Biomedical subjects

S Mutluer

Publications and source records attributed to S Mutluer.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Cerebellar mutism: report of two unusual cases and review of the literature.

Mutism is not a common condition following cerebellar damage. Mutism following posterior cranial fossa surgery was first reported by Rekate et al. and Yonemasu in 1985. Since then, many case reports of mutism have appeared in the English literature. Very few cases developed mutism following brain stem surgery. Although mutism has been described in patients with head injury, only one case of mutism caused by a cerebellar injury has been reported, to our knowledge. We report on two patients in which the cerebellar mutism following a radical excision of an exophytic brain stem glioma and cerebellar injury developed. We reviewed the relevant literature and discussed the mechanism of cerebellar mutism.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocysts.

Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst in an infrequent complication of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. We reviewed ten patients with abdominal pseudocyst. There were five girls and five boys, aged between 4 months and 14 years. The number of shunt procedures prior to the presentation varied between one and five. Only one patient had had a previous shunt infection. No patients had undergone prior abdominal surgery other than VP shunting. The time from the last shunting procedure to the development of abdominal pseudocyst ranged from 3 weeks to 5 years. Presenting symptoms and signs were mainly related to abdominal complaints in all patients. Three patients also had signs of shunt malfunction. The diagnosis was made by ultrasound in all patients. Shunt infection was determined in six patients. Repositioning if the peritoneal catheter seemed to have a higher rate of recurrence. The diagnosis of abdominal pseudocyst should be considered in VP-shunted patients presenting with abdominal complaints.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Medical abortion: ethics, laws and religious points of view, A study by the 1994-1995 Ethics and Morals Committee of the ISPN.

Central nervous system malformations are now frequently detected prenatally. Unfortunately, the progress in diagnosis having far outstripped that in therapeutics, the only question to answer is usually whether the pregnancy should be continued or terminated. Pediatric neurosurgeons have to deal with such problems more and more often. They are asked to give an opinion on the prognosis. In many cases the law requires their involvement in the decision about the possibility of a "therapeutic", or more correctly a medical, abortion. The final decision is based on the religious attitutes of the family and the neurosurgeon and on the law of the country in which the medical abortion would be performed. This article reviews the points of view of the main religions and also the laws in different countries. This knowledge may be of some help to neurosurgeons, especially when the religious attitudes of those involved are different or when their final decision is not in accordance with the law of the country.

Abortion, Legal↗

PubMed1996

Pediatric depressed skull fractures: analysis of 530 cases.

Depressed skull fractures (DSFs) account for 7-10% of children admitted to hospital with a head injury and 15-25% of children with skull fractures. We reviewed the records of 530 patients operated on for DSF from January 1, 1973, to December 31, 1993. This group was made up of 357 boys (67%) and 173 girls (33%) whose ages ranged from 1 day to 16 years (mean age 6.1 years). Fall was the most common cause of injury. Of the 530 patients with DSF, 66% had compound fractures. The incidence of compound fractures increased with age. Compound fractures caused more brain lacerations (29%) than simple fractures (15.5%) did. We also classified DSFs radiologically as true, flat, or ping-pong ball fractures. Associated intracranial lesions were found to be a bad prognostic factor. There were 13 deaths (2.5%) in this series. Satisfactory results were achieved in over 95% of the patients. Compound fractures are associated with a worse outcome and a higher incidence of intracranial lesions and cortical laceration. Unilateral pupillary dilatation and an admission GCS score of 8 or less are ominous signs in regard to mortality. We also found that the deeper the depressed bone, the higher the risk of both dural tear and cortical laceration and the worse the prognosis. A conservative approach should be followed in cases of simple DSF without associated intracranial hematoma and in cases in which the bone depression is not deeper than 1 cm.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

The effects of fronto-parieto-squamosal suture fusion on cranial growth: an experimental study.

