| 1. |
- Berntsson, Shala G., 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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Inherited Ataxia and Intrathecal Baclofen for the Treatment of Spasticity and Painful Spasms
- 2019
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Ingår i: Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. - : S. Karger AG. - 1011-6125 .- 1423-0372. ; 97:1, s. 18-23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) treatment is considered a powerful tool in the management of severe spasticity in neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and traumatic spinal cord and brain injury.Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the ITB in patients with inherited ataxia suffering from severe painful spasms and/or spasticity.Method: A total of 5 patients with spinocerebellar ataxia 3 or 7 or Friedreich's ataxia were included in this observational multicenter study. The patients were interviewed and completed outcome measures assessing pain (The Brief Pain Inventory), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), and life satisfaction (LiSAT-9) before and 1 year after the treatment. Spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale) and spasm frequency (SPFS) were measured objectively for each patient.Results: The mean treatment time was 1.9 years. Evaluation of established standard forms revealed symptomatic relief from spasticity, spasms, pain, and fatigue in addition to improved body posture, sleep, and life satisfaction after ITB treatment.Conclusions: We report the potential beneficial effects of ITB treatment in patients with inherited ataxia who also suffer from spasticity/spasms. ITB treatment indication in neurological disorders allows for extension to the treatment of spasticity/spasms in patients with hereditary ataxia.
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| 2. |
- Katsarogiannis, Evangelos, et al.
(författare)
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Absence of Oligoclonal Bands in Multiple Sclerosis : A Call for Differential Diagnosis
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Medicine. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0383. ; 12:14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Immunoglobulin gamma (IgG) oligoclonal bands (OCB) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are absent in a small group of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. According to previous research, OCB-negative MS patients differ genetically but not clinically from OCB-positive MS patients. However, whether OCB-negative MS is a unique immunological and clinical entity remains unclear. The absence of OCB poses a significant challenge in diagnosing MS. (1)Objective: The objective of this study was twofold: (1) to determine the prevalence of OCB-negative MS patients in the Uppsala region, and (2) to assess the frequency of misdiagnosis in this patient group. (2)Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using data from the Swedish MS registry (SMSreg) covering 83% of prevalent MS cases up to 20 June 2020 to identify all MS patients in the Uppsala region. Subsequently, we collected relevant information from the medical records of all OCB-negative MS cases, including age of onset, gender, presenting symptoms, MRI features, phenotype, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, and disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). (3) Results: Out of 759 MS patients identified, 69 had an OCB-negative MS diagnosis. Upon re-evaluation, 46 patients had a typical history and MRI findings of MS, while 23 had unusual clinical and/or radiologic features. An alternative diagnosis was established for the latter group, confirming the incorrectness of the initial MS diagnosis. The average EDSS score was 2.0 points higher in the MS group than in the non-MS group (p = 0.001). The overall misdiagnosis rate in the cohort was 33%, with 22% of misdiagnosed patients having received DMTs. (4)Conclusions: Our results confirm that the absence of OCB in the CSF should raise suspicion of possible misdiagnosis in MS patients and prompt a diagnostic reassessment.
