1/5. Primary brainstem injury: benign course and improved survival.Primary brainstem injury following head injury is a rare event. The victims often have features of supratentorial injury, and a primary isolated injury to the brainstem occurring due to shearing stresses or to injury from the tentorial edge is extremely rare. In the presence of supratentorial injury, these patients may have altered sensorium. Isolated brainstem injury may manifest itself as internuclear ophthalmoplegia, anisocoria, rigidity and cerebellar tremor. Such injuries are now being diagnosed more often due to improved imaging techniques. We treated nine such cases who had sustained primary brainstem injury in road traffic accidents, all but one of whom were subsequently independent. Primary brainstem injuries need not be associated with poor prognosis and mortality and may run a benign course with good quality of survival.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/5. Proximal M2 false aneurysm after head trauma--Case report.A 72-year-old male presented with a post-traumatic false aneurysm of the right proximal M2 artery with massive subarachnoid hemorrhage after closed head injury. Serial computed tomography (CT) and angiography showed the development of the aneurysm which was verified at autopsy. He was admitted in a drowsy state just after a motorcycle accident. Initial brain CT showed subarachnoid hemorrhage without skull fracture. Follow-up brain CT showed a huge hematoma in the right temporal lobe. He died 47 hours after the accident. Histological examination of the aneurysm showed a false aneurysm. delayed diagnosis of traumatic aneurysms leads to high mortality, so early surgical treatment is essential to save such patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.22222222222222keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/5. Pediatric horner syndrome: etiologies and roles of imaging and urine studies to detect neuroblastoma and other responsible mass lesions.PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency of etiologies of horner syndrome in children and suggest an imaging and laboratory diagnostic protocol to evaluate for neuroblastoma and other lesions in a child presenting with horner syndrome and no known cause. DESIGN: Retrospective chart and data review. methods: A retrospective review of all children seen at a large pediatric neuro-ophthalmology referral center with a diagnosis of horner syndrome between 1993 and 2005 with particular attention to underlying etiologies and the results of imaging and urine catecholamine studies. RESULTS: Fifty-six children met criteria for horner syndrome and further review. Twenty-eight children (50%) had no previously identified cause for horner syndrome. Of these children, 24 (85.7%) had urine catecholamine metabolite studies, and all had negative results. Twenty (71.4%) had complete modern imaging of the brain, neck, and chest. Of the 18 children who had complete imaging and urine studies, responsible mass lesions were found in six (33%). Four had neuroblastoma, one had Ewing sarcoma, and the other had juvenile xanthogranuloma. Of all patients (diagnosis known and unknown), neoplasm was the etiology in 13 of 56 (23%) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm that horner syndrome in a child of any age without a surgical history requires a complete examination to exclude a mass lesion. In such patients, we recommend brain, neck, and chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with and without contrast as well as urinary catecholamine metabolite testing. However, imaging is more sensitive than urine testing in this setting.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.22222222222222keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/5. Penetrating eye injury from a rigid infant pacifier.BACKGROUND: The use of infant pacifiers (dummies) is common in Australasian communities and has been reported to be associated with various injuries, but to date ocular trauma has not been reported. CASE REPORT: A 14-month-old child sustained a penetrating eye injury from the infant pacifier that was in his mouth during a minor fall. Only a lid laceration was detected at the time. One week later he presented with mydriasis, heterochromia and a poor red reflex. Diagnosis of a penetrating eye injury was made by examination under anaesthesia, with B-scan ultrasonography demonstrating hypotony but no retinal detachment or intraocular foreign body. Funduscopy revealed a small inferior vitreous haemorrhage. Exploration of the globe adjacent to the lid wound showed a 6 mm laceration through the sclera plugged with prolapsed vitreous. CONCLUSION: Serious ocular injury may result after a minor fall with some designs of rigid infant pacifiers. Heterochromia and anisocoria noted by the mother heralded more serious ocular injury in this case. The delay in diagnosis of this injury emphasizes the importance of ocular examination to exclude eye trauma when injuries occur around the orbit.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 24.674662526667keywords = haemorrhage (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/5. Migraine aura without headache and ictal fast EEG activity in an 11-year-old boy.A case of an 11-year-old boy with recurrent migraine auras without headache is reported. Aura was preceded by an anisocoria and was characterized, besides other brain-stem signs, by confusional state. Ictal EEG recordings showed fast activity. Recognition of this finding may prevent an inappropriate diagnosis of drug ingestion. However, whether non-reactive beta activity is typical for basilar migraine remains to be determined.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.11111111111111keywords = brain (Clic here for more details about this article) |