Alonso L. DeSousa

Atrial myxoma: a review of the neurological complications, metastases, and recurrences.

The neurological complications secondary to embolism from atrial myxoma are reviewed. A patient with intracranial and skeletal metastases is described to emphasise the malignant potentiality of this tumour. A classification of atrial myxoma metastases is presented.

Metastatic Atrial Myxoma Presenting as Intracranial Mass

Metastases from atrial myxomas are uncommon. A patient with a left atrial myxoma that had been excised eight years earlier developed intracranial and skeletal metastases. The primary lesion had not recurred. The malignant potential of this neoplasm is discussed.

Optic Chiasmatic Glioma in Children

We reviewed the records of 29 patients with optic nerve or chiasm glioma, or both, seen from 1955 to 1966. Sixteen patients were girls and 13 were boys. At the time of diagnosis, 14 patients were less than 2 years old. Optic atrophy was the most frequently seen physical finding, present in 26 of 29 patients. Twelve patients had diencephalic syndrome (41%). Proptosis was seen in eight. Eleven patients (38%) had associated neurofibromatosis. Pneumoencaphalogram was done on 26 patients and was abnormal in 23. The diagnosis was confirmed at surgery in 27 patients. All tumors were astrocytomas. Eighteen patients underwent radiotherapy. Surgery and radiotherapy were used as treatment for optic-chiasmatic glioma with diencephalic syndrome.

Extrusion of peritoneal catheter through abdominal incision: report of a rare complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

A rare complication of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is reported. The peritoneal catheter extruded through the well-healed abdominal incision. This is the first report of such an occurrence in an adult patient.