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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Intrinsic brainstem gliomas carry the worst prognosis of all pediatric CNS tumors; only 10-25% of patients are expected to survive for more than two years. Over a period of four years seven intrinsic brainstem gliomas were diagnosed in children in one institution. Four of them underwent a rapidly fatal course, whilst one was diagnosed only two years ago, which is too recent for long-term evaluation. We report the case histories of the remaining two boys, who showed a favorable course of their disease. Presenting symptoms were headaches and signs of brainstem dysfunction with multiple bilateral cranial nerve palsies, ataxia and pyramidal tract signs. Diagnosis rested on neuroimaging (CAT scans and/or MRI scans). Both tumors were intrinsic brainstem gliomas, one diffuse and the other focal. They responded to treatment (radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the former patient and radiotherapy alone in the latter patient). The two boys became long-term survivors and have remained well, without evidence of disease, for more than 71 and 61 months, respectively, after completion of treatment. They are probably cured. Prompt therapy with curative intention is recommended, with consistent adherence to the chosen antitumor regimen even in poor-risk brainstem gliomas.
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PMID:Long term remission of intrinsic brainstem gliomas: the case reports of two children. 189 32

We reviewed the Tumor Registry for 1981 at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to identify all the children with newly diagnosed cancer who were seen initially in the emergency department (ED). Of the 220 new patients listed, 16 (7.3%) sought initial care in the ED (1 per 4,500 ED visits). Seven had leukemia, five had non-CNS solid tumors (2 lymphoreticular, 1 Wilms', 1 neuroblastoma, and 1 ovarian), and four had CNS tumors. Among the children with leukemia, pallor (6) and decreased activity (4) were the most common complaints. Duration of symptoms ranged from 4 days to 3 weeks. Physical examination showed pallor (5), splenomegaly (4), fever (3), hepatomegaly (3), lymphadenopathy (3), and ecchymoses or petechiae (2). The complete blood count and peripheral smears were all abnormal. The five patients with non-CNS solid tumors had symptoms related to the location of their neoplasms. The patients with Wilms' tumor, neuroblastoma, and ovarian dysgerminoma had abdominal masses; the patient with lymphoma had a large, painful inguinal node; and the patient with histiocytosis X had an infiltrative rash, gingivitis, and pneumonitis. Of the four children with CNS tumors, three had headache, and one had an incidentally detected scotoma following head trauma. All four eventually had abnormal neurologic exams and computer tomographic scans, but two were discharged initially with psychiatric diagnoses. We conclude that cancer, although rare in children, occurs with greater relative frequency in the referral hospital ED than that predicted by published cancer rates from the referring hospital's ED.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Detection of cancer in the pediatric emergency department. 384 22

Gangliogliomas are relatively rare tumors of the CNS in which ganglion cells and neuroglia coexist. 13 cases are reported, representing 0.61% of a series of 2,121 patients undergoing biopsy for CNS tumors. The clinical, radiological, pathological, electron microscopical and immunohistochemical features were evaluated with clinical follow-up. The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 51 years, including 8 males and 5 females. Duration of symptoms prior to surgery varied from 15 days to 12 years, the most common symptoms being seizures, headache, vomiting and motor disturbances. Computed tomographic scans found high density space-occupying mass in 6 patients and low density space-occupying mass in 3. Ten of the tumors originated form the cerebral hemispheres and three from the midline. The tumors were all sharply delineated and well defined from surrounding tissues. The tumor is generally firm. 8 patients are survived operation for 2-10 years. Neurons and glial cells in the tumor could be demonstrated by electron microscopy and immunohistochemical examination. Anaplastic transformation in the gliomatous component was found in one case. This series suggest that surgical removal of this neoplasm carries a good prognosis.
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PMID:[Clinicopathology of gangliogliomas]. 816 79

We report a unique case of histologically confirmed meningeal fibrosis in a child who had progressive ischemic neurologic symptoms before the delayed diagnosis of an intracranial primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) was made > 1 year after initial presentation. This pathology has previously been described after neurosurgical procedures, subarachnoid hemorrhage, cranial irradiation, and with no known etiology, but has never been reported in association with a central nervous system neoplasm. In a 6-year-old boy with headaches of several months' duration MRI demonstrated hydrocephalus, a right cerebellopontine angle cyst, and dural enhancement. Biopsies of the thickened meninges taken when the cyst was surgically fenestrated demonstrated only fibrosis with no evidence of infection, hemorrhage, or neoplasm. In the next 6 months, the child had two acute stroke-like episodes with alternating hemiparesis that gradually improved. There were ischemic changes in the diencephalon on MRI. Repeat dural biopsies were unchanged. One year after the initial operation, a left hemiparesis recurred and MRI demonstrated multiple intracranial masses in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, suprasellar area, and cauda equina. After surgical resection, the cortical mass was found to be a PNET. All the lesions regressed after treatment with radiation and chemotherapy. We hypothesize that the meningeal fibrosis represented a "desmoplastic" reaction to an occult PNET, similar to the fibrous proliferation with cerebellar desmoplastic medulloblastoma except for the extent of the meningeal involvement and the long undetected parenchymal tumor. The mechanism of the ischemic brain injury was most likely vascular involvement by the fibrotic process, either directly or by predisposition to vasoconstriction.
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PMID:Leptomeningeal fibrosis and the delayed diagnosis of a central nervous system neoplasm (primitive neuroectodermal tumor). 904 9