Craniosynostoses have been known for at least 20 centuries, but their etiopathogeneses are still unclear. There are three main theories to explain the etiology of craniosynostosis, Moss's theory being the most popular. According to Moss, the development of the neurocranial form is viewed as an integration of the growth of the skull base, the calvarial bones, the meninges, and the enclosed brain. Experimental studies, however, are generally focused on cranial vault suture synostosis. This study aims to demonstrate the effects of cranial base synostosis by performing fronto-parieto-squamosal suture fusion. This fusion affected the whole cranial configuration. These effects were more prominent closer to the cranial vault, increasing at the anterior facial height and the lower facial length, reflected by ventral dislocation of the total face, and increasing of the kyphosis at the cranial base. It has also been demonstrated that synostosis of a junction point near the cranial base affects the vault and the base simultaneously. Any approach that tries to treat the cause, and not the symptom, of synostosis must, then, be based on an understanding of how cranial growth occurs and of how sutural growth processes are related to the totality of cranial growth.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Cerebellar mutism: report of seven cases and review of the literature.

It is well known that degenerative disease, hemorrhage, infection, and neoplastic disease of the cerebellum can lead to speech disorder. Mutism after posterior cranial fossa surgery was first reported by Rekate et al. and Yonemasu in 1985. We review and analyze the cases of cerebellar mutism that are reported in the literature that is available in English. We found 39 reported cases that included details regarding mutism. We review and analyze a total of 46 cases, including those of our seven patients. The ages of the patient ranged from 2 to 61 years (mean, 10.4 yr). Ninety-one percent of the patients were children. The vermis was the site of the mass lesions in > 90% of the cases. The pathological findings of the lesions were as follows: 33 medulloblastomas, 7 astrocytomas, 4 ependymomas, 1 metastatic tumor, and 1 arteriovenous malformation. All mass lesions were considered to be large or very large. The latency for the development of mutism ranged from 0 to 6 days (mean, 1.7 d). The mutism lasted from 4 days to 4 months (mean, 6.8 wk). Dysarthric speech ensued after the mutism was resolved in 35 of 46 patients. Mutism was transient in all of the cases. Cerebellar mutism is a transient complication of posterior fossa surgery for midline mass lesions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Split cord malformations: report of three unusual cases.

The unified theory, proposed by Pang et al., explains the embryogenetic mechanisms of all variants of split cord malformations (SCMs). All SCMs originate from one basic error occurring around the time when the primitive neurenteric canal closes. The basic error is the formation of an accessory neurenteric canal between the yolk sac and amnion which is subsequently invested with mesenchyme to form an endomesenchymal tract that splits the notochord and neural plate. Three cases of SCMs which support this unified theory are presented. A 3-month-old girl had a combination of both types of SCMs at the level of T11. The 2nd case, a 2-week-old girl, had type-II SCM associated with a thickened filum terminale, lipomyelomeningocele and ectopic renal tissue within lipoma. A lipomatous tract extending from a subcutaneous lipoma to the intradural fibrous septum contained lymphoid tissues and tubular epithelia in a 3-month-old boy with a type-II SCM. These 3 cases support the unified theory.

Choristoma↗

PubMed1995

Multiple brain abscesses following esophageal dilation.

A 6-year-old boy esophageal stricture due to the ingestion of caustic 7 months prior to admission. Eight esophageal dilations and a feeding gastrostomy were performed. He presented with seizure, right-sided weakness, fever, and somnolence. Computed tomographic scans revealed multiple brain abscesses. The abscesses were treated by burr-hole drainage. The patient improved and was discharged from the hospital without neurological deficit. Brain abscesses are not very common following esophageal dilation. It should be kept in mind that brain abscess is a potential complication of esophageal dilation.

Brain Abscess↗

PubMed1995

A method for continuous external drainage in the management of infantile subdural collections.

