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Biomedical subjects

A Perneczky

Publications and source records attributed to A Perneczky.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

The need for adjunctive focused radiation therapy in pituitary adenomas.

In pituitary adenomas radiation therapy regardless of the technique should be limited to surgical failures. The delayed onset of beneficial effects and the high rate of pituitary insufficiency have to be weighed against the good surgical and/or medical results in the treatment of these tumours. Unfortunately surgical outcome is almost invariably correlated with invasive growth. Invasiveness is statistically significantly correlated with tumour size, as well as with high proliferation rates, which can be measured by immunohistological methods such as mAB KI-67. Owing to the good results of medical treatment, radiation therapy is usually unnecessary in prolactinomas. Patients with persistent hypersecretion of growth hormone after unsuccessful surgery may represent the ideal candidates for radiation therapy, whereas patients with persistent Cushing's disease need cure for hypercortisolism without delay. In patients with residual tumour due to non functioning adenomas, radiation therapy should only be given if the proliferation rate is high.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1995

Pre- and intraoperative methods of controlling cerebral circulation in giant aneurysm surgery.

The surgical treatment of giant aneurysms usually requires temporary clipping of the aneurysmatic vessel. In planning the surgical approach and in applying temporary clips, the surgeon must consider collateral circulations. The functional integrity of the collateral vessels frequently decides the patient's outcome. In 8 patients with internal carotid artery giant aneurysm, measurements of blood flow velocities in the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery were performed preoperatively with transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) during manual occlusion of the carotid artery at the neck. Three different perfusion patterns were established, and each collateral capacity was rated as insufficient, temporarily sufficient, or long-term unproblematic. Surgical strategies were conceived. In one patient with giant aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery the temporary occlusion test was not carried out preoperatively. Intraoperatively, collateral circulation was controlled using microvascular Doppler sonography (MVD). In 8 cases cortical blood flow (CoBF) was monitored by thermal diffusion flow probe and/or laser Doppler. In some cases, the complex pathological anatomy required a change in surgical strategy and a new MVD determination of collateral capacity. Despite these precautions 2 patients suffered ischemia of the basal ganglia and the white matter.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Intraoperative monitoring of median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials in cervical syringomyelia: analysis of 28 cases.

Intraoperative median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) were monitored in 28 patients undergoing surgery for cervical or cervicothoracic syringomyelia. Analysis was focused on SEP components N13 (spinal cord), P14 (brain stem), and N20 (cortex). N13 was lacking in nearly 87% of the patients (due to a combined effect of syringomyelia and general anesthesia) and never recovered. P14 showed a significant (> 10%) intraoperative latency increase in two patients; this was irreversible in one patient who had a postoperative worsening of sensory function. N20 showed no relevant alterations. Pure motor deficits after surgery were not predicted by SEP monitoring. In conclusion, intraoperative P14 recording helped to identify harm to the dorsal columns and probably prevented the cord from irreversible damage in one case, whereas N13 recording did not contribute to the monitoring of spinal cord function during surgery for syringomyelia.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Amyloidomas of the gasserian ganglion.

An amyloidoma is a local deposition of amyloid that becomes a space-occupying lesion. Amyloidomas of the central nervous system are very uncommon lesions and only four amyloidomas of the gasserian ganglion have been reported so far. We present the neuroradiologic and surgical characteristics of three more amyloidomas of the gasserian ganglion seen at one neurosurgical department in 11 years.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials in cervical syringomyelia: correlation of preoperative versus postoperative findings with upper limb clinical somatosensory function.

Median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were recorded in 30 patients with cervical syringomyelia before and after surgery. The different SEP components were compared with clinical somatosensory findings. The N13 potential (generated in the dorsal horn at C5-C6) was pathological in 85% of the upper extremities, or 90% of the patients, and correlated with pain/temperature as well as vibration/joint position sense; it was of higher sensitivity in syringomyelia than any other clinical symptom or SEP component. P14 (brain stem) and N20 (postcentral cortex) were less often affected and correlated with only vibration/joint position sense. Short-term postoperative clinical or SEP changes were most often seen after syringoendoscopy and less often after syringostomy, resection of cerebellar tonsils, or tumor extirpation. Alterations of SEPs after surgery occurred in more patients (60%) than did changes in clinical condition (approximately 27%); there was, however, no general correlation between these findings. We conclude that median nerve SEP testing with a proper recording technique identifying the different subcortical components is a valuable supplement in the pre- and postoperative diagnostic evaluation of syringomyelia and is of higher sensitivity than clinical somatosensory examination alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Endoscope-assisted craniotomy: approach to the rostral brain stem.

