Verbal and memory deficits caused by aphasic status epilepticus after resection of a left temporal lobe glioma

Background: Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is induced by common neurosurgical conditions, for example, trauma, stroke, tumors, and surgical interventions in the brain. The aggressiveness of the treatment for NCSE depends on its neurological prognosis. Aphasic status epilepticus (ASE) is a subtype of focal NCSE without consciousness impairment. The impact of ASE on neurological prognosis is poorly documented. We describe a case of postoperative ASE resulting in verbal and memory deficits. Case Description: A 54-year-old, right-handed man with focal impaired awareness seizures underwent partial resection for a left temporal lobe tumor. No neurological deficits were observed immediately after surgery. Three days later, however, a focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizure (FBTCS) occurred, followed by aphasia. Electroencephalography revealed 1.5 Hz left-sided periodic discharges. He was diagnosed with ASE. Multiple anti-seizure drugs were ineffective for the resolution of the patient’s verbal disturbance. Nine days after the FBTCS, deep sedation with intravenous anesthetics was performed and the ASE stopped. Thereafter, his symptoms gradually improved. However, the prolonged ASE resulted in verbal and memory deficits. Automated hippocampal volumetry revealed an approximate decrease of 20% on the diseased side on magnetic resonance imaging 3 months after surgery. Conclusion: Prolonged ASE can induce verbal and memory deficits. Early intervention with intravenous anesthetics is required to obtain a favorable neurological prognosis.

Electrophysiological Activity and Brain Network During Recovery of Propofol Anesthesia: A Stereoelectroencephalography-Based Analysis in Patients With Intractable Epilepsy—An Exploratory Research

Background: The oscillations and interactions between different brain areas during recovery of consciousness (ROC) from anesthesia in humans are poorly understood. Reliable stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) signatures for transitions between unconsciousness and consciousness under anesthesia have not yet been fully identified.Objective: This study was designed to observe the change of electrophysiological activity during ROC and construct a ROC network based on SEEG data to describe the network property of cortical and deep areas during ROC from propofol-induced anesthetic epileptic patients.Methods: We analyzed SEEG data recorded from sixteen right-handed epileptic patients during ROC from propofol anesthesia from March 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. Power spectrum density (PSD), correlation, and coherence were used to describe different brain areas' electrophysiological activity. The clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, modularity, network efficiency, degrees, and betweenness centrality were used to describe the network changes during ROC from propofol anesthesia. Statistical analysis was performed using MATLAB 2016b. The power spectral data from different contacts were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test with Tukey's post-hoc correction. One sample t-test was used for the analysis of network property. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to judge data distribution. Non-normal distribution was analyzed using the signed rank-sum test.Result: From the data of these 16 patients, 10 cortical, and 22 deep positions were observed. In this network, we observed that bilateral occipital areas are essential parts that have strong links with many regions. The recovery process is different in the bilateral cerebral cortex. Stage B (propofol 3.0-2.5 μg/ml) and E (propofol 1.5 μg/ml-ROC) play important roles during ROC exhibiting significant changes. The clustering coefficient gradually decreases with the recovery from anesthesia, and the changes mainly come from the cortical region. The characteristic path length and network efficiency do not change significantly during the recovery from anesthesia, and the changes of network modularity and clustering coefficient are similar. Deep areas tend to form functional modules. The left occipital lobe, the left temporal lobe, bilateral amygdala are essential nodes in the network. Some specific cortical regions (i.e., left angular gyrus, right angular gyrus, right temporal lobe, left temporal lobe, and right angular gyrus) and deep regions (i.e., right amygdala, left cingulate gyrus, right insular lobe, right amygdala) have more significant constraints on other regions.Conclusion: We verified that the bilateral cortex's recovery process is the opposite, which is not found in the deep regions. Significant PSD changes were observed in many areas at the beginning of stop infusion and near recovery. Our study found that during the ROC process, the modularity and clustering coefficient of the deep area network is significantly improved. However, the changes of the bilateral cerebral cortex were different. Power spectrum analysis shows that low-frequency EEG in anesthesia recovery accounts for a large proportion. The changes of the bilateral brain in the process of anesthesia recovery are different. The clustering coefficient gradually decreased with the recovery from anesthesia, and the changes mainly came from the cortical region. The characteristic path length and network efficiency do not change significantly during the recovery from anesthesia, and the changes of network modularity and clustering coefficient were similar. During ROC, the left occipital lobe, the left temporal lobe, bilateral amygdala were essential nodes in the network. The findings of the current study suggest SEEG as an effective tool for providing direct evidence of the anesthesia recovery mechanism.