There is no consensus on the management of infantile chronic subdural collections. Subdural tapping, craniotomy and removal of membranes, and shunting from the subdural space have all been used. We performed continuous external subdural drainage (CESD) as a step prior to subdural-peritoneal shunt placement in the management of infantile chronic subdural fluid collections. A lumbar drainage set was used for CESD. The catheter was placed in the subdural space through the anterior fontanel with a Touhy needle. This percutaneous technique seems an easy and safe method for CESD in infants with chronic subdural collections.

Catheters, Indwelling↗

PubMed1995

Hydrocephalus in Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Hydrocephalus and pseudotumour cerebri are a rare complication of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), occurring in about 4% of the cases. The high concentration of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein may lead to a decreased CSF absorption in arachnoid villi. A 10-year-old boy with GBS and hydrocephalus is presented. A mechanical ventilation was required 7 days after admission and he had been on the mechanical ventilation for 6 weeks. Lumbar puncture performed on admission revealed clear CSF with an opening pressure of 15 cm H2O and no cells, a normal glucose level and a protein of 240 mg/dl. He complained of headache and diplopia 11 weeks after admission. Fundoscopy revealed papilloedema, and bilateral mild abducens pareses were also detected. Magnetic resonance imaging displayed a communicating hydrocephalus and interstitial oedema. A ventriculo-peritoneal shunt relieved the symptoms of intracranial hypertension. In GBS, serial computed tomographic scans should be performed in patients with headache and papilloedema. Hydrocephalus may develop in GBS.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins↗

PubMed1995

A case of Rathke's cleft cyst presenting with diabetes insipidus.

Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs) are considered to arise from the remnants of Rathke's pouch, an invagination of the stomodeum. They are classically described as benign epithelium lined intrasellar cysts containing mucoid material, and also found in 2-33% of routine autopsy series. The most common presenting symptoms are visual impairment, hypothalamic dysfunction, hypopituitarism and headache. Diabetes insipidus has been described in patients with RCC. Very few cases presented with only diabetes insipidus in adults. To our knowledge, our patient is the first case of RCC presenting with only diabetes insipidus in childhood. A 9-year-old girl presented with diabetes insipidus. The physical, neurological and endocrinological examinations were normal, except for diabetes insipidus. Magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a hyperintense lesion with supra sellar extension in the posterior pituitary both on T1 and T2 weighted images. Subtotal excision of RCC was performed via transsphenoidal surgery. However, diabetes insipidus persisted after the surgery.

Child↗

PubMed1995

A case of thalamic hydatid cyst.

Cerebral hydatidosis account for approximately 1-2% of patients with hydatid disease. Fifty percent to 75% of intracranial hydatid cysts are seen in children. The cerebral hydatid cysts are usually single and located in the watershed of the middle cerebral artery. To our knowledge, no case of hydatid cyst in the thalamic location has been reported. A 4-year-old boy presented with the left sided weakness. A right thalamic hydatid cyst without rim enhancement and perifocal oedema was detected on the computed tomographic (CT) scan. He was put on albendazole, but headache, nausea and vomiting developed and hemiparesis got worse in the following two weeks. The non-contrast repeat CT showed the pericystic oedema. The rim enhancement and pericystic oedema were also present on magnetic resonance imaging scans. The right thalamic hydatid cyst was removed via the transcallosal approach. The cyst aspiration and intracystic injection of hypertonic saline were performed before the cyst removal. Leakage of the cyst fluid was conceivably the cause of the development of rim enhancement and pericystic oedema. Patients receiving albendazole for the treatment of cerebral hydatid cysts should be closely followed. The surgery is still the choice of treatment in cerebral hybrid cysts, in our opinion.

Albendazole↗

PubMed1994

Brain abscess in infants and children.

