1/40. Transient absence of F-waves in acute myelopathy: a potential source of diagnostic error.BACKGROUND: The frequent absence of F-waves in lesions of the nerve roots and proximal nerve is well known, with absence of F-waves occasionally the only electrophysiologic manifestation of early guillain-barre syndrome. It is less well known that acute central nervous system lesions can cause disappearance of F-waves. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 25 year old woman presented with quadriparesis and sensory loss progressive over several days. Hyporeflexia and hypotonia were present. Imaging studies were initially negative. Electrophysiologic testing was normal apart from the diffuse absence of F-waves. This led to strong consideration of the diagnosis of guillain-barre syndrome, and treatment for this diagnosis. However, imaging studies ultimately revealed the diagnosis to be transverse myelitis. F responses normalized 6 weeks after the initial study. CONCLUSIONS: F responses are significantly modulated by central nervous system factors. The relevant experimental and clinical literature is reviewed. The relevance of this to the diagnosis of guillain-barre syndrome has not been previously emphasized, but our experience confirms that the absence of F-waves in a patient with acute weakness accompanied by hyporeflexia and hypotonia does not distinguish between peripheral nerve and central nervous system lesions.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/40. spinal cord infarction and tetraplegia--rare complications of meningococcal meningitis.A previously healthy 25-yr-old female developed flaccid areflexic tetraplegia, with intact cranial nerve function, 36 h after the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. polymerase chain reaction studies of cerebrospinal fluid and blood were positive for neisseria meningitidis, serogroup b. Magnetic resonance of the cervicothoracic spine revealed increased signal intensity and expansion in the lower medulla, upper cervical cord and cerebellar tonsils. Neurosurgical consultation recommended hyperventilation, dexamethasone and regular mannitol therapy rather than decompressive intervention. The clinical course over the following 12 days was complicated by the development of progressive central nervous and multisystem organ failure with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. autopsy revealed cerebral oedema with cystic infarction extending from the medulla to the upper cervical cord and cerebellar tonsils. Flaccid areflexic tetraplegia with spinal cord infarction has not been reported following bacterial infection in an adult. The clinical implications would suggest complete central nervous system evaluation of patients recovering from meningococcal meningitis, since spinal cord lesions, although uncommon, do occur. In those very rare situations where a patient develops significant peripheral neurological deficits, urgent magnetic resonance imaging is warranted, to rule out an infective focus or an underlying anatomical anomaly.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/40. High voltage electrical injury leading to a delayed onset tetraplegia, with recovery.High voltage electrical injury can cause considerable damage to the central nervous system. Delayed spinal cord injury is uncommon, usually incomplete, and comprises predominantly motor fallout. The injury can be progressive, with only a few patients showing partial improvement. We present a case report of a 20-year-old male who had a delayed onset spinal cord injury after a high voltage electrical injury. The symptoms started several days postburn with an ascending paralysis, leading to tetraplegia. Gradual recovery became evident at 3 months after the accident, starting with his arms and later showing partial recovery of his lower limbs. The mechanisms of injury and pathophysiology to the spinal cord are poorly understood. Possible explanations for the delayed onset of neurologic complications are given. The exact reasons for the delayed, ascending paralysis and the mechanism of recovery still need further investigation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/40. Postoperative stroke in a child with cerebral palsy heterozygous for factor v Leiden.A 5-year-old with spastic quadraparetic cerebral palsy suffered multiple strokes after extensive orthopedic surgery. Coagulation testing was undertaken to determine whether a familial thrombophilia was present. The patient was found to be heterozygous for factor v Leiden. factor v Leiden may be a risk factor for central nervous system events in special-needs children, particularly when common medical conditions create additional procoagulant risks.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/40. Cervical epidural pseudotumor and multifocal fibrosclerosis. Case report and review of the literature.The authors present the case of a 45-year-old man suffering from progressive quadriplegia due to an expansive C3-T2 epidural mass. Neuropathological examination demonstrated pseudotumor tissue. The patient had had an orbital pseudotumor 5 years before admission, and other systemic manifestations of an idiopathic inflammatory disease were discovered. This case is extremely rare. Nine cases of multifocal fibrosclerosis with central nervous system involvement are described in the literature. