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Biomedical subjects

Pierre Giglio

Publications and source records attributed to Pierre Giglio.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Syncope and head CT scans in the emergency department.

CONTEXT: Patients presenting with syncope to the emergency department (ED) of a community hospital were evaluated. AIM: The objective of this study is to examine the use and results of head computerized tomography (CT) scans in patients presenting with syncope to the ED of a community hospital. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A retrospective chart review of patients presenting with syncope to the emergency room was conducted. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed the charts of patients who presented to the ED over a 6-month period with syncope. When performed, head CT scan findings were noted, and their relationship to the clinical presentation was examined. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-eight patients were identified. Forty-four patients had their head CT scans performed. In 1 patient, the CT scan showed evidence of infarction in the posterior circulation. In 19 patients, the head CT scan was normal. Twenty-four patients had abnormal findings unrelated to the ED presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Head CT scans were commonly used in our series of syncope patients. Abnormal findings pertinent to the syncope were observed in only 1 patient. A prospective study examining yield in a larger series of patients may help define the utility of this neuroimaging modality in syncope.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Neoplastic meningitis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract.

BACKGROUND: Neoplastic meningitis (NM) occurs in 5-10% of patients with malignant disease. Little is known about the outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies who develop NM. For this report, the authors characterized the clinical course and attempted to identify prognostic factors in patients with NM due to primary malignancies of the GI tract. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 21 patients with GI primary tumors and NM were identified: Their medical records and imaging studies were reviewed. RESULTS: The patient population was composed of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (n = 8 patients), esophageal adenocarcinoma (n = 7 patients), colon and/or rectal adenocarcinoma (n = 5 patients), and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n = 1 patient). The median overall survival after the initial diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was 55 weeks (range, 8-884 wks), and the median survival after the diagnosis of NM was 7 weeks (range, 0-64 wks). Four patients died during palliative radiotherapy. No factors identified had an impact on outcome, including symptoms, physical findings at diagnosis, imaging characteristics, or cerebrospinal fluid findings. Univariate analysis showed a trend toward better outcomes for patients who received any kind of treatment directed toward the NM. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NM from GI tract adenocarcinomas universally had poor outcomes. Until NM can be diagnosed earlier and/or until more effective therapies are identified, comfort care alone may be a reasonable alternative for some of these unfortunate patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2005

Neurologic complications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) can affect the nervous systems in several ways. The neurologic complications of this disease may be related to direct involvement of any part of the nervous system by metastasis or direct invasion, paraneoplastic involvement, or as a consequence of neurotoxicity from treatment(s) for the lymphoma. In addition, patients may develop infectious complications in the nervous system from immunosuppression related to the disease or its treatment. This review discusses direct involvement of the peripheral nervous system by lymphoma and paraneoplastic disease and briefly addresses some nervous system infections in lymphoma patients.

Disease Progression↗
PubMed2005

Diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system involvement in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The diagnosis of lymphoma of the central nervous system (CNS) has been facilitated by advances in neuroimaging and laboratory analysis of cerebrospinal fluid. The most common form of central nervous system CNS involvement in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is leptomeningeal disease. After a diagnosis is established, the use of intrathecal or systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy can improve survival and palliate symptoms. High-dose systemic chemotherapy with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an important treatment option at central nervous system relapse of NHL and for primary CNS lymphoma. The prognosis for disease-free survival and cure is better for patients who have treatment of CNS disease before transplantation than for patients who have active central nervous system disease at the time of transplant.

Central Nervous System Neoplasms↗
PubMed2005

The primary parasomnias. A review for neurologists.

BACKGROUND: Primary parasomnias are undesirable motor or verbal phenomena which occur during sleep and result in abnormal arousals. They occur out of all sleep stages or during transitions between sleep and awake. Secondary parasomnias are sleep disturbances that are caused by disorders of other organ systems. This review addresses only primary parasomnias. Arousal disorders and the parasomnias associated with REM sleep are the primary parasomnias most likely to be seen in a neurology practice. Sleep-wake transition disorders are also discussed with nocturnal leg cramps, probably the most common in this group. REVIEW SUMMARY: The salient clinical features of the primary parasomnias are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the differential diagnosis of the different conditions and the best management strategies. Parasomnias encountered in infancy, such as infant sleep apnea, are not discussed in this review. CONCLUSIONS: Parasomnias are common disturbances of sleep that may significantly affect the patient's quality of life and that of the bed partner. Most parasomnias can be diagnosed with careful history taking and polysomnography, and management is usually safe and effective.

