Hemispherectomy for dominant hemisphere Rasmussen's Encephalitis - how late is too late?

It is unclear whether a dominant hemispherectomy/hemispherotomy in someone with Rasmussen's Encephalitis (RE) may produce a satisfactory outcome when performed over the age of 40 years. Important questions include whether RE may continue to evolve three decades after onset, and whether a hemispherectomy may adequately shift language function when performed in older ages. Two cases illustrate seizure, language, motor and functional outcomes after dominant hemispherotomies.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonists in patients with complicated spinal tuberculosis: A case series and literature review.

Introduction: Spinal tuberculosis is often associated with poor outcomes; host-directed inflammation involving the spine contributes to this disability.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with complicated spinal tuberculosis having received tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonists at a referral hospital in South Africa. A literature review was performed to identify all published cases of complicated spinal tuberculosis that received a TNF-α antagonist as part of their treatment.

The Epidemiology and Phenotypes of Ocular Manifestations in Childhood and Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis: A Review.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) appears to have a similar incidence among adult populations worldwide. However, epidemiological and phenotypic differences have been noted among children and juveniles with MG. We reviewed the literature on childhood- and juvenile-onset MG among different populations, with the focus on ocular involvement, antibody profiles, the genetic susceptibility to juvenile MG phenotypes, the use of immune treatments, and the reported responses of extraocular muscles to therapies.

Anterior temporal lobectomy: A cross-sectional observational study of potential surgical candidates at a single institute.

Background: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder, associated with serious cognitive, physical, and psychosocial burdens. Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) is the commonest form of focal epilepsy. The aim of this study was to establish the incidence of patients with electroencephalographic epileptiform discharges consistent with mTLE attending a tertiary hospital in South Africa, and determine whether these patients may be candidates for anterior temporal lobectomy.

Recurrent Hodgkin's Disease Presenting as a Clinically Isolated Cavernous Sinus Syndrome.

Background: Hodgkin's disease involving the central nervous system is uncommon and is usually seen in patients with uncontrolled systemic disease or those who have had multiple episodes of recurrent disease. Common symptoms of intracranial Hodgkin's disease are motor and/or sensory deficits, headache, papilloedema, coma, and seizures. The rarity of Hodgkin's disease presenting with intracranial involvement is marked, but patients presenting with cavernous sinus syndrome is even rarer.

Established association of legionella with rhabdomyolysis and renal failure: A review of the literature.

Legionella causes 2-15% of community acquired pneumonia cases that require hospitalization and it is the second most common cause of serious pneumonia that needs admission in an intensive care unit. Since the first published case in 1980, there are a further 22 published case reports on the direct correlation between rhabdomyolysis, renal failure and Legionnaires' disease. All but two patients survived with antibiotics and dialysis.

A CD99+ primary spinal central PNET in a pregnant patient- therapeutic concerns and issues.

Spinal tumours in pregnancy are rare. Spinal tumours account for only 10-15% of all primary central nervous system (CNS) tumours. Most spinal tumours in pregnant women have been described as meningiomas or vascular tumours.