Osseous Pseudoprogression in Vertebral Bodies Treated with Stereotactic Radiosurgery: A Secondary Analysis of Prospective Phase I/II Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Osseous pseudoprogression on MR imaging can mimic true progression in lesions treated with spine stereotactic radiosurgery. Our aim was to describe the prevalence and time course of osseous pseudoprogression to assist radiologists in the assessment of patients after spine stereotactic radiosurgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A secondary analysis of 2 prospective trials was performed. MRIs before and after spine stereotactic radiosurgery were assessed for response. "Osseous pseudoprogression" was defined as transient growth in signal abnormality centered at the lesion with a sustained decline on follow-up MR imaging that was not attributable to chemotherapy. RESULTS: From the initial set of 223 patients, 37 lesions in 36 patients met the inclusion criteria and were selected for secondary analysis. Five of the 37 lesions (14%) demonstrated osseous pseudoprogression, and 9 demonstrated progressive disease. There was a significant association between single-fraction therapy and the development of osseous pseudoprogression (P = .01), and there was a significant difference in osseous pseudoprogression-free survival between single- and multifraction regimens (P = .005). In lesions demonstrating osseous pseudoprogression, time-to-peak size occurred between 9.7 and 24.4 weeks after spine stereotactic radiosurgery (mean, 13.9 weeks; 95% CI, 8.6-19.1 weeks). The peak lesion size was between 4 and 10 mm larger than baseline. Most lesions returned to baseline size between 23 and 52.4 weeks following spine stereotactic radiosurgery. CONCLUSIONS: Progression on MR imaging performed between 3 and 6 months following spine stereotactic radiosurgery should be treated with caution because osseous pseudoprogression may be seen in more than one-third of these lesions. Single-fraction spine stereotactic radiosurgery may be associated with osseous pseudoprogression. The possibility of osseous pseudoprogression should be incorporated into the prospective criteria for assessment of local control following spine stereotactic radiosurgery.

Surgical treatment for combined hemifacial spasm and atypical trigeminal neuralgia caused by a tortuous basilar artery. Case report and review of the literature.

Simultaneous hemifacial spasm (HFS) and trigeminal neuralgia caused by cranial nerve (CN) compression from a tortuous basilar artery (BA) is very rare. We report a case of a 66-year-old man who presented with both HFS and "atypical" trigeminal neuralgia. The patient had a tortuous BA compressing both CN V and VII. The patient underwent microvascular decompression after failing conservative medical management. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of both HFS and "atypical" trigeminal neuralgia that were both successfully treated by surgical intervention. We report the management of this rare combination and review the literature.

Ventral extradural spinal meningeal cyst causing cord compression: neurosurgical treatment

Spinal extradural meningeal cysts are typically formed by a thin fibrotic membranous capsule, macroscopically similar that of an arachnoid membrane, filled by cerebro spinal fluid and related to a nerve root or to the posterior midline. Ventral location is extremely rare and when it occurs they usually cause spinal cord herniation through the ventral dural gap. A 61 year-old man who began with a two years long history of insidious tetraparesis, spasticity and hyperreflexia in lower extremities, and flaccid atrophy of upper limbs, without sensory manifestations, is presented. Investigation through magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an extensive spinal ventral extradural cystic collection from C6 to T11. The lesion was approached through a laminectomy and a cyst-peritoneal shunt was introduced. The cyst reduced in size significantly and the patient is asymptomatic over a 48 months follow-up. This is the first reported case of a spontaneous ventral extradural spinal meningeal cyst causing cord compression. Cyst-peritoneal shunt was effective in the treatment of the case and it should be considered in cases in which complete resection of the cyst is made more difficult or risky by the need of more aggressive surgical maneuvers.

Cistos meníngeos extradurais espinhais são formados tipicamente por estreita cápsula membranosa fibrótica, macroscopicamente semelhante a uma membrana de aracnóide, repleta de líquor e relacionada com uma raiz nervosa ou com a linha média posterior. Eles são extremamente raros em posição anterior e, quando ocorrem, habitualmente causam herniação da medula espinhal pela falha dural ventral. O caso de um homem de 61 anos de idade que iniciou com tetraparesia, espasticidade e hiperreflexia em membros inferiores, e flacidez com hipotrofia nos membros superiores, sem manifestação sensitiva, é apresentado. A investigação com ressonância magnética demonstrou extensa coleção cística extradural ventral à medula de C6 a T11. A lesão foi abordada diretamente via laminectomia com introdução de derivação cisto-peritoneal, reduzindo o cisto e tornando o paciente assintomático com um seguimento de 48 meses. Este é o primeiro caso relatado de cisto meníngeo extradural ventral espontâneo causando compressão medular. A derivação cisto-peritoneal se mostrou eficaz no tratamento do caso e deve ser considerada em situações em que a ressecção completa do cisto esteja impossibilitada, ou dificultada pela necessidade de manobras cirúrgicas mais agressivas e arriscadas.