Humans↗
PubMed2003

Response of neoplastic meningitis from solid tumors to oral capecitabine.

Neoplastic meningitis (NM) is a major challenge for the neuro-oncologist as it constitutes a relatively common clinical problem in systemic and central nervous system cancers, and is very difficult to treat. NM portends a significant worsening in prognosis. Chemotherapeutic treatment options are limited, and not particularly effective. We report two cases of NM from breast carcinoma and a third with esophageal carcinoma, which responded to treatment with capecitabine, an oral prodrug for 5-flurouracil. We believe capecitabine warrants further investigation in patients with NM. In some patients, its use may result in clinical and radiographic tumor responses, improved quality of life, and possibly increased survival.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

Cerebral radiation necrosis.

BACKGROUND: Brain radiation necrosis has been recognized as a potential complication of radiation therapy for cancer for at least five decades. Advances in neuro-radiology and histopathology have helped characterize this problem more fully and some therapeutic interventions may help prevent progression of this pathology. This is important in achieving one of the most important goals of cancer care-maintaining quality of life. REVIEW SUMMARY: This review discusses the evolution of our understanding of radiation necrosis, from the first "autopsy-dependent" reports to the current characterization of these lesions with magnetic resonance (MR) and functional imaging. The review is presented in two parts; Part I deals with the definition, incidence and presumed pathogenesis of radiation necrosis. Part II includes diagnosis on the basis of imaging characteristics, (including functional imaging) and biopsy results. Management options are also explored. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation necrosis is a very significant complication of radiation treatment of brain cancers and may have a tremendous impact on a patient's quality of life. The early diagnosis of radiation necrosis in patients receiving radiation therapy to the brain has improved with current neuro-imaging modalities and better understanding of its pathophysiology. The development of treatment modalities has been slower, but is nonetheless promising.

Autopsy↗
PubMed2003

Hyperkinetic seizures in children.

The objective of this study was to delineate the clinical and video-electroencephalographic (EEG) manifestations of children with complex partial seizures with a predominant "hyperkinetic" presentation. Certain types of partial seizures can be difficult to differentiate from nonepileptic seizures because of their intense motor presentation and, at times, lack of alteration of consciousness. Based on a published semiologic seizure classification, this type of seizures can be described as "hyperkinetic," characterized by intense motor activity involving the extremities and trunk. We report five children diagnosed with hyperkinetic seizures by video-EEG monitoring. All patients were referred for video-EEG evaluation because of an initial suspicion of pseudoseizures. Presented in this study is a review of the patients' clinical data, including video-EEG evaluation. There were three boys and two girls; the mean age at presentation was 10 +/- 3 years. In four patients, there was a history of behavioral disorder, with two patients carrying a diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). One girl had significant developmental delay and an abnormal neurologic examination. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was normal in three patients and abnormal in two. The semiology of the seizures consisted of stereotypic intense motor activity, mainly upper extremity flailing and kicking. Screaming and shouting were noted in three cases, and intense fear was present in two patients. The hyperkinetic ictal activity progressed to tonic-clonic seizures in two patients. Seizures occurred out of sleep or on awakening in four patients. The interictal EEG activity was normal in one patient and revealed a continuous generalized slowing and slowing of the posterior dominant rhythm in two patients. One of the latter patients had interictal epileptiform activity in the frontal and midline regions. An intermittent rhythmic slow activity of the left hemisphere with superimposed bifrontal sharp waves was noted in the fifth patient. The ictal EEG revealed profuse superimposed electromyographic (EMG) activity in all patients, making some of the EEG interpretation difficult to analyze, particularly a longitudinal bipolar montage. However, with digital manipulation of the ictal EEG data, such as changes in EEG sensitivity, application of fast frequency filters, and use of different EEG montages, it was possible to discern an ictal EEG pattern or postictal slowing following the diffuse EMG artifact in all patients. On clinical follow-up, adequate seizure control was achieved in three patients. Based on the clinical history, one patient was diagnosed with autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy. Diagnosis of hyperkinetic seizures can be difficult because of the similarity of the clinical manifestations with nonepileptic events such as certain parasomnias and pseudoseizures. Video-EEG is the most effective way of diagnosing this type of seizure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Paraneoplastic chorea: case study with autopsy confirmation.

