Drug resistant epilepsy of the insular lobe: A review and update article.

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic disease that affects millions of people around the world generating great expenses and psychosocial problems burdening the public health in different ways. A considerable number of patients are refractory to the drug treatment requiring a more detailed and specialized investigation to establish the most appropriate therapeutic option. Insular epilepsy is a rare form of focal epilepsy commonly drug resistant and has much of its investigation and treatment involved with the surgical management at some point. The insula or the insular lobe is a portion of the cerebral cortex located in the depth of the lateral sulcus of the brain; its triangular in shape and connects with the other adjacent lobes. The insular lobe is a very interesting and complex portion of the brain related with different functions. Insula in Latin means Island and was initially described in the 18th century but its relation with epilepsy was first reported in the 1940-1950s. Insular lobe epilepsy is generally difficult to identify and confirm due to its depth and interconnections. Initial non-invasive studies generally demonstrate frustrating or incoherent information about the origin of the ictal event. Technological evolution made this pathology to be progressively better recognized and understood enabling professionals to perform the correct diagnosis and choose the ideal treatment for the affected population. Methods: A literature review was performed using MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The terms epilepsy/epileptic seizure of the insula and surgical treatment was used in various combinations. We included studies that were published in English, French, or Portuguese; performed in humans with insular epilepsy who underwent some surgical treatment (microsurgery, laser ablation, or radiofrequency thermocoagulation). Results: Initial search results in 1267 articles. After removing the duplicates 710 remaining articles were analyzed for titles and abstracts applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. 70 studies met all inclusion criteria and were selected. Conclusion: At present, the main interests and efforts are in the attempt to achieve and standardize the adequate management of the patient with refractory epilepsy of the insular lobe and for that purpose several forms of investigation and treatment were developed. In this paper, we will discuss the characteristics and information regarding the pathology and gather data to identify and choose the best therapeutic option for each case.

Manejo de los tumores de la región petroclival / Management of petroclival region tumors

Objetivo: describir dos abordajes a la base de cráneo para el tratamiento quirúrgico de meningiomas petroclivales, que son aquellos que se originan en los dos tercios superiores del clivus, en la unión petroclival, y mediales al nervio trigémino. Material y método: se describen el abordaje cráneo-órbito-zigomático y el abordaje petroso posterior. Conclusión: los abordajes en base de cráneo son de elección para la exérsis total de los meningiomas petroclivales. Los tumores blandos como los schwannomas trigeminales, los quistes epidermoides y los meningiomas con extensión a la región petroclival, pero sin inserción en la misma, pueden ser removidos por medio del abordaje retrosigmoideo.(AU)

Manejo de los tumores de la región petroclival / Management of petroclival region tumors

Objetivo: describir dos abordajes a la base de cráneo para el tratamiento quirúrgico de meningiomas petroclivales, que son aquellos que se originan en los dos tercios superiores del clivus, en la unión petroclival, y mediales al nervio trigémino. Material y método: se describen el abordaje cráneo-órbito-zigomático y el abordaje petroso posterior. Conclusión: los abordajes en base de cráneo son de elección para la exérsis total de los meningiomas petroclivales. Los tumores blandos como los schwannomas trigeminales, los quistes epidermoides y los meningiomas con extensión a la región petroclival, pero sin inserción en la misma, pueden ser removidos por medio del abordaje retrosigmoideo.

Cervical spinal cord compression due to an osteochondroma in hereditary multiple exostosis: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary multiple exostosis is a benign disorder characterized by multiple osteochondromas affecting long and flat bones, although occasionally vertebral column involvement can be seen. Cervical spinal cord compression in HME is a rare condition. The objective of this manuscript is to describe a rare case of cervical myelopathy due to an exostosis arising from C7 in a patient with HME and a comprehensive review of the current literature. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe a case of HME in an 18-year-old girl with myelopathy characterized by quadriparesis due to an osteochondroma arising from the lamina of C7. The patient underwent surgery, and a laminectomy was performed with a complete removal of the exostosis and spinal cord decompression. One month after surgery, patient presented an excellent recovery without neurologic deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical spinal cord compression resulting from osteochondroma is an extremely serious complication of HME. Neurosurgical approach should be recommended in order to achieve a spinal cord decompression, which usually results in excellent functional recovery.

[Fibrous dysplasia of the clivus: case report]. / Displasia fibrosa do clivus: relato de caso.

We describe the case of a 43 year-old woman with chronic headache and diplopia. The neuroradiologic exam showed volume increase and alteration in the bone density of the clivus. She was submitted to surgery and the anatomopathologic evidenced fibrous dysplasia. Other 14 of about fibrous dysplasia involving the clivus are related in the literature. We discuss clinical aspects, image exams, histology and treatment of this rare presentation of the disease.

Displasia fibrosa do clivus: relato de caso / Fibrous dysplasia of the clivus: case report

Relatamos o caso de uma paciente de 43 anos com história de cefaléia crônica e diplopia. O exame neurorradiológico demonstrou aumento de volume e alteração na densidade óssea do clivus. Foi submetida a cirurgia e o exame anatomopatológico evidenciou displasia fibrosa. Foram relatados na literatura outros 14 casos de displasia fibrosa envolvendo o clivus. Discutimos essa rara apresentação da doença segundo o quadro clínico, exames de imagem, histologia e tratamento.

Granuloma de colesterol da ponta do rochedo. Relato de caso / Cholesterol granuloma of the petrous apex. Report of a case

Os autores relatam um caso de granuloma de colesterol da ponta do rochedo, em um paciente do sexo feminino, de 74 anos, que se apresentou clinicamente com alteração de nervos cranianos (V, VI, VIII). O diagnóstico foi feito pela ressonância magnética de encéfalo, que identificou lesão com hipersinal em T1 e em T2, sem realce após administração de contraste paramagnético endovenoso. A via subtemporal extradural permitiu acesso direto à ponta do rochedo, com exerése total da lesão. A paciente evoluiu satisfatoriamente no pós-operatório, com melhora da sintomatologia.