Forty-four consecutive patients with brain abscesses, aged between 1 month and 16 years, were reviewed. The cause of abscess was meningitis in 36% of the cases, otitis in 27%, head injury in 16%, congenital heart disease in 9%, other in 5%, and undetected in 5%. Thirty patients had a single abscess and 12 had multiple abscesses. Multiloculated abscess was present in 2. Total excision was accomplished in 22 patients. Three patients underwent needle aspiration. Drainage of the abscess was performed in 13. Secondary excision was needed in 5 patients. One patient was treated nonsurgically. Streptococci, staphylococci and Proteus mirabilis were the microorganisms recovered in cultures. Overall mortality was 20% (9 patients). Mortality was significantly higher in patients under 2 years of age than in those older. Of 15 patients who were comatose at the time of admission, 6 died. Etiology, diagnostic method, and treatment modalities were not found to be significant factors in terms of predicting mortality.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Cerebrospinal fluid shunt infections.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infection is one of the most frequent and disabling complications. We reviewed the records of 306 patients who underwent CSF shunt surgery from 1983 through 1992. Six hundred and twelve procedures were performed in these 306 patients. Infection occurred following 46 of the procedures for an infection rate of 7.5% per procedure. The 46 infections involved 39 patients. There were 8 recurrent infections. The infection rate per child was 12.7%. Staphylococcal species were isolated in 50% of all infections. Patients younger than 1 year old and children with multiple revisions have a greater risk of infection than those of older. Myelomeningocele and meningitis had higher infection rate among other etiologies. Patients with multiple revisions had higher infection rate than those with single revision or none. The incidence of infection was higher in cyst-peritoneal shunts than both ventriculo-atrial and ventriculo-peritoneal shunts. Mortality was high in Gram negative infections.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Dumbbell ganglioneuromas in childhood.

The incidence of dumbbell tumors among spinal neoplasms is between 10% and 15%. Approximately 1% of neoplasms located at or near the spinal cord are ganglioneuromas. Ganglioneuromas are rare, slow-growing, benign tumors arising from sympathetic ganglia. The cases of two children with spinal dumbbell ganglioneuroma are presented. The tumors were totally resected by combined surgery in both patients. The patients are neurologically intact 5 and 4 years respectively after surgery.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed1993

Extradural hematoma: analysis of 146 cases.

One hundred forty-six consecutive patients operated on for extradural hematoma (EDH) from 1979 through 1991 were analyzed. This series included patients from both before and after the advent of computed tomography (CT). There were 102 boys and 44 girls, aged 1-16 years. All patients underwent plain skull X-radiography. CT scans were obtained in 72 cases and angiography was performed in 10. Thirty patients with EDH did not have skull fractures. Falls were predominant among the modes of injury. Thirty-seven percent of patients had a lucid interval. The overall mortality was 10%. The mortality rates in the CT and plain X-ray groups were 6% and 16% respectively. There was only one death in patients who did not have a lucid interval. The Glasgow Coma Scale scores of all patients who died in this series were less than 8. We concluded that mydriasis, comatose state at the time of operation, and a lucid interval are ominous signs in the prediction of outcome.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Air in acute extradural hematomas: report of six cases.

Presence of air in acute extradural hematomas has been described by several authors. Little attention has been paid to its significance. We report six pediatric patients with air-containing extradural hematomas. A fracture involving air-containing structures in either anterior or middle cranial fossa was detected on computed tomographic scans of all patients. The pertinent literature was reviewed.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1993

Posterior fossa extradural hematomas in children.

Posterior fossa extradural hematomas (PFEHs) are less frequent than supratentorial extradural hematomas. 9 children operated on for PFEH are reported. There were 5 boys and 4 girls aged from 1 to 16 years. The mode of injury was fall in 6 and traffic accident in 3 cases. Diagnosis of PFEH was made by computed tomography (CT) scanning in 8 cases. In 1 patient, who deteriorated suddenly, respiratory arrest developed before surgery, and the patient died in spite of evacuation of the hematoma. CT scanning enables early diagnosis and reveals the associated supratentorial lesions. Prompt surgical evacuation of PFEHs is the treatment of choice.

Adolescent↗