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Scolastico S, Pugnaghi M, Meletti S. When the brain moves away: a case of sphenoidal sinus encephalocele. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:1807-1808. [PMID: 38216849 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07319-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Scolastico
- Neurology Unit, OCB Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Di Modena, Via Giardini 1355, 41125, Modena, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Matteo Pugnaghi
- Neurology Unit, OCB Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Di Modena, Via Giardini 1355, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Stefano Meletti
- Neurology Unit, OCB Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Di Modena, Via Giardini 1355, 41125, Modena, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy.
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Di Giacomo R, Burini A, Visani E, Doniselli FM, Cuccarini V, Garbelli R, Marucci G, De Santis D, Didato G, Deleo F, Pastori C, Stabile A, Villani F, Rizzi M, Girardi L, de Curtis M. Distinctive electro-clinical, neuroimaging and histopathological features of temporal encephaloceles associated to epilepsy. Neurol Sci 2023; 44:4451-4463. [PMID: 37458845 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-06939-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Encephaloceles (ENCs) may cause clinical complications, including drug-resistant epilepsy that can be cured with epilepsy surgery. METHODS We describe clinical, diagnostic, and neuropathological findings of 12 patients with temporal ENC and epilepsy evaluated for surgery and compare them with a control group of 26 temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients. RESULTS Six patients had unilateral and 6 bilateral temporal ENCs. Compared to TLEs, ENCs showed i) later epilepsy onset, ii) higher prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities, iii) no history of febrile convulsions, and iv) ictal semiology differences. Seven patients had MRI signs of gliosis, and 9 of intracranial hypertension. Interictal EEG analysis in ENCs demonstrated significant differences with controls: prominent activity in the beta/gamma frequency bands in frontal regions, interictal short sequences of low-voltage fast activity, and less frequent and more localized interictal epileptiform discharges. Ictal EEG patterns analyzed in 9 ENCs showed delayed and slower contralateral spread compared to TLEs. All ENCs that underwent surgery (7 lobectomies and 1 lesionectomy) are in Engel class I. Neuropathological examination revealed 4 patterns: herniated brain fragments, focal layer I distortion, white matter septa extending into the cortex, and altered gyral profile. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE The described peculiarities might help clinicians to suspect the presence of largely underdiagnosed ENCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Di Giacomo
- Epilepsy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Burini
- Epilepsy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medicine (DAME), Neurology Unit, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Elisa Visani
- Epilepsy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Valeria Cuccarini
- Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Rita Garbelli
- Epilepsy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Marucci
- Neuropathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Dalia De Santis
- Epilepsy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Didato
- Epilepsy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Deleo
- Epilepsy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Pastori
- Epilepsy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Stabile
- Epilepsy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Flavio Villani
- Clinical Neurophysiology Unit and Epilepsy Center, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Michele Rizzi
- Neurosurgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Girardi
- Department of Enviromental System Science, Swiss Federal Institute (ETH) Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco de Curtis
- Epilepsy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
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Nejat A, Berchi Kankam S, Heidari V, Tayebi Meybodi K, Habibi Z, Karami S, Nejat F. The Predictors of Seizures in Patients with Encephalocele: An 11-Year Experience from a Tertiary Hospital. Pediatr Neurosurg 2023; 58:410-419. [PMID: 37751730 DOI: 10.1159/000534140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The aim of the study was to investigate and identify the predictors associated with the incidence of seizures in patients with encephalocele (EC). METHODS A retrospective analysis was undertaken of patients treated for EC at a tertiary medical center in Tehran between 2010 and 2021. Data including age at presentation, gender, location, size, and content of EC, ventriculomegaly, hydrocephalus, associated anomalies, and neurodevelopmental delay (NDD) were evaluated for their prognostic value. In addition, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the correlation between independent predictors and seizure incidence. RESULTS One hundred and two cases of EC were identified. Seventy-one ECs (69.6%) were posterior ECs, while 31 (30.4%) were anterior. Neural tissue was found in 43 (42.2%) of the ECs. Thirty-three patients (32.4%) had ventriculomegaly, of which 90.9% underwent shunt placement for progressive or symptomatic hydrocephalus. Seizure was found in 26 (25.5%) patients. On univariate analysis, presence of other anomalies, postoperative infections, and NDD were associated with seizures (p < 0.05). When the anomalies were categorized into intracranial and extracranial groups in univariate analysis, none was associated with statistically significant increase in seizure (p values of 0.09 and 0.61, respectively). Although according to multivariate analysis, only the association between other associated anomalies and seizure was near significant (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 0.95-4.2, p = 0.049). Children with NDD and postoperative infection were, respectively, 3.04 and 1.3 times more at risk to experience seizures compared to other patients. CONCLUSION We found a rate of 25.5% risk of seizure in patients with EC. This study could not find any significant predictors of seizure in children with EC. However, pediatric patients with postoperative infections including sepsis, wound infection, and NDD require more consideration to reduce the risk of seizure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirhosein Nejat
