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Biomedical subjects

V Rajshekhar

Publications and source records attributed to V Rajshekhar.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Endolymphatic sac tumor: a rare cerebellopontine angle tumor.

Endolymphatic sac tumors (ELST) are rare papillary tumors of the temporal bone. Previously named as aggressive papillary middle ear tumors, they have recently been shown to arise from the endolymphatic sac. They are a rare in cerebello-pontine angle (CPA). We present a case of an ELST who presented as a CPA tumor with hydrocephalus. He underwent a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt initially. On exploration of the CP angle, the tumor was found to be extremely vascular. He was re-explored following embolization, and a subtotal excision of the tumor was done. Extensive petrous bone infiltration and vascularity of the tumor makes total excision almost impossible with high risk of cranial nerve deficits, excessive blood loss and CSF leak. This tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of vascular CPA tumors which erode the petrous temporal bone. The relevant literature is reviewed.

Adult↗

Skull base chondroblastoma: a case report.

Chondroblastoma is a rare tumor of the skull. Temporal bone is the commonest site of involvement in the skull. We present a thirty one year old man who presented with painless swelling over the left temporal bone, which was near totally excised after preoperative embolization. Management of this unusual tumor and its complications are discussed.

Adult↗

Rate of spontaneous resolution of a solitary cysticercus granuloma in patients with seizures.

The rate of spontaneous resolution of a recently diagnosed solitary cerebral cysticercus granuloma as visualized on CT scan was prospectively studied in 210 patients presenting with seizures. The proportion of granulomas that had resolved completely at different time intervals after the index scan was 18.8% at 3 months, 36.4% at 6 months, and 62.5% at 1 year. There is considerable variation in the natural history of a solitary cysticercus granuloma in a patient presenting with seizures.

Adolescent↗

Proposed diagnostic criteria for neurocysticercosis.

Neurocysticercosis is the most common helminthic infection of the CNS but its diagnosis remains difficult. Clinical manifestations are nonspecific, most neuroimaging findings are not pathognomonic, and some serologic tests have low sensitivity and specificity. The authors provide diagnostic criteria for neurocysticercosis based on objective clinical, imaging, immunologic, and epidemiologic data. These include four categories of criteria stratified on the basis of their diagnostic strength, including the following: 1) absolute--histologic demonstration of the parasite from biopsy of a brain or spinal cord lesion, cystic lesions showing the scolex on CT or MRI, and direct visualization of subretinal parasites by funduscopic examination; 2) major--lesions highly suggestive of neurocysticercosis on neuroimaging studies, positive serum enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot for the detection of anticysticercal antibodies, resolution of intracranial cystic lesions after therapy with albendazole or praziquantel, and spontaneous resolution of small single enhancing lesions; 3) minor--lesions compatible with neurocysticercosis on neuroimaging studies, clinical manifestations suggestive of neurocysticercosis, positive CSF enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of anticysticercal antibodies or cysticercal antigens, and cysticercosis outside the CNS; and 4) epidemiologic--evidence of a household contact with Taenia solium infection, individuals coming from or living in an area where cysticercosis is endemic, and history of frequent travel to disease-endemic areas. Interpretation of these criteria permits two degrees of diagnostic certainty: 1) definitive diagnosis, in patients who have one absolute criterion or in those who have two major plus one minor and one epidemiologic criterion; and 2) probable diagnosis, in patients who have one major plus two minor criteria, in those who have one major plus one minor and one epidemiologic criterion, and in those who have three minor plus one epidemiologic criterion.

Humans↗

Galactorrhea as the sole presenting symptom of a posterior third ventricular epidermoid cyst.

BACKGROUND: Brain tumors that are remote from the sellar and parasellar region rarely produce galactorrhea. CASE DESCRIPTION: Galactorrhea was the sole presenting symptom in a patient with a posterior third ventricular epidermoid cyst. On investigation, her serum prolactin level was mildly elevated. After radical excision of the tumour, the spontaneous galactorrhea stopped and the serum prolactin level decreased. CONCLUSION: Because of the clinical and biochemical response seen after surgery, we speculate that the galactorrhea was caused by the presence of the tumor. We postulate that the pressure exerted by the tumor on the diencephalic structures was probably the cause of galactorrhea in our patient.

Adult↗

Neurocutaneous melanosis: a case of primary intracranial melanoma with metastasis.

Neurocutaneous melanosis is a rare disorder characterized by the presence of large or multiple congenital melanocytic naevi and benign or malignant pigment cell tumours of the leptomeninges. Distant metastasis is unusual in primary leptomeningeal/intracranial melanomas. We present the case history of an adult male who had multiple primary intracranial melanomas associated with neurocutaneous melanosis (naevus of Ota) in the ophthalmic division of the left trigeminal nerve. Excision of the intracranial tumours was carried out in two stages, but the patient died 2 days after the second operation. Autopsy showed multiple metastatic deposits in the liver. Symptoms and signs of raised intracranial pressure, the presence of Ota's naevus, and a dural-based mass or masses should alert the treating physician to suspect a primary leptomeningeal/intracranial melanoma.