ML-4 A case of primary CNS lymphoma diagnosed 5 years after stereotactic radiosurgery

Central nervous system primary malignant lymphoma (PCNSL) is rarely diagnosed as multiple metastatic brain tumors. Almost tumors recure early after receiving stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Regardless of the fact, the following case report displays PCNSL, diagnosed five years after the initial treatment with SRS as brain metastases of unknown primary origin. This extraordinal case suggests long-term follow-up regarding PCNCL. The case was a 55-year-old woman with a history of a total hysterectomy for cervical cancer. She developed left paralysis. Brain MRI confirmed a 27 mm contrast-enhanced lesion in the right frontal lobe and three other lesions. SRS was performed as a diagnosis of multiple brain metastases for urgent symptom relief. No extra-cranial cancerous lesions were found. Unknown primary cancer was a probable diagnosis at that time. Two years after SRS, local regrowth of tumor of the right frontal primary motor area was discovered. Re-irradiation was performed. Cerebral edema, contrast enhancement, and left paralysis progressed following five months, taking an oral corticosteroid. Craniotomy and debulk. The pathological diagnosis was brain radiation necrosis due to no viable tumor cells. New lesions in the left temporal lobe and basal ganglia appeared three years after surgery. Awake craniotomy was performed for the left temporal lobe lesion. Histopathology showed diffuse growth of tumor cells with a high nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio and irregular nuclear shape. Immunohistochemistry revealed positive CD10, CD20, CD45 (LCA), MUM1, and negative CD3, CD5. The Ki- 67 labeling rate was as high as almost 100% to diagnose diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, PCNSL. Multidrug chemotherapy consisting of rituximab, high-dose methotrexate, procarbazine, and vincristine were performed. Complete remission was obtained without any serious adverse events. Considering the residual radiation necrosis, whole-brain irradiation was avoided. Moreover, consolidation therapy was performed only with high-dose cytarabine therapy.

NIMG-34. DELAYED PSEUDOPROGRESSION IN GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS TREATED WITH TTFIELDS: A REPORT OF TWO CASES

INTRODUCTION: Tumor treating fields (TTFields) is an established treatment modality for glioblastoma (GBM) and is administered with the portable Optune system. Although the EF-14 phase 3 trial demonstrated the efficacy of TTFields for newly diagnosed GBM, uncertainty regarding the specific effects of this treatment has prevented its widespread clinical use. Pseudoprogression in response to chemoradiation is a known problem in GBM patients and most commonly occurs within 3 months after radiotherapy. We report 2 cases of TTFields delayed pseudoprogression. CASE REPORT: Two GBM patients being treated with TTFields showed signs of radiographic progression at 5 to 6 months after completing radiotherapy. Patient 1 was a 37-year-old woman with gliosarcoma in the right temporal lobe. Patient 2 was a 70-year-old man with wildtype-IDH GBM in the left temporal lobe. Both patients received TTFields in addition to maintenance temozolomide (TMZ) after radiotherapy (RT). Radiographic progression was noted at 5 and 6 months after RT in Patients 1 and 2, respectively. Second resections were performed, and pathology showed only the treatment effect, which ultimately led to diagnosis of pseudoprogression. DISCUSSION: Both patients had radiographic progression outside the typical pseudoprogression window. Recent studies reported that TTFields increased plasma cell membrane permeability, which could result in additional gadolinium leakage into the extracellular space. CONCLUSIONS: Better characterization of delayed pseudoprogression would improve treatment and could potentially reduce unnecessary surgeries and discontinuation of successful therapies.

Subacute Cognitive Decline in an 86-Year-Old Woman With Prior Lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhage

