[Rheumatoid arthritis and meningeal nodules]. / Polyarthrite rhumatoïde et nodules méningés.

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid nodules are possible extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. These lesions are mainly located in subcutaneous tissues but may also rarely affect deep organs, exceptionally the meninges. CASE REPORT: We report herein a case of meningeal nodules observed in a 52-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis who underwent brain MRI to explore an acute visual impairment. Subsequent MRIs showed similar new lesions contrasting with total regression of the initially observed lesions. The final control brain MRI performed four years after the onset of the ocular symptoms disclosed total involution of all the extra-axial nodular lesions, a course highly suggestive of meningeal rheumatoid nodules. CONCLUSION: During the follow-up period of this case, the patient was treated with methotrexate at doses too low to cross the blood brain barrier. Consequently, it is most likely that the meningeal lesions developed during the natural course of the disease. Despite the non-specific features of the first imaging findings, the radiological changes observed over time were consistent with the final diagnosis of rheumatoid nodules.

Intracerebral hemorrhage survival: French register data.

Cerebral hemorrhages are subject to a heavy short- and long-term case fatality. A study of prognostic factors and of relative survival based on the data of a population registry is of great value to study patients having a hematoma of all ages, irrespective of the method of care. We have listed 183 patients having a cerebral hemorrhage between 1 January 1985 and 31 December 1996 and living in the city of Dijon, France. Eighteen clinical and CT-scanning variables have been studied. We have found four predictive factors of death at one month from cerebral hemorrhages. These are, in decreasing order: the existence of consciousness disorders at the initial clinical examination (OR = 5.80, p < 0.0001); an intraventricular hemorrhage (OR = 5.60, p < 0.0001); a hematoma volume over 11 cubic centimeters (OR = 3.53, p = 0.027); lastly, in male patients an age over 70 years (OR = 4.90, p = 0.039). With regard to long-term survival, the existence of consciousness disorders remains the principal predictive factor of case fatality in both crude and relative survival (OR = 5.52, p < 0.0001, in crude survival versus OR = 22.2 in relative survival, p < 0.0001), followed by age over 70 years (OR = 3.71, p < 0.0001 in crude survival and OR = 2.41 in relative survival, p = 0.086). The existence of consciousness disorders at the initial examination following a cerebral hemorrhage would seem to be the principal worst prognostic factor of short- and long-term survival and of relative survival, age and sex having less importance. Moreover, intraventricular hemorrhage and hematoma volume are short-term, pejorative factors. These data, based on a population-based registry, are an important consideration in the acute management of hemorrhagic therapy, and for the design of further therapeutic trials on this severe pathology.

Survival rates of malignant gliomas in Burgundy from 1990 to 1995.

The aim of this study was to provide current data on case-fatality rates of malignant gliomas in the area of Burgundy (1,300,000 inhabitants). The ascertainment was specific according to imaging and histologic criteria, and was exhaustive because of the existence of a single University Hospital allowing both imaging and histologic diagnosis from stereotaxic cerebral biopsy. During six full years we collected 161 cases of malignant gliomas grades II to IV, 93 men (57.76%) and 68 women (42.23%). The mean age was 61 years. In all the age groups, there were a male predominance. Headache, epilepsy and motor deficit were the most frequent symptoms at onset. In most cases, the gliomas were localized within the frontal area. The post-surgical Karnofsky score was up to 70 in 40% of the cases. There were 89 glioblastomas with grade IV, 37 anaplastic astrocytomas, 13 gliomatous tumors with grade II and IV and six anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. This grading explains the very low survival rates, with a negative effect induced by age. Among the most relevant contributions of this study to the clinical features of malignant gliomas is an analysis of case-fatality rates, evaluation of health care services and therapeutic trials.

Dandy-Walker malformation associated with occipital meningocele and cardiac anomalies: a rare complex embryologic defect.

The authors present the second case in the literature of Dandy-Walker malformation associated with occipital meningocele and congenital cardiac defect. This association suggests that the time of origin of this posterior fossa malformation is before the sixth postconception week; however, the pathogenesis remains unsettled.

[Language disorders in a right frontal lesion in a right-handed patient. Incoherent speech and extravagant paraphasias. Neuropsychologic study]. / Troubles du langage au cours d'une lésion frontale droite chez un droitier. Incohérence du discours et paraphasies "extravagantes". Etude Neuropsychologique.

