Mário Rodrigues Montemór Netto

Neurocysticercosis: a clinical and pathological study of 27 necropsied cases

Neurocysticercosis is the most frequent and widespread neuroparasitosis of the human being. The development of brain and leptomeningeal lesions, with subsequent symptoms, are mainly related with the immune status of the host, and to the number and evolutional phase of the parasites. We present the pathological findings in 27 necropsies of patients with neurocysticercosis, which accounted for 3.1% of the necropsies. 77% of the patients were male and the age ranged from 18 to 85 years. In 26% there was previous history of alcoholism. Clinicopathological study showed that 50% of the cases were classified as asymptomatic form, 11% epileptic form, 11% intraventricular form and 11% combined form. 33% of the patients presented seizures as a factor of aggravation of the clinical picture. There was a single cysticercus in 60% of the cases, the cellulosae form present in 82% and the racemous form in 7% of the cases; the remaining 11% had both forms present. In 30% of the patients the cause of death was directly related with the presence of the cysticercus in the central nervous system. Our findings confirm the high morbidity of this disease.

Ganglioglioma desmoplásico da infância: estudo clínico, histopatológico e epidemiológico de cinco casos

Infantile desmoplastic gangliogliomas are rare tumors of the central nervous system, composed by a mixture of glial and neuronal cells and a fibrous stroma, which affect mainly young patients and arise from the surface of the cerebral hemispheres. We present five cases of infantile desmoplastic ganglioglioma: three were male and two were female. The ages ranged from three months and seven years (mean 2.62 years). The symptoms reflected the growth and topography of the tumors affecting the parietal (n=3), parieto-occipital (n=1), occipital (n=1) lobes. Immunohistochemistry was performed in two cases with similar results to those reported in the literature.

Craniofaringiomas: achados clínicos, epidemiológicos e anatomopatológicos de 25 casos

We report the clinical and pathological findings of 25 cases of craniopharyngiomas. Fourteen patients were males and 11 were females. The ages ranged between 3 and 64 years, with a mean of 30.52 years. The symptoms reflected the growth and topography of the tumours; visual disorders (72%), headache (68%), vomits (40%) and papilledema (24%) were the most frequent symptoms. Twelve cases were suprasellar; 10 tumours arose from sellar region, from which 8 presented suprasellar extension; frontal lobe (n = 2) and ponto cererebellar angle (n = 1) were also affected. Eleven patients undergone total resection of the tumor and 14 were submitted to partial resection, from which 1 received adjuvant chemotherapy. The overall recurrence rate was 48%. Eight recurrences were observed in the patients submitted to partial resection and 4 in which total resection were performed. These results are similar with the literature, corroborating to the extension of residual tumour after the surgical resection as the main prognostic factor for this neoplasm.

Oligodendrogliomas: estudo anatomopatológico e clínico de 15 casos

Oligodendrogliomas account for 4-5% of primary central nervous system tumours with a slow and infiltrative growth. We report the clinical and pathological findings of 15 cases of oligodendrogliomas. Eight patients were males and 7 were females. The ages ranged between 17 and 66 years, with a mean of 39.73 years. The symptoms reflected the growth and topography of the tumours; migraine (60%) and seizures (60%) were the most frequent symptoms. Frontal (n=6), parietal (n=2), temporal (n=1) and occipital (n=1) lobes were affected. Five patients undergone total resection of the tumor and 10 were submitted to partial resection, from which 3 received adjuvant radiotherapy, 1 adjuvant chemotherapy and 1 chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The overall recurrence rate was 60% for a 32 month follow up. Five recurrences were observed in patients submitted only to the surgical treatment and 4 in which adjuvant radio or chemotherapy were performed. These results are similar with the literature and may contribute to further understanding the biological behavior of these rare tumours.

Ependimomas: achados clínicos, epidemiológicos e anatomopatológicos de 22 casos

Ependymomas are composed of neoplastic ependymal cells, affecting mainly children and young adults. We report the clinical and pathological findings of 22 cases of ependymomas. Fourteen patients were males and 8 were females. The ages ranged between 1 and 58 years, with a mean of 24.63 years. The symptoms reflected the growth and topography of the tumours; muscle weakness (59.1%), gait disorders (36.3%), sensitive disorders (36.3%), hyperreflexia and intracranial hypertension syndrome were the most frequent symptoms. Ten tumours affected the medulla, 7 the cerebral hemispheres, 2 the cerebral ventricles and 1 brain stem. Seven patients were submitted total resection of the tumor, from which one received adjuvant radiotherapy. 15 other patients were submitted to partial resection; from which 4 received adjuvant radiotherapy, 3 adjuvant chemotherapy and 1 chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The recurrence rate was 18.2%. These results are similar with the literature and may contribute to further understanding the biological behavior of these tumours.Ependimomas sao neoplasias compostas por celulas ependimarias neoplasicas, manifestando-se predominantemente em criancas e adultos jovens. Relatamos os achados clinicos, epidemiologicos e anatomopatologicos de 22 casos de ependimomas. Dos 22 casos analisados, 14 ocorreram em pacientes do sexo masculino e 8 em pacientes femininos. As idades variaram de 1 a 58 anos, com media de 24,63 anos. Quanto a localizacao, 10 casos acometeram medula, 7 ocorreram em hemisferios cerebrais, 2 intraventriculares e 1 no tronco cerebral. Os sinais e sintomas observados incluiram reducao da forca muscular (59,1% dos pacientes), alteracoes da marcha (36,3%), alteracoes da sensibilidade(36,3%), hiperreflexia e sindrome de hipertensao endocraniana, com periodo de evolucao variando de 15 dias a 8 anos, com media de 17,58 meses. Sete pacientes foram submetidos a resseccao cirurgica total , 7 a exerese parcial, 4 a exerese parcial associada a radioterapia adjuvante, 3 a resseccao parcial seguida de quimioterapia e 1 a tumorectomia total associada a radioterapia. Evidenciou-se taxa de recidiva tumoral total de 18,2%. Estes achados aproximam-se dos encontrados na literatura internacional, corroborando para a compreensao do comportamento biologico deste tumor.

