Risk factors and maternal outcomes following preterm premature rupture of membrane in the second trimester of gestation

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics - To characterize the population of women who underwent mid-trimester preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM) in a country where mid-trimester abortions...     

Infratentorial subdural empyema: clinical and computerized tomography findings. Report of three cases

Infratentorial subdural empyemas are rare. The authors report three cases encountered between 1979 and 1988, representing a 3% incidence among all subdural empyemas. The common source was an ear infection. Clinical presentation encompassed a systemic febrile illness, headaches, and a stiff neck. Only one patient had an inconspicuous focal neurological deficit that suggested a cerebral location. Initial diagnosis was acute meningitis in each case. A lumbar puncture was ordered in all three cases but was actually performed in two without developing tonsillar herniation. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis confirmed the diagnosis of meningitis in one but was normal in the other. Computerized tomography allowed a precise diagnosis and localization of the pathology. All three patients received aggressive antibiotic therapy plus suboccipital craniectomy and aspiration of pus; catheter drainage was performed in two. Cultures were positive in one case and negative in the others. Two patients were cured without sequelae; the third patient was moribund at surgery and died. Although it is known that subdural empyemas may localize in the posterior fossa, only one previous report was found. Infratentorial subdural empyema may sometimes be an unrecognized companion of acute meningitis and is cured with antibiotic therapy alone.     

Recurrence of intracranial meningiomas: the role played by regional multicentricity

Meningiomas are regarded as benign dural tumors that can be totally removed; however, after a resection that appears to the naked eye to be total, their recurrence rate is high. Malignancy in a few cases and an erroneous belief in many others that the excision was total are among the most accepted explanations. Few studies have mentioned multicentricity as a cause of "relapse." Therefore, the authors decided to examine the dura mater around globular meningiomas for evidence of regional multifocality. A radial strip of dura was removed from the line of attachment of globular meningiomas in 14 consecutive patients. Meningotheliomatous cell aggregates were demonstrated in 100% of these dural strips in the form of either intradural clusters or nodes protruding from the inner aspect of the dura. The benign appearance of the cells and the great prevalence in this study of the benign types of meningioma seem to exclude malignancy; the intradural position of the clusters and their independence from blood vessels apparently negate seeding and dural metastasis. Control strips of convexity dura mater taken from 10 neurosurgical patients without meningioma failed to show these meningotheliomatous conglomerates. These findings indicate that solitary globular meningiomas represent only the most visible growth in the midst of a neoplastic field change spreading over a wide area of dura mater. The authors believe that this can explain some unexpected "recurrences," and that a wide resection of dura around globular meningiomas, whenever possible, could reduce the incidence of clinical growth after true total excision of the most visible lesion. It remains to be determined what factors cause the acceleration of growth of these cell aggregates after removal of the dominant tumor.     

Traumatic carotid aneurysm secondary to cavernous sinus penetration by wood: CT features

Transorbital penetration of the cranial cavity by a small wooden object can pass unnoticed, while producing severe, life-threatening consequences. The occurrence of a traumatic intracranial aneurysm secondary to a wooden foreign body has not been reported previously in the English literature, to our knowledge. Familiarity with the CT features of this complication is crucial since the CT findings may be the first to suggest penetration of the cavernous sinus by wood, as well as the possibility of a traumatic carotid aneurysm. The CT features of this rare complication are discussed and the pertinent literature is reviewed.     

Primary cutaneous extravertebral meningioma. Case report

A case of cutaneous extravertebral meningioma is presented. It was diagnosed in infancy as a lumbar meningocele. Operation was initially refused but was subsequently demanded for cosmetic reasons. The findings were a very thick corrugated skin and a cutaneous meningioma connected by a fibrous tract to the dura mater. The presence of a fibrous stalk linking the tumor to the dura mater might have been the pathogenetic connection between the meningocele and cutaneous meningioma.     

Osmotherapy for increased intracranial pressure: Comparison between mannitol and glycerol

Summary Osmotic agents are still the most common treatment for controlling intracranial hypertension (ICH). Mannitol, glycerol, sorbitol, and hypertonic serum saline are the agents currently available.This work was designed to compare mannitol and glycerol in a similar population of brain injured patients, randomly divided into two groups of eight. The following mean day parameters were obtained: number of infusions, hydric balance, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and intracranial pressure (ICP). Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) was calculated. Brain computed tomographies (CT) were obtained on arrival, at follow-up whenever justified and at discharge. For comparison of both groups a modified therapeutic intensity level (mTIL) was used.Both agents induced a statistically equally effective decrease on ICP and increase on CPP evaluated at one and two hours post infusion but the mean day mTIL showed a statistically significant difference in favour of glycerol. The possible explanations of this difference are discussed. According to our results mannitol would be most indicated as a bolus to control sudden rises in ICP whereas glycerol would be most indicated as a basal treatment.     

Occipital aneurysmal bone cyst: CT features

A case of aneurysmal bone cyst arising from the lower occipital squama with intracranial extension is presented. The case is unique in that the cyst showed fluid levels on CT. Another peculiarity of this case was postoperative recurrence.     

Aneurysmal bone cyst of Spine

Summary Four patients (aged 5, 7, 18, and 42) suffering from spinal cord involvement due to an aneurysmal bone cyst are reported. In two cases only a preoperative radiological diagnosis was made, one of them by a CT scan. Combined surgical and radiological treatments were done in three cases with a follow-up of 16 years in one patient and 9 years in the other two. In the fourth case, presenting with a C₁ lesion, after radical excision and curettage X-ray therapy was not instituted. Pathological and radiological manifestations are discussed. Therapeutic measures are reviewed.