An 86-year-old woman with a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, and hypothyroidism sought care for subacute, progressive cognitive decline. Five months earlier, she was hospitalized for a small, left temporal, lobar, intracerebral hemorrhage with associated receptive aphasia. Over the next several months, she had a precipitous cognitive decline. She was prescribed memantine by her primary physician because of concern for dementia. One month before seeking care, she was found unconscious in her bathroom, which was believed to be an unwitnessed seizure. Brain magnetic resonance imaging 1 month before the current evaluation showed a prior, small, left temporal hemorrhage and diffuse lobar microhemorrhages on gradient echo imaging, focal leptomeningeal gadolinium enhancement in the left temporal lobe, and multifocal T2 hyperintensity with mass effect, maximal in the left temporal lobe. Electroencephalography showed multifocal, independent epileptiform discharges. She underwent open biopsy of the left temporal lobe, which indicated focal granulomatous inflammation causing vascular destruction, with β‎-amyloid plaques within the cortical and leptomeningeal vessels. The findings were consistent with a diagnosis of amyloid-β‎-related angiitis in the setting of severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Because of concern for subclinical seizures and epileptiform discharges on electroencephalography, the patient was started on levetiracetam without substantial change in her mental status. After the biopsy findings demonstrated inflammatory changes consistent with amyloid-β‎-related angiitis, she was started on intravenous methylprednisolone, followed by transition to prednisone. After 6 months of treatment, she had significant clinical and radiographic improvement. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging at that time showed interval improvement in the T2 hyperintensity and mass effect in the left temporal lobe. She was again independent with her activities of daily living, and memantine was discontinued. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy encompasses a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by amyloid-β‎ peptide deposition. The most common clinical manifestation of cerebral amyloid angiopathy is lobar intracerebral hemorrhage, which can be multifocal and recurrent but can also result in cerebral ischemia and ischemic leukoencephalopathy.

Conservative management of post-traumatic cerebral myiasis: report of a unique case and literature review

Cerebral myiasis is extremely rare, and surgical intervention is the primary treatment used. Successful conservative management alone, without surgical removal of the brain infestation has not yet been published. We report the a case of a 24-year-old African homeless man who was found on the street in a state of decreased level of consciousness, with larvae exiting from the left supra and postauricular dirty wounds and from his left ear. The patient was diagnosed with post-traumatic cerebral myiasis of the left temporal lobe and cerebellum. It was treated successfully by debridement of the external wounds and administration of antibiotics, without surgical removal of the brain infestations. For the first time, this case illustrates the novelty and appropriateness of the conservative management of cerebral myiasis. This is also the first report of cerebral myiasis with cerebellar involvement and the second report of post-traumatic cerebral myiasis in literature. Continuous...

A “polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumor of the young (PLNTY)” diagnosed in an adult. Report of a case and review of the literature

Background: Polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumor of the young (PLNTY) is a rare neuropathological entity, recently introduced in neuro-oncology. These tumors, histologically similar to oligodendrogliomas, cause epilepsy, occurring in children and young adults. Only few cases of PLNTY have been described in literature and all reported cases invariably focused on the onset of these tumors in children and young adults. Case Description: We report the case of a 50-year-old woman suffering from epilepsy since the 1st year of her life. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain documented the presence of a calcified mass involving left temporal lobe. The tumor was surgically excised and the histological examination showed a hypocellular and massively calcified neoplasm with morphological and immunohistochemical features consistent with the diagnosis of “PLNTY.” Conclusion: A review of the literature revealed that there are 31 cases of PLNTY reported in literature, most of which are children or young adults. The present case represents the second PLNTY diagnosed in a middle-aged adult to the best of our knowledge, suggesting that PLNTY should always be included in the differential diagnosis of low-grade brain tumors, also in adult patients.

Fibroblastic meningioma mimicking an intracerebral hemorrhage: case report

ABSTRACT A 50-year-old woman presented to the emergency room complaining of severe headache. A non-contrasted head CT was obtained, which demonstrated a hyperdense image compatible with an intracerebral hemorrhage in the posterior region of the left temporal lobe. The patient displayed no neurological deficit during the consultation and a subsequent MRI showed a temporoinsular bleeding lesion that was suggestive of an atypic meningioma or a metastatic lesion. Afterwards, neck, chest and abdomen CT scans were performed, and the imaging ruled out a secondary neoplasm. The patient underwent surgical resection of the lesion, and a solid tumor was found with no bleeding associated. The pathology reported a WHO I fibroblastic meningioma.

Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis in a COVID-19 Patient from Nepal: A Case Report

With the surge of cases during the second wave of COVID-19 in Nepal, a number of mucormycosis coinfection cases have also come to our attention. We present a case of a 65-year-old female who was admitted to our emergency department with complaints of pain, swelling, and tingling sensation of the left side of the face along with blood-tinged nasal discharge for 20 days. She had been tested positive for COVID-19 a month back and managed with oxygen support and corticosteroids. Magnetic Resonance Imaging showed invasive fungal sinusitis, with the positive black turbinate sign and mild extension along with the dura mater of the left temporal lobe, and left cavernous sinus. She was diagnosed with rhinocerebral mucormycosis and managed with systemic antifungal therapy and insulin. As per the treatment modality, surgical debridement could not be done because the patient did not give consent.