Marcelo Valente

Are Noonan syndrome and Noonan-like/multiple giant cell lesion syndrome distinct entities?

We report on a family with typical clinical findings of Noonan syndrome associated with giant cell lesions in maxilla and mandible. We discuss the obvious clinical overlap between Noonan syndrome and Noonan-like/multiple giant cell lesion syndrome, and we give further clinical and molecular support that these two entities could be allelic conditions.

Spinal cord schistosomiasis in children: analysis of seven cases

We describe seven cases of children (ages 2 to 14 years) with myeloradiculopathy caused by infection with S. mansoni. None of them presented hepatosplenic involvement and one presented an intestinal picture. The myeloradicular and pseudotumoral forms were observed in four and three patients, respectively. Comparing the reports in the literature, we found that the pseudotumoral form is more similarly frequent among children than in adults, while the myelitic and myeloradicular forms are the most frequent and distributed across all age groups. Diagnosis is based on clinical and epidemiological findings in association with laboratory tests. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of S. mansoni eggs in feces (5 cases) and / or the positivity in specific immunological tests (5 cases) associated with a cerebrospinal fluid inflammatory pattern with presence of eosinophils (between 1 and 24%). Magnetic resonance image, although it does not enable an etiological diagnosis, helped to confirm the form and spinal cord level of the lesion.

Brain abscess by citrobacter diversus in infancy: case report

Citrobacter diversus is closely related to brain abscess in newborn infants. We describe a case of brain abscess by this bacteria in a newborn infant and his clinical and cranial computed tomographic evaluation until the fourth month of life and discuss therapeutic management of this patient.

Biometria do fígado e do baço em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico de início pediátrico

OBJECTIVE To evaluate liver and spleen dimensions in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (c-SLE) patients and healthy controls. METHODS 30 c-SLE patients and 30 healthy control volunteers underwent abdominal ultrasound. The following two liver measurements were performed in left hepatic lobe: craniocaudal and anteroposterior and three in right hepatic lobe (RHL): posterior craniocaudal (PCC-RHL), anterior craniocaudal and anteroposterior. Three spleen dimension measurements were also evaluated: longitudinal, transverse and anteroposterior. Demographic, clinical and laboratorial data, SLEDAI-2K, ECLAM, SLAM and treatment were assessed. RESULTS Mean current age was similar in c-SLE and controls (170.31 ± 27.81 vs. 164.15 ± 39.25 months; p = 0.486). The mean of PCC-RHL dimension was significantly higher in c-SLE compared to controls (13.30 ± 1.85 vs. 12.52 ± 0.93, p = 0.044). There were no differences between the other hepatic biometrics and splenic parameters (p > 0.05). Further analysis in c-SLE patients according to PCC-RHL dimension ≥ 13.3cm versus < 13.3 cm showed that the median of SLEDAI-2K [8(0-18) vs. 2(0-8), p=0.004], ECLAM [4(0-9) vs. 2(0-5), p = 0.019] and SLAM [5(1-13) vs. 2(0-14), p = 0.016] were significantly higher in patients with higher PCC-RHL dimension, likewise the frequencie of nephritis (77% vs. 29%, p = 0.010). Liver enzymes were similar in both groups (p > 0.05). Positive correlation was observed between SLEDAI-2K and PCC-RHL (p = 0.001, r = +0.595). Negative correlation was evidenced between disease duration and longitudinal dimension of spleen (p = 0.031, r = -0.394). CONCLUSION Our data raises the possibility that disease activity could lead to a subclinical and localized hepatomegaly during the disease course. Long disease duration resulted to spleen atrophy in c-SLE patients.

Midline Facial Defects With Hypertelorism and Low-Grade Astrocytoma: A Previously Undescribed Association

We report on a child with midline facial defects with hypertelorism (MFDH), median cleft lip, sphenoidal ventriculocele, partial agenesis of the corpus callosum, and low-grade astrocytoma in the cervicomedullary junction. This combination of findings has not been reported previously. Although this association might be casual, it demonstrates a relationship between disorders of frontonasal process and posterior fossae. It also suggests that individuals with MFDH might require a prospective follow-up with central nervous system magnetic resonance imaging.

Neonatal seizures: the overlap between diagnosis of metabolic disorders and structural abnormalities. Case report

UNLABELLED Inborn metabolic errors (IME) and cortical developmental malformations are uncommon etiologies of neonatal seizures, however they may represent treatable causes of refractory epilepsy and for this reason must be considered as possible etiological factors. This case report aims to demonstrate the importance of neuroimaging studies in one patient with neonatal seizures, even when there are clues pointing to a metabolic disorder. CASE REPORT A previously healthy 14 day-old child started presenting reiterated focal motor seizures (FMS) which evolved to status epilepticus. Exams showed high serum levels of ammonia and no other abnormalities. A metabolic investigation was conducted with normal results. During follow-up, the patient presented developmental delay and left side hemiparesia. Seizures remained controlled with anti-epileptic drugs for four months, followed by relapse with repetitive FMS on the left side. Temporary improvement was obtained with anti-epileptic drug adjustment. At the age of 6 months, during a new episode of status epilepticus, high ammonia levels were detected. Other metabolic exams remained normal. The child was referred to a video-electroencephalographic monitoring and continuous epileptiform discharges were recorded over the right parasagittal and midline regions, with predominance over the posterior quadrant. A new neuroimaging study was performed and displayed a malformation of cortical development. Our case illustrates that because newborns are prone to present metabolic disarrangement, an unbalance such as hyperammonemia may be a consequence of acute events and conduct to a misdiagnosis of IME.

