1.Prediction of Histological Grade and Completeness of Resection of Intracranial Meningiomas: Role of Peritumoural Brain Edema
Kamalanathan Palaniandy ; Mohammad Saffari Mohammad Haspani ; Norzaini Rose Mohd Zain
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2017;24(3):33-43
Background: Meningioma is the commonest primary intracranial tumour in adults.
Excision is curative for low grade meningioma, whereas high-grade meningioma requires
adjuvant therapy following surgery. Several studies have examined the association between
peritumoural brain Edema — a common feature in meningioma — and histological grading with
mixed results. The present study attempted to elucidate this association and if peritumoural brain
Edema affects the intra-operative judgement of surgeons on the completeness of resection.
Methods: An observational study was conducted among those who underwent surgery
for meningioma. Eighteen subjects were recruited each for low- and high-grades, respectively.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to surgery was employed for interpreting the Edema
index and MRI after surgery was used to determine residual tumour.
Results: Median age was 50 years, male to female ratio was 1:3.5, 69.4% had peritumoural
brain Edema and 75% had reported gross resection. Among the reported gross total resection
cases, 40.7% had residual tumour. Analysis showed statistically significant association between
peritumoural brain Edema (P = 0.027) and tumour volume (P = 0.001) with high-grade
meningioma, however multivariate analysis did not present any association. No association was
noted between judgement of tumour resection by surgeons and peritumoural brain Edema.
Conclusion: Odds ratio for peritumoural brain Edema remained high and the
tumour volume exhibited marginal P-value marginal significance for prediction of high grade
meningioma. These two factors may still contribute to the tumour grade and should be included in
further studies on the prognosis of meningioma.
3.Adult-onset metachromatic leukodystrophy with compound heterozygous ARSA gene mutation presented with mania and cognitive decline
Kok-Yoon Chee ; Nor Azimah Abd Azize ; Norzaini Rose Mohd Zain FRCR ; Phaik-Yee Ooi ; Loi-Khim Chin ; Affandi Omar ; Yusnita Yakob ; Julaina Abdul Jalil
Neurology Asia 2016;21(2):199-201
Adult-onset metachromatic leukodystrophy is often a diagnostic challenge to many clinicians. It may
be presented with psychiatry symptom before other evidences of leukodystrophy are uncovered. We
report a 53-year-old patient who presented with 7-year history of manic-like presentation in addition to
progressive neurocognitive deterioration. Diagnosis was made eventually with neuroimaging. Mutational
analysis showed compound heterozygous of ARSA gene. This case demonstrated the challenge in
diagnosing this condition due to its complex neuropsychiatric presentation.
Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic
4.Spinal tuberculous disease is common in tuberculous meningitis
Mei-Ling Sharon TAI ; Hazman Mohd NOR ; Shanthi VISWANATHAN ; Kartini RAHMAT ; Norzaini Rose Mohd Zain ; Zhen Yuan POW ; Lay Sim ONG ; Mohd Hanip RAFIA ; Chong Tin TAN
Neurology Asia 2017;22(4):313-323
Background: Tuberculous disease of spine (spinal TB) is under-recognized in tuberculous (TB) meningitis.The objective of the study was to evaluate the frequency, clinical and neuroimaging changes, andoutcome in the patients with spinal TB. Methods: All the patients with spinal TB admitted in the twolargest tertiary hospitals in Kuala Lumpur from 2009 to 2017 were recruited, the clinical features weredocumented, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine was performed. Clinical outcome wasassessed with Modified Rankin scale (MRS). Results: Twenty two patients were recruited. This wasout of 70 TB meningitis patients (31.4%) seen over the same period. Eighteen (81.8%) patients hadconcomitant TB meningitis. The clinical features consisted of systemic symptoms with fever (63.6%),meningitis symptoms with altered sensorium (45.5%), myelopathy with paraparesis (36.4%). Thefindings on spinal MRI were discitis (36.4%), spinal meningeal enhancement (31.8%), spinal cordcompression (31.8%), psoas abscess (27.3%), osteomyelitis (22.7%), and cord oedema (22.7%). Allexcept two patients (90.9%) had involvement in psoas muscle, bone or leptomeningeal enhancement,features that can be used to differentiate from myelopathy that affect the parenchyma only, such asdemyelination. Unusual manifestations were syringomyelia and paradoxical manifestations seen in 3patients each. The outcome were overall poor, with 68% having MRS 3 or more.Conclusion: Spinal TB is common in TB meningitis. The outcome is overall poor. A heightenedawareness is crucial to enable early diagnosis and treatment.