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| 3. |
- Berntsson, Shala G., 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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A comprehensive diagnostic approach in suspected neurosarcoidosis
- 2023
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Nature. - 2045-2322. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neurosarcoidosis presents a diagnostic challenge in clinical settings, as it has no pathognomonic symptoms or signs and a wide range of differential diagnoses. The aim of this report is to present the pathological features of our group of patients, obtained through a systematic diagnostic approach. This retrospective cohort study enrolled all adult patients primarily diagnosed with neurosarcoidosis at the neurology department of a tertiary center in Sweden over a period of 30 years, from 1990 to 2021. We identified 90 patients, 54 with possible neurosarcoidosis and 36 with probable neurosarcoidosis. CNS biopsy revealed an alternative diagnosis for 24 patients, who were then excluded. The collected data from medical records included demographic and clinical characteristics, systemic and/or neurological isolated involvement, various laboratory tests, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum analysis, imaging studies (MRI, FDG-PET/CT, and HRCT), nerve conduction studies, electromyography, and pathology reports of central nervous system (CNS), and extra-neural tissue biopsies. Sixty-six patients were included in our cohort. The median age at onset of symptoms was 49 years, with a similar sex distribution. Cranial neuropathies (38%), motor deficit (32%), headache (16%), and pituitary dysfunction (12%) were the most common presenting features. CSF studies were abnormal in 77% of the patients, who showed lymphocytosis (57%), elevated protein (44%), oligoclonal bands (40%), elevated ACE (28%), and raised T lymphocyte CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratios (13%). Strikingly, MRI showed that 17% of the patients presented with isolated pituitary gland lesions. FDG-PET/CT was performed in 22 patients (33%) and confirmed systemic sarcoidosis in 11. Despite our extensive workup, the final classification for our patients only allowed for a definite diagnosis in 14 patients; the remainder were classified as probable (32) or possible (20) neurosarcoidosis. Since 2007, the employment of a structured laboratory and imaging approach and the increasing number of CNS biopsies have facilitated and improved the process of correct attribution in patients with presumptive neurosarcoidosis, especially in patients with isolated neurological lesions. We highlight a higher frequency of pituitary lesions due to neurosarcoidosis than has been classically described. A detailed laboratory diagnostic workup is included.
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| 4. |
- Berntsson, Shala G., 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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Cerebellar ataxia and intrathecal baclofen therapy : Focus on patients´ experiences
- 2017
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 2:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Elucidating patients´ experiences of living with chronic progressive hereditary ataxia and the symptomatic treatment with intrathecal baclofen (ITB) is the objective of the current study. A multicenter qualitative study with four patients included due to the rare combination of hereditary ataxia and ITB therapy was designed to elucidate participants' experiences through semi-structured interviews. The transcribed text was analyzed according to content analysis guidelines. Overall we identified living in the present/ taking one day at a time as the main theme covering the following categories: 1) Uncertainty about the future as a consequence of living with a hereditary disease; The disease; 2) Impact on life as a whole, 3) Influence on personal life in terms of feeling forced to terminate employment, 4) Limiting daily activities, and 5) ITB therapy, advantages, and disadvantages. Uncertainty about the future was the category that affected participants' personal life, employment, and daily activities. The participants' experience of receiving ITB therapy was expressed in terms of improved quality of life due to better body position and movement as well as better sleep and pain relief.
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| 5. |
- Berntsson, Shala G., 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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Glioma-related seizures in relation to histopathological subtypes: a report from the glioma international case-control study.
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of neurology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-1459 .- 0340-5354. ; 265:6, s. 1432-1442
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of glioma-related seizures and seizure control at the time of tumor diagnosis with respect to tumor histologic subtypes, tumor treatment and patient characteristics, and to compare seizure history preceding tumor diagnosis (or study enrollment) between glioma patients and healthy controls.The Glioma International Case Control study (GICC) risk factor questionnaire collected information on demographics, past medical/medication history, and occupational history. Cases from eight centers were also asked detailed questions on seizures in relation to glioma diagnosis; cases (n=4533) and controls (n=4171) were also asked about seizures less than 2years from diagnosis and previous seizure history more than 2years prior to tumor diagnosis, including childhood seizures.Low-grade gliomas (LGGs), particularly oligodendrogliomas/oligoastrocytomas, had the highest proportion of glioma-related seizures. Patients with low-grade astrocytoma demonstrated the most medically refractory seizures. A total of 83% of patients were using only one antiepileptic drug (AED), which was levetiracetam in 71% of cases. Gross total resection was strongly associated with reduced seizure frequency (p<0.009). No significant difference was found between glioma cases and controls in terms of seizure occurring more than 2 years before diagnosis or during childhood.Our study showed that glioma-related seizures were most common in low-grade gliomas. Gross total resection was associated with lower seizure frequency. Additionally, having a history of childhood seizures is not a risk factor ***for developing glioma-related seizures or glioma.
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| 6. |
- Berntsson, Shala G., 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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Rapidly increasing off-label use of rituximab in multiple sclerosis in Sweden : Outlier or predecessor?
