Revising the ICD-10 codes for epilepsy and seizures.

The World Health Organization is currently revising the International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision (ICD-10). A Neurology Task Force Advisory Group [TAG] has been charged with producing a revision that reflects scientific advances and new concepts of pathophysiology since 1992. The ICD codes are used globally to report mortality and morbidity statistics, and they play a vital role in health care planning, training, and allocation of health care resources in many countries.

Medically intractable temporal lobe epilepsy in patients with normal MRI: surgical outcome in twenty-one consecutive patients.

Introduction: Abnormal MRI findings localizing to the mesial temporal lobe predict a favorable outcome in temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. The purpose of this study is to summarize the surgical outcome of patients who underwent a tailored antero-temporal lobectomy (ATL) with normal 1.5 T MRI.

Intractable epilepsy in patients treated for childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Purpose: In the 1970s and 80s, standard treatment for childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) included both intrathecal methotrexate and whole-brain irradiation. During acute treatment, seizures were not uncommon. The development of intractable epilepsy years after treatment, however, has not been well described in the literature.

Effects of poverty on cognitive function: a hidden neurologic epidemic.

Mental retardation is one of the most prevalent neurologic disorders globally. Surveys in high-income countries show 3 to 5 per 1,000 with severe intellectual disability, i.e.

Postmortem study of deep brain stimulation of the anterior thalamus: case report.

Objective: As new clinical applications for deep brain stimulation (DBS) emerge and the number of patients with DBS systems continues to grow, lead technology will also advance. To direct improvement of these leads, improved understanding of the effects of the DBS electrodes and stimulation parameters on the surrounding brain parenchyma is necessary. We present a postmortem evaluation of a patient who had previously undergone bilateral DBS of the anterior thalamic nucleus.

Epidural cylinder electrodes for presurgical evaluation of intractable epilepsy: technical note.

Background: This is a technical report describing a different technique for the insertion of epidural electrodes in the preoperative evaluation of epilepsy surgery. Our experience in 67 cases using this technique is analyzed.

Methods: Cylinder electrodes with multiple recording nodes spaced 1 cm apart along a Silastic core are placed into the epidural space under general anesthesia through single or multiple burr holes.

Neurology training programs worldwide: a world federation of neurology survey.

This World Federation of Neurology (WFN) project was aimed at collecting data about the number and nature of neurology residency programs in different countries. A survey was sent to delegates from the neurology societies belonging to the World Federation of Neurology. Over 6200 physicians graduating from neurology training programs each year were identified.

Nervous system disorders: a global epidemic.

Major new epidemiological analyses are focusing attention on disorders of the nervous system as important causes of death and disability around the world. One in every 9 individuals dies of a disorder of the nervous system. Stroke outweighs all other neurological disorders combined as a cause of mortality.

Training and distribution of neurologists worldwide.

Information about the global distribution, number, and training of neurologists and other neuro-specialists is vital for the planning of prevention, care, and treatment of disorders of the nervous system, which are a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Delegates of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) were surveyed about the number, training, and location of neurologists in their countries. Sixty-three out of 84 responded (75%).