Eclerose tuberosa: relato de caso com estudo histopatológico e ultraestrutural

Tuberous sclerosis complex is a group of autosomal disorders characterized by hamartomas and benign neoplastic lesions that invariably affect the central nervous system. We report a case of tuberous sclerosis that is the first presenting ultrastructural findings of this phacomatosis in the Latin American literature. The patient was a 2 year old girl presenting West syndrome non responsive to the clinical treatment with vigabatrin, trileptal and clonazepan, and undergoing left frontal lobectomy. The histopathological and ultrastructural findings were compatible with tuberous sclerosis. These results may help to further understand this controversial phacomatosis, warning to the clinical presentation as West syndrome.

Experimental model for the study of retrograde flow

Abstract Background Venous arterialization has been adopted as a strategy for salvage of limbs in critical ischemia without the distal arterial bed, with successful outcomes, but the mechanisms by which irrigation of the extremities takes place are still unknown. Objectives To develop an experimental model to test hypotheses that could explain the mechanisms of blood supply in venous arterialization. Methods Eleven pigs underwent a period of hind limb ischemia followed by reperfusion achieved by venous arterialization, after interposition of conduits filled with 10 ml (5 animals – group 1) or 1 ml (6 animals – group 2) of China Ink. After euthanasia, the limbs were amputated and underwent histological analysis. Results Under optical microscopy, ink staining was observed in the arteriolar lumen of six (55%) of the eleven pigs used in the experiment; four (80%) out of five from group 1 and two (33%) out of six from group 2. Conclusions The experimental model was capable of testing the hypothesis. The presence of China Ink in the arteriolar lumen shows that it is possible to supply the arterial vessels by means of venous arterialization.

Metaplasia adiposa de tireoide associada à tireoidite de Hashimoto com hiperplasia nodular e adenoma de células oncocíticas: relato de caso e revisão da literatura

Lesions involving adipose tissue and the thyroid gland are usually rare. In the present report, adipose metaplasia is associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with nodular hyperplasia and oncocytic adenoma in a 40-years-old female patient, which is one of the first reported cases of this association. The main clinical finding is the diffuse goiter, and the differential diagnosis must be performed to exclude the possibility of malignancies. The treatment is performed through total thyroidectomy. Thus, it is important the physicians be aware of this pathology with a view to a more effective clinical reasoning and to exclude more serious possibilities.

Oral insulin improves metabolic parameters in high fat diet fed rats

INTRODUCTION/AIM The gut has shown to have a pivotal role on the pathophysiology of metabolic disease. Food stimulation of distal intestinal segments promotes enterohormones secretion influencing insulin metabolism. In diabetic rats, oral insulin has potential to change intestinal epithelium behavior. This macromolecule promotes positive effects on laboratorial metabolic parameters and decreases diabetic intestinal hypertrophy. This study aims to test if oral insulin can influence metabolic parameters and intestinal weight in obese non-diabetic rats. METHODS Twelve weeks old Wistar rats were divided in 3 groups: control (CTRL) standard chow group; high fat diet low carbohydrates group (HFD) and HFD plus daily oral 20U insulin gavage (HFD+INS). Weight and food consumption were weekly obtained. After eight weeks, fasting blood samples were collected for laboratorial analysis. After euthanasia gut samples were isolated. RESULTS Rat oral insulin treatment decreased body weight gain (p<0,001), fasting glucose and triglycerides serum levels (p<0,05) an increased intestinal weight of distal ileum (P<0,05). Animal submitted to high fat diet presented higher levels of HOMA-IR although significant difference to CT was not achieved. HOMA-beta were significantly higher (p<0.05) in HFD+INS. Visceral fat was 10% lower in HFD+INS but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS In non-diabetic obese rats, oral insulin improves metabolic malfunction associated to rescue of beta-cell activity.

Aggressive angiomyxoma of the vagina: a case report

Aggressive angiomyxoma (AAM) is a rare infiltrative tumor of mesenchymal origin that has high rates of local recurrence. We present the case of a 42-year-old patient with a lump in the vaginal canal, treated with excisional biopsy. Histopathologic evaluation revealed myxoid spindle-cell proliferation in the subepithelial region, and immunohistochemical analysis was positive for CDK4, CD34, desmin, estrogen and progesterone receptors. The markers S100 and smooth muscle actin were negative, what corroborated the diagnosis of AAM. Because of its high recurrence rates, we opted for outpatient follow-up during the two subsequent years.