Clinicopathological investigation of gyral high density on computerized tomography following severe head injury in children

1995 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 995-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takehide Onuma ◽  
Yasuko Shimosegawa ◽  
Motonobu Kameyama ◽  
Hiroaki Arai ◽  
Kiyoshi Ishii

✓ The authors have treated five cases of severe head trauma in children in which abnormally high density along gyri, “gyral high density,” was seen on plain computerized tomography (CT) scans in the subacute stage of the injury. The prognosis in all cases was poor, with either severe disability or a vegetative state as the outcome due to significant brain atrophy following gyral high density. This pathology was classified into three clinical stages: 1) acute stage, cerebral ischemia in which there is diffuse low density of the cerebrum on CT scans (most marked on the 3rd and 4th days); 2) subacute stage, hemorrhagic infarction showing gyral high density on plain CT scans (between 1 and 4 weeks); and 3) chronic stage, brain atrophy (beginning 4 weeks after the trauma). In their consecutive series of head-injured patients (516 children, 1459 adults), the authors did not find gyral high density on CT scan in adults. This is probably due to the fact that adults who suffer the severe head trauma associated with diffuse brain swelling or diffuse brain edema cannot survive, thus making this gyral high density unique to children.

1988 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 867-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel W. Yeakley ◽  
John S. Mayer ◽  
Larry L. Patchell ◽  
K. Francis Lee ◽  
Michael E. Miner

✓ The “delta sign” is a triangular area of high density with a low-density center seen on contrast-enhanced computerized tomography (CT) scans in the location of the superior sagittal sinus. It indicates thrombosis of the sinus. The authors describe the “pseudodelta sign,” which is similar but is seen on non-contrast-enhanced CT scans and which has a high correlation with hemorrhage secondary to acute head trauma.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 830-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiji Yoshino ◽  
Tarumi Yamaki ◽  
Toshihiro Higuchi ◽  
Yoshiharu Horikawa ◽  
Kimiyoshi Hirakawa

✓ Dynamic computerized tomography (CT) was performed on 42 patients with acute head injury to evaluate the hemodynamics and to elucidate the nature of fatal diffuse brain bulk enlargement. Patients were divided into two groups according to the outcome: Group A included 17 nonfatally injured patients, eight with acute epidural hematomas and nine with acute subdural hematomas; Group B included 25 fatally injured patients, 16 with acute subdural hematomas and nine with bilateral brain bulk enlargement. Remarkable brain bulk enlargement could be seen in all fatally injured patients with acute subdural hematoma. In 29 (69%) of 42 patients, dynamic CT was performed within 2 hours after the impact. In the nonfatally injured patients with brain bulk enlargement, dynamic CT scans suggested a hyperemic state. On the other hand, in 17 (68%) of the 25 fatally injured patients, dynamic CT scans revealed a severely ischemic state. In the fatally injured patients with acute subdural hematoma, CT Hounsfield numbers in the enlarged hemisphere (hematoma side) were significantly lower than those of the opposite side (p < 0.001). Severe diffuse brain damage confirmed by follow-up CT scans and uncontrollable high intracranial pressure were noted in the fatally injured patients. Brain bulk enlargement following head injury originates from acute brain edema and an increase of cerebral blood volume. In cases of fatal head injury, acute brain edema is the more common cause of brain bulk enlargement and occurs more rapidly than is usually thought.


1989 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 929-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Müfit Kalelioğlu ◽  
Gönül Aktürk ◽  
Fadiil Aktürk ◽  
Sezer Ş. Komsuoğlu ◽  
Kayhan Kuzeyü ◽  
...  

✓ Cerebral myiasis with a 10-day history of convulsions due to an intracerebral hematoma caused by a Hypoderma bovis larva is reported in an 8-year-old child. Computerized tomography (CT) showed the hematoma in a right parieto-occipital location. The H. bovis larva and the extensive intracerebral hematoma were discovered during surgery. Among human parasitoses, cerebral myiasis is rare: a review of the literature revealed only two reports, one published in 1969 and one in 1980. This is the first case that has been diagnosed as cerebral myiasis with exact identification of the Hypoderma bovis larva both from the CT scans and at surgery in a patient during life.


1982 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles G. Maitland ◽  
Seisho Abiko ◽  
William F. Hoyt ◽  
Charles B. Wilson ◽  
Tomomi Okamura

✓ Four patients with chiasmal syndromes were found to have intrachiasmal hematomas. Computerized tomography scans showed high-density suprasellar masses in all cases. Cryptic vascular anomalies were presumed to be responsible for spontaneous bleeding into the chiasm in three of the cases. In the remaining case, hemorrhage was due to an occult optic glioma. Surgical evacuation of clotted blood resulted in improved visual function in three of the four cases.


