

In 1985 and 1986 the Department of Neurosurgery of the University of Berlin treated two cases of arachnoid cysts of third ventricle, both of which were successfully dealt with surgically. They are reported in this paper. Arachnoid cysts from ventricular system and cisterns are rare. Up to now 46 cases have been reported in the specialized literature. The computerized tomography and magnetic resonance make diagnosis easier, as shown through the cases reported.

[Isodense intracranial hematomas: study of 5 cases]. / Hematomas intracranianos isodensos: estudo de cinco casos.

The authors report 5 cases of isodense intracranial hematomas identified by computerized tomography and confirmed by angiography and surgical procedures. Radiological aspects are discussed and tomographic signals are emphasized.

[Medullary schistosomal granuloma: report of a case]. / Granuloma esquistossomótico medular: registro de um caso.

A case of Schistosomotic granuloma of the spinal cord in a 34 years old man with a primary diagnostic of spinal cord tumor is reported. The diagnostic conditions, the complementary examinations and endemic aspects are commented. The surgical treatment and the results are comparized with literature data.

[Meningioma of the posterior fossa with extracranial expansion in a child: report of a case]. / Meningeoma de fossa posterior com expansão extracraniana em crianca: registro de um caso.

A case of posterior fossa meningeoma with extracranial projection in a three years old female child is reported. The rarity of the process, its localization and the age group committed are emphasized. The radiological findings first suggesting an aneurismatic bone cyst like are commented. The surgical treatment with a posterior fossa approach and good results observed as well as the rarity of this pathology justify the report.

Tetraplegic ambulation with the ORLAU swivel walker: a case report.

The ORLAU Swivel Walker which had previously been used by children with spina bifida. has been modified so that it is now being successfully used by spinal cord paralysed patients. This is a case study of a C7 traumatic tetraplegic patient who has used the ORLAU swivel walker for 5 years.

Puberdade precoce associada a cisto de III ventriculo: relato de caso. / Puberty precocious associated with third ventricle cyst: a case report

Os autores relatam 1 caso de cisto do III ventriculo, associado a hidrocefalia congenita, determinando aparecimento de puberdade precoce em uma crianca do sexo feminino, com 6 anos de idade.Sao discutidos aspectos relacionados com a etiologia do pocesso, bem como o mecanismo de formacao, alem da forma de tratamento instituido

Meningeoma de fossa posterior com expansao extracraniana em crianca. Registro de um caso. / Meningioma of the posterior fossa with extracranial expansion in a child: report of a case

Os autores relatam caso de meningeoma de fossa posterior com projecao extracraniana em criancas de 3 anos de idade, submetido a terapeutica cirurgica com boa evolucao e remissao completa dos sinais e sintomas neurologicos apresentados. A raridade do tipo e localizacao do tumor nessa faixa etaria justificam a apresentacao e registro do caso

Termocoagulacao percutanea em neuralgia do trigemeo. / Thermocoagulation percutaneous in trigeminal neuralgia

Os autores relatam os resultados obtidos em 25 pacientes estudados no periodo de abril de 1981 a setembro de 1982, portadores de neuralgia do trigemeo, tratados pelo metodo de termocoagulacao por radiofrequencia. Destes, 24 tinham neuralgia essencial do trigemeo e apenas 1 tinha neuralgia atipica do trigemeo. Nos primeiros, nao houve recorrencia de dor apos o procedimento e no paciente com quadro atipico foi necessario repetir o ato cirurgico apos 72 horas da primeira intervencao, quando, entao, o paciente ficou completamente assintomatico. Todos os doentes foram acompanhados em ambulatorio por um periodo minimo de 6 meses. A simplicidade do metodo, a baixa incidencia de complicacoes quando comparada a outras tecnicas, alem da possibilidade de o procedimento ser realizado ambulatorialmente e o baixo tempo de permanencia hospitalar permitem recomendar este metodo como sendo de escolha para o tratamento cirurgico da neuralgia do trigemeo

Granuloma esquistossomotico medular.Registro de um caso. / Medullary schistosomal granuloma: report of a case

Os autores relatam um caso de granuloma esquistossomatico de localizacao medular cujo diagnostico inicial foi de tumor intramedular sem caracterizacao nosologica.O resultado e diagnostico, apos exame histologico da peca cirurgica, bem como aspectos diagnosticos atraves de exames complentares e caracteristicas endemicas do processo sao discutidos