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Biomedical subjects

M J Chandy

Publications and source records attributed to M J Chandy.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Brainstem glioma: comparative study of clinico-radiological presentation, pathology and outcome in children and adults.

Although the clinical and imaging features and behaviour of brain stem gliomas in children are well documented, similar data are not available, for adults. We have carried out a retrospective study, on 101 consecutive patients (71 children and 30 adults) with a histologically verified brain stem glioma. Duration of symptoms, clinical features, imaging characteristics, histopathology and outcome were specifically compared in children and adults with brain stem glioma. Peak incidence was in the first decade in children and in the third and fourth decades in adults. Mean duration of symptoms before admission was 9.7 months in adults and 3.6 months in children (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the clinical features between adults and children. Imaging characteristics revealed no major differences except that diffuse hypodense lesions involving the whole brainstem accounted for 41.2% of the lesions in children and only 11.1% of adults (P < 0.001). A stereotactic biopsy was performed in 92 patients and an open biopsy or partial excision in 9 patients. Histopathological examination showed that the majority of gliomas were diagnosed as grade II astrocytomas in both groups. Survival was significantly shorter in children when compared to adults (P < 0.01). While the tumour grade was a significant factor in predicting survival in adults, in children it did not correlate with outcome. Therefore, determination of the grade of a brain stem glioma may be of prognostic significance in adult patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Spontaneous fluctuation in the size of a midline posterior fossa arachnoid cyst.

Arachnoid cysts of the posterior fossa are rather uncommon compared with their supratentorial counterparts. Spontaneous disappearance of middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts has been reported but there are none in the English literature on the spontaneous fluctuation in size of a posterior fossa arachnoid cyst. We present a 41-year-old male, with a midline posterior fossa arachnoid cyst, which appeared to lessen in size spontaneously with complete disappearance of symptoms and then enlarged with a worsening in neurological status.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Occipital fibrous dysplasia tonsillar herniation and cervical syringomyelia.

A small posterior fossa volume has been thought to lead to hind brain herniation. The resultant obstruction to the CSF pathways at the level of the foraman magnum has been implicated in the development and subsequent progression of syringomyelia. This report highlights the gradual development of a small posterior fossa due to fibrous dysplasia of the occipital bone with consequent tonsillar herniation resulting in syringomyelia.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Medullomyoblastoma: A case report.

Medullomyoblastoma is a rare tumour seen in childhood. We report a medullomyoblastoma occurring in the cerebellar vermis of a 4 year old boy. The light microscopic features, immunohistochemistry and histogenesis are described.

Cerebellar Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Sacral nerve root cysts: A review on pathophysiology.

Nerve root cysts of the sacral region are generally asymptomatic but are known to cause neurogenic claudication. In this paper we present an elderly lady who presented with claudication, whose MR imaging showed a sacral cyst. She underwent lumbo-sacral laminectomy, partial excision of the cyst wall with plication. A review of the possible pathophysiology of such a lesion is discussed.

Cysts↗
PubMed1999

Epilepsy surgery : overview Of forty years experience.

Although many patients with epilepsy achieve control of their seizures with medication, a substantial number ultimately develop intractable epilepsy. Patients with intractable epilepsy form the group for whom surgical procedures may be beneficial. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical profile and outcome of 141 patients operated for intractable epilepsy at Vellore between 1949 and 1990. The operative procedures done for suprasylvian epilepsy were topectomy (24 cases) and lobectomy (2 cases). For temporal lobe epilepsy the surgical procedures done were topectomy (28 cases), temporal lobectomy with amygdalectomy (25 cases), temporal lobectomy with amygdalectomy and hippocampectomy (10 cases), amygdalectomy (15 cases) and topectomy with amygdalectomy in one case. Hemispherectomy was done for 12 cases with multilobe epilepsy. For multifocal epilepsy, four patients underwent stereotactic ansotomy. Post operative complications included infections (10 cases) and acute post operative haematoma in one patient. There was transient neurological deterioration in ten patients. Three patients operated prior to 1960 died due to peri operative complications. Follow up data of 80 patients, ranging from 1 to 42 years (mean 10 years) was analysed. Total or near total seizure control was obtained in 53% patients and a worthwhile outcome in 20% patients. Mental retardation, pre operative scalp electroencephalography and post excision electrocorticography has been shown to be predictors of outcome with respect to seizures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Central nervous system toxoplasmosis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: An emerging disease in India.