A 67-year-old man presented with a 7-month history of insidiously progressive chorea, ataxia, and vertigo. Neurologic examination revealed deficits referable to the basal nuclei, cerebellar vermis, and vestibular nuclei. Small-cell lung cancer was diagnosed by fine-needle biopsy of a parahilar mass. After chemotherapy, the patient's chorea worsened. Anti-Hu antibodies were present in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Microscopic examination of the brain at autopsy revealed diffuse perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates, microglial activation, and neuronophagia throughout the neuraxis, including the brainstem, cerebellum, lenticular nuclei, striatum, and cerebral cortex. Prominent loss of Purkinje cells was seen in the cerebellar vermis and hemispheres to a lesser degree. Chorea is extremely rare as a paraneoplastic manifestation of cancer. The florid presentation and the positive findings contrasted with an unremarkable MRI of the brain. This case illustrates the preeminence of symptoms and signs over negative MRI findings in paraneoplastic encephalitis.

Brain↗
PubMed2002

Primary central nervous system lymphoma masquerading as herpes encephalitis: clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, and pathologic findings.

An 84-year-old man presented with acute confusion, global aphasia, and fever. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hyperintense lesions on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images predominantly affecting the cortical gray matter of the left mesial temporal and inferior frontal lobes, and insula. Acyclovir was prescribed for presumed viral encephalitis. Clinical and MRI worsening prompted a left temporal lobe biopsy that revealed primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). This case adds to the MRI spectrum of PCNSL and illustrates that it may mimic the clinical and MRI presentation of herpes simplex encephalitis.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Paradoxical brain embolism from thrombus associated with vena caval filter in a patient with cancer.

A 71-year-old man experienced sudden onset of hemiparesis and aphasia. He had a 4-month history of gallbladder cholangiocarcinoma, complicated with a postoperative deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) that necessitated a vena caval filter placement. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed multiple hyperintense foci. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was compatible with cerebral infarction. Abdominal computed tomography showed a thrombus in the inferior vena cava extending through the filters. A transcranial Doppler bubble study revealed the presence of a right-to-left shunt. Paradoxical cerebral embolism must be considered in patients with DVT who have new onset neurologic deficits even in the presence of a caval filter.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Diffuse magnetic resonance imaging white-matter changes in a 15-year-old boy with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy.

We report a 15-year-old boy who presented with recurrent headaches associated with numbness, confusion, and speech difficulty. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed diffuse bilateral white-matter hyperintensity on fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery and T2-weighted images in the internal capsule, periventricular and subcortical white matter, base of the pons, and middle cerebellar peduncles. Lesions were isointense on T1-weighted images and nonenhancing. Muscle biopsy showed changes consistent with a mitochondrial myopathy. Mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activity analysis revealed a significant reduction in complex II activity. Genetic testing was negative. We conclude that mitochondrial encephalomyopathy may present with unusual diffuse supratentorial and infratentorial white-matter changes on MRI.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors in glioma therapy.

The cyclooxygenase enzyme is a prostaglandin synthase that has two isoforms, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Upregulation of the COX-2 isoform in many cancers has led to investigation regarding the potential role of this enzyme in oncogenesis. The Food and Drug Administration has approved celecoxib (Celebrex) for patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) based on a study that showed a reduction in the number of polyps in such patients when treated with high doses of this drug. We are investigating the potential role of COX-2 inhibitors in the treatment of recurrent malignant gliomas in combination with retinoids. In this article the rationale for using this combination therapy in patients with malignant gliomas is presented.

Animals↗