The objective of this work was to gain more insight into the controversial characteristics of meningiomas occurring during childhood and adolescence. Management of meningiomas is an important field in pediatric neurosurgery. Every pediatric neurosurgeon has tried to resolve the problems relating to the clinical characteristics, biological behavior and outcome of this interesting and almost benign pathology, which rarely occurs in the first two decades of life. The records on central nervous system (CNS) tumors held by the two major neurosurgery centers of Tehran Medical University and Arad General Hospital were prospectively collected during last 15 years. Complete medical records are available for all 24 cases, and long-term follow-up was achieved 19 patients. All the cases were diagnosed and treated after the introduction of computed tomographic (CT) scanning. Angiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed as complementary studies in some cases. The sample consisted of 13 girls and 11 boys. The age range at the time of diagnosis varied between 2 and 17 years, with a mean of 9.47 and standard deviation of 3.43. Fifteen patients were below 10 years of age (62.5%), and 9 of them were between 10 and 17 years old (37.5%). The most common presenting symptoms, in declining order of frequency, were headache, epilepsy and focal neurological deficits. Similar cases associated with neurofibromatosis either at the time of presentation with meningioma or during the follow-up period were excluded (5 cases). The size of the presenting tumor was more than 5 cm in diameter in 17 cases. The locations of the lesions, taken as the site of the presumed widest dural base in each case were: spinal, orbital, ethmoidal and sphenoethmoidal in 1 case each, petroclival in 2, and tentorial or supratentorial in 18 patients. The only predisposing factor in this series of childhood meningiomas was whole-axis irradiation for previous malignancy in the case presenting with cervical intradural meningioma. There have been no surgical deaths, and gross total excision of the lesions was achieved in 21 cases. Tumor recurrence was observed during the follow-up period in 6 cases (25%). The follow-up period varied between 2 and 165 months, with a median interval of 130.2 months. This series of pediatric CNS meningiomas comprises almost 1.08% of all meningiomas operated on by the authors during the last 15 years and it also accounts for about 1.1% of all pediatric CNS tumors encountered. This series of patients has certain characteristics regarding sex distribution, unusual size, peculiar localizations, special histological features and benign clinical behavior distinguishing it from other series reported in the literature.
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PMID:Meningiomas of the central nervous system occurring below the age of 17: report of 24 cases not associated with neurofibromatosis and review of literature. 1095 49

A careful history and physical examination remain the most important aspects of headache assessment. enabling the neurologist to decide if any further studies are necessary. Only a minority of patients who have headaches have brain tumors; however, recognition of the headaches characteristically associated with tumors is most important. Some locations are more likely to produce headache (eg, a posterior fossa tumor causes headache more often than a supratentorial tumor). Rapidly growing tumors are more likely to be associated with headache. Uncommon headache presentations can occur with tumors, includin paroxysmal cough, cluster headache, and TACs. The classic brain tumor headache is not as common as a tension-type presentation or migraine. Patients who have prior primary headaches may have more headache symptoms if they have a tumor and of course they still have their primary headache disorder. Mass lesions progress and inevitably develop other symptoms and signs besides headache, and these new symptoms and signs must be sought and found. Metastatic leptomeningeal involvement can present with headache and spinal pain in the neck and back. Imaging of headache patients for tumors, if they have primary headache disorders, such as migraine and typical cluster, generally is not cost effective but is necessary if there are any atypical features. Treatment of headache in patients who have metastatic brain tumors should be aggressive in terms of pain and symptoms control. Treatment of primary CNS tumors is dictated by the kind of neoplasm and site, but control of headache should not be ignored.
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PMID:Headaches and brain tumors. 1506 27

