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Biomedical subjects

F Gjerris

Publications and source records attributed to F Gjerris.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Calcification in a pineal tumour studied by transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction and x-ray microanalysis.

The calcification in a totally calcified pineal tumour was studied. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the tumour was a pinealoma. The type of calcification was investigated by bright-field and dark-field transmission electron microscopy in addition to electron diffraction and electron-induced x-ray fluorescence. The calcified material consisted predominantly of amorphous calcium phosphate. The type of calcification differs from the normal calcification present in pineal acervuli which consists of crystalline hydroxypatite.

Brain Neoplasms

A variant of the Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome with temporal lobe astrocytoma.

An 8-year-old boy with a variant of the Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome (KTW syndrome) is described. The hemangiomatous tissue located to the right half of his trunk and extremities was hypotrophic. On the same side, on his face and gingivae the tissue appeared hypertrophic and dental abnormalities were present. Moreover, the patient suffered from psychomotor epilepsy caused by a right-sided temporal astrocytoma. The connection between the KTW syndrome and the neurocutaneous syndromes is discussed.

Angiomatosis

Intracranial pressure and conductance to outflow of cerebrospinal fluid in normal-pressure hydrocephalus.

Forty patients with clinical evidence of normal-pressure hydrocephalus were studied by monitoring intraventricular pressure during a 24-hour period, and by a lumboventricular perfusion test for measurement of the conductance to outflow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The purpose of the study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between intraventricular pressure and conductance to outflow of CSF, and whether it is possible to use the results from pressure monitoring in the selection of patients who may be expected to benefit from shunting therapy. The conductance to outflow was used as an evaluation factor in the selection of patients to be treated by a shunt. The conductance to CSF outflow differed by twelvefold between the lowest and highest values. The level of resting intraventricular pressure was within normal limits in all patients. Accordingly, there was no evidence of a relationship between conductance to outflow and intraventricular pressure. So-called B-waves were seen more frequently in patients with decreased conductance to outflow, but were also present in patients with high conductance to outflow. Therefore, the presence of B-waves does not imply a low conductance to outflow of CSF.

Adult

Cerebrospinal fluid conductance and compliance of the craniospinal space in normal-pressure hydrocephalus. A comparison between two methods for measuring conductance to outflow.

Conductance to outflow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been measured by both a lumboventricular perfusion and a bolus injection method in 24 patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus. One purpose was to investigate whether the less time-consuming technique of bolus, injection gave results comparable to the results obtained by the lumboventricular perfusion technique. There was a poor correlation between the results obtained by the two measurements of conductance to outflow of CSF. It is concluded that the bolus-injection technique cannot substitute for the lumboventricular perfusion test. Compliance of the CSF space was measured by the bolus injection. The presence of B-waves, recorded from long-term intraventricular pressure monitoring, could be correlated to the sum of conductance to outflow and compliance. The correlation offers a possible explanation of the nature of B-waves.

Aged

Incidence and long term survival of children with intracranial tumours treated in Denmark 1935-1959.

The total number of children under 15 years of age with intracranial tumours in Denmark during the years 1935-1959 was found to be 533. The average incidence was 21 new cases/10(6) children/year during the 25-year period in question, and 25/10(6) children/year during the first 17 years of Danish cancer registration. The sex ratio (290 boys to 243 girls) was not significantly different from that of the child population in Denmark. In 219 cases the tumour was located in the supratentorial and in 314 in the infratentorial space. 93% of the tumours were histologically verified, with the following order of frequency for the most usual types: astrocytomas (all grades), medulloblastomas, ependymomas, and craniopharyngiomas. Follow-up was 100%. For the 345 children who survived for more than one month after operation or diagnosis, 36% were alive after 15 years. 119 patients were alive in April 1974 and these were all observed between 15-40 years after diagnosis and operation. Of these 44 had tumours in the supratentorial and 75 in the infratentorial space. 66% of the survivors with supratentorial and 90% with infratentorial tumours led a normal life. Most of the survivors had had a cerebellar astrocytoma, a supratentorial astrocytoma, an apendymoma or oligodendroglioma, but other histological diagnoses were also represented, especially in the supratentorial group. The long-term prognosis was especially bad for children with brain-stem tumours, infratentorial ependymomas and medulloblastomas.

Adolescent

Clinical aspects and long-term prognosis in supratentorial tumors of infancy and childhood.

A total of 132 children, less than 15 years of age at the time of diagnosis of an intracranial supratentorial tumor, were followed from 1 to 40 years. The patient material was unselected and the follow-up 100%. 73 were boys and 59 were girls. The tumors were located in the lateral region of the brain in 70 children and in the midline in 62. Astrocytoma was the most common histological type, followed by craniopharyngioma. The occurrence of the most malignant tumor types was significantly higher in the lateral than in the midline region. 84 children survived for more than 1 month after the initial diagnosis or surgery, and 29 of these were alive 15 to 40 years after operation. 45% of the children with tumors situated laterally and 30% of those with midline tumors were alive after 15 years. 14% of those who survived at least 15 years had severe and 34% slight neurological defects.

Adolescent

The resistance to cerebrospinal fluid absorption in humans. A method of evaluation by lumbo-ventricular perfusion, with particular reference to normal pressure hydrocephalus.

