Evaluation of corpus callosum morphometry in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS) on corpus callosum (CC) morphometry in large and pathologically proven MTLE-HS patients. METHODS: We measured certain CC dimensions in 103 patients and 33 healthy controls using in vivo magnetic resonance imaging. In particular, we compared the two groups in relation to the clinical (localization of the HS, duration of epilepsy, frequency of seizures and length of seizures) and demographical (age, gender, handedness) features. Students' t test, two-way ANOVA and Spearman test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between CC morphometry with respect to age and handedness among patients. The differences between the genders, however, were significant favouring longer diameters in males. We found significant decrease in the dimensions of the genu, body, isthmus and splenium of the CC in the MTLE-HS group, but there was no reduction in the size of the rostrum. CONCLUSIONS: This general reduction in the size of the CC except for the rostrum was thought to be the result of cortical atrophy secondary to the disease. Concerning the preserved rostral part of the CC, it was thought that the fibers of the frontal lobe pass through different pathways than the tracts in the rostrum.

A connecting branch between the musculocutaneous nerve and the median nerve.

We report here a connecting branch between the musculocutaneous and the median nerves in a 42 years old male cadaver. The connecting branch was 8 cm in length and 3 mm in width. One of the brachial veins and the brachial artery were located between the roots of the median nerve and the second brachial vein was present between the connecting branch and the median nerve. These kinds of variations may effect the venous return and may cause edema in the upper extremities. Additionally, variations of these nerves have an importance during operations of this region.

An accessory fissure in the lower lobe of the right lung.

We report here an accessory fissure in the right lung. Accessory fissures are described as clefts of various depths lined by two layers of visceral pleura. Anomalies of location of the lungs may be produced by the accessory fissures. In our case, an unusual accessory fissure in the right lung was found in a 50 years old male cadaver. The accessory fissure was located between the superior and basal segments of the lower lobe of the right lung. Its depth was around 3 cm as an average value. Its length was found to be 12 cm on the surface of the lung. In conclusion, a surgeon must always remember the anatomical variations of the location of the lungs especially in lobectomies and in segmental resection. From the radiological aspect, an accessory fissure is important in that it can be mistaken for lung pathologies.