Gliosarcoma (GSa) is a rare primary central nervous system neoplasm (CNS) characterized by biphasic histological pattern with both glial and sarcomatous components. Our objective is to describe the clinical, morphological and immunohistochemical features of four cases of GSa and to discuss its pathogenetic mechanisms. The male:female ratio was 3:1. The mean age was 39 years, ranging from 19 to 48. Headache was the commonest clinical symptom. All patients underwent craniotomy with microsurgery and total resection of the tumor. Diagnosis was suspected due to microscopic architecture and confirmed by detection of reticulin fibers through histochemical techniques. Immunohistochemical analysis was positive for p53 in both glial and sarcomatous cells in all four cases. EGFR was focally positive in glial cells in one case. Our findings support monoclonal origin of GSa involving the TP53 tumor-suppressor gene. However, alternative pathways cannot be ruled out.
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PMID:Gliosarcoma: report of four cases with immunohistochemical findings. 1533 17

Rhabdoid tumors of the central nervous system are uncommon, aggressive childhood malignancies. The 13 described adult cases comprise both primary CNS tumors and malignant transformation of previously existing gliomas, meningiomas, and astrocytomas. Central nervous system rhabdoid lesions of adults have been diagnosed as primary malignant rhabdoid tumors, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors, and more recently, rhabdoid glioblastomas. We report a case of a 20-year-old woman in her 30th week of pregnancy who presented with headache, nausea and blurry vision. MRI revealed a large rim-enhancing mass of the right occipital lobe. Gross total resection was achieved via a right parietal-occipital craniotomy. Pathologic evaluation revealed histology, electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry consistent with the diagnosis of malignant rhabdoid tumor. FISH studies were negative for the INI-1 genetic mutations and chromosome 22q deletion associated with childhood atypical rhabdoid/rhabdoid tumor in 75% of cases. The patient delivered her infant via caesarian section prior to initiating further therapy. We briefly describe the characteristics and current understanding of rhabdoid tumors, and review the literature comparing the 12 other cases of central nervous system rhabdoid tumors in adults. Furthermore, we consider and discuss the implications of this case being the second presentation of MRT during pregnancy in only six adult female patients.
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PMID:Malignant rhabdoid tumor in a pregnant adult female: literature review of central nervous system rhabdoid tumors. 1613 23

Leptomeningeal (LM) dissemination arises rarely in patients with low-grade gliomas. Few cases of LM dissemination of spinal cord low-grade gliomas have been reported in children. Here, we report a case of an intramedullary spinal cord low-grade glioma occurring in an adult presenting by LM dissemination. A 57-year-old man presented with a history of headaches and visual acuity deterioration. Neurological examination revealed mental confusion, decreasing left limb strength and left positive Babinski sign. Lumbar puncture showed low CSF glucose, high CSF protein and no tumor cells. Spinal MRI revealed an intramedullary spinal lesion with a diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement. A spinal meningeal biopsy showed arachnoiditis with isolated atypical cells which were cytokeratin immunopositive. A differential diagnosis was proposed between arachnoiditis close to an infectious process or close to meningeal carcinomatosis. An intramedullary biopsy was programmed but the patient died 1 month after biopsy. The post-mortem examination showed thickened leptomeninges and an ill-circumscribed intramedullary grey lesion. Histological examination revealed a low-grade glial neoplasm composed of monomorphous spindle "piloid" cells with diffuse dissemination to leptomeninges. Glial fibrillary acidic protein immunostaining showed scattered immunoreactive cells. Clinical and pathological features of this case are unusual. Pathogenesis and prognosis of low-grade gliomas with LM dissemination are poorly understood. This case, like cases occurring in children, cannot easily be classified in the present WHO system of classification of CNS tumors. Spinal low-grade gliomas with LM dissemination may represent a possible distinctive clinico-pathological entity.
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PMID:Leptomeningeal dissemination of low-grade intramedullary gliomas: about one case and review. 1912 71

Central neurocytomas are uncommon tumors of the CNS, representing approximately 0.1-0.5% of all primary CNS tumors. Patients most often present with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (headache, nausea/vomiting, diplopia) due to obstructive hydrocephalus. Rarely, central neurocytomas may present with a hemorrhage. Central neurocytomas are intraventricular tumors with a predilection for arising in either the lateral or third ventricles. CT or MR cranial imaging demonstrates a circumscribed mass in the ventricles, frequent calcification and moderate contrast enhancement. Surgery provides definitive treatment, as little evidence exists as to response of these tumors to either radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Histopathology reveals a homogenous neoplastic cell population with neuronal differentiation, frequent calcification, occasional perivascular pseudorosettes and infrequent mitoses. Uncommonly, anaplastic variants of central neurocytomas (malignant central neurocytomas) are encountered and are distinguished by frequent mitoses, necrosis and endothelial cell proliferation. Following complete resection, central neurocytomas have a favorable prognosis usually obviating the need for either radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
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PMID:Treatment of central neurocytomas. 1981 Sep 43


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