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Biomedical subjects

F Calbucci

Publications and source records attributed to F Calbucci.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Intracranial location of a case of sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman disease) mimicking meningioma].

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy was first described in 1969 in lymphnodes by Rosai and Dorfman ad subsequently in other organs including skin, bone ad soft tissue. Extranodal involvement has also been recognised, but central nervous system manifestations are extremely rare and clinical and radiological findings are suggestive of meningioma. We report a meningeal nodule in a young woman, clinically diagnosed as possible meningioma. A review of literature of previously reported intracranial lesions is presented.

Adult↗

Oncocytic meningioma.

Six cases of meningioma showing oncocytic changes are described. The lesions were composed mostly of sheets, nests, and cords of large polygonal cells with finely granular eosinophilic cytoplasm rich in mitochondria. Neoplastic cells showed nuclear pleomorphism with prominent nucleoli. Necrosis and high mitotic rate were present in the majority of cases. Oncocytic differentiation was demonstrated by conventional histology, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and Western-blot analysis. Oncocytic meningiomas showed an aggressive behavior; recurrences were observed in three cases, and invasion of brain cortex was evident in other two cases.

Adenoma, Oxyphilic↗

Arachnoid cyst in the region of the fourth ventricle mimicking clinical picture of normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Arachnoid cysts in the region of the fourth ventricle are rarely reported. Two cases with intraventricular arachnoid cysts (one in the fourth and one in the right lateral) manifesting normal pressure hydrocephalus have been described in the previous literature. Here we report a clinically similar case in which the cyst was wedged in cerebellar vermis and compressed the fourth ventricle. Slow enlargement of the cyst could explain the clinical picture. The removal of the cyst resulted in a marked improvement of the symptoms despite the lack of significant changes in ventricular size.

Aged↗

Sialorrhea from fourth ventricle hydrocephalus. Case report.

The case of a 50-year-old man with tetraventricular hypertensive hydrocephalus is presented, remarkable for fourth ventricle dilatation. This patient showed a significant sialorrhea as the main symptom, which is quite unusual. This condition was successfully treated by cerebrospinal fluid diversion. The uncommon features of this case are summarized.

Cerebral Ventricles↗

Orbital pain and unruptured carotid-posterior communicating artery aneurysms: the role of sensory fibers of the third cranial nerve.

Intact aneurysms of the carotid siphon at the point of take-off of the posterior communicating artery may exhibit orbital pain, whether associated with oculomotor palsy or not as a warning symptom prior to rupture. In order to explain this symptom the hypothesis of a sensory pathway within the third cranial nerve, which is liable to compression by the enlarging aneurysm sac, has been investigated. Data from human autopsy material show evidence of sensory ganglion cells within the rootlets of the oculomotor nerve; furthermore, studies in animals prove that the third nerve contains sensory fibers which run proximally along the nerve bundles, enter the brainstem and reach the spinal trigeminal nucleus. These fibers come from the ophthalmic division of the fifth nerve and join the third nerve at the level of the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. Although a number of questions remain to be solved, the presence of a sensory pattern within the third nerve could account for fronto-orbital pain from enlarging aneurysms impinging on the third nerve itself.

Animals↗

Multiple lesions in cerebral white matter in two young adults with thoracic extramedullary tumours.

Cranial MRI showed multiple lesions in white matter that were thought to be consistent with multiple sclerosis in two young adults presenting with symptoms of progressive myelopathy. MRI of the cervicothoracic spine around one and two years after onset showed the myelopathy to be due to mid-thoracic tumours. The tumours (an extradural meningioma and intradural neuroma) were resected with complete resolution of myelopathy in one patient but no recovery in the other. Spinal MRI (or myelography) should be performed in young patients presenting with signs of progressive myelopathy even when cranial MRI shows a picture typical of multiple sclerosis.

Adult↗

Risk factors for the syndrome of ventricular enlargement with gait apraxia (idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus): a case-control study.

A case-control study was performed to verify the association between the risk factors for cerebrovascular disease and the syndrome of ventricular enlargement with gait apraxia (VEGAS). This syndrome was defined on the basis of clinical and CT criteria alone; however, it may be representative of patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus in whom gait disturbance is the initial symptom. Seventeen patients were matched for age and sex with one hospitalised and two general population controls. Among the risk factors considered we found a significant statistical association between VEGAS and hypertension (odds ratio = 3.14; p = 0.032), ischaemic heart disease (odds ratio = 4.20; p = 0.013), ECG ischaemic changes (odds ratio = 3.67; p = 0.029), low HDL-cholesterol levels (odds ratio = 3.75; p = 0.028) and diabetes (odds ratio = 6.00; p = 0.018). Our findings indicate that risk factors for cerebrovascular disease may play a role in the development of VEGAS.

