Friday, December 19, 2014

An inquiry for the neuropathology community from two illustrious German neurologists regarding possible olivary dysgenesis

Prof. Dr. Gunther Deuschl
Prof. Dr. Olaf Jansen

 

 

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The following is an inquiry received from Prof. Dr. Günther Deuschl, Chairman of the Department of Neurology, UKSH, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany. Please post your ideas on this case in the comments section:

Dear friends,
I have a patient presenting with  different noises: one subjectively in the thyroid region (nothing objectively), one in the region of the ear (coming erratically in groups, some resemblance to earclicks, again nothing objectively), one pulse synchronous noise (with a known neuroradiologically confirmed and treated fistula carotis to sinus cavernosus). I would have considered her to have only the latter clinical problem. All the other complaints seemed to be due to enhanced introspection without definite psychiatric diagnosis. Then the neuroradiologist (Prof. O. Jansen, Kiel University, Germany) made an MRI scan and found this curious ‘Tic-sign’ of the brain stem (you will understand when you look at the images below, which you can click on to enlarge). It shows definite circumscribed regional and bilateral atrophy of the inferior olive. Interestingly there seems to be some ‘white matter’ remaining. . Indeed an olivary agenesis or dysgenesis is one of the possibilities. The lady has no cerebellar signs as you see this sometimes (but not always) after olivary destruction.
I wonder if anybody has ever seen something like this and have an insights on a diagnosis?
Best regards for taking your time to read and see this.

Best regards,
Guenther




 

 

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

The Einstein/Rorke-Adams Connection

Dr. Lucy Rorke-Adams
I'm not sure how many in the neuropathology community know this, but our renowned colleague Lucy Rorke-Adams donated slices of Albert Einstein's brain to the Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library in Philadelphia. Rorke-Adams, a senior neuropathologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, donated the 46 slices of brain tissue to the museum in 2011. Rorke-Adams had received the slides as a gift from local doctor, who in turn had bequeathed them from his colleague, a neuropathologist who examined the slides on behalf of Thomas Harvey, the man who removed Einstein's brain during an autopsy in 1955. Guess where my first stop will be on my next visit to Philly?

Monday, December 1, 2014

Best Post of September 2014: New ISN book on Peripherap Nerve Disorders coming soon

The next in our "Best of the Month Series is from September 26, 2014. The update on this post is that the book is NOW AVAILABLE!  The cost is a reasonable £119.11 (€148.80). (Don't ask me what that means in greenbacks!)

New ISN book – Peripheral Nerve Disorders – coming soon

A new book covering peripheral nerve diseases (part of the International Society of Neuropathology series)  is about to be released . The book editors are Jean-Michel Vallet and Joachim Weiss and includes chapters from a range of other international experts who have produced a clinically orientated guide to the pathology of peripheral nerve disorders. The book includes the latest molecular and pathological findings to provide the most up-to-date understanding of the pathogenesis of these disorders.

Dr. Diamandis develops network to help pathologists interface with AI computational scientists

A neuropathology colleague in Toronto (Dr. Phedias Diamandis) is developing some amazing AI-based tools for pathology and academia. He hel...