[Anesthetic blockade of the greater occipital nerve in migraine prophylaxis]. / Bloqueio anestésico do nervo occipital maior na profilaxia da migrânea.

Migraine comprises a great many encephalic structures in its pathophysiology with the trigeminal nerve (TN) type being one of the main ones. For the purpose of determining a possible influence of the greater occipital nerve (GON) on migraine behavior, 37 patients who showed this pathology were studied. Using a double blind "cross over" group and submitting those patients to a GON infiltration with bupivacaina 0.5% (BP) and physiological serum 0.9% (PS), the clinical effects were evaluated: subjectively, through a pain analytical visual scale; objectively, by determining the threshold of pain perception (algometry). The comparison between the two groups (BP-PS) and (PS-BP) has shown that the number and duration of the attacks did not show significant statistical differences during the study. The intensity of the attacks was lower in group (BP-PS) only after the second infiltration (p=0.020), in the other moments no differences have been observed between the groups. The conclusion is that the anesthetic blockage with BP on the GON does not change the number of crises and their duration, but it does provokes an intensity reduction after 60 days from the infiltration. The results shown here suggest that GON participates in the cranial nociceptive modulation during crises of migraine without aura.

[Meningiomas in pediatric patients: report of 2 cases]. / Meningiomas em pacientes pediátricos: relato de 2 casos.

Meningiomas correspond to 1% - 4% of primary intracranial tumors in pediatric group, with their incidence raising according to age. There is not gender prevalence, in spite of some authors describe a male tendency opposed to female one in adulthood. At present study we describe two cases of pediatric meningiomas reviewing clinical, radiological and histological aspects of these lesions. The authors review also treatment options and prognosis of childhood meningiomas. A two-year-old boy was admitted with seizures. Computerized tomography showed a right parietal lesion, which was totally resected. Histological features were compatible with meningioma. After 17 months the child is doing well, with no deficits or seizures. The second case is a 12-year-old girl, with a headache complain. During investigation, a CT revealed a right frontal lesion. She was operated under a right frontal craniotomy with total tumor resection. Nowadays she is asymptomatic, 20 months after surgery. Despite meningiomas in pediatric group are uncommon; they should be included in differential diagnosis list of expansive intracranial lesions of childhood.

Influence of intense light stimulation on trigeminal and cervical pain perception thresholds.

Thirty-three migraineurs and 23 healthy controls were submitted to pressure algometry before and after light-induced discomfort was elicited by progressive light stimulation in a monoblind fashion. Pressure algometries were performed on the emergence of the supraorbital, infraorbital, mental and greater occipital nerves, and over the temporal muscles, always throughout the same sequence and from right to left. Measurements were carried out before and immediately after light stimulation and after 10 min of the second algometry. The final result for each site measured at each time-point was the mean of the three measurements. Light stimulation was carried out progressively until light-induced discomfort was reported, to a maximum of 20,000 lux. A heat-blocking glass protected patients' eyes. Migraineurs presented significant and persistent drops in pain perception thresholds after light stimulation, at all sites tested (P = 0.002 to < 0.0001). These drops were not seen in controls, in whom, conversely, a less significant increase was seen on right infraorbital and left temporal muscle sites. Our results indicate that in migraineurs, light may have a relevant role in trigeminal and cervical pain perception thresholds.

Referred pain after painful stimulation of the greater occipital nerve in humans: evidence of convergence of cervical afferences on trigeminal nuclei.

Cranial sensory innervation is supplied mainly by the trigeminal nerves and by the first cervical nerves. Excitatory and inhibitory interactions among those nerve roots may occur in a mechanism called nociceptive convergence, leading to loss of somato-sensory spatial specificity. Three volunteers in an experimental trial had sterile water injected over their greater occipital nerve on one side of the neck. Pain intensity was evaluated 10, 30 and 120 s after the injection. Two of the patients reported intense pain. Trigeminal autonomic features, suggestive of parasympathetic activation, were seen associated with trigeminally distributed pain. These data add to and reinforce previous evidence of convergence of cervical afferents on the trigeminal sensory circuit.

[Using algometry of pressure measuring the threshold of trigeminal pain perception in normal volunteers: a new protocol of studies]. / Utilização da algometria de pressão na determinação dos limiares de percepção dolorosa trigeminal em voluntários sadios: um novo protocolo de estudos.

Algometry of pressure is a technique that measures the physiology of the nociceptive system. Acting directly on the responsive peripheral nociceptors to pressure stimuli, this technique allows the study on nociceptive integrity in normal subjects or having different algic syndromes. Utilizing 29 asymptomatic volunteers, the threshold of the painful perception was studied, measuring them in a direct way over the emergence of the supra-orbital, infra-orbital and mental nerves. The following algometric average were recorded: right mental nerve 46.2 Kg/cm2 and left 48.6 Kg/cm2; right supra-orbital nerve 47.7 Kg/cm2 and left 45.2 Kg/cm2; right infra-orbital nerve 53.9 Kg/cm2 and left 55.4 Kg/cm2. After reviewing the principles of the algometry utilization, we have validated this protocol, showing the average values obtained by measuring the trigeminal system, afterwards comparing them with an inervated region by cervical branches (major occipital nerve) and the temporal muscle.