- 2018
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 138:4, s. 327-331
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: Off-label use of rituximab to treat MS patients in Sweden is high, and the need for long-term safety data may not be met. Our objectives were to assess the rate of rituximab prescription in patients with multiple sclerosis in Sweden and, in addition, to evaluate the safety of rituximab in a single centre for patients with multiple sclerosis.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of the Swedish MS register was performed to study the number of MS patients treated with rituximab during the last 6 years. Investigation also included a retrospective review of medical files in search for possible side effects/adverse events in all adult patients with MS treated with rituximab at Uppsala University Hospital.RESULTS: Presently, in Sweden the rate of rituximab prescriptions in relation to other annually started of disease- modifying drugs in MS is 53.5%.CONCLUSIONS: The share of MS patients in Sweden who are treated with rituximab is very high, and also rapidly increasing. Taken into account the off-label use, cases with adverse medical conditions that could possibly be related to rituximab use should be reported thoroughly.
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| 7. |
- Falk Delgado, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Diffusion kurtosis imaging of gliomas grades II and III : a study of perilesional tumor infiltration, tumor grades and subtypes at clinical presentation
- 2017
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Ingår i: Radiology and Oncology. - : Walter de Gruyter GmbH. - 1318-2099 .- 1581-3207. ; 51:2, s. 121-129
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) allows for assessment of diffusion influenced by microcellular structures. We analyzed DKI in suspected low-grade gliomas prior to histopathological diagnosis. The aim was to investigate if diffusion parameters in the perilesional normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) differed from contralesional white matter, and to investigate differences between glioma malignancy grades II and III and glioma subtypes (astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas).Patients and methods. Forty-eight patients with suspected low-grade glioma were prospectively recruited to this institutional review board-approved study and investigated with preoperative DKI at 3T after written informed consent. Patients with histologically proven glioma grades II or III were further analyzed (n=35). Regions of interest (ROIs) were delineated on T2FLAIR images and co-registered to diffusion MRI parameter maps. Mean DKI data were compared between perilesional and contralesional NAWM (student's t-test for dependent samples, Wilcoxon matched pairs test). Histogram DKI data were compared between glioma types and glioma grades (multiple comparisons of mean ranks for all groups). The discriminating potential for DKI in assessing glioma type and grade was assessed with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves.Results. There were significant differences in all mean DKI variables between perilesional and contralesional NAWM (p=< 0.000), except for axial kurtosis (p=0.099). Forty-four histogram variables differed significantly between glioma grades II (n=23) and III (n=12) (p=0.003-0.048) and 10 variables differed significantly between ACs (n=18) and ODs (n=17) (p=0.011-0.050). ROC curves of the best discriminating variables had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.657-0.815.Conclusions. Mean DKI variables in perilesional NAWM differ significantly from contralesional NAWM, suggesting altered microstructure by tumor infiltration not depicted on morphological MRI. Histogram analysis of DKI data identifies differences between glioma grades and subtypes.
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| 8. |
- Gauffin, Helena, et al.
(författare)
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Narcolepsy treatment in Sweden: An observational study
- 2022
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 145:2, s. 185-192
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives To describe the pharmacological treatments (2005-2017) and the healthcare utilization (1997-2016) for patients with narcolepsy in Sweden in order to create a framework for future organizational and economic analyses. Material & Methods Patients of all ages with a diagnosis of narcolepsy registered in the National Patient Registry in specialist care in Sweden were included and information on treatments for narcolepsy was retrieved from The Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. Results We collected 2508 patients with narcolepsy, 43,3% men and 56,7% women and 47,9% were prescribed modafenil, 33,8% metylphenidate and 26,2% amphetamine. In total, 3817 treatments were initiated. Patients treated with amphetamine had a higher mean age. More women than men used modafinil, methylphenidate, amphetamine and antidepressants. The narcolepsy population had more outpatient than inpatient healthcare. Patients treated with sodium oxybate had more outpatient visits than other narcolepsy patients, before and during treatment (p = .00). Conclusions This study gives valuable information on pharmaceutical treatments and healthcare utilization for patients with narcolepsy and can be used to estimate the healthcare cost in the future. Patients with sodium oxybate treatment had more outpatient visits than other patients before and during treatment which may be due to the need to monitor potentially severe side-effects or may indicate that patients with sodium oxybate treatment have a severe disease. The number of included patients was less than expected; however, this may depend on patients escaping our collection of data, which does not contain information from primary care.
