Titanium versus polyetheretherketone implants for vertebral body replacement in the treatment of 77 thoracolumbar spinal fractures.

Background: Titanium and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implants have been used in spinal surgery with low rejection rates. Compared to titanium, PEEK has many advantages, including a density more similar to that of bone, radiolucency, and a lack of artifacts in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of PEEK cages as an alternative to titanium for bone fusion after fractures of the thoracolumbar spine.

Pseudotumoral form of cerebral Schistosomiasis mansoni.

Objective: To describe published cases of cerebral mansoni schistosomiasis and three others and discuss the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral pseudotumoral schistosomiasis.

Case Descriptions: In case 1, a 20-year-old man presented with occipital headache, intense dizziness, visual alterations, nausea, decreased appetite, and asthenia. Cranial computed tomography (CT) revealed an expansive cerebellar lesion in the right hemisphere with no contrast enhancement.

Papillary tumor of the pineal region.

Tumors of the pineal region are rare in adulthood, accounting for approximately 1% of intracranial neoplasms in this age range. Papillary tumor of the pineal region (PTPR) was first described by Jouvet et al. in 2003.

Gliomatosis cerebri: diagnostic considerations in three cases.

Clinical symptoms and radiologic characteristics of gliomatosis cerebri (GC) are non-specific and the condition may be confused with other central nervous system diseases. We report three patients with GC; all the three patients had involvement of more than three lobes and the deep white matter, as well as bilateral involvement. Differentiation of GC from other neurologic diseases involving diffuse white matter may be difficult.

Pituicytoma.

Background: Pituicytomas originate from pituicytes, modified glial cells derived from ependymal lineage that are found in the stalk and posterior lobe of pituitary gland. The clinical presentation is similar to other pituitary tumors and imaging exams may suggest pituitary adenoma. The diagnostic is based on histopathological analysis.

Early shunt complications in 46 children with hydrocephalus.

Objective: To determine the causes of early shunt complications in 46 children with hydrocephalus.

Method: A retrospective study was conducted on 46 children submitted to ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery between February 2005 and February 2007.

Results: Thirteen (28%) patients presented complications, which were due to infection in 9 (69%) and to malfunction of the shunt system in 4 (31%).

Intracranial aneurysms in sickle cell patients: report of 2 cases and review of the literature.

Background: The sickle cell disease has different neurologic complications, including cerebral aneurysms. This disease may lead to endothelial damage, which favors the development of cerebral aneurysms. Only a few cases demonstrated by cerebral angiography or surgery have been reported in the English literature referring to cerebral aneurysms in sickle cell patients.