1994 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 810-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim K. Krauss ◽  
Mohsen Mohadjer ◽  
Fritz Nobbe ◽  
Fritz Mundinger

✓ The authors report the long-term results of stereotactic surgery for severe posttraumatic appendicular tremor in 35 patients. The tremors developed after severe head trauma in 33 patients (94%) and after mild to moderate head trauma in two (6%). In all but one, the tremor was most evident during activity. The amplitude of the kinetic tremor was greater than 5 cm in 33 patients (94%) and greater than 12 cm in 19 patients (54%). All were severely incapacitated in their daily living activities due to the tremors. The 35 patients underwent 42 stereotactic operations; five patients were reoperated on the same side and two were treated with a bilateral staged procedure. The contralateral zona incerta was the stereotactic target in 12 patients and was targeted in combination with the base of the ventrolateral (oroventral) thalamus in 23 patients. Long-term postoperative follow-up review was obtained in 32 patients (mean follow-up period 10.5 years). Persistent improvement of tremor was noted in 88%. The tremor was absent or markedly reduced in 65%. Functional disability was assessed and quantified with a modified form of an established rating scale for patients with tremor; it was reduced from a mean value of 57% of maximum disability to 37% over the long term (p < 0.001). Follow-up lesion assessment was obtained in 18 patients by multiplanar magnetic resonance imaging and at autopsy in one patient whose death was unrelated to surgery. As in previous studies, the frequency of persistent side effects was relatively high (38%). These consisted mainly of aggravation of preoperative symptoms. The results are compared to those of a total of 55 patients reported from 1960 to 1992. The occurrence of dystonia and dystonic postures is discussed. Stereotactic surgery is a powerful tool to alleviate posttraumatic tremor and to improve functional disability. However, as there is considerable risk of persistent morbidity in patients after severe head trauma, the operation should be restricted to selected cases with disabling tremor.


1990 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 684-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanan Costeff ◽  
Zeev Groswasser ◽  
Ruth Goldstein

✓ Thirty-one children aged 3 to 15 years were followed for 5 to 11 years after suffering severe closed head trauma which caused coma for 1 week or more (median duration of coma 3 weeks). One patient remained in a persistent vegetative state until his death 9 years later. The other 30 recovered consciousness and were discharged. All suffered diminution of their abilities, and 24 of them had major permanent disability. The most common motor disabilities were pure spastic hemiparesis (seven cases), basal ganglia syndromes (four cases), ataxia (three cases), and a combination of hemiparesis and ataxia (five cases). Of the 30 patients, 26 regained independent ambulation, seven were epileptic, and 14 were dysarthric in various degrees. Only 10 had the cognitive ability to profit from the normal educational system, and none had attempted postsecondary education. Social problems were common. The worst outcomes were associated with intracranial bleeding and/or brain contusion seen on computerized tomography (CT) scans at the acute stage; the best were associated with normal CT scans. The degree of residual disability in these children seems no less than that of adults with trauma of similar severity.


1981 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick M. Foy ◽  
Leandro Lozada ◽  
Malcolm D. Shaw

✓ A patient with an arteriovenous malformation and giant venous aneurysm was erroneously diagnosed as having an oligodendroglioma on computerized tomography (CT). This case highlights some of the problems of interpretation of CT scans and the dangers of misinterpretation, particularly in the surgical context.


1989 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Hirschberg

✓ A method is described for marking the site of a tumor on the scalp based on information from computerized tomography (CT) scans. The technique employs a syrinx-shaped array of radiopaque catheters of varying length taped to the patient's scalp for visualization on the CT scan. Fiducial markings on the CT images allow the transfer of the tumor's location directly onto the scalp. The device can be placed anywhere on the scalp, including in a parasagittal position.


1976 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 504-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
William W. Winternitz ◽  
James A. Dzur

✓ A patient presented with hypopituitarism, 2 years after severe head trauma. Deficits of growth hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and borderline thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were demonstrated. Normal TSH-releasing hormone (TRH) response and elevated prolactin indicated viable anterior pituitary tissue with inadequate hypothalamic control. Precautions are suggested for recognition and treatment of this syndrome.


1985 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan J. Rivas ◽  
Ramiro D. Lobato

✓ A technique is reported for the stereotaxic evacuation of colloid cysts of the third ventricle using a stereotaxic system adapted for computerized tomography (CT) scanning. This is an accurate, simple, and reproducible method that avoids the risks of direct approaches. Successful intracystic aspiration resulting in the cure of the patient may be difficult when the viscosity of the cyst contents is high. Thus, the authors use a large cannula (1.8 mm in inner diameter) to evacuate cysts that appear hyperdense on CT scans; these seem to contain a thicker colloid material than hypodense or isodense cysts.


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