- Department of Neurosurgery, Firouzgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samuel Berchi Kankam
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Heidari
- Department of Neurosurgery, Firouzgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Keyvan Tayebi Meybodi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Habibi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sajedeh Karami
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farideh Nejat
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
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Al-Balushi N, Bouthour W, Banc A, Mosleh R, Saindane AM, Newman NJ, Biousse V. Seizures as the Initial Manifestation of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Spectrum Disorder. Neuroophthalmology 2023; 47:248-254. [PMID: 38130812 PMCID: PMC10732617 DOI: 10.1080/01658107.2023.2251579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a syndrome of isolated elevated intracranial pressure of unknown aetiology. The IIH spectrum has evolved over the past decade making the diagnosis and management more challenging. The neurological examination in IIH is typically normal except for papilloedema and possible cranial nerve 6 palsy. Recent publications have highlighted skull base thinning and remodelling in patients with chronic IIH. Resulting skull base defects can cause meningo-encephalocoeles, which are potential epileptogenic foci. We describe the clinical and radiological characteristics of five IIH patients with seizures and meningo-encephalocoeles as the presenting manifestations of IIH spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisreen Al-Balushi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Al-Nahdha Hospital, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
| | - Walid Bouthour
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ana Banc
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Rasha Mosleh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Amit M. Saindane
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nancy J. Newman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Valérie Biousse
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Hainc N, McAndrews MP, Valiante T, Andrade DM, Wennberg R, Krings T. Imaging in medically refractory epilepsy at 3 Tesla: a 13-year tertiary adult epilepsy center experience. Insights Imaging 2022; 13:99. [PMID: 35661273 PMCID: PMC9167324 DOI: 10.1186/s13244-022-01236-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives MRI negative epilepsy has evolved through increased usage of 3 T and insights from surgically correlated studies. The goal of this study is to describe dedicated 3 T epilepsy MRI findings in medically refractory epilepsy (MRE) patients at a tertiary epilepsy center to familiarize radiologists with an updated spectrum and frequency of potential imaging findings in the adult MRE population. Methods Included were all patients with MRE admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit who were discussed at weekly interdisciplinary imaging conferences at Toronto Western Hospital with MRI studies (3 T with dedicated epilepsy protocol) performed between January 2008 and January 2021. Lesion characterization was performed by two readers based on most likely imaging diagnosis in consensus. Lobes involved per case were recorded. Results A total of 738 patients (386 female; mean age 35 years, range 15–77) were included. A total of 262 patients (35.5%) were MRI negative. The most common imaging finding was mesial temporal sclerosis, seen in 132 patients (17.9%), followed by encephalomalacia and gliosis, either posttraumatic, postoperative, postischemic, or postinfectious in nature, in 79 patients (10.7%). The most common lobar involvement (either partially or uniquely) was temporal (341 cases, 58.6%). MRE patients not candidates for surgical resection were included in the study, as were newly described pathologies from surgically correlated studies revealing findings seen retrospectively on reported MRI negative exams (isolated enlargement of the amygdala, temporal pole white matter abnormality, temporal encephalocele). Conclusion This study provides an updated description of the spectrum of 3 T MRI findings in adult MRE patients from a tertiary epilepsy center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolin Hainc
- Division of Neuroradiology, Joint Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Mary Pat McAndrews
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Taufik Valiante
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Danielle M Andrade
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Richard Wennberg
- Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Timo Krings
- Division of Neuroradiology, Joint Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Karakis I. Temporal Encephaloceles and Epileptogenicity: Does Size Matter? Epilepsy Curr 2021; 22:38-40. [PMID: 35233196 PMCID: PMC8832355 DOI: 10.1177/15357597211053185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