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of a cervical epidural pseudotumor. Modern imaging has made the diagnosis of such an entity possible, and it is important for the neurosurgeon to consider this syndrome because the combination of surgery and systemic medical therapy can ensure a long-term survival with good quality of life.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/40. Acute cervical epidural hematoma: case report.A 74 year-old patient with a nocturnal onset of neck and chest pain was brought to an emergency clinic. physical examination and cardiac assessment were normal. Three hours after the addmittance, a flaccid paralysis of the four limbs supervened. Suspecting of an unusual onset of central nervous system infection, a lumbar puncture was performed, yielding 20 ml of normal cerebrospinal fluid. Thirty oinutes after the puncture, the patient completely regained neurological funcion. He was then referred to a General Hospital where a computed tomography (CT) scan was done showing a large cervical epidural bleeding in the posterolateral region of C4/C5 extending to C7/Th1, along with a C6 vertebral body hemangioma. A magnetic resonance imaging revealed the same CT findings. A normal selective angiography of vertebral arteries, carotid arteries and thyreocervical trunk was carried out. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (ASSEH) is a rare but dramatic cause of neurological impairment. In this article we report a fortunate case of complete recovery after an unusual spine cord decompression. We also review the current literature concerning diagnosis and treatment of ASSEH.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/40. Severe axonal polyneuropathy after a FK506 overdosage in a lung transplant recipient.FK506-induced polyneuropathies are rarely encountered. We report a case of axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy in a lung transplant recipient that occurred during a FK506 overdosage. Onset was acute in the form of severe areflexic tetraparesis and resolution was observed after reduction of dosage. Because of increasing use of FK506 in solid organ transplantation, caution should be paid with FK506 dosage monitoring in cases of peripheral nervous system symptoms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.13026008946498keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/40. magnetic resonance imaging findings in a case of cytarabine-induced myelopathy.A 44-year-old white male with an isolated central nervous system relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia was treated with intrathecal cytarabine. He developed staphylococcus epidermidis meningitis, which was treated successfully with intrathecal vancomycin. Four weeks after the initiation of intrathecal cytarabine, the patient developed progressive ascending paralysis to the upper cervical level. Initial magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine were normal, and cerebrospinal fluid evaluation showed no evidence of ongoing infection and clearance of lymphoblasts. Three weeks later, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated marked edema and peripheral enhancement of the spinal cord, consistent with cytarabine toxicity.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/40. Episodic coma in a new leukodystrophy.Among the leukodystrophies of a hypomyelinating nature, childhood ataxia with diffuse central nervous system hypomyelination exhibits the unique feature of rapid decrease in mental status after relatively minor head injuries or otherwise noncomplicated febrile illnesses. This article reports the case of a child with progressive spastic quadriparesis in whom unconsciousness developed repeatedly as a result of minor head trauma and required prolonged critical-care nursing. Although cognition is believed to be relatively preserved in this disorder, this child developed progressive cognitive decline. A detailed review of the literature is presented along with discussion of the potential mechanisms of neurologic deterioration.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/40. baclofen withdrawal following removal of an intrathecal baclofen pump despite oral baclofen replacement.Intrathecal baclofen is used as a muscle relaxant and antispasmodic in cases of spasticity resulting from central nervous system trauma. The baclofen withdrawal syndrome may include hyperthermia, tachycardia, hypertension, seizures, altered mental status, and psychomotor agitation. We report a case in which the removal of a baclofen pump lead tothe development of severe withdrawal symptoms despite oral baclofen replacement therapy. In order to avoid the development of withdrawal, adequate doses of GABA agonist agents should be administered immediately prior to, and following, baclofen pump removal.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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