Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor originally diagnosed as astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT), described in 1988 and introduced in the WHO classification in 1993, affects predominantly children or young adults causing intractable complex partial seizures. Since it is benign and treated with surgical resection, its recognition is important. It has similarities with low-grade gliomas and gangliogliomas, which may recur and become malignant. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether DNT was previously diagnosed as astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, or ganglioglioma and to determine its frequency in a series of low-grade glial/glio-neuronal tumors. METHODS: Clinical, radiological, and histological aspects of 58 tumors operated from 1978 to 2008, classified as astrocytomas (32, including 8 pilocytic), oligodendrogliomas (12), gangliogliomas (7), and DNT (7), were reviewed. RESULTS: Four new DNT, one operated before 1993, previously classified as astrocytoma (3) and oligodendroglioma (1), were identified. One DNT diagnosed in 2002 was classified once more as angiocentric glioma. Therefore, 10 DNT (17.2%) were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical-radiological and histopathological correlations have contributed to diagnose the DNT

Cistos de bolsa de Rathke: diagnóstico e tratamento

Estudamos retrospectivamente quatro pacientes com cisto de bolsa de Rathke. Chamamos a atenção para a apresentação clínica e para o tratamento destas lesões. Todos ocorreram em pacientes do sexo feminino. Os sintomas predominantes foram amenorréia, cefaléia e déficit visual. Revisamos várias séries publicadas de cistos de bolsa de Rathke. Concluimos que o tratamento cirúrgico é ainda a melhor conduta e que a via transesfenoidal é a abordagem mais indicada

Apoplexia hipofisária intradenomatosa Intra-adenomatous pituitary apoplexy

Os autores analisam a literatura sobre apoplexia hipofisária intradenomatosa, enfocando a fisiopatologia, o diagnóstico e a conduta terapêutica. Estudam 5 casos , de uma série de 86 pacientes com tumores hipofisários que desenvolveram esta síndrome e que foram diagnosticados e acompanhados pelos serviços de Neurocirurgia e Endocrinologia do Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Todos os casos, a partir da suspeita clínica, tiveram o diagnóstico confirmado por estudo de tomografia computadorizada de crânio e/ou ressonância magnética de crânio. O tratamento de escolha foi cirúrgico. As conclusões apontam para as dificuldades diagnósticas desta situação clínica e da urgência na instituição da terapia.The authors review the literature on intra-adenomatous pituitary apoplexy with special emphasis on pathophysiology, diagnosis and therapeutic approach. They present five cases, from a series of 86 patients with pituitary tumors, that developed this syndrome. The patients were diagnosed and followed by the Neurosurgery and Endocrinology Services of Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Diagnosis was confirmed by CT-Scan and MRI in all cases , and the treatment of choice was surgical. Conclusions point to the diagnostic difficulties and the urgency of treatment in this clincal setting

Failed back surgery syndrome: casuistic and etiology Síndrome pós-laminectomia: casuística e etiologia

OBJECTIVE: To report our data of cases of failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) and surgical and nonsurgical etiologies. METHOD: The medical charts of 121 patients submitted to laminectomy, hemilaminectomy combined with discectomy and/or foraminotomy between January 1997 and October 2004 in the Instituto of Neurologia Deolindo Couto were reviewed. The inclusion criterion was does not improve or the symptoms return after the surgery and with a minimum of three medical consultations with adequate investigation for the diagnosis. The patients had been divided in three main pre-surgical diagnosis: herniated disc, lumbar stenosis and the association of these. RESULTS: From the 121 patients submitted to spine surgical intervention, 47 (38.8%) had presented criteria for the FBSS. Among the 26 patients who had presented operative diagnosis of lumbar stenosis, 8 (30.7%) had presented FBSS; of the 83 with disc herniation, 31 (37.3%) had the syndrome; and the 12 patients with lumbar stenosis associated with disc herniation, 7 (58.3%) had failure of the back surgery. CONCLUSION: The failure of back surgery remains a challenge for the surgeons. There is an incessant search for the causes and the action mechanisms of this syndrome and the best method of treatment.OBJETIVO: Relatar nossos dados sobre a síndrome pós-laminectomia (SPL) e as causas cirúrgicas e não-cirúrgicas. MÉTODO: Foram revisados 121 prontuários de pacientes submetidos a laminectomia, hemilaminectomia combinadas com discectomia e/ou foraminotomia realizadas no Instituto de Neurologia Deolindo Couto entre janeiro de 1997 e outubro de 2004. RESULTADOS: Dos 121 pacientes que sofreram intervenção cirúrgica lombar, 47 (38,8%) apresentaram critérios para a SPL. Dos 26 pacientes que apresentaram diagnóstico pré-operatório de estenose lombar, 8 (30,7%) apresentaram SPL; dos 83 com hérnia de disco, 31 (37,3%) tiveram a síndrome; e dos 12 pacientes com estenose lombar associada com hérnia de disco, 7 (58,3%) tiveram a SPL. CONCLUSÃO: A síndrome pós-laminectomia permanece um desafio para os cirurgiões. Há uma busca incessante pelas causas e os mecanismos de ação desta síndrome e o melhor método de tratamento

Complicações das cirurgias hipofisárias: análise de 120 cirurgias no HUCFF-UFRJ Complications of pituitary surgery: analysis of 120 operations at HUCFF-UFRJ

Estudamos uma série de 108 pacientes, submetidos a 120 intervenções cirúrgicas para tratamento de tumores hipofisários realizadas no Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho (HUCFF) da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), no período de 1979 a julho de 1998, com o objetivo de analisar a morbidade e mortalidade pós-operatória imediata. A idade dos pacientes variou entre 15 e 70 anos. Os diagnósticos etiológicos foram: adenomas não secretores, 46 (38,34%); acromegalia, 30 (25%); prolactinoma, 29 (24,16%) e doença de Cushing, 15 (12,5 %). As principais complicações endocrinológicas foram: pan-hipopituitarismo,16 (13,34%); diabetes insípidus central (DIC), 15 (12,5%); hiposuprarenalismo, 4 (3,34%). Complicações neurocirúrgicas: infecção, 13 (10,84%) e fístula liquórica, 6 (5 %). Ocorreram 2 óbitos (1,67%). Nossos resultados se enquadram dentro dos encontrados na literatura internacional. Quando analisamos ano a ano esta casuística identificamos queda progressiva da morbimortalidade, demonstrando a importância não só da habilidade do neurocirurgião, como da uniformidade da equipe que acompanha estes pacientes.<br>We evaluated 120 pituitary operations performed at Hospital Universitario Clementino Fraga Filho of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro from 1979 to July 1998 with the aim of analysing the immediate post operative morbidity and mortality. The ages ranged from 15 to 70 years and the clinical diagnoses were: nonsecreting adenomas, 46 (38,34%); acromegaly, 30 (25%); prolactinomas, 29 (24,16%) and Cushing`s disease 15 (12,5%). The main endocrine complications were : panhypopituitarism, 16 (13,34%); diabetes insipidus,15 (12,5%) and adrenocortical insufficiency, 4 (3,34%). Neurological complications: infection, 13 (10,84%); and cerebrospinal fluid leakage, 6 (5%). Two patients died. Our results agree with those of the international literature. We identified a progressive decrease of morbidity and mortality due to surgeon's skill increase and to the uniformity of the clinical team which managed those patients