Adult↗

Effect of controlled hypercapnia on cerebrospinal fluid pressure and operating conditions during transsphenoidal operations for pituitary macroadenoma.

Controlled hypercapnia was assessed for its effectiveness in raising cerebrospinal fluid pressure to enable descent of the suprasellar portion of pituitary macroadenomas during transsphenoidal surgery. The result was compared in a randomized, single blind trial with intermittent boluses of saline injected intrathecally. Intrathecal pressures were monitored in both groups. Twenty-seven of 29 patients in the study group and 25 of 28 patients in the control group reached the target pressure of 20 mm Hg. The mean ETCO2 at the time of maximum pressure was 42.34 +/- 4.75 mm Hg in the study group and 29.81 +/- 2.61 mm Hg in the control group, (P< .001). Mean arterial carbon dioxide was 46.90 +/- 6.55 and 31.42 +/- 4.87 mm Hg, respectively. Surgeons blinded to the technique assessed the descent of the tumor. The operating conditions were judged by the surgeons to be satisfactory for 20 patients in the study group and 17 patients in the control group. Both techniques were equally effective in raising intracranial pressure and in providing descent of the suprasellar component of the tumor. No untoward side effects occurred while using either technique. The authors conclude that controlled hypercapnia is effective in producing descent of the suprasellar portion of a pituitary adenoma.

Adenoma↗

Current status of stereotactic biopsy.

The safety and efficacy of CT guided stereotactic biopsy (STB) has been established in several reports published since the early 1980s. Presently, STB is used for the diagnosis of intrinsic brain masses which are judged to be unsuitable for radical excision because of their location, histology or number. It can be combined with adjuvant therapy as the initial treatment of both low and high grade gliomas. It is ideal in determining the histology of focal brain stem masses in children and all brain stem masses in adults. It is the technique of choice in the management of certain lesions such as pineal region germinomas, primary cerebral lymphomas, AIDS related brain masses and deep-seated and eloquent region inflammatory masses. Stereotactic biopsy is, thus, an important tool in the neurosurgeon's armamentarium.

Biopsy↗

Cerebral cysticercus granuloma associated with a subdural effusion.

The association of a solitary cerebral cysticercus granuloma with a subdural effusion is being reported. The granuloma and the effusion resolved following albendazole therapy. We speculate that the spread of the inflammatory changes around the granuloma to the subdural space could have led to the development of the subdural effusion.

Adult↗

Massive cerebral infarction as a feature of pituitary apoplexy.

A patient with pituitary apoplexy is reported who, in addition to the clinical features of apoplexy, developed a cerebral infarct secondary to compression of the internal carotid artery. The mechanisms of a cerebral infarct associated with pituitary apoplexy are discussed.

Adenoma↗

Cisternal cysticercosis: a diagnostic problem--a short report.

We describe a patient in whom a hypodense nonenhancing mass on CT scan in the regions of quadrigeminal cistern, and causing obstructive hydrocephalus, was initially diagnosed as an epidermoid but subsequent MR evaluation and surgery resulted in the diagnosis of a racemose cysticercus cyst.

Adolescent↗

Intrasellar tuberculoma presenting as pituitary apoplexy.

The combination of apoplectic symptoms and a sellar mass most often points to a diagnosis of a pituitary adenoma. Sellar tuberculomas are not considered as a cause of 'pituitary apoplexy' and there has been no radiological documentation of haemorrhage associated with them. We report a 27 years old man who presented with 3 previous episodes of pituitary apoplexy. CT scan showed evidence of a sellar mass with haemorrhage. Transsphenoidal biopsy of the intrasellar mass was reported as 'tuberculoma'. The patient had marked reduction in the size of the lesion following antituberculous therapy with no recurrence of symptoms. Intrasellar tuberculomas must be considered as one of the differential diagnosis when patients present with a pituitary apoplexy.

Adult↗

Syndrome of recurrent meninigitis due to congenital perilymph fistula with two different clinical presentations.

Recurrent meningitis secondary to a congenital labyrinthine anomaly is a rare clinical entity, diagnosis of which is dependent upon certain clinical, radiological and intraoperative features. In the following report we describe two children with congenital labyrinthine fistula and recurrent meningitis whose clinical presentation, radiological features and intraoperative findings were dissimilar and thus, illustrative of two different ways of presentation of this rare disorder. While one had a classical Mondini defect and unilateral hearing loss, the other had normal audiometric and radiographic findings. The fistulae were successfully closed via a tympanotomy approach in both the patients.

Adolescent↗

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.

Child↗