Analysis of different treatment modalities of tethered cord syndrome.

Introduction: Although MRI has improved the diagnosis of tethered cord, many controversies still exist in the treatment of tethered cord syndrome (TCS). Especially the indications for and timing of surgical release have remained topics of discussion.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analysed a group of 41 spina bifida occulta (SBO) patients with a tethered cord to evaluate the results of treatment.

The prognostic value of serial EEG recordings following acute neonatal asphyxia in full-term infants.

Perinatal asphyxia is one of the major causes of non-progressive neurological deficits seen in children. It is reported that currently no set of parameters allowing for accurate prediction of prognosis following severe perinatal asphyxia is available. Even electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, which are known to give a fairly good prediction of long-term outcome, have their flaws.

Alexander disease: diagnosis with MR imaging.

Background And Purpose: To date, the demonstration of Rosenthal fibers on brain biopsy or autopsy specimens is considered a prerequisite for a definitive diagnosis of Alexander disease. We initiated a multiinstitutional survey of MR abnormalities in both presumed and confirmed cases of Alexander disease to assess the possibility of an MR-based diagnosis.

Methods: MR imaging studies in three patients with an autopsy-based diagnosis of Alexander disease were analyzed to define MR criteria for the diagnosis.

11q- syndrome: three cases and a review of the literature.

We report on three children with de novo terminal deletions of the long arm of chromosome 11 (11q-) and breakpoints in 11q23-q24. Eighty-nine other patients with partial monosomy 11q have been reported and were reviewed by us. Salient features of 11q- syndrome are psychomotor retardation, trigonocephaly, telecanthus/hypertelorism, broad depressed nasal bridge, micrognathia, low set abnormal ears, cardiac anomalies and hand/foot anomalies.