GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME BRAIN TUMORS LOCATED IN THE MOTOR CORTEX--SPECIFIC FINDINGS IN COMPARISON WITH LOW GRADE GLIOMAS OF THE SAME LOCALIZATION: ANALYSIS OF A SIXTY PATIENT SERIES.

The verified presence of a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumor in the motor area of the brain, in a patient lacking preoperative neurological deficit, offers no certainty that the tumor can be radically removed without the possibility of causing postoperative motor deficit. We present a series of 60 patients hospitalized at the Clinical Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Center of Serbia in Belgrade between October 2011 and February 2015, harboring tumors located within and in the vicinity of the motor zone of the brain. By using Karnofsky's index (KI), the pre- and postoperative conditions of the patients were evaluated. Regarding electrical stimulation of the motor cortex, significantly lower values of the electrical current intensity, frequency, and pulse wave duration (p < 0.01) were needed for triggering motor response in case of GBM tumor compared to a slowly growing tumor (low-grade). Patients with low-grade gliomas (LGG) had statistically significantly higher KI values pre- and postoperatively than patients with GBM (p < 0.01). Using electrical stimulation of the cortex, a higher grade of resection of LGG could be achieved as compared with the group presenting with GBM (χ² = 5.281; df = 1; p < 0.05). Our findings and review of the results reported by other authors underline the necessity of routine application of electrical stimulation of the cerebral cortex in order to identify the primary motor field (M1).

[Incidence of penile curvature in various forms of hypospadias]. / Ucestalost kurvature penisa kod razlicitih oblika hipospadija.

INTRODUCTION: Hypospadias is a congenital anomaly of the penis, characterised by ectopically positioned urethral meatus and associated anomalies (cryptorchidism, inguinal hernia, penile curvature). Proximal forms of hypospadias, as severe cases, are particularly accompanied by penile curvature (chordee). Distal types are considered to be mild degrees. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of congenital curvature within various forms of hypospadias in order to signify preoperative and intraoperative diagnosis of chordee as a part of hypospadias repair. METHODS: The total of 454 patients with hypospadias were treated surgically in a five-year period (2001-2006.) at the University Children's Hospital of Belgrade. The patients were divided into two groups according to the surgeon who had treated them. Only the first group of patients was tested for chordee as a part of standard procedure and complete treatment. In both groups we analyzed the number of patients treated for penile curvature within various types of hypospadias. We also compared scores in the two groups using Fisher test and chi2-test. RESULTS: Scanning retrospective, 104 cases (22.9%) of diagnosed and surgically corrected chordee were determined. In 31.6% of patients from the first group and 11.6% of patients from the second group we diagnosed and corrected some form of penile curvature was. Chordee was significantly more frequent in the first group, regarding hypospadias in general (p<0.01), as well as distal (p<0.05) and mid shaft forms (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Penile curvature is not uncommon in hypospadias. In this study we report a significantly higher frequency as related to the patients in the second group who were not tested for curvature during hypospadias treatment. This is why standard techniques in hypospadias repair should definitely include the diagnosis and surgical correction of penile curvature.