5.Neuroimaging findings are sensitive and specific in diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis
Mei-Ling Sharon Tai ; Hazman Mohd Nor ; Kartini Rahmat ; Shanthi Viswanathan ; Khairul Azmi Abdul Kadir ; Norlisah Ramli ; Fatimah Kamila Abu Bakar ; Norzaini Rose Mohd Zain ; Suhailah Abdullah ; Jun Fai Yap ; Ahmed Shaheed ; Boon Seng Ng ; Mohd Hanip Rafia ; Chong Tin Tan
Neurology Asia 2017;22(1):15-23
Objective: The primary objective of this study was to describe the neuroimaging changes of tuberculous
meningitis (TBM), and to determine the role of neuroimaging in the diagnosis of TBM. Methods:
Between January 2009 and July 2015, we prospectively recruited TBM patients in two hospitals in
Malaysia. Neuroimaging was performed and findings were recorded. The control consists of other types
of meningo-encephalitis seen over the same period. Results: Fifty four TBM patients were recruited.
Leptomeningeal enhancement was seen in 39 (72.2%) patients, commonly at prepontine cistern and
interpeduncular fossa. Hydrocephalus was observed in 38 (70.4%) patients, 25 (46.3%) patients had
moderate and severe hydrocephalus. Thirty four patients (63.0%) had cerebral infarction. Tuberculoma
were seen in 29 (53.7%) patients; 27 (50.0%) patients had classical tuberculoma, 2 (3.7%) patients
had “other” type of tuberculoma, 18 (33.3%) patients had ≥5 tuberculoma, and 11 (20.4%) patients
had < 5 tuberculoma. Fifteen (37.2%) patients had vasculitis, 6 (11.1%) patients had vasospasm. Close
to nine tenth (88.9%) of the patients had ≥1 classical neuroimaging features, 77.8% had ≥ 2 classical
imaging features of TBM (basal enhancement, hydrocephalus, basal ganglia / thalamic infarct, classical
tuberculoma, and vasculitis/vasospasm). Only 4% with other types of meningitis/encephalitis had ≥1
feature, and 1% had two or more classical TBM neuroimaging features. The sensitivity of the imaging
features of the imaging features for diagnosis of TBM was 88.9% and the specificity was 95.6%.
Conclusion: The classic imaging features of basal enhancement, hydrocephalus, basal ganglia/thalamic
infarct, classic tuberculoma, and vasculitis are sensitive and specific to diagnosis of TBM.
Tuberculosis, Meningeal
6.Cryptorchidism is a useful clue for Idiopathic Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism in Pituitary Stalk Thickening
Shamharini Nagaratnam ; Subashini Rajoo ; Mohamed Badrulnizam Long Bidin ; Norzaini Rose Mohd Zain
Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 2021;36(1):95-97
Pituitary stalk lesions can represent a wide range of pathologies. The exact cause is often unknown due to hesitancy to proceed with biopsy. We present a 16-year-old adolescent who presented with delayed puberty, short stature and bilateral cryptorchidism. He was found to have a thickened pituitary stalk of uncertain etiology with partial hypopituitarism (gonadotrophin and growth hormone deficiency) on further assessment. The presence of bilateral cryptorchidism and micropenis represents lack of “mini puberty,” a phenomenon of activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in-utero or within the first few months of life.1 These key clinical features have been useful to establish an early temporal relationship and suggest a congenital origin of disease. This enabled a more conservative approach of surveillance to be employed as opposed to invasive pathological examination with pituitary stalk biopsy.
Pituitary Diseases
;
Hypopituitarism
;
Cryptorchidism
;
Growth Hormone