Calcifying pseudoneoplasm of the neuroaxis presenting with refractory seizures: Case report and literature review.

Calcifying pseudoneoplasms of the neuraxis (CAPNON) are rare benign lesions that can arise anywhere within the central nervous system. The etiology of these lesions remains unknown and diagnosis is made on pathohistological analysis. We present the case of a 35-year-old male patient with a history of epilepsy since childhood who was evaluated for refractory seizures. MRI revealed a small lesion in the left-posterior temporal lobe suspected to be a cavernoma. A gross total resection of the lesion was achieved via a left temporal craniotomy and pathological analysis revealed CAPNON. At 6 months follow-up, the patient remained neurologically intact and his seizures had ceased.

Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Cuenca, Ecuador.

BACKGROUND: Cuenca, a city in the Andean Region of southern Ecuador, has 591,996 inhabitants. A decade-old study showed the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Cuenca was 0.75 cases per 100,000 inhabitants but no new epidemiological studies in this city have been performed since then. The aim of this study, conducted in 2016, was to update the prevalence records of multiple sclerosis in Cuenca. METHODS: We performed a descriptive cross-sectional study in which we investigated prevalence rates in November of 2016. We estimated the prevalence of multiple sclerosis by cross-matching registries from the two neurological referral hospitals in Cuenca. RESULTS: A total of 23 records were obtained from the two sources. The estimated prevalence was 3.88 per 100,000 inhabitants (95% confidence interval: 3.83-3.94). The disease was predominant among women (60%). The mean age of this cohort was 37 years (standard deviation ±12.4). Of the cases, 78% were relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The mean Expanded Disability Status Scale score was 2.5. CONCLUSIONS: This study is an update to the first study conducted 10 years ago and shows the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Cuenca has increased. However, the prevalence of multiple sclerosis is still low and very similar to that reported in neighbouring countries.