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Chen BS, Newman NJ, Biousse V. Atypical presentations of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Taiwan J Ophthalmol 2021; 11:25-38. [PMID: 33767953 PMCID: PMC7971435 DOI: 10.4103/tjo.tjo_69_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disorder of unknown etiology that results in isolated raised intracranial pressure. Classic symptoms and signs of IIH include headache, papilledema, diplopia from sixth nerve palsy and divergence insufficiency, and pulsatile tinnitus. Atypical presentations include: (1) highly asymmetric or even unilateral papilledema, and IIH without papilledema; (2) ocular motor disturbances from third nerve palsy, fourth nerve palsy, internuclear ophthalmoplegia, diffuse ophthalmoplegia, and skew deviation; (3) olfactory dysfunction; (4) trigeminal nerve dysfunction; (5) facial nerve dysfunction; (6) hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction; (7) lower cranial nerve dysfunction including deviated uvula, torticollis, and tongue weakness; (8) spontaneous skull base cerebrospinal fluid leak; and (9) seizures. Although atypical findings should raise a red flag and prompt further investigation for an alternative etiology, clinicians should be familiar with these unusual presentations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benson S. Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Nancy J. Newman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Valérie Biousse
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Pettersson DR, Hagen KS, Sathe NC, Clark BD, Spencer DC. MR Imaging Features of Middle Cranial Fossa Encephaloceles and Their Associations with Epilepsy. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2020; 41:2068-2074. [PMID: 33033039 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a6798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Middle cranial fossa encephaloceles are an increasingly recognized cause of epilepsy; however, they are also often encountered on neuroimaging in patients with no history of seizure. We characterized the MR imaging features of middle cranial fossa encephaloceles in seizure and nonseizure groups with the hope of uncovering features predictive of epileptogenicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy-seven patients with middle cranial fossa encephaloceles were prospectively identified during routine clinical practice of neuroradiology at a tertiary care hospital during an 18-month period. Thirty-five of 77 (45%) had a history of seizure, 20/77 (26%) had temporal lobe epilepsy, and 42/77 (55%) had no history of seizures. Middle cranial fossa encephalocele features on MR imaging were characterized, including depth, area, number, location, presence of adjacent encephalomalacia, and degree of associated parenchymal morphologic distortion. MR imaging features were compared between the seizure and nonseizure groups. RESULTS No significant difference in MR imaging features of middle cranial fossa encephaloceles was seen when comparing the seizure and nonseizure groups. Comparison of just those patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (n = 20) with those with no history of seizure (n = 42) also found no significant difference in MR imaging features. CONCLUSIONS Anatomic MR imaging features of middle cranial fossa encephaloceles such as size, number, adjacent encephalomalacia, and the degree of adjacent parenchymal morphologic distortion may not be useful in predicting likelihood of epileptogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - N C Sathe
- School of Medicine (N.C.S.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - B D Clark
- From the Departments of Radiology (D.R.P., B.D.C.)
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Benson JC, Lane J, Geske JR, Gompel JV, Krecke KN. Prevalence of Asymptomatic Middle Cranial Fossa Floor Pits and Encephaloceles on MR Imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2019; 40:2090-2093. [PMID: 31780461 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a6311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Temporal lobe encephaloceles are increasingly identified and treated as epileptogenic foci. However, there is relatively scant research on the prevalence of asymptomatic encephaloceles. This study set out to describe the frequency of incidental temporal lobe encephaloceles and middle cranial fossa pits. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review was completed of high-resolution (≤0.5-mm section thickness) axial T2WI for internal auditory canal protocol imaging. The presence and laterality of middle cranial fossa pits (small bony defects containing CSF) and encephaloceles (brain parenchyma protrusion through osseous defects with or without bony remodeling) were recorded. Electronic medical records of patients with encephaloceles were searched for a history of seizure. RESULTS A total of 203 patients were included in the final cohort; 106 (52.2%) women. Forty-five (22.2%) patients had middle cranial fossa pits: 14 (31.1%) unilateral on the right, 17 (37.8%) unilateral on the left, and 14 (31.1%) bilateral. Ten (5.0%) patients had ≥1 encephalocele, none of whom had a documented history of seizure in the electronic medical record. No significant difference was noted in the frequency of pits or encephaloceles based on sex (P = .332 and P = .383, respectively) or age (P = .497 and P = .914, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Incidental middle cranial fossa pits are common findings, and their prevalence is not related to age or sex. Temporal lobe encephaloceles, though rarer, also exist occasionally among asymptomatic patients. Such findings have diagnostic implications for encephaloceles identified during imaging work-up for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Benson
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (J.C.B., J.L., K.N.K.)
| | - J Lane
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (J.C.B., J.L., K.N.K.)
| | - J R Geske
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics (J.R.G.)
| | - J V Gompel
- Department of Neurosurgery (J.V.G.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - K N Krecke
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (J.C.B., J.L., K.N.K.)
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