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| 9. |
- Gunnarsson, Stina, et al.
(författare)
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Dosing Patterns In Treatment of Disabling Spasticity With Intrathecal Baclofen
- 2021
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Ingår i: REHABILITATION NURSING. - : Wolters Kluwer. - 0278-4807 .- 2048-7940. ; 46:6, s. 315-322
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe and analyze dosing patterns for patients with ITB treatment over time and to identify possible subgroups demonstrating diversity in patterns.Design: A retrospective design.Methods: For 81 patients from six different hospitals, baclofen doses from the first 2 years of treatment were identified using medical records. Line graphs of each patient's doses were analyzed and grouped based on similarities in dosing pattern.Findings: The analyses of the dosing patterns resulted in four different subgroups classified as stable, slow increase, rapid increase, and fluctuating.Conclusion: The results highlight the clinical challenge of predicting dose development over time.
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| 10. |
- Landtblom, Anne-Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Multiple sclerosis and COVID-19 : The Swedish experience
- 2021
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 144:3, s. 229-235
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges for healthcare management of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Concerns regarding vulnerability to infections and disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and their complications have been raised. Recent published guidelines on the use of DMTs in relation to COVID-19 in MS patients have been diverse between countries with lack of evidence-based facts. In Sweden, there exists a particular interest in anti-CD20 therapy as a possible risk factor for severe COVID-19 due to the large number of rituximab-treated patients off-label in the country. Rapid responses from the Swedish MS Association (SMSS) and the Swedish MS registry (SMSreg) have resulted in national guidelines on DMT use for MS patients and implementation of a COVID-19 module in the SMSreg. Recently updated guidelines also included recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination with regard to the different DMTs. Social distancing policies forced implementation of telemedicine consultation to replace in-person consultations as part of regular MS health care. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in SMSreg have been useful in this respect. This paper reports our experiences on the progress of national MS health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to offering an overview of the present scientific context.
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| 11. |
- Latini, Francesco, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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A novel radiological classification system for cerebral gliomas: The Brain-Grid.
- 2019
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Ingår i: PloS one. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 14:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Standard radiological/topographical classifications of gliomas often do not reflect the real extension of the tumor within the lobar-cortical anatomy. Furthermore, these systems do not provide information on the relationship between tumor growth and the subcortical white matter architecture. We propose the use of an anatomically standardized grid system (the Brain-Grid) to merge serial morphological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans with a representative tractographic atlas. Two illustrative cases are presented to show the potential advantages of this classification system.MRI scans of 39 patients (WHO grade II and III gliomas) were analyzed with a standardized grid created by intersecting longitudinal lines on the axial, sagittal, and coronal planes. The anatomical landmarks were chosen from an average brain, spatially normalized to the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) space and the Talairach space. Major white matter pathways were reconstructed with a deterministic tracking algorithm on a reference atlas and analyzed using the Brain-Grid system.In all, 48 brain grid voxels (areas defined by 3 coordinates, axial (A), coronal (C), sagittal (S) and numbers from 1 to 4) were delineated in each MRI sequence and on the tractographic atlas. The number of grid voxels infiltrated was consistent, also in the MNI space. The sub-cortical insula/basal ganglia (A3-C2-S2) and the fronto-insular region (A3-C2-S1) were most frequently involved. The inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, anterior thalamic radiation, uncinate fasciculus, and external capsule were the most frequently associated pathways in both hemispheres.The Brain-Grid based classification system provides an accurate observational tool in all patients with suspected gliomas, based on the comparison of grid voxels on a morphological MRI and segmented white matter atlas. Important biological information on tumor kinetics including extension, speed, and preferential direction of progression can be observed and even predicted with this system. This novel classification can easily be applied to both prospective and retrospective cohorts of patients and increase our comprehension of glioma behavior.
