1/9. Spinal toxoplasmic arachnoiditis associated with osteoid formation: a rare presentation of toxoplasmosis.STUDY DESIGN: An extremely rare presentation of an isolated spinal toxoplasmic arachnoiditis is described. OBJECTIVE: To draw attention to the fact that spinal arachnoid membranes may be a potential reservoir for toxoplasma gondii. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Central nervous system toxoplasmosis is a common manifestation in patients who are immunodeficient. Reports on the spinal toxoplasmosis are rare and focused on spinal cord involvement. methods: An adult patient presented with symptoms of spastic paraparesis that had begun 13 years before admission. Thoracic spinal magnetic resonance imaging showed small lesions in posterior subarachnoid space at Th7-Th8. A Th7-Th8 laminectomy was performed. Intradural-extramedullary lesions were excised. RESULTS: Clinical, immunologic, and pathologic examinations showed adhesive spinal arachnoiditis associated with osteoid formation caused by past toxoplasmic infection. There was no impairment of the immunologic defense system. CONCLUSION: Where no causative factor is found in serious spinal adhesive arachnoiditis, the possibility of spinal toxoplasmosis should also be investigated.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/9. neurocysticercosis and pure motor hemiparesis.A 49-year-old man with meningeal cysticercosis presented with a pure motor hemiparesis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a capsular infarction and a suprasellar cyst with surrounding arachnoiditis. cerebrospinal fluid analysis confirmed the diagnosis as it showed positive immunologic reactions to cysticerci. This is the first reported case of pure motor hemiparesis due to a parasitic disease of the central nervous system.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/9. Hemorrhagic complications after the lumbar injection of chymopapain.There are few reports of hemorrhagic central nervous system complications after chymopapain injection in humans. Two patients are reported who developed hemorrhagic complications after the lumbar injection of chymopapain. The first developed a hemorrhagic encephalomyelopathy followed by clinically suspected acute arachnoiditis, which responded to high doses of dexamethasone. The second patient developed subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to vertebral artery aneurysm rupture after the injection of chymopapain.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/9. Use of hyaluronidase in the central nervous system.Hyaluronidase, an enzyme which depolymerizes the mucopolysaccharide hyaluronic acid, appears to be tolerated by the human central nervous system and in the anterior chamber of the rabbit eye. Two patients with hydrocephalus and meningomyelocele had their condition curtailed by intraventricular injections of hyaluronidase, and in a third patient its use permitted delay of shunting. It was apparently effective in preventing a reaccumulation of cystic fluid in an intramedullary neurofibroma, and in reversing adverse effects of adhesive arachnoiditis of the spinal cord. Hylauronidase seems worthy of further investigation in disorders of the central nervous system.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/9. Successful treatment of spinal arachnoiditis due to coccidioidomycosis. Case report.An unusual case is reported of a patient with spastic paraparesis who was found to have severe spinal arachnoiditis due to coccidioides immitis. Despite an obstructive hydrocephalus and a spinal subarachnoid block, the patient was treated effectively with surgery (shunting) and antifungal therapy (amphotericin and ketoconazole). He remains asymptomatic 3 years after diagnosis. Aggressive surgical and medical treatment of coccidioidal infection of the central nervous system can be beneficial, even in patients with the worst prognosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/9. Neuroradiological manifestations of intracranial sarcoidosis.Six cases of sarcoidosis involving the central nervous system are reported with the neuroradiological findings and appearance on computed tomography. Communicating hydrocephalus with sarcoid arachnoiditis is the most common finding, but arteritis and masses have also been reported. Two rare cases of intracerebral masses are included. The radiological findings and clinical histories are reviewed with emphasis on the use of CT and complete neuroradiological studies for patients with possible central nervous system sarcoidosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/9. Communicating hydrocephalus caused by aspergillus flavus.A patient with a past history of sporadic parenteral drug abuse had communicating hydrocephalus associated with arachnoiditis over the lumbar spinal cord. The diagnosis of aspergillosis was made by a newly described immunofluorescent staining procedure and was later confirmed by culture. The spectrum of central nervous system aspergillosis associated with drug abuse is reviewed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/9. diagnosis and management of tuberculous paraplegia with special reference to tuberculous radiculomyelitis.paraplegia occurred in eight of 17 patients with central nervous system tuberculosis. In six of these paraplegia was the presenting feature. paraplegia may complicate tuberculous meningitis, or vertebral tuberculosis, but it may also occur, as in three of our cases, as a primary localised spinal tuberculous radiculomyelitis. These cases are presented in relation to the concept that paraplegia complicating these forms of tuberculosis is caused by radiculomyelitis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/9. Tuberculous radiculomyelitis (arachnoiditis): myelographic (and CT myelographic) appearances.Tuberculous radiculomyelitis (arachnoiditis) remains one of the important causes of paraplegia in india. The diagnosis usually rests on clinical history and examination, and on laboratory findings in the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF). Few descriptive reports are available of the myelographic appearance, with water-soluble contrast media, in tuberculous radioculomyelitis (arachnoiditis). A retrospective review of 21 myelograms and 10 computed tomographic (CT) myelograms, in 14 patients with tuberculous radiculomyelitis, was carried out, with a view to describing, in detail, the radiographic features. An attempt was made to assess the use of the radiologic procedures in diagnosis and follow up in these patients. Conventional myelographic findings included block (8/14), irregular subarachnoid space (9/14), filling defects (8/14), sluggish contrast flow (2/14), root thickening (3/14) and atrophic cord (2/14). Computed tomographic myelography showed reduced contrast density in portions of the opacified CSF ring around the cord in affected region (6/7) and, in addition, demonstrated septa and adhesions. Intravenous contrast CT was not found to be useful (2/2). follow-up studies showed partial resolution (3/6), deterioration (1/6) and status quo of radiological findings (2/6). Although these changes can be seen in chronic radiculomyelitis (arachnoiditis) from other causes, such as leukaemic infiltration/lymphoma, other chronic central nervous system infections and iatrogenic causes, including repeated intrathecal injections, conventional myelography appeared to be useful for diagnosis and follow up in tuberculous radiculomyelitis (arachnoiditis).- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |