Informatics Publishing Limited

T. Asha , S. K. Shankar , Sarala Das , T. Vasudev Rao , Y. Ramamohan , K. R. Vani , D. Nagaraja , S. R. Aroor , V. Ravi , K. Taranatha Shetty , B. A. Chandramouli

Abstract

Brain biopsy is one of the important investigative procedures for establishing a diagnosis in various progressive diseases of the nervous system. At present with the availability of more modern and sophisticated techniques, the need for sampling brain is becoming limited. However, in a few conditions it remains the only method for establishing the diagnosis. We have reevaluated 71 brain biopsies performed during the past 15 years regarding the diagnostic usefulness. In 48 cases a definite diagnosis could be made, 16 biopsies were abnormal but no definite diagnosis could be offered, while 5 biopsies were within normal limits. In two cases, the biopsy material was inadequate for study. Majority of the biopsies with definite diagnostic pathology were from cases of SSPE. The other conditions diagnosed histopathologically include dysmyelinating and demyelinating conditions like, Schilder's disease, Krabbe's disease, Canavan's disease, sundanophillicleukodystrophy, degenerate conditions like Lafora body disease, Creutzfeldt Jakob disease and Viral encephalitis of herpes simplex type. A multi disciplinary approach in study has helped in improving the diagnostic efficiency and evolving other modalities of investigations to limit the procedure of brain biopsy to only conditions, with no other alternative diagnostic procedure.

Keywords

Brain Biopsy, Neurodegenerative Conditions, SSPE, Canavan's Disease, Schilder's Disease, Leukodystrophy, CJD

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Aaron Mohanty , Sastry Kolluri , V. R. B. S. Das , B. Hyagrieva Rao , C. J. Shantakumar , B. A. Chandramouli , M. K. Vasudev

Abstract

Twelve patients of intraventricular cysticercosis treated between 1986 and 1995 were analysed retrospectively. Five had cysts in the lateral ventricle, two in third ventricle and four others had cysts in fourth ventricle. One patient had cysts both in lateral and third ventricles. All patients underwent CT scan, four had ventriculogram and one patient also had MR scan. In five, a preoperative ventriculooperitoneal shunt was performed. Eleven patients underwent a microsurgical approach for the cyst excision, in another neuroendoscopic excision was performed. Nine patients received anticysticercal therapy postoperatively. There was no mortality or morbidity. The patients were followed up for a period of 6 months to s6 years (mean : 38 months) None had any recurrence of symptoms.

Keywords

Cysticercosis, Neurocysticercosis, Intraventricular Cysticercosis

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