With the incidence of patients infected with human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) increasing in India, the central nervous system (CNS) manifestations of the disease will be seen more frequently. The CNS may be primarily afflicted by the virus or by opportunistic infections and neoplasms secondary to the immune suppression caused by the virus. In India, although mycobacterium tuberculosis has been reported to be the most common opportunistic infection, toxoplasmosis may become as common owing to the ubiquitous nature of the protozoan. Since an empirical trial of medical therapy without histopathological diagnosis is recommended, the true incidence of this condition may remain under estimated. The role of ancillary tests such as radiology and serology in the initial diagnosis of this condition remain crucial. This report highlights two patients who were diagnosed to have acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) only after the biopsy of the intracranial lesion was reported as toxoplasmosis. Presently all patients for elective neurosurgery are tested for HIV antigen. The management protocol to be followed in a known patient with AIDS presenting with CNS symptoms is discussed in detail. The value of ancillary tests is also reviewed.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1999

Management of intramedullary spinal cord tumours: review of 68 patients.

68 consecutive patients admitted with intramedullary spinal cord tumours and operated at Vellore during a six year period from January 1990 are discussed. 41 tumours were radically resected, 11 partially excised while 14 had only a biopsy. Radiation therapy was advised post operatively to those patients for whom a partial excision or biopsy was done. There was no postoperative mortality. Two patients developed wound infection and one developed postoperative hydrocephalus. Postoperative clinical assessment between four to eight weeks after surgery showed that 25 out of 68 patients improved, 29 remained unchanged, while 14 had worsening of deficits. Immediate post operative assessment, however, was less encouraging. Evaluation of these patients was done using a functional scoring system and Karnofsky rating. The follow up period ranged from 2 weeks to 64 months after discharge from hospital with a mean of 14.6 months. The indicators of radical excision were good tumour-cord interface, cranially located tumours, presence of syringomyelia and histology of ependymoma. Two patients had recurrence of tumour.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Effect of ascorbic acid on infarct size in experimental focal cerebral ischaemia and reperfusion in a primate model.

Temporary occlusion of major cerebral blood vessels occasionally becomes necessary during surgical procedures. Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is an important non-enzymatic scavenger of free radicals and its protective effect on the brain in permanent focal cerebral ischaemia has been proven in a primate model of focal cerebral ischaemia [16]. Additional damage caused by reperfusion of the infarcted area has been shown in the rat model [22]. This study was undertaken to study the efficacy of ascorbic acid in decreasing infarct size in ischaemic reperfused brain. Maccaca radiata monkeys in the treated group were given two grams of ascorbic acid, parentally immediately before clipping the middle cerebral artery and the control group was given placebo. Reperfusion was done after four hours. Mean infarct size in all the three brain slices in the ascorbic acid pretreated group was 7.3% +/- 2.7 and in the placebo group 22.1 +/- 6.7 under similar conditions. The mean infarct size in the ascorbic acid pretreated group of monkeys was significantly lower when compared with the placebo group (p = 0.0003).

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region proteins (AgNORs) as an index of clinical and radiological invasiveness in pituitary adenomas.

Sixty-eight patients with pituitary adenomas were classified into groups based on their invasiveness and functional status. Mean argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region proteins (AgNOR) counts obtained from 200 cells showed no correlation with the invasive status of pituitary adenomas. However, the functional tumours showed significantly higher AgNOR counts than non-functional tumours.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1998

Benign tumours of the pineal region: a prospective study from 1983 to 1997.

Tumours of the pineal region are rare. Between 1983 and 1997, 128 patients with pineal masses were treated in our institution. Forty-eight (38%) of these were benign. There were 13 patients with meningiomas, 11 with epidermoid tumours, 10 with cystic lesions, five with vascular lesions, five with infective pathology and four with mature teratomas. All patients were managed surgically. Ventriculo-peritoneal shunts were inserted preoperatively to relieve hydrocephalus. Open surgery thereafter was mostly done through the supracerebellar infratentorial approach. The occipital transtentorial route was preferred for meningiomas. Stereotactic biopsy was used in two patients only. Radical excision of tumours was achieved in 55% of operated cases, partial excision in 25%. Radiation therapy, which was the mainstay of treatment earlier, was used only in two patients. Stereotactic radiosurgery was used in one patient. All patients followed up were found to be in good or excellent condition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Primary sphenoid and petrous apex esthesioneuroblastoma: case report.

A 62-year-old woman presented with raised intracranial pressure and features of a right cerebellopontine angle tumour with extension into the right middle cranial fossa. The patient died before a surgical excision could be performed. The autopsy revealed a primary esthesioneuroblastoma of the sphenoid sinus eroding the petrous bone and extending into the middle cranial fossa with metastatic tumour in the liver, and paratracheal and hilar lymph nodes. Although rare, esthesioneuroblastoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of petrous-sphenoid lesions.

