Gilberto Machado de Almeida

Intracranial Arterial Aneurysms in Infancy and Childhood

Eleven cases of intracranial arterial aneurysms in patients under 15 years of age, treated from 1959 to 1976, are presented. The preponderance of aneurysms at the internal carotid artery bifurcation and the peculiarities of the defects in this location are remarkable.

Percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy and neurovascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve for the treatment of facial pain

OBJECTIVE To determine the outcomes of 354 radiofrequency rhizotomies and 21 neurovascular decompressions performed as treatment for 367 facial pain patients (290 idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, 52 symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia, 16 atypical facial pain, 9 post-herpetic neuralgia). METHOD Clinical findings and surgery success rate were considered for evaluation. A scale of success rate was determined to classify patients, which considered pain relief and functional/sensorial deficits. RESULTS Radiofrequency rhizotomy was performed in 273 patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia and in all other patients, except for trigeminal neuropathy; neurovascular decompression was performed in 18 idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia patients; 100% idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, 96.2% symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia, 37.5% atypical facial pain and 88.9% post-herpetic neuralgia had pain relief. CONCLUSION Both techniques for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia are usefull. Radiofrequency rhizotomy was also efficient to treat symptomatic facial pain, and post-herpetic facial pain, but is not a good technique for atypical facial pain.

Brain tumors in the first two years of life: a review of forty cases

From 1962 to 1989, 40 infants with brain tumors and less than 2 years old were treated at the Department of Neurology of the Clinical Hospital of the University of São Paulo Medical School. The clinical and neuropathological findings were reviewed as to histological diagnosis, age, sex, signs and symptoms, therapy and outcome. Medulloblastoma was the most common histological type (n = 11), followed by ependymoma (n = 9), choroid plexus tumor (n = 6), astrocytoma (n = 3) and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (n = 2). The tumor was infratentorial in 21 infants, supratentorial in 18 and disseminated in 1.

Vasospasm after acoustic neuroma removal

A case of a acoustic neuroma with a two-stage removal due to severe bleeding is presented. The patient remained drowsy after the second operation and by the 8th day deteriorated quickly with progressive right hemiplegia and aphasia. The cerebrospinal fluid was bloody, vasospasm was shown in the angiograms, and an ischemic area was disclosed in the computed tomography scan. The outcome and the neuroradiologic examinations suggested that blood in the basal cisterns caused the vasospasm and the brain ischemia. A review of the literature disclosed only one similar case.

Contralateral Parafalcine Approach for Parasagittal and Callosal Arteriovenous Malformations

Most neurosurgeons prefer an ipsilateral approach for medial surface arteriovenous malformations. Based on recent surgical experiences, we believe that a contralateral approach has some advantages in dealing with such lesions. Two cases are reported, and the rationale for the contralateral approach is discussed.

Chronic spinal subdural hematoma

A 55-year-old woman with chronic spinal subdural hematoma, diagnosed by magnetic resonance (MR) is presented. There was no coagulation defect, anticoagulant therapy, or trauma.

Hemispheric arteriovenous fistulae with giant venous dilation.

A direct fistula between cerebral cortical arteries and venous channels may result in an impressive aneurysm-like, saccular dilation of the venous portion. We had the opportunity to treat two children with this rare arteriovenous malformation, with excellent results. The controversy on the classification and treatment of this pathology is discussed briefly.

Ventriculo-auriculostomia nos bloqueios ao trânsito do líquido cefalorraqueano na cisticercose encefálica

Sixteen cases of brain cysticercosis with obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid circulation were operated from 1960 to 1965, through ventriculo-auri- culostomy with Holter valve. Five patients died, ten are alive and free of signs of intracranial hypertension and one could not be followed up. Considering the usual bad prognosis of the disease, mainly when increased intracranial pressure is present, the results obtained can be considered good. Therefore, the ventriculovenous shunts are a valuable resource in the treatment of the neurocysticercosis with ventricular dilatation caused by cerebrospinal fluid obstruction either in the intraventricular pathway or in the subarachnoid space. Sometimes the evolution is not satisfatory owing to the progressive course of the disease itself and not as a consequence of a bad control of the increased intracranial pressure.

Surgical treatment of unilateral coronal synostosis. Technical notes.

SummaryA modification in the surgical technique for unilateral coronal synostosis is proposed.

Forma tumoral da cisticercose cerebral: diagnostico pela tomografia computadorizada

Solitary granulomatous lesions due to cysticercosis in the brain were found by computed tomography in six patients. The CT images were in all cases very similar to those from brain neoplasms. The cerebrospinal fluid complement fixation test for cysticercosis was negative in all of the cases. The definite etiological diagnosis could only be made by craniotomy in this series.Solitary granulomatous lesions due to cysticercosis in the brain were found by computed tomography in six patients. The CT images were in all cases very similar to those from brain neoplasms. The cerebrospinal fluid complement fixation test for cysticercosis was negative in all of the cases. The definite etiological diagnosis could only be made by craniotomy in this series.