Aged↗

Slowly progressive ischemic stroke as first manifestation of essential thrombocythemia.

We report a case of essential thrombocythemia, the only clinical manifestation of which consisted of neurologic symptoms, including anomic aphasia, tactile and painful hypesthesia in the right hand, headache, and Gerstmann syndrome, with a relatively benign and slowly progressive clinical course. Neuroradiologic examination disclosed a large ischemic area in the left temporoparietal region. Cerebral angiography revealed an occlusion of the cortical branches of the left middle cerebral artery with total sparing of the carotid vessel. These findings are discussed in relation to the possible pathogenetic mechanisms of the vascular occlusion due to abnormal platelet function in essential thrombocythemia.

Adult↗

Metastases of the spinal cord from remote neoplasms. Study of five cases.

Five patients with acute or subacute myelopathy are reported in whom neuroradiologic imaging or open surgery showed an intrinsic spinal cord tumor. Histologic diagnosis was obtained either through direct spinal cord biopsy or after biopsy or removal of a former or concurrent intracranial metastasis. Carcinoma of "possible" gastrointestinal origin, oat-cell carcinoma, melanoma, and bronchogenic adenocarcinoma in two cases were demonstrated. The clinical course showed a devastating and irreversible deterioration of the neurological condition in all patients but one, who exhibited a mildly symptomatic disease. Our uncertainty with cases of intramedullary spinal cord metastasis resulted in a nonstandardized approach to these patients. The role of magnetic resonance imaging, the radiotherapeutic option, and the pertinent literature are briefly discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Intracranial microvascular decompression for "cryptogenic" hemifacial spasm, trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia, paroxysmal vertigo and tinnitus: I. Surgical technique and results.

Intracranial microvascular decompression was performed in 21 out of 24 patients with hyperactive dysfunction of cranial nerves: 8 cases of hemifacial spasm, 12 of trigeminal neuralgia, 3 of glossopharyngeal neuralgia and 1 case of paroxysmal vertigo and tinnitus. In 21 cases an abnormal vascular loop was found to impinge on the root entry zone of the nerve in the brainstem. Dissection of this loop with decompression of the nerve resulted in long-lasting relief of symptoms in all but two patients who presented early recurrence; in one of these a second procedure was eventually successful. In two patients with trigeminal neuralgia a benign tumor of the cerebellopontine angle that had escaped preoperative diagnosis was present. Finally, in one case no compressive lesions were found. From the data of the literature and from our present experience microvascular decompression can be considered a safe as well as an effective procedure, affording a high success rate in conditions often or usually resistant to medical treatment and erroneously considered "idiopathic".

Adult↗

Intracranial microvascular decompression for "cryptogenic" hemifacial spasm, trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia, paroxysmal vertigo and tinnitus: II. Clinical study and long-term follow up.

20 patients who had undergone microvascular decompression for the treatment of "idiopathic" trigeminal neuralgia (9 cases), hemifacial spasm (7 cases), glossopharyngeal neuralgia (3 cases) and paroxysmal vertigo and tinnitus (1 case) were followed up for 25 months on average. Permanent relief of symptoms was observed in 19 (95%), with sparing of cranial nerve function. Analysis of the clinical data shows that the patients described in the present series did not differ from those considered to suffer from "idiopathic" cranial nerve dysfunction syndromes. The importance of vascular cross compression as etiological factor in such conditions is stressed and the pathophysiology discussed. The term "cryptogenic" applied to trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm thus needs revising. Lastly, the indications of microvascular decompression in the treatment of "cryptogenic" cranial nerve dysfunction syndromes are defined.

Adult↗

Delayed angiographic appearance of a large basilar aneurysm.

A technically adequate four-vessel cerebral angiogram was normal on the first day after a typical episode of subarachnoid hemorrhage. The study was repeated 40 days later showing a large aneurysm of the basilar bifurcation. Hypothetically, the first attempt to visualize the aneurysm was negative due to early transitory thrombosis of the aneurysmal sac. In some cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage it is beneficial to repeat previously normal angiographic studies.

Adult↗