These results suggest that the degree of edema as revealed by computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can be an important clinical predictive factor for the histological grade of the meningioma.

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a rare tumour, representing 2.5% of all bone tumours and 7% of benign tumours. Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is also an uncommon pathology, usually associated with a secondary vascular lesion consisting of an arteriovenous malformation. In this article, we relate a case report of a young female with a rare combination of FD with aneurysmal bone cyst presenting as a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Despite the possibility of clinical treatment of these lesions, this report demonstrates that symptomatic lesions may be successfully managed by surgical resection. The authors' opinion is that this treatment should be individualised depending on particularities of each case, such as localisation of the lesion, biopsy results and image exams features. We also present a critical literature review of diagnostic methods and therapeutical options for both ABC and FD, with emphasis on controversial topics surrounding these issues.

Trabalho recebido em 13/05/05. Aprovado em 11/07/05 Artigo de Revisão RESUMOA cognição espacial corresponde à capacidade de um indivíduo de perceber as relações espaciais entre os objetos bem como de lidar com as noções de profundidade, solidez e distância. Essa capacidade cognitiva está intimamente correlacionada com a percepção espacial, a qual pode ser entendida como o resultado final da organização e integração de diversos estímulos sensoriais de maneira a fornecer à consciência um panorama geral acerca das formas do meio externo entre si e suas relações espaciais. Realizamos, nesse artigo, um resumo das diversas vias sensoriais (visual, tátil, proprioceptiva, auditiva e vestibular) capazes de fornecer elementos para o desenvolvimento da cognição espacial. Ao longo dessa exposição procuraremos elucidar os mecanismos psicológicos inerentes a esse processo bem como suas respectivas bases neurofisiológicas. Será também abordada a importância da Área de Associação Heteromodal do Córtex Parietal Posterior para a cognição espacial. Por último será realizada uma breve discussão acerca das diferentes síndromes que envolvem alguma forma de déficit da cognição espacial. Unitermos: Percepção espacial, Percepção de forma, Cognição, Modalidades sensoriais. Citação: Mattei TA, Mattei JA. A cognição espacial e seus distúrbios: o papel do Córtex Parietal Posterior. Rev Neurociencias 2005; 13(2): 093-099. SUMMARYThe spatial cognition corresponds to the individual's capacity to perceive the spatial relationship among objects and dealing with the notions of deepness, solidity and distance. This cognitive activity is bounded to spatial perception that can be understood as the final product of the integrative process that organizes sensorial stimuli, in order to present to consciousness a general overview about forms and spatial relationships of external objects. In this paper we discuss the different sensorial routes (visual, tactil, proprioceptive, auditive, vestibular), which are capable to provide elements for generation of spatial cognition. Through this exposition we try to elucidate psychological mechanisms involved in this process as well as its respective neurophysiological bases. We will also discuss the importance of the Multimodal Association Area of the Posterior Parietal Cortex to spatial cognition. In the last part of the article we present a brief description of disturbs which involve some kind of deficit of spatial cognition.Citation: Mattei TA, Mattei JA. The spatial cognition and its disturbances: the role of the Posterior Parietal Cortex. Rev Neurociencias 2005; 13(2): 093-099.(093-099)

A neuropatia óptica traumática pode ser definida como uma perda visual abrupta pós-trauma acompanhada de defeito pupilar e ausência de injúria direta ao globo ocular ou ao nervo óptico. A conduta terapêutica para esses casos é controversa: alguns estudos recomendam somente tratamento conservador com administração de corticosteróides, enquanto outros advogam benefícios com a terapêutica cirúrgica, que pode ser realizada tanto através de abordagem intradural quanto extradural. Este é um relato de um caso de neuropatia óptica traumática no qual foi utilizada a técnica extradural de Dolenc para realização da descompressão neural. Os autores enfatizam as vantagens desta abordagem extradural sobre as abordagens intradurais, recomendando seu uso, em casos selecionados, como importante tratamento adjuvante à corticoterapia para tratamento da neuropatia óptica traumática.

Introduction: Callosum mutism (CM) is a rare complication of neurosurgical procedures. There is no previous report of its ocurrence after interventional endovascular procedures for intracranial lesions. Material and method: We present a case of CM after embolization of anterior cerebral artery branches for treatment of a left frontal arterio-venous malformation (AVM). After reporting the particularities of clinical and radiological presentation of such case, we preform a critical literature review and discusses the clinical and ethiological aspects of CM as well as its differences in relation to other genders of speech disturbances (like aphasias). Finally we provide a brief overview about present available methods of cortical function monitoring emphasizing their utility in therapeutic endovascular procedures in eloquent areas. Result and conclusion: In literature, there are no previous report of CM as a complication of therapeutic angiographic procedures. Its exact pathophysiology is unknown. It is usually believed that this syndrome may appear after lesion of any of the components of the dentate-thalamic-cortical pathway, as well as supplementary motor area and mesolimbic regions involved in speech production. The diagnosis of CM must be considered after a clinical picture of speech deficit after therapeutic endovascualr procedures in territory of distal branches of anterior cerebral artery, specially of frontopolar (FpA branch) and anterior internal frontal (AIFA) branches.