Prevalence and clinical features of migraine in a population of visually impaired subjects in Curitiba, Brazil.

To investigate the relevance of lacking or diminished visual input on the expression of migraine, we evaluated its prevalence and clinical features in a population of visually impaired subjects. Between September 1999 and April 2000, 203 visually impaired subjects with a headache inventory were surveyed. Those with headache were assessed according to IHS criteria for the presence of migraine. Migraineurs had their symptoms further detailed through an interview and a headache diary. Of the 104 subjects reporting headaches during the last 6 months, 29 had migraine (14.2%). The prevalence of migraine was not influenced by whether the visual impairment was complete or partial. Mean frequency of migraine attacks was 2.7/month. Most subjects (96%) reported severe and/or moderate attacks. Nausea, vomiting, aggravation by activity and phonophobia were reported by 62%, 37.9%, 86.2% and 96.6% of the subjects, respectively. Visual impairment does not seem to influence prevalence of migraine or its clinical features.

[Lipoma of the corpus callosum associated with the hypertrophy of the corpus callosum: case report]. / Lipoma do corpo caloso associado a hipertrofia do corpo caloso: relato de caso.

Despite the lipomas are the tumors that more commonly occur in the corpus callosum (CC), its incidence in the population is not common. We report on a 5-year old boy, with history of retardation in the psychomotor development and disturbs in the gait, secondary to generalized hypotony. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a curvilinear lipoma of the CC related to its hypertrophy. In the literature patients with CC lipoma usually have agenesis or hypotrophy of the CC, but in the reported case we have seen, by the first time, a hypertrophy of the CC. We made embryologic, genetic, clinical, radiographic and therapeutic considerations about the patients that have CC lipoma comparing to findings in the case we report.

[Change in the biological pattern of migraine with aura after the use of tetrabenazine: case report]. / Mudança no padrão biológico da migrânea com aura após a utilização da tetrabenazina: relato de caso.

The influence of the dopaminergic system on the pathophysiology of migraine has been suggested as a result of recent genetic discoveries. A possible hyper-reactivity of the dopaminergic receptors DRD2 reinforced the evidence regarding this. We describe a 31 years-old male patient affected by a generalized dystonia secondary to perinatal hypoxia. At age 16, the patient started having headache crises that met the criteria for migraine with aura. After three years of treatment for dystonia with tetrabenazine, a clear reduction in the frequency, intensity and duration of the crises was perceived. During two periods longer than two months, the interruption of the treatment with tetrabenazine brought about an aggravation of the migraine crises. We present this case as being the first description in the literature showing the beneficial effects of tetrabenazine, a blocker of dopaminergic receptors, on the behavior of migraine with aura.

[Can the biologic pattern of cervicogenic headache change after overuse or withdrawal of ergotamine derivatives?]. / O padrão biológico da cefaléia cervicogênica pode ser alterado pelo uso excessivo de ergotamínicos ou pela sua retirada?

The transformation of a primary headache into a chronic daily headache (CDH) may or may not be related to the overuse of pain-killers, as their influence on the pathophysiological mechanisms remain inconclusive. We describe three patients (female, aged 65 and 39 years, and male, 46) affected by cervicogenic headache (CH) and CDH linked to the overuse of pain-killers (ergotamine derivatives) that were submitted to the infiltration of the greater occipital nerve (GON). At the end of three days of treatment, a total improvement of the pain symptoms was recorded, which allowed for the withdrawal of the ergotamine derivatives. The CH cannot be ranked with the CDHs, since it presents an organic etiology; however, if the pain is daily and the diagnosis is belated, the indiscriminate and excessive use pain-killers may occur. In the cases described, the overuse of pain-killers did not affect the natural evolution of this headache after treatment with the infiltration of the GON, as all the patients who underwent infiltration showed a total improvement of their painful symptoms, without headache resulting from the withdrawal of pain-killers, nor did they show any pharmacological dependence. This is an evidence that the CH presents and organic etiology, not being influenced in its pathophysiology by the overuse of ergotamine derivatives.

Prolonged migraine aura without headache arrested by sumatriptan. A case report with further considerations.

The case of a 42-year-old woman with prolonged migraine visual aura without headache, whose long-lasting episodes of visual aura were successfully controlled by oral sumatriptan, is reported. Effectiveness of sumatriptan was unequivocal, since, after taking sumatriptan, duration of aura would drop from 1.5 h to approximately 20 min. This case suggests that sumatriptan may cross the blood-brain barrier and block spreading depression.