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Objective: There are many evidences that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the motor cortex is effective in relief of chronic pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effects of rTMS in patients with refractory complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Methods: Twenty-three patients presenting with CRPS of the hand were randomly selected and treated with conventional treatment (analgesics, adjuvant medications and physical therapy) plus sham-TMS or rTMS to the motor cortex opposite the affected limb: 100% MT, 10 hz, 10 s trains, 25 trains daily, 10 daily sessions. The Visual Analogical Scale of Pain (VAS), McGill Questionnaire, Pain Impact Questionnaire (PIQ-6), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (DASH), Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales and SF-36 Questionnaire were the instruments used for the evaluation. The groups were comparable with regards to socio-demographics, mood and pain intensity. Evaluations were performed before, during TMS treatment and up to three months the end of the treatment. Results: There was a significant reduction in VAS scores favoring the rTMS group up to the seventh follow-up day (p<0.05). The mean reduction in the rTMS group was of 4.65 cm (fall of 50.9%) against 2.18 cm (fall of 24.7%) in sham group during treatment. Improvement in VAS scores was independent of other variables, except for improvement in emotional aspects in the SF-36. Conclusions: During rTMS sessions, there was significant and positive improvement in pain experience of CRPS patients regardless of mood, function or quality of life effects.

Objective Despite advances in systemic therapy and radiotherapy (RT), neurosurgical resection (NSR) remains a mainstay of the treatment of brain metastases (BMs). Although it is unequivocal in instances of diagnostic doubt, radioresistance, and risk of death due to neurologic causes, NSR may be controversial in other situations. Many aspects related to NSR have not yet been well established, and the primary prognostic indices were proposed only in the last decade. This study evaluates the survival and the morbidity, causes of death, prognostic factors, and the impact of RT in patients with BMs treated by NSR in the current era. Methods A total of 200 patients with BMs who were treated by NSR were evaluated sequentially and followed prospectively. We used logistic regression and Cox regression models to identify independent factors associated with mortality at 4 weeks and at 1 year, respectively. Clinical features, morbidity, recurrence, and causes of death were also studied. Results Lung cancer was the most prevalent cancer (36.5%); the median Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score was 60. Total resection was achieved in 89%, and adjuvant RT was applied in 63% of the cases. The rates of surgical mortality, morbidity, and mortality at 4 weeks were 1.5%, 17%, and 7.5%, respectively. Systemic infections were the leading cause of death in 62.5% of the cases. The median survival was 5 months, and 34.5% of patients lived > 1 year. The postoperative KPS (KPSpo) score remained unchanged or improved in 94.5% of the cases. In the multivariate analysis, a KPSpo score ≥ 80 and the application of adjuvant RT were associated with a lower risk of death at 12 weeks and at 1 year. Interestingly, the variables of primary tumor site, number of BMs, and presence of carcinomatous meningitis were not significant. Conclusion Morbidity and mortality were high, a third of the patients lived > 1 year, and the KPS score improved or remained unchanged in most cases. Prognostic indices and health conditions were important predictive factors, but the KPSpo score and adjuvant RT were independent variables for survival at 12 weeks and at 1 year. Therefore, new studies are needed to assess the influence of new therapies and specific molecular profiles.

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Brain metastases (BM) represent more than 50% of intracranial tumors in the adult population and have shown an increasing incidence over recent decades 1,2 . Around 170,000 patients per year are diagnosed with BM in the United States of America. In addition, 10% to 40% of oncologic patients develop BM in the course of the disease [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] . The factors associated with this increasing incidence include advances in neuroimaging techniques, easier access to health care systems, and increased survival of cancer patients. The best strategy for treating BM remains controversial, but the management includes radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery and surgical resection. Patients are typically treated according to age, functional performance, neurological status, type of cancer, number and localization of BM, radiosensitivity and chemosensitivity of the tumors, and systemic control of the primary cancer [5][6][7][8] . Local control of BM can restore neurological functional status and increase survival of patients that may die due to extracranial progression of the disease [9][10][11][12] . Some trials suggest that neurosurgical resection is a good option, presenting low recurrence rates especially when followed by radiotherapy [6][7][8]11,12 . BM resection can rapidly decrease the mass effect and surrounding edema, improve symptoms and quality of life, control epileptic seizures and provide tissue for histological analysis and diagnosis of suspected lesions [6][7][8] . In addition, resection of multiple BM can also bring positive outcomes if systemic cancer is controlled [13][14][15] . The objective ABSTRACTBrain metastases (BM) are one of the most common intracranial tumors and surgical treatment can improve both the functional outcomes and patient survival, particularly when systemic disease is controlled. Image-guided BM resection using intraoperative exams, such as intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS), can lead to better surgical results. Methods: To evaluate the use of IOUS for BM resection, 20 consecutives patients were operated using IOUS to locate tumors, identify their anatomical relationships and surgical cavity after resection. Technical difficulties, complications, recurrence and survival rates were noted. Results: IOUS proved effective for locating, determining borders and defining the anatomical relationships of BM, as well as to identify incomplete tumor resection. No complications related to IOUS were seen. Conclusion: IOUS is a practical supporting method for the resection of BM, but further studies comparing this method with other intraoperative exams are needed to evaluate its actual contribution and reliability.Key words: intraoperative ultrasound, brain metastases, neurosurgery. RESUMOAs metástases cerebrais (MC) são os tumores intracranianos mais frequentes e seu tratamento cirúrgico pode melhorar a sobrevida e a funcionalidade do paciente, especialmente quando a doença sistêmica está controlada. A ressecção das MC guiada por imagens de exames intraoperatórios, como ultrassom intraoper...

ResumoOs gliomas representam 30%-40% de todas as neoplasias intracranianas e aproximadamente 50% são glioblastomas. São classificados em graus pela OMS, de acordo com sua patologia. Apresentam altas taxas de mortalidade. Existem marcadores tumorais que podem auxiliar na detecção precoce e avaliar prognóstico. Realizada revisão sobre o tema marcadores tumorais por meio do site PubMed. MGMT é uma proteína que restaura o DNA, impedindo a sua alquilação. A metilação do MGMT por meio de fenômeno epigenético impede sua transcrição inibindo sua ação, tornando o tumor suscetível a fármacos. IDH e codeleção cromossômica 1p19q são marcadores tumorais e estão associados a melhor prognóstico. As neoplasias intracranianas apresentam altas taxas de mortalidade e sua detecção precoce por meio de marcadores e o conhecimento de alterações que conferem bom prognóstico podem auxiliar no tratamento dessa doença. A análise molecular auxilia na detecção e no tratamento de tumores.

A 39-year-old female patient, without medical history, presented symptoms of holocranial headache and vomiting for 2 months before a single tonic-clonic seizure. In the postictal period, she presented with left hemiparesis that completely resolved over a couple of weeks without medical therapy other than phenytoin. The neurologic examination was unremarkable after that.

Background and objectives: The management of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) remains a challenging task therefore a large number of interventions have been investigated.Lately, invasive and non-invasive neuromodulation have been coming up as an alternative for some patients even as an add-on treatment to medicines or physical therapy. The objective of this review is to evaluate the evidence of its effectiveness in CRPS chronic pain management.