In order to measure the resistance to cerebrospinal fluid absorption in humans a lumbo-ventricular perfusion test, using several intraventricular pressure levels, has been developed. The test has been performed in 15 patients fulfilling criterias of normal pressure hydrocephalus. A considerable variation in the resistance to cerebrospinal fluid absorption revealed by the test indicates that clinical and pneumoencephalographic signs of normal pressure hydrocephalus are of little use in the selection of patients who may benefit from shunting procedures.

Absorption

Long-term follow-up review of patients with acute and subacute subdural hematomas.

The authors present 149 patients suffering from acute (112) and subacute (37) subdural hematomas admitted during the 10-year period 1965 to 1974, with a follow-up period of 2 to 12 years. During the time of observation, 104 patients died and 45 survived; 73% of the patients with acute and 27% with subacute subdural hematomas died. Of the patients with an acute subdural hematoma, 11% went back to work, as against 32% of those with subacute subdural hematomas. The 5-year survival rate was 28% in patients with acute and 76% in patients with subacute subdural hematomas.

Acute Disease

Long-term prognosis in children with benign cerebellar astrocytoma.

In 44 children with benign cerebellar astrocytoma, operated on between 1935 and 1959, two histological types could be distinguished, namely, a so-called juvenile type (31 children) and a diffuse type (13 children). All the children were followed to April, 1976, and the histological review was performed without knowledge of the survival in the single patient. For children with the juvenile type of cerebellar astrocytoma the 25-year cumulative survival rate was 94%, as against 38% for children with the diffuse type. It has thus been demonstrated that the morphological difference between the two types corresponds to a marked difference in survival rate.

Adolescent

Spinal tumours associated with increased intracranial pressure. Report of two cases and a discussion on the pathophysiology.

Two cases of increased intracranial pressure associated with lumbar intraspinal tumours are reported. On the basis of protein investigations and constant flow infusion manometric tests, the pathophysiology of the increased intracranial pressure is discussed. It is demonstrated that protein macromolecules leak from the tumour into the cerebrospinal fluid and suggested that these are responsible for mechanical obstruction of the outflow channels for the cerebrospinal fluid.

Adult

Clinical aspects and long-term prognosis of intracranial tumours in infancy and childhood.

The long-term prognosis in 316 children (aged 0-14 years), in whom intracranial tumour was diagnosed during the years 1935 to 1959, has been evaluated. 196 patients survived for longer than four weeks after diagnosis or operation, and a total of 74 patients survived to follow-up after an observation period of 15 to 40 years. The prognosis for children with intracranial tumour is dependent on the age at which the diagnosis is made--the older the child the greater his chance of survival. However, in this study, the older-age group (10 to 14 years) also had the greatest number of recurrences after more than 10 years. A clinical history of more than six months is associated with a better prognosis. Long-term survival was independent of whether the tumour was supratentorial or infratentorial, but all patients with deep cerebral tumours and brain-stem tumours died within the observation period. Patients with intrapontine tumours had a very poor quality of life up to the time of death, whereas the majority of patients who survived for more than one year before recurrence were almost free from symptoms during the interval.

Adolescent

Malignancy grade and long-term survival in brain tumours of infancy and childhood.

281 histologically verified brain tumours in children were revised and reclassified according to degree of histological malignancy. Survival graphs based on 100 per cent follow-up after 15-40 years show that, of those who survived for more than 1 month after diagnosis and possible operation, 40 per cent were still alive more than 15 years later. There was a clear correlation between survival and degree of malignancy. Sixty-five per cent of those with tumours of malignancy grade I and only 3 per cent of those with malignancy grade IV were alive after 15 years.

Adolescent

Regional cerebral blood flow in patients with chronic subdural hematomas.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured by the intra-arterial 133Xenon method in seven patients, aged 55 to 76 years, with chronic subdural hematomas. Before operation, CBF was reduced to an average of 31 ml/100g/min, range 24-38 ml/100g/min. One to 3 weeks after operation, when all had improved, CBF averaged 38 ml/100g/min, range 34-43 ml/100g/min. The reduction of CBF was probably secondary to a reduced metabolic demand. Clinical improvement continued for months after operation.

Aged

Palmar hyperhidrosis. Long-term results following high thoracic sympathectomy.

Fourteen men and 22 wemon, with an average of 23 years (range 14-36 years) were operated on for hyperhidrosis of the upper extremity during the period from 1955 to 1970. Twenty-eight had had symptoms for more than 10 years. Resection of the 2nd and 3rd thoracic ganglia and the connecting sympathetic chain was carried out using a posterior approach; in 33 cases the operation was bilateral, and in three unilateral. Thirty-five patients were followed up after an average of 7.8 years (range 2-17 years). In one patient unilateral reoperation was carried out four months after the first operation. Since the first operation 34 patients had suffered from neither palmar nor axillary sweating. However 20 had permanent compensatory hyperhidrosis, and 15 suffered from gustatory facial sweating, which had usually started within six months of operation. Four, in whom two spinal thoracic nerves had also been resected, reported marked dysaesthesia over the front of the chest and in the axilla, lasting for several years.

Adolescent