Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · May 2004
ReviewApplications of positron emission tomography (PET) in neurology.
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a powerful imaging technique which enables in vivo examination of brain functions. It allows non-invasive quantification of cerebral blood flow, metabolism, and receptor binding. ⋯ In recent years, because of advancements in technology and proliferation of PET scanners, PET is being increasingly used in clinical neurology to improve our understanding of disease pathogenesis, to aid with diagnosis, and to monitor disease progression and response to treatment. This article aims to provide an overview of the principles of PET and its applications to clinical neurology.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · May 2004
Electromagnetic function of polymicrogyric cortex in congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome.
Congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome (CBPS) is characterised by bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria and suprabulbar paresis. Mild tetraparesis, cognitive impairment, and epilepsy are frequently associated. Sensory deficits are surprisingly rare, even though polymicrogyria often extends to auditory and sensorimotor cortex. ⋯ Plastic changes of sensory and motor cortex location suggest disturbed cortex organisation in CBPS patients. Because the polymicrogyric cortex of CBPS patients may embed normal functions in unexpected locations, functional mapping should be considered before brain surgery.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · May 2004
Comparative StudyMedial temporal lobe epilepsy: gender differences.
The present study investigated the gender differences in medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) with regard to clinical history, seizure semiology, and EEG data. To avoid the influence of pathological and localisation differences, we included only MTLE patients with hippocampal sclerosis. Patients who had long term video EEG recordings with registered seizures and unilateral hippocampal sclerosis proved by high resolution MRI were included. ⋯ OR for female gender in patients with lateralised seizure pattern was 8.8 (95% CI 1.8 to 42.7; p<0.01). Men more often had secondarily generalised tonic-clonic seizures, while women had isolated auras and lateralised EEG seizure pattern more often. Our data suggest that the seizure spread is more extended or occurs more frequently in men than in women.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · May 2004
Case ReportsA case of Collet-Sicard syndrome associated with traumatic atlas fractures and congenital basilar invagination.
An 18 year old man with congenital basilar invagination developed multiple lower cranial nerve (CN) palsies including CN IX to XII after a traffic accident. Computed tomography of his skull base revealed a two part atlas Jefferson fracture. ⋯ However, when associated with a rare condition-congenital basilar invagination-atlas fractures can compromise the space and make CN IX-XII more vulnerable to compression injury. This report discusses the correlation between the anatomical lesions and clinical features of this patient.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · May 2004
Craniocervical dystonia questionnaire (CDQ-24): development and validation of a disease-specific quality of life instrument.
To develop and test a questionnaire for measuring quality of life in patients with craniocervical dystonia. ⋯ The CDQ-24 is the first fully validated and disease specific questionnaire to evaluate quality of life of patients with cervical dystonia and blepharospasm and we propose its use in clinical trials as well as in daily clinical practice.