Clinical, neuropsychological, and CT scan data are reported in a patient with a right prefrontal hematoma following meningeal hemorrhage due to the rupture of an aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery. Over a period of six weeks, before and after surgery, the patient presented a particular type of language disorder characterized by incoherent speech, verbal paraphasias, unexpected or guided along ideic perseverations, emphatic and affected terms, and impossibility of brief responses, particularly in denomination tests. Contrasting with the absurdity of the discourse, the respect of oral comprehension, the absence of grammatical disorders, and the perfect phonemic and phonetic organization provided evidence of the integrity of the linguistic code. The purely semantic disturbance, however, was the cause of the apparent alteration in reasoning and judgment. A major amnestic syndrome was also present. It improved concomitantly with the language disorders. The explanation proposed is that of a disturbance of an attention process and of word selection due to a prefrontal lesion.

[Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhages in young patients. Study of 33 cases]. / Les hémorragies intracérébrales spontanées du sujet jeune. Etude de 33 cas.

We report 33 cases of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in patients aged from to 9/44 years (male: 20, female: 13, mean age: 32.5 years). ICH was due to vascular malformations in 39 p. 100 of cases, to arterial hypertension in 30% and to various causes in 18% no cause could be found in 13% of the cases. ICH was lobar in 64%, deep in 33% and infratentorial in 3% of the cases. The diagnosis was assessed by arteriography in 9 patients. The vascular malformations were arterial angiomas, saccular aneurysms and cavernous angiomas. Death rate was 24%. There was a fast ICH handicap in 40% of cases. Only 36% of the patients were not disabled.

MRI assessment of anterior callosotomy in the treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsy.

Section of the anterior two-thirds of the corpus callosum is a well-known treatment of some forms of epilepsy of long duration resistant to anti-epileptic drugs and dangerous for the patient (tonic and atonic seizures). The aim of this functional surgery is to obtain the most complete rostral and caudal section of the corpus callosum without risk of disconnection syndrome. Callosotomy is seldom performed in Europe. We present our experience of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the pre- and postoperative assessment of 6 patients who underwent anterior callosotomy and were followed up for more than six months. Our results were encouraging with considerable improvement of the patients' social life.

[Dumbbell neurogenic tumors of the posterior mediastinum. Apropos of five cases]. / Tumeurs nerveuses en sablier du médiastin postérieur. A propos de cinq observations.

The authors present 5 cases of dumbbell neurogenic tumors with intraspinal extension. There were 4 neurilemmomas in four adults and 1 ganglioneuroma in one child. These tumors were benign. Neurological signs were observed in two cases. Widening of the intervertebral foramen at the level of the tumor is a very suggestive sign of dumbbell tumor confirmed by CT-Scan or MRI. Precise morphologic features must be assessed before embarking on the operation. The procedures used were: thoracotomy only in two cases, laminectomy then thoracotomy because of neurological signs in two cases, thoracotomy then laminectomy to fully remove tumor remnants in one case. No major morbidity was noted. The neurological symptoms resolved in two cases. A combined two-team approach with thoracic and neurosurgeons working together has not been used so far, but this possibility is probably the best choice for the future.

[Effects of callosotomy in the treatment of intractable epilepsies in children on psychiatric disorders]. / Les effets de la callosotomie dans le traitement de l'épilepsie rebelle de l'enfant sur les troubles psychiques.

Two children, 13 and 14 years old, presented an intractable epilepsy of Lennox-Gastaut. In front of dangerous tonic and atonic epileptic crisis, a corpus callosotomy was performed. Corpus callosotomy is becoming a more widely used procedure in the treatment of intractable epilepsy as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, or frontal epilepsy. However, there have been very few series that have reported results in children. It is not a complete but a partial, callosal section including approximately the anterior two thirds of the callosum. After this surgery the two children improved dramatically because the dangerous tonic and atonic crisis disappeared. Secondly we observed improvement of pre-surgical psychiatric troubles, that is a data not developed in the literature. Before surgery, the two children had a frontal syndrome with hyperkinesia, distractibility, aggressiveness, alexithymia, loss of the program of ideas. During the two months after the section of the anterior two thirds of the corpus callosum, we observed a progressive improvement of the frontal syndrome, with possibility to learn new praxies. The intellectual quotient was not altered and associative functions, depending of the posterior third of the corpus callosum were spared. Anti-epileptic medications were not stopped. We think that the improvement of the frontal syndrome is due to reduction of seizures. Therefore, we insist on the interest of the section of the anterior two thirds of the corpus callosum as treatment of tonic and atonic seizures but also as treatment of psychiatric symptoms depending of a frontal syndrome.

[Orthostatic arterial hypotension and giant aneurysm of the basilar trunk]. / Hypotension artérielle orthostatique et anévrysme géant du tronc basilaire.

