Orbital apex leiomyoma with intracranial extension

Background: Leiomyoma is a rare, benign smooth muscle tumor of the orbit. It occasionally shows some histologic resemblance to other common tumors of the orbit like neurofibroma and schwannoma. Its location at the orbital apex is uncommon and only one case with intracranial extension has been reported so far. Case description: A nine-year-old boy presented to us with left orbital pain. Four years earlier he had undergone partial excision, elsewhere, of a tumor at the orbital apex, which was reported as a schwannoma. The computed tomography (CT) scan showed regrowth of the tumor with intracranial extension. The tumor was totally resected by an intracranial route. One year postoperatively there was no recurrence of the tumor. Conclusions: Leiomyoma of the orbit, though a benign tumor, does show regrowth after partial excision. Total excision, including any intracranial component, is advised. The cases reported so far are reviewed and the histopathology and possible etiopathogenesis of this tumor are discussed

Parasellar extra-axial cavernoma mimicking meningioma: a case report

Parasellar extra-axial cavernomas are rare lesions. The authors report a case of extra-axial cavernoma in a 50-year-old male patient, who presented with occipital headache and double vision. The magnetic resonance imaging showed an enhancing extra-axial dural-based mass in the left parasellar region invading cavernous sinus, hyper-intense on T2-weighted images, iso-intense on T1-weighted images and high relative cerebral blood velocity on magnetic resonance perfusion. The patient underwent a left pterional craniotomy and parasellar space occupying lesion was excised. Histopathology was suggestive of cavernous hemangioma

Effects of intranasal challenge with group A beta haemolytic streptococcus M type 49 in Swiss albino mice

971-975Mice are susceptible to natural infections with streptococci and therefore can serve as suitable animal models to study experimental streptococcal infections. In an earlier study, we had shown the development of pharyngeal colonization, antibody response and histopathological changes in the heart following intranasal (IN) challenge with a rheumatogenic serotype of group A beta haemolytic streptococcus, the M type 18. To determine if nonpharyngitis associated serotypes can also elicit similar responses , 30 Swiss albino mice were challenged intranasally with 2×107 colony forming units of a skin associated serotype of group A beta haemolytic streptococcus, the M type 49. Pharyngeal colonization varied from 64% (n=30) in the first week to 69% (n= 16) during the fourth week after IN challenge. Eleven (36.7%) of the 30 anima ls studied showed antibody response to DNase B (ADNB) with peak titers varying from 150 to 1200 units. Wide variations were seen in ADNB titers in individual mice. Histopathological evidence for cardiac lesions were seen in three animals. The changes were mild and varied from mild to chronic endocardial inflammation to calcification. The study shows that Swiss albino mice are also susceptible to IN challenge with skin associated strains of GABHS and therefore can serve as useful models to study the effects of experimental infection with diverse spotypes of GABHS

Primary chondroid chordoma of the base of the petrous temporal bone

The authors describe an unusual case of a primary chondroid chordoma arising from the base of petrous temporal bone. The patient, a young male, presented with a left sided jugular foramen syndrome. The CT findings of a tumour arising from the base of the left petrous temporal bone were confirmed at infratemporal exploration. The clinical and histopathological and immunohistochemical differences between classical (typical) chordoma and its chondroid variant are highlighted. The rarity of primary chordomas at this site is stressed

Cystic cerebellar schwannoma

Cystic cerebellar schwannoma is a rare tumour which may not be considered when a low attenuation computed tomographic (CT) lesion is seen in the cerebellar parenchyma. Since the origin of the Schwann cell in the cerebellar parenchyma is conjectural, immunohistochemical techniques are necessary for a diagnosis

Cysticercosis causing single small CT lesions in Indian patients with seizures

This article does not have an abstract

Sanfilippo syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis-III)

Clinical, radiological, electromyographic, histopathological and biochemical findings of 2 cases of MPS III syndrome are described. Both these patients showed a clinical resemblance to MPS I, the more striking resemblance being noted in Case 1. On biochemical studies, both the patients showed a marked disturbance of heparan sulphate. In addition, in Case 1, a mild disturbance of dermatan sulphate was noted in the brain. At autopsy, the neuronal involvement in the disease process was noted at all levels of the central nervous system. Peripheral nerve and muscle biopsies done on 1 patient showed evidence of demyelination and "group muscle fibre atrophy". Electron-microscopic findings on the brain tissue are described in 1 of the patients. These cases are compared with other reported cases of this syndrome and it is suggested that these patients differ phenotypically from some of the cases described in the literature. The literature on various aspects (clinical, radiological, histopathological, and biochemical) of this syndrome is reviewed