Osteonecrose de mandíbula em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil observada em exame de imagem

OBJECTIVE The objective of the present study was to evaluate radiographic changes of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and a control group. PATIENTS AND METHODS Panoramic radiographies of the TMJ of 26 JSLE patients and 28 healthy individuals were evaluated. Multislice computed tomography (MCT) was performed on those patients who presented flattening and/or destruction of mandibular condyles. Demographic data, oral health indices, clinical manifestations, laboratory exams, and treatment were evaluated. RESULTS Important radiographic changes consistent with osteonecrosis of the mandible, confirmed by MCT of the TMJ, were observed in 2/26 (8%) JSLE patients versus 0% in the control group (P = 0.22). Mild clinical dysfunction and abnormal TMJ mobility were observed in 67% and 54% of the patients, respectively. Age of onset, disease duration, and current age were similar in JSLE patients with and without severe radiographic changes of TMJ (9.3 versus 10.8 years, P = 0.77; 3.3 versus 2 years, P = 0.63; 12.6 versus 13.5 years, P = 0.74, respectively). Significant differences in gender, socioeconomical status, oral health indices, clinical manifestations, laboratory exams, and treatment were not observed between both subgroups (P 0.05). Both JSLE patients with osteonecrosis of the mandible had active chronic disease, used corticosteroids for a prolonged period, and had mild TMJ dysfunction. Antiphospholipid antibodies were not observed in those two patients, and neither one had been treated with bisphosphonate. CONCLUSIONS Osteonecrosis of the mandible with mild TMJ dysfunction was observed in some of the patients, demonstrating the importance of odontological assessment during clinical follow-up.

Severe epilepsy and pachygyria associated with peculiar facial traits characterize Fryns-Aftimos syndrome

We describe an 18-year-old boy with a frontofacial syndrome. The presence of severe epilepsy led to a neuroimaging investigation, which revealed a diffuse pachygyric (normal thickness and simplified folding) cortex that was bilateral and affected all supra-tentorial regions, sparing the medial and inferior aspects of the frontal lobe plus the posterior occipital region. In addition, an unusual skull base presentation with small posterior fossa, narrowed foramen magnum, and low torcular and tentorial insertions was documented. Dysmorphic ventricles and enlarged cavi of the septi pellucidum, vergae, and velum interpositum were also noted. This case shares many similarities with two patients formerly described by Fryns and Aftimos, who were previously classified as having mental retardation and multiple congenital anomalies syndrome. The existence of a new case corroborates the idea of a distinct condition with particular characteristic dysmorphic facial features and the presence of a specific malformation of cortical development associated with severe epilepsy. We believe that epilepsy and pachygyria play a central role in distinguishing this syndrome from others classified as frontofacial or cerebrofrontofacial syndromes, and we propose the term “Fryns-Aftimos syndrome” to name it. (J Child Neurol 2005;20:160—163).

Radiologia pediátrica: quando o diagnóstico deve ser "amigo" da criança

In the current context of intense technological development at the dawn of a new era of online digital information, it never hurts to emphasize the concern regarding the education of future radiologists, pediatricians, and, specifically, of future pediatric radiologists. Such education must be directed towards guiding and stimulating the practice of medicine in such a manner to assure that the complementary exams, which are essential for diagnosis and treatment of pediatric conditions, achieve maximum benefit with the lowest possible risk, avoiding unnecessary child exposure to immediate and future risk situations and protecting the child or adolescent from situations of physical suffering or any kind of avoidable psychological aggravation. The incorporation of some simple actions into the daily practice can bring actual benefits in favor of pediatric imaging diagnosis, in an increasingly child-friendly atmosphere. Among such actions, the following should be highlighted: The first simple action is to perform the lowest possible number of complementary exams, giving priority to those which can actually generate the necessary, and many times sufficient, data to confirm/rule out a given diagnostic hypothesis. Such objective can, in most of times, be achieved by means of the optimization of the binomial comprised by the improvement in the performance of anamnesis and the physical examination, in

Acidúria glutárica tipo 1: variabilidade fenotípica. Estudo de seis pacientes

We report six patients with glutaric aciduria type 1 in four families. The patients had marked clinical variability, even within families. Three of the patients studied were normal untill the onset of neurologic abnormalities, that presented as an encephalitis-like illness in the first year of age. One patient had an early and important developmental delay, but never suffered an encephalopathic crisis. Two patients have intellectual preservation; one of them has a mild tremor and choreoathetosis since the first year of age, and the other had only two afebrile seizures in infancy and no other neurologic signs. Three patiens are severely handicapped, with a severe dystonic-dyskinetic disorder and unable to even sit. All the six patients have macrocephaly and in all the computed tomography showed enlarged CSF spaces and sulcal separation over the frontal and temporal lobes. Urine organic acids study of all patients showed large quantities of glutaric acid.We report six patients with glutaric aciduria type 1 in four families. The patients had marked clinical variability, even within families. Three of the patients studied were normal until the onset of neurologic abnormalities, that presented as an encephalitis-like illness in the first year of age. One patient had an early and important developmental delay, but never suffered an encephalopathic crisis. Two patients have intellectual preservation; one of them has a mild tremor and choreoathetosis since the first year of age, and the other had only two afebrile seizures in infancy and no other neurologic signs. Three patients are severely handicapped, with a severe dystonic-dyskinetic disorder and unable to even sit. All the six patients have macrocephaly and in all the computed tomography showed enlarged CSF spaces and sulcal separation over the frontal and temporal lobes. Urine organic acids study of all patients showed large quantities of glutaric acid.