The authors report two observations of giant aneurysm of basilar artery, where the first neurological signs were preceded or escorted by a postural hypotension. They emphasize the place of rhombencephon in the control of blood pressure and they bring together their cases with those reporting a postural hypotension revealing a lesion of medulla. They insist upon the necessity to look a peripheric and central neurological lesion in front of a postural hypotension.

[Supratentorial hemorrhage of hypertensive origin during operation: an unusual complication of surgery on the posterior fossa in the sitting position (author's transl)]. / Hémorragie supra-tentorielle peropératoire d'origine hypertensive: complication inhabituelle d'une chirurgie de la fosse postérieure en postition assise.

The authors report a case of a massive hemorrhage in the basal ganglia after an uncomplicated posterior fossa intervention for removal of an isolated metastasis of a breast carcinoma. The etiology of this large hematoma was most likely secondary to a sudden rise of the arterial blood pressure during the removal of the tumor, probably due to an irritation of the vaso-motor centers of the medulla. This complication is exceptional since only two similar cases have been reported in the literature, but this possibility should be kept in mind in any patient developing a progressive hemiparesis and deterioration of the level of consciousness immediately after a sub-occipital craniectomy.

[Repair of recurrent osteo-meningeal lesions at the base of the skull]. / Réparation des brèches ostéo-méningées récidivantes de la base du crâne

Treatment of cerebro-spinal fluid rhinorrhea from traumatic or tumoral origin, by simple dural patching, is not always sufficient because of the possible necrosis of the patch, mainly in case of severe osteo-meningeal defects. After having pointed out the frequency of such recurrences (5 to 30%, according to the data of literature), the authors report 6 personal cases successfully reoperated in order to repair the osteo-dural lesions with autogenous aponeurosis and bone grafts. 4 were after traumatism and 2 after removal of a tumor, in fronto-ethmoido-sphenoidal base of the skull. The authors suggest to combine bone reconstruction by autograft to the dural repair, even in case of primary fistula, when there is a severe traumatic or tumoral bone defect, or when we are dealing with a spontaneous rhinorrhea which is known to be generally due to local C.S.F. hyperpressure.

[Posterior osteosynthesis in the treatment of spinal cord tumors]. / Apport de l'ostéosynthèse postérieure dans le traitement des tumeurs du rachis

Prognosis of cancerous tumors of the spine depends above all on their neurological consequences. The authors have wondered whether osteosynthesis of the spine -- in addition to decompressive surgery -- can improve patient's survival and fonctional results. 23 patients, 20 with a metastatic tumor and 3 with a plasmocytoma were treated in this way. All of them had neurological deficits, 4 had isolated radicular symptoms, 1 a cauda equina syndrome and 18 a spinal cord compression (7 of which were complete). 20 of these patients suffered intractable pain of the spine. All the patients underwent decompressive surgical removal of tumor through laminectomy, associated with a bilateral posterior metallic osteosynthesis. The type of osteosynthesis consisted of two metallic plates placed along each articular column and screwed into the articular processes and the vertebral body through the pedicles of the adjacent normal vertebrae. Cobaltotherapy was added in 14 cases, hormonotherapy in one case and radioactive 131 1 in one another patient. Selective spinal angiography, performed in one case of thoracolumbar tumor was found useful in the location and avoidance of Adamkiedwicz's artery. With regard to the complication, there were two operative wound infections requiring reoperation. Our series -- in comparaison with others -- prove the effectiveness of the combined procedure. Patients without complete spinal deficit had a 20 months survival average. Patients with complete deficit had the same survival as in comparative group. But all the 20 patients suffering pain in the spine were substantially relieved. Such a combined procedure is indicated in cases of tumors involving the vertebrae, whether or not the epidural space is invaded especially when there are riskes of unstable fracture and only partial neurological deficits. The technique may be extended even to complete paraplegia because of its worth while antalgic effects. Thus this method -- by consolidating the spine -- relieving pain and consequently allowing kinesitherapy to be resumed earlier is able to improve the functionnal status and increase survival of the patients.

[Plastic coating in the surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Late results of twenty cases (author's transl)]. / L'enrobage par matière plastique : complément important de la chirurgie actuelle des anévrysmes des artères cérébrales suites éloignées d'une série opératoire de 20 cas.

The authors reported the late results of a serie of fifteen intracranial aneurysm treated by plastic coating. These fifteen patients belong to a group of twenty cases operated with this technic. Four patients were pre-operatively in stade V. One patient died massive pre-frontal infract probably to retractor. In the same period, seventy-two others patients were operated for intracranial aneurysm by usual clip. The fifteen patients with plastic coating have been from two years to seven years observed. One case of minor epilepsy, one case of meningitis good imprevoded were noted. In this serie, no relapsing meningeal hemorrhage, is noted.