We describe a surgical technique to improve visualization of deep brain structures during craniotomy. The technique, developed in a cadaveric model, combines the use of an operating microscope and a solid-rod lens endoscope. Addition of the endoscope during craniotomy allows the operator to visualize structures that otherwise might not have been seen. An approach to the brain stem is demonstrated.

Brain Stem↗
PubMed1995

Use of a new aneurysm clip with an inverted-spring mechanism to facilitate visual control during clip application. Technical note.

When operating on deep-seated cerebral aneurysms, the surgeon's visual control of clip application may be impaired by the clip holder unless adjacent structures are retracted. To improve visual control and reduce the necessity for retraction, the senior author (A.P.) developed a new concept: an aneurysm clip with an inverted-spring mechanism. The clip has two jaws that point away from the clip blades. The jaws of the clip holder articulate with the inner side of the clip jaws. By distending the jaws of the clip holder the blades of the clip are opened and vice versa. Thus the visual field increases while the clip application is proceeding. This instrumentation is useful, especially in cases of deep-seated aneurysms arising from the posterior circulation and in multiple aneurysms. In these latter cases even lesions located contralaterally could be reached with good visual control.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed1994

Endoscopic anatomy of the ventricles.

The endoscopic view offers a new anatomical dimension to the neurosurgeon. The fact makes it basically necessary to study the topographic anatomy under endoscopic conditions. In this paper attention was drawn to the ventricles because they are the most common region of clinical application. In 25 specimens neuroendoscopic explorations of the ventricles have been done. The dissections have been carried out through one- and two burr hole approaches (two working endoscopes at the same time). The instrumentation includes rigid 4 mm and 6 mm endoscopes. The procedures have been documented by continuous video recording and parallel photography.

Cerebral Ventricles↗
PubMed1994

Transcranial Doppler diagnosis of cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid haemorrhage: correlation and analysis of results in relation to the age of patients.

A retrospective analysis was undertaken to determine whether cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) correlates with the age of patients. For at least 3 weeks after bleeding 80 subjects underwent very close follow-up with clinical examination and transcranial Doppler records of the blood velocities within the basal cerebral arteries. Firstly a correlation between measured maximal mean blood flow velocities and age was made. Secondly, according to their age and the maximum of recorded mean velocities (v), the patients were divided into groups as follows: age 55 years or less, age more than 55 years; and maximum velocity v1 < 90 cm/s, 90 cm/s < v2 < 120 cm/s, 120 cm/s < v3 < 160 cm/s, v4 > 160 cm/s. There was a significant correlation of the measured maximum mean velocities and the age of the patients (r = -0.525, p < 0.01). With regard to the velocity groups there was a significant (chi-squared statistic for contingency tables, p < 0.01) difference between both age-groups: 32% (n = 18) of the younger fell into group v4 with maximum mean velocities of more than 160 cm/s, but none of the older had such. Vice versa, 63% (n = 15) of the older compared with only 14% (n = 8) of the younger fell into group v1 with maximum mean velocities of less than 90 cm/s. Clinical follow-up also depicted differences between both age groups. 13 of 18 younger patients with maximum mean velocities > 160 cm/s exhibited symptomatic vasospasm with a delayed neurological deficit. This typical course did not occur in the older age group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Endoscopic procedures through the foramen interventriculare of Monro under stereotactical conditions.

