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Cerebrovascular diseases in patients between 15 and 40 years old are not a frequent subject in Latin-American literature, especially when focusing on neuropathology. We analyzed 47 brains from necropsies performed from 1987 to 1997 and selected on a basis of age and the presence of vascular pathology. From the 47 analyzed brains, 26 belonged to females (55.3%). When distributed among age groups, 12.8% (n=6) affected patients from 15 to 20 yo, 51,1% (n=24) from 21 to 30 yo, 36,2% (n=17) from 31 to 40 yo. The underlying diseases were: cardiac and haemathologic (19.2%), pregnancy complications (12.76%), infections, diseases of blood vessels and neurological (10.1% each) amongst others. The neuropathological abnormalities included cerebral and/or cerebellar herniation (16%), cerebral edema (13.8%), subarachnoid hemorrhage (10%), recent cerebral infarction (9%), intraparenchymatous hemorrhage (8.14%), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (3%) and other events such as Sneddon syndrome and Lupus vasculitis. These findings express that the cerebrovascular phenomena in this age group are unique and closely related with the underlying disease.

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The April Case of the Month (COM). The contributors report a case of a 70 year-old woman with recurrent meningiomas, one of which showed rhabdoid and lipomatous differentiation. Histopathological study of the first and second previous resections showed only typical meningothelial meningioma. On the third craniotomy, a new tumor specimen showed an admixture of classic meningothelial meningioma with lipomatous and rhabdoid foci. Immunohistochemical studies showed diffuse reactivity for epithelial membrane antigen and vimentin, as well as focal positivity for desmin and smooth muscle actin in the areas with rhabdoid features and S100 protein in the lipomatous foci. The presence of these three different and concomitant histological patterns only in the third surgical resection might support a metaplastic origin and, also, corroborates the concept that rhabdoid features are suggestive of an aggressive behavior.

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Neurocysticercosis is the most frequent and widespread neuroparasitosis of the human being. The development of brain and leptomeningeal lesions, with subsequent symptoms, are mainly related with the immune status of the host, and to the number and evolutional phase of the parasites. We present the pathological findings in 27 necropsies of patients with neurocysticercosis, which accounted for 3.1% of the necropsies. 77% of the patients were male and the age ranged from 18 to 85 years. In 26% there was previous history of alcoholism. Clinicopathological study showed that 50% of the cases were classified as asymptomatic form, 11% epileptic form, 11% intraventricular form and 11% combined form. 33% of the patients presented seizures as a factor of aggravation of the clinical picture. There was a single cysticercus in 60% of the cases, the cellulosae form present in 82% and the racemous form in 7% of the cases; the remaining 11% had both forms present. In 30% of the patients the cause of death was directly related with the presence of the cysticercus in the central nervous system. Our findings confirm the high morbidity of this disease.

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OBJECTIVE: Report a case of Krabbés disease with necropsy. METHODS: Review of medical and necropsy records. RESULTS: An 8 months-old male patient developed tremors, swallowing difficulty and excessive salivation for 4 months prior to admission, evolving with vomiting and fever. Physical examination showed microcephaly and diffuse pigmentation of the retinae. Neurological examination showed flexion of upper limbs with spastic hyperthony, symmetrical global hyperreflexia, nystagmus and spontaneous spasms. EEG showed multifocal irritative activity. There was increase in both CSF protein and gamaglobulin. The patient evolved with transitory hyperthermia, vomiting and pneumopathy, dying on the 23rd day after admission. Post mortem studies revealed microcephaly with widening of brain sulci. Histological examination revealed several globoid cells in the deep portion of the white matter, reactive gliosis and demyelination. CONCLUSIONS: These findings were similar to those in the world literature, indicating a poor prognosis due to substantial brain damage.

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PURPOSE: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is still the gold standard method to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Transurethral vaporization of the prostate (TUVP) is compared with the transurethral resection of benign prostatic hyperplasia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over a 10-month period, 78 patients presenting with moderate and severe symptomatic BPH were randomized into two groups. A total of 38 patients underwent TURP, and 40 men underwent TUVP. The protocol included urinary flow rate (Qmax), symptomatology evaluated by the International Prostatic Symptom Score (I-PSS), and an ultrasonographic estimate of the postvoiding residual volume (PVR). The TUVP was carried out using a regular loop with the electrical source set at 250 to 300 W in the pure cutting mode. The same technique was used in the TURP, but the electrosurgical unit was set at 50 to 80 W for cutting and 50 W for hemostasis. The mean follow-up was 17 months (range 11-23 months). RESULTS: The data showed significant improvement in the symptom score, maximum flow rate, and postvoiding residual urine volume after treatment (P<0.01) in both groups. Comparing the symptom score, there was no difference between the two techniques (P = 0.88), the same occurring with the PVR (P = 0.78). However, the Qmax was higher after TURP (P = 0.02). The amount of tissue resected showed no statistical difference between the two techniques (P>0.05). Operative time, postoperative irrigation, catheter removal, and hospital stay were better with TUVP (P = 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.003) when we compared the occurrence of retrograde ejaculation with TURP (32%) and TUVP (65%) The TUVP using a regular loop, in addition to the advantage of the equipment and technique already being familiar to urologists, is efficient and reduces capital expenditure. CONCLUSION: The TUVP is a remake of TURP, with higher energy offering better results.