[Complications observed in the surgery of aneurysms of the circle of Willis in a perspective of early operation]. / Les complications observées dans la chirurgie des anévrysmes du polygone de Willis dans une optique d'intervention précoce.

This report concern a series of 100 consecutive patients operated by direct attack for intracranial ruptured aneurysms (mortality: 14%, complete removal: 70%). 35% of this patients have been early operated before the 96e hour. In this series, only one case of spasm was observed. But we have observed other neurosurgical complications, analysed and compared to the postoperative course of the patients who had delayed operations.

[Intracranial aneurysm and polycystic kidneys]. / Anévrysmes intracrâniens et maladie polykystique des reins.

Five cases of intracranial aneurysms with polycystic kidneys are reported: --15% of polycystic kidneys have an intracranial aneurysm, and about 4% - 5% of intracranial aneurysms are joined with polycystic kidneys; --the surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysm with this association doesn't present more risk than an intracranial aneurysm, and the surgical prognosis isn't bad; --the pathogeny isn't clear. This association is perhaps a congenital elastic system disease.

[Scanography in head injuries. Critical study of 500 cases]. / La scanographie en traumatologie crânienne. Etude critique de 500 cas.

In 22 months, about 2 000 patients were hospitalized for head injury and 410 of these had computerized tomography to determine the presence and extent of intracranial pathology. 165 patients had normal C.T. scan, and in 245 cases the scan showed an intracranial pathology: 132 brain contusions, 45 epidural hematomas, 36 subdural hygromas, 32 chronic subdural hematomas, 8 intracerebral hematomas, 2 pneumocephalus. The C.T. scan is a very useful technique for evaluation of the head injured patient in emergency. For epidural hematomas, mortality rate which was 16% before C.T. scan period decreased to 8% after C.T. scan period. The C.T. scan has a definite advantage over angiography in brain contusions. Instead of seeing only mass effect, one can tell on C.T. scans whether the abnormality is a small hematoma, an area of contused swollen brain, an hemorrhagic contusion, or a brain oedema. The surgical decisions are more precise with this information. In the management of head injury, we think that C.T. scan must be repeat because many patients developed new lesions and delayed hematomas: intracerebral, subdural, epidural.

[X-ray computed tomography in a series of aneurysms of the circle of Willis]. / L'apport de la tomodensitométrie dans une série d'anévrysmes du polygone de Willis.

During four years, 80 patients with intracranial aneurysms were examined by a CT scanner. The CT was helpful for: The rapid and easy diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Direct visualization of intracranial aneurysms. Detecting intracerebral or intraventricular hematoma and distribution of subarachnoid clots. The limitations and pitfalls of CT were: No abnormality was seen on 16 scans (20%). The identification of the source of bleeding in multiple intracranial aneurysms.

[Epidural hematoma of the posterior cranial fossa]. / L'hématome extra-dural de la fosse cérébrale postérieure.

The use of CT scans has entirely modified the prognosis of epidural hematomas of the posterior cranial fossa. The analysis of a personal series of 20 cases diagnosed and treated over a 10 year period, that is 6.5% of E.D.H. cases seen in this hospital, has enabled us: to propose an anatomical study regrouping the different topographic forms observed in the literature as well as in the present series. to check the deceptive radiological appearance of these hematomas. The main sign remains the existence of a cranial fracture at the level of the occipital bone. Repeated CT scans should attempt to localize this lesion. In 15% of our cases, the lesion was only detected on the second CT scan. to recommend a simple and rapid surgical procedure in the ventral decubitus position, which does not involve the foramen magnum approach. This is performed away from the occipital junction of the venous sinus. to underline the progressive decrease in the mortality rate (10%) and the good subsequent prognosis of these apparently serious forms which have left no sequelae.

[The neurosurgical treatment of the cerebral localisations of the alveolaris (multilocularis) echinococcosis (author's transl)]. / Exérèse chirurgicale des localisations cérébrales de l'échinococcose multiloculaire.

A case of adult woman surgically treated for hepatic alveolaris ecchinococcosis on 1975 is presented. On 1976, a hypertensive intracranial syndrome is treated by removal of a right temporal kystic localisation. On 1977, a new localisation is successfully raised. The authors, in a short review of the literature note that these cerebral localisations are not always terminal. The alveolaris ecchinococcosis is now autochthonous in France.