The foramen interventriculare of Monro is an anatomical narrowness for the endoscopic access to the third ventricle. The effective mechanical angle to pass the foramen interventriculare from a frontal bore hole depends on the diameter in the plane of entrance, the depth of the foramen, and the diameter of the endoscope. Under the pathological conditions of a hydrocephalus internus the foramen interventriculare is enlarged. By means of stereotactical guidance, it is possible to reach the third ventricle accurately without damaging anatomical structures around the foramen interventriculare. The endoscopic technique under stereotactical guidance using a rigid endoscope is sufficient and safe to perform ventriculostomies in cases of hydrocephalus occlusus. Best clinical results were obtained in patients with benign aqueduct stenosis or with a tumor in this region compressing the aqueduct. In all patients no further shunt operation was necessary. The path through the foramen interventriculare should be considered also for biopsies in the third ventricle. Calculation of the foramen interventriculare trajectory prevents perforation of the roof of the third ventricle containing the main deep veins. Lesions in the foramen interventriculare like colloid cysts can also be approached very accurately by means of stereotactical calculation. However the endoscopic technique with the at present obtainable instruments does not allow removal of the whole lesion. Even so a free passage to the third ventricle can be achieved by reducing the size of the cyst by means of coagulation and sucking off the colloid material.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Aneurysm surgery of patients in poor grade condition. Indications and experience.

Out of a total of 196 patients admitted with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) to the neurological department in Mainz over a 42 month period, 48 patients (24.5%) were considered as grade IV or V on admission. Aneurysm surgery within 48 hours after SAH was performed in 56.3% of these patients, 2% were operated between day 3 and 7 and 16.6% were operated after day 7. 25% did not undergo operation because of severe neurological deficit and brain damage. The overall outcome according to the Glasgow outcome scale in the surgically treated group was full recovery in 11.1%, moderate disability in 16.7%, severe disability in 47.2%, vegetative state in 2.8% and death in 22.2%. All patients in the not operated group died. Good and moderate outcome was mainly seen in patients grade IV, which justify an aggressive strategy. Severe disability was mainly attributed to primary brain damage, while vasospasm played a minor role. Improvement may only be achieved by early referral of SAH patients to neurosurgical centres.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Enhanced interleukin-1 beta release and longevity of glioma-associated peripheral blood monocytes in vitro.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) plays a controversial role in the immune response. Besides its activation of immune cells and juvenile central nervous system cells, monocyte-derived IL-1 may be able to stimulate the malignant transformation and proliferation of glial brain tumor cells expressing IL-1 receptors. The aim of this study was to determine the growth pattern and the IL-1 beta release of long-term cultured peripheral blood monocytes of glioma patients. At 6- to 7-day intervals, the vital monocytes, characterized by CD14 immunophenotyping, were counted. By the use of a specific IL-1 beta enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the IL-1 beta content of monocyte culture supernatants derived from 13 subjects with glioma and from 12 controls were compared at Days 7, 21, and 100 of culture. Cell clusters of monocytes derived from glioblastoma patients survived more than 250 days in culture, whereas control monocytes survived only up to 114 days. The IL-1 beta release of glioma-associated peripheral blood monocyte cultures was about 50 times higher as compared with control monocyte cultures. Dexamethasone treatment at the time of blood sampling and recurrences of the gliomas did not influence the increase in the IL-1 beta expression of glioma monocytes. It seemed that at least subsets of glioma-associated blood monocytes, although they had been removed from the circulation, remained activated for a long period of time. We conclude that increased IL-1 beta production of glioma-associated peripheral blood monocytes and their longevity in vitro may be features of aberrant immune cell subsets. In future studies, the exact phenotyping of monocyte subsets will be mandatory.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Image analysis of proliferating cells in tumors of the human nervous system: an immunohistological study with the monoclonal antibody Ki-67.

Obtaining growth fractions from immunohistological preparations by the commonly used cell count calculation method is time consuming. For the first time, we investigated and compared the detection of proliferating cells in immunohistologically labeled tissue from tumors of the nervous system using the monoclonal antibody Ki-67 by a new computerized image analysis system and by cell count calculation. The two methods showed a high correlation (correlation index, 0.98) in 37 gliomas (2 pilocytic astrocytomas, 10 Grade II astrocytomas, 5 Grade III astrocytomas, 20 Grade IV astrocytomas and glioblastoma multiforme) and a heterogenous group of 10 additional tumors of the nervous system, including oligodendroglioma, pineoblastoma, primary central nervous system lymphoma, and neurofibroma. Advantages of and indications for image analysis are as follows: 1) time-saving evaluation of immunohistological preparations enables their use in neuro-oncological routine diagnostics and examination of larger cell populations, thus leading to more precisely reproducible results, especially in heterogenous tumors; 2) image analysis, calculating the area of cell nuclei rather than their number, avoids difficulties with fragmented or overlapping nuclei; 3) analysis of different antibodies (for example, Ki-67 and anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen) may be performed with the same program; 4) investigation of a larger patient group may lead, in combination with the histopathological diagnosis and clinical parameters, to better adapted therapeutic concepts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Intraoperative SEP monitoring in neurosurgery around the brain stem and cervical spinal cord: differential recording of subcortical components.