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Oligodendrogliomas account for 4-5% of primary central nervous system tumours with a slow and infiltrative growth. We report the clinical and pathological findings of 15 cases of oligodendrogliomas. Eight patients were males and 7 were females. The ages ranged between 17 and 66 years, with a mean of 39.73 years. The symptoms reflected the growth and topography of the tumours; migraine (60%) and seizures (60%) were the most frequent symptoms. Frontal (n = 6), parietal (n = 2), temporal (n = 1) and occipital (n = 1) lobes were affected. Five patients undergone total resection of the tumor and 10 were submitted to partial resection, from which 3 received adjuvant radiotherapy, 1 adjuvant chemotherapy and 1 chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The overall recurrence rate was 60% for a 32 month follow up. Five recurrences were observed in patients submitted only to the surgical treatment and 4 in which adjuvant radio or chemotherapy were performed. These results are similar with the literature and may contribute to further understanding the biological behavior of these rare tumours.

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We report the clinical and pathological findings of 25 cases of craniopharyngiomas. Fourteen patients were males and 11 were females. The ages ranged between 3 and 64 years, with a mean of 30.52 years. The symptoms reflected the growth and topography of the tumours; visual disorders (72%), headache (68%), vomits (40%) and papilledema (24%) were the most frequent symptoms. Twelve cases were suprasellar; 10 tumours arose from sellar region, from which 8 presented suprasellar extension; frontal lobe (n = 2) and ponto cererebellar angle (n = 1) were also affected. Eleven patients undergone total resection of the tumor and 14 were submitted to partial resection, from which 1 received adjuvant chemotherapy. The overall recurrence rate was 48%. Eight recurrences were observed in the patients submitted to partial resection and 4 in which total resection were performed. These results are similar with the literature, corroborating to the extension of residual tumour after the surgical resection as the main prognostic factor for this neoplasm.

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Ependymomas are composed of neoplastic ependymal cells, affecting mainly children and young adults. We report the clinical and pathological findings of 22 cases of ependymomas. Fourteen patients were males and 8 were females. The ages ranged between 1 and 58 years, with a mean of 24.63 years. The symptoms reflected the growth and topography of the tumours; muscle weakness (59.1%), gait disorders (36.3%), sensitive disorders (36.3%), hyperreflexia and intracranial hypertension syndrome were the most frequent symptoms. Ten tumours affected the medulla, 7 the cerebral hemispheres, 2 the cerebral ventricles and 1 brain stem. Seven patients were submitted total resection of the tumor, from which one received adjuvant radiotherapy. 15 other patients were submitted to partial resection; from which 4 received adjuvant radiotherapy, 3 adjuvant chemotherapy and 1 chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The recurrence rate was 18.2%. These results are similar with the literature and may contribute to further understanding the biological behavior of these tumours.

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OBJECTIVES: To examine the variability of bladder outlet obstruction and mild lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) followed up by watchful waiting. METHODS: The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) has four questions related to voiding symptoms and three related to filling symptoms. Scores of 0 to 7, 8 to 19, and 20 to 35 represent mild, moderate, and severe symptoms, respectively. Over a period of 36 months the IPSS questionnaire was administered to 479 patients 50 to 81 years old (mean age 63) with BPH. A pressure-flow study was used to determine the presence of bladder outlet obstruction. On the basis of their scores, the patients were classified into 50 with mild, 227 with moderate, and 202 with severe symptoms. In the present study only patients with a mild score were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 50 patients with mild symptoms, 16 (32%) had bladder outlet obstruction. After a period of 9 to 22 months (mean 17) of watchful waiting, these 16 patients were reviewed. Twelve (75%) of the 16 had bladder outlet obstruction reconfirmed by pressure-flow studies, and 3 (18.8%) of 16 had increased symptoms (moderate symptomatic) and underwent treatment (1 began pharmacologic treatment, and 2 chose transurethral resection). A total of 4 (25%) of 16 patients still had mild voiding disturbances and refused the second urodynamic evaluation. The remaining 34 patients with no obstruction had annual routine follow-up and had persistent mild symptom scores and normal uroflowmetric results. These patients did not undergo another pressure-flow evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: A pressure-flow study is routinely avoided in patients with a mild IPSS. From symptoms alone it was not possible to diagnose bladder outlet obstruction in these patients. Pressure-flow studies and symptom profiles measure different aspects of the clinical condition. After a mean follow-up of 17 months of watchful waiting, 13 (81.2%) of 1 6 patients were clinically stable. Because the need for therapy is dictated by quality of life, it is difficult to propose treatment for patients with minimal symptoms, even in the presence of bladder outlet obstruction.

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OBJECTIVE: Describe the morbidity associated with a rare disease due to an embryological defect. METHODS: Retrospective revision of medical and necropsy reports. Bibliographic research using MEDLINE, LILACS and Index Medicus databases. RESULTS: 1 year-old male patient, admitted with generalized tonic-clonic seizures, evolving to deep coma and death in a few hours. Necropsy showed diffuse leptomeningeal malignant melanoma in brain stem, cerebellum, spinal cord and temporal lobe associated with a giant melanocytic nevus and satellite lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Neurocutaneous melanosis is a rare congenital syndrome characterized by the presence of large and/or multiple melanocytic nevi and pigmented tumors of the leptomeninges. It has a poor prognosis as demonstrated by the present report. It's physiopathology is believed to be due to a migration defect of the cells arising from the primitive neural crest. In these cases, an early diagnosis may improve the survival time.