Brain↗
PubMed1998

Dynamic CSF flow study in the pathophysiology of syringomyelia associated with arachnoid cysts of the posterior fossa.

Two patients with posterior fossa arachnoid cysts associated with syringomyelia are discussed adding to the five cases already reported in the literature. The formation and progression of syringomyelia secondary to a posterior fossa cyst and its possible pathophysiology by dynamic CSF flow studies using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are discussed and reviewed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Shunt surgery in poor grade patients with tuberculous meningitis and hydrocephalus: effects of response to external ventricular drainage and other variables on long term outcome.

Thirty two poor grade patients (grade 3, 20 patients and grade 4, 12 patients) with tuberculous meningitis and hydrocephalus were prospectively studied to evaluate the response to external ventricular drainage in predicting outcome after shunt surgery. All grade 3 patients underwent a shunt procedure irrespective of their response to external ventricular drainage, and an attempt was made to correlate the immediate response to external ventricular drainage to their long term outcome. Patients in grade 4 underwent shunt surgery only if there was clinical improvement by at least one grade after external ventricular drainage. Follow up (mean 23.1 months) was available for 30 patients (93%). Of the 20 patients in grade 3, seven underwent shunt surgery directly, 13 after an external ventricular drainage. In the group which underwent drainage, the immediate clinical response was improvement in six, no change in six, and death in one. Long term improvement or death occurred almost equally in all the subgroups. The immediate response to external ventricular drainage was not predictive of the long term outcome in grade 3 patients. All 12 patients in grade 4 underwent an external ventricular drainage and only one improved. The rest continued to deteriorate and succumbed to the disease. Grade at admission was the single most important predictor of good outcome (p=0.002) and severity of hydrocephalus had an adverse impact on outcome (p=0.04). The rest of the variables studied (age, duration of illness, duration of altered sensorium, CSF cell count, and CSF protein concentrations) had no effect on long term outcome. All patients in grade 3 should be given the benefit of shunt surgery without a trial of external ventricular drainage. However, patients in grade 4 should undergo an external ventricular drainage in view of the high mortality in this group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Local wound infiltration with bupivacaine in lumbar laminectomy.

BACKGROUND: Parenteral administration of narcotics has been the mainstay for postoperative pain relief in patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy. However, this may lead to respiratory depression and nausea, which may be hazardous in these patients. METHODS: We evaluated the efficacy of wound infiltration with bupivacaine in 45 consecutive patients undergoing elective single-level lumbar laminectomy for intervertebral disc prolapse in a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Prior to wound closure, the muscle and subcutaneous tissues were infiltrated with bupivacaine 0.375% or sterile physiologic saline. Postoperatively, the patients were assessed hourly for pain and an analgesic administered if the patient had moderate or severe pain. RESULTS: All the 21 placebo recipients required analgesics in the first 9 hours postoperatively, compared to only 11 of 24 patients who received bupivacaine (p < 0.001). The mean (standard deviation) time before administration of the first dose of analgesic postoperatively in the bupivacaine and placebo recipients was 807.7 (567.6) minutes and 181.4 (110.1) minutes, respectively (p < 0.001). No adverse effects of local wound infiltration were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Local wound infiltration with bupivacaine is a safe and effective method for providing postoperative pain relief and reducing narcotic use in patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Diagnostic and staged stereotactic aspiration of multiple bihemispheric pyogenic brain abscesses.

BACKGROUND: Empiric antibiotic therapy for multiple brain abscesses is not advised, as biopsy to rule out other causes and material for cultures can be obtained with minimal morbidity using computed tomography (CT)-guided stereotaxy. METHODS: We report a good outcome following treatment of this 60-year-old nonimmunocompromised patient with six pyogenic cerebral abscesses. CT-guided stereotactic aspiration of two abscesses were done on the first occasion and appropriate antibiotics were administered. Serial CT scans were done and the abscesses that recollected or enlarged were again aspirated. RESULTS: Group A beta hemolytic streptococci were grown from the pus. Two abscesses recollected and one enlarged during antibiotic therapy. These were aspirated on the second and third occasions, 1 week and 2 weeks after the first procedure. The abscess less than 3 cm resolved with antibiotics alone. Intravenous crystalline penicillin, chloroamphenicol, and metronidazole were given for 2 weeks followed by oral ampicillin and cotrimoxazole for 10 weeks. There was no morbidity related to the multiple procedures and the patient had a good outcome at the end of 16 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: CT-guided stereotactic aspiration of multiple brain abscesses is known to have a low morbidity and mortality. We highlight the additional option of multiple, staged aspirations for those abscesses not readily responding to antibiotic therapy.

Brain Abscess↗