The results of intraoperative monitoring of median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP's) were evaluated in 75 neurosurgical patients in order to assess the role of differential derivation of brain stem (P14) and spinal cord (N13) wave activity. These components were compared with the conventionally recorded neck potential ("N13") that reflects overlap of P14 and N13. The spinal cord N13 wave was recorded from the posterior to anterior lower aspect of the neck and the brain stem P14 wave from the midfrontal scalp to the nasopharynx; both derivations enabled isolated low-artifact recording of these components. In 18.7% of patients, moderate to major latency and/or amplitude shifts of N13 or P14 were found that were masked in conventional neck-scalp recordings of "N13". There was a 6.7% false-negative rate in this series. Using a neck-scalp derivation alone, a 14.7% false-negative rate would have resulted and an isolated worsening of the P14 component (with stable neck potential) in six cases would have been overlooked. It is concluded that the proposed SEP recording technique allows independent assessment of spinal cord and brain stem activity. It is, therefore, superior to the conventional neck-scalp derivation technique, in which important information may be concealed or even lost due to the overlap of the brain stem P14 and spinal cord N13 potentials.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Preserved cortical somatosensory evoked potentials in apnoeic coma with loss of brain-stem reflexes: case report.

A comatose patient suffering from diffuse cerebellar haemorrhage developed apnoea and brainstem areflexia, i.e. the clinical signs of brain death. However, median nerve somatosensory evoked potential testing 2.5 h and 22 h after the onset of this clinical syndrome showed cortical potentials partly preserved; these were abolished 46 h after the beginning of the clinical signs of brain death. This case report underlines the need for electrophysiological confirmation of brain death in patients with primarily infratentorial lesions.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Amyloidoma of the gasserian ganglion as a cause of symptomatic neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve: report of three cases.

Three cases of symptomatic neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve due to an amyloidoma in the gasserian ganglion are described. The correct diagnosis was not made prior to histological examination of the surgical biopsy specimens. Medical history and clinical observation led to the diagnosis of a malignant process of the nasal cavities in the first patient; of an inflammatory dental focus in the second patient; and of multiple sclerosis in the third patient. CT findings were normal in cases 1 and 2; in case 3, a schwannoma was suspected from the CT appearances. In case 1, MRI had not been performed; in cases 2 and 3, MRI revealed a tumour mass which was also considered to be a schwannoma. Histologically, the tumours consisted of masses of amyloid deposits which had largely replaced the pre-existing ganglionic cells and satellite cells. Electron microscopy confirmed the fibrillar structure of the deposits. Immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry revealed the amyloid to belong to the AL-lambda subtype.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Transcranial Doppler ultrasound recording with compression test in patients with tumors involving the carotid arteries.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TDU) recording is presented as a diagnostic method for the evaluation of the cerebral cross-flow in patients in whom, for therapeutic reasons, ligature or resection of the common or internal carotid artery is planned. Examinations were performed under normal conditions and while using manual compression of the ipsilateral carotid artery. Patients with various skull base and neck tumors were examined and in all patients an immediate decrease of the flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) of 25 to 90% was registered. In 39% of these patients the flow velocity of the MCA reached 90% or more of its value under normal conditions within a short interval. In 29% of the patients the flow velocity of this vessel under manual compression of the carotid artery remained under 50% of its original value. In 68% of the cases TDU recording with manual compression of the carotid artery showed reliable results for the function of cerebral collateralization as a prognostic factor of ischemic risk due to hemodynamic changes after carotid ligature. In these cases no further examination of the cerebral cross-flow conditions was carried out. This method is convenient, harmless to the patient, inexpensive, does not require sophisticated equipment, and yields reproducible results when compared with cerebral angiography.

Journal Article↗