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| 12. |
- Latini, Francesco, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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A novel radiological classification system for cerebral gliomas: The Brain-Grid. : Classification of cerebral gliomas with Brain-Grid system
- 2019
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - San Francisco, California, USA : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 14:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeStandard radiological/topographical classifications of gliomas often do not reflect the real extension of the tumor within the lobar-cortical anatomy. Furthermore, these systems do not provide information on the relationship between tumor growth and the subcortical white mat- ter architecture. We propose the use of an anatomically standardized grid system (the Brain-Grid) to merge serial morphological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans with a representative tractographic atlas. Two illustrative cases are presented to show the potential advantages of this classification system.MethodsMRI scans of 39 patients (WHO grade II and III gliomas) were analyzed with a standardized grid created by intersecting longitudinal lines on the axial, sagittal, and coronal planes. The anatomical landmarks were chosen from an average brain, spatially normalized to the Mon- treal Neurological Institute (MNI) space and the Talairach space. Major white matter path- ways were reconstructed with a deterministic tracking algorithm on a reference atlas and analyzed using the Brain-Grid system.ResultsIn all, 48 brain grid voxels (areas defined by 3 coordinates, axial (A), coronal (C), sagittal (S) and numbers from 1 to 4) were delineated in each MRI sequence and on the tractographic atlas. The number of grid voxels infiltrated was consistent, also in the MNI space. The sub- cortical insula/basal ganglia (A3-C2-S2) and the fronto-insular region (A3-C2-S1) were most frequently involved. The inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, anterior thalamic radiation, unci- nate fasciculus, and external capsule were the most frequently associated pathways in both hemispheres.ConclusionsThe Brain-Grid based classification system provides an accurate observational tool in all patients with suspected gliomas, based on the comparison of grid voxels on a morphological MRI and segmented white matter atlas. Important biological information on tumor kinetics including extension, speed, and preferential direction of progression can be observed and even predicted with this system. This novel classification can easily be applied to both prospective and retrospective cohorts of patients and increase our comprehension of glioma behavior.
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| 13. |
- Roodakker, Kenney Roy, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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Ecstatic and gelastic seizures relate to the hypothalamus
- 2020
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Ingår i: Epilepsy & Behavior Reports. - : Elsevier BV. - 2589-9864. ; 14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ecstatic seizures constitute a rare form of epilepsy, and the semiology is diverse. Previously, brain areas including the temporal lobe and the insula have been identified to be involved in clinical expression. The aim of this report is to review changes in ecstatic seizures in a patient before and after operation of a hypothalamic hamartoma, and to scrutinize the relation to gelastic seizures. In this case, the ecstatic seizures disappeared after surgery of the hamartoma but reappeared eleven years later. Clinical information was retrospectively obtained from medical records, interviews, and a questionnaire covering seizure semiology that pertained to ecstatic and gelastic seizures. Our findings imply a possible connection between gelastic and ecstatic seizures, originating from a hypothalamic hamartoma. To our knowledge, this location has not previously been described in ecstatic seizures. Gelastic seizures may in this case were associated with ecstatic seizures. We speclate patients with ecstatic seizures may have an ictal activation of neuronal networks that involves the insula. Our case may add information to the growing knowledge concerning ecstatic seizures.
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| 14. |
- Roodakker, Kenney Roy, 1989-, et al.
(författare)
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Ecstatic and gelastic seizures related to the hypothalamus
- 2021
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Ingår i: Epilepsy & Behavior Reports. - : Elsevier. - 2589-9864. ; 16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ecstatic seizures constitute a rare form of epilepsy, and the semiology is diverse. Previously, brain areas including the temporal lobe and the insula have been identified to be involved in clinical expression. The aim of this report is to review changes in ecstatic seizures in a patient before and after operation for a hypothalamic hamartoma, and to scrutinize the relation to gelastic seizures. In this case, the ecstatic seizures disappeared after surgery of the hamartoma but reappeared eleven years later. Clinical information was retrospectively obtained from medical records, interviews, and a questionnaire covering seizure semiology that pertained to ecstatic and gelastic seizures. Our findings imply a possible connection between gelastic and ecstatic seizures, originating from a hypothalamic hamartoma. To our knowledge, this location has not previously been described in ecstatic seizures. Gelastic seizures may in this case be associated with ecstatic seizures. We speculate that patients with ecstatic seizures may have an ictal activation of neuronal networks that involve the insula. Our case may add information to the knowledge concerning ecstatic seizures. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.
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