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Electroencephalogram (EEG) showed bilaterally symmetrical, synchronous, periodic, high voltage bursts of polyphasic, stereotyped delta waves. A provisional diagnosis of SSPE was kept. CSF examination was positive for anti-measles IgG antibodies. MRI of brain was completely normal implying complete resolution of previous white matter lesions [Figures 1b3 and 1b4]. Patient was started on weekly intrathecal interferons and oral clonazepam and valproate. Relatives were explained about passive physiotherapy and other supportive care for the patient. Visual manifestations are present in 10-50% of patients and they usually occur concurrently with above neurological findings but rarely may precede it; however it is very rare to have long latency between ophthalmological and neurological manifestations.[2,3] The causes include disc edema (papillitis or papilledema), optic atrophy, visual field defects, nystagmus, supranuclear gaze palsy, retinitis, chorioretinitis, macular pigment epithelial abnormalities, macular edema, macular haemorrhage, gliotic retinal scar, and internal limiting membrane contracture.[4] This case report not only emphasise that isolated visual symptoms could be the presenting symptoms of SSPE but also the fact that there could be long latency (2 years in our case) between visual and typical neurological features of SSPE. We wish to emphasize that SSPE should always be kept as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with optic neuritis or chorio-retinitis in appropriate clinical settings. Spontaneous resolution of white matter lesions while the patient was deteriorating clinically (clinic-radiological dissociation), a very rare fact, is worth reporting because it may mislead radiologist or neuroradiologist.[5] It emphasize the fact that SSPE should be kept as a differential diagnosis of spontaneously disappearing white matter lesions especially in appropriate clinical circumstances.

Rajesh Verma, Rahul Gupta, Vivek Junewar, Ajay Panwar Department of Neurology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India For correspondence: Prof. Rajesh Verma, Department of Neurology, King George Medical University, Lucknow - 226 003, Uttar Pradesh, India. E-mail: [email protected]

References 1.

Garg RK. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Postgrad Med J 2002;78:63-70. 2. Zagami AS, Lethlean AK. Chorioretinitis as a possible very early manifestation of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Aust N Z J Med 1991;21:350-2. 3. Johnston HM, Wise GA, Henry JG. Visual deterioration as presentation of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Arch Dis Child 1980;55:899-901. 4. Green SH, Wirtschafter JD. Ophthalmoscopic findings in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Br J Ophthalmol 1973;57:780-7. 5. Winer JB, Pires M, Kermode A, Ginsberg L, Rossor M. Resolving MRI abnormalities with progression of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Neuroradiology 1991;33:178-80.

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DOI: 10.4103/0972-2327.144045

Parinaud’s syndrome: A rare presentation of lung carcinoma with solitary pineal metastasis Sir, Brain metastases account for over 50% of the brain tumors, lung being the most common source. Location of the metastases in the brain depend upon the blood supply, the region that is richly perfused also bears the brunt of higher incidence of metastases; metastasis to the pineal region is rather rare. In fact, metastasis to the pineal region has been estimated to account for only 0.4% of all intracranial metastatic tumors.[1] A review of the literature revealed that the most common site of primary origin of a pineal metastasis is the lung and histologically, small cell lung carcinoma is the most frequent type of cancer. Most cases of pineal metastases are asymptomatic, and are diagnosed during autopsy. Therefore, the clinical characteristics of, and therapeutic approach for, metastatic pineal region tumors have not been well discussed in the literature. Herein, we present a rare case of lung adenocarcinoma presenting with

Parinaud’s syndrome as the first manifestation secondary to Pineal metastasis, along with the clinical features of this unusual lesion from the view point of differential diagnosis and therapeutic approach. A 68-year-old female presented to us with chief complaints of headache and vomiting from last 1 month. Headache was generalized, more severe in morning and was associated with vomiting. On examination, patient was thin built, conscious, oriented, and her vitals were normal. Her higher mental functions were normal. She had near light dissociation, restricted upgaze, and convergence retraction nystagmus. Fundus examination revealed bilateral papilledema. Rest of cranial nerve examination and neurological examination was normal. Computed tomography (CT) brain was done which showed a contrast enhancing mixed density lesion

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Letters to the Editor

in the posterior third ventricle with gross hydrocephalus suggestive of pineal region tumor [Figure 1]. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain with Gadolinium confirmed the location and the lesion [Figures 2 and 3]. Since the patient had signs of raised intracranial pressure (ICP) due to hydrocephalus, ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt was done and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) subjected to examination. CSF did not reveal any malignant cell and all the tumor markers were undetectable Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP; human chorionic gonadotropin, (HCG) and placental/germ cell alkaline phosphatase, PLAP). Chest X-ray revealed a suspicious lesion in right upper lobe for which CT scan of thorax was done. It showed a well-defined solid lesion in right upper lobe suggestive of a lung carcinoma [Figure 4]. Considering the age and built of the patient a CT-guided biopsy from the lung lesion was done; biopsy was suggestive of adenocarcinoma. The patient was referred to Radiooncology unit for further treatment. Although the brain is a common site of metastasis from lung cancer, it is rare to encounter patients presenting with symptoms attributable to an isolated metastatic pineal region tumor even before the diagnosis of the primary lung cancer. Pineal metastases used to be identified on autopsy as majority of them remained asymptomatic or were masked by the features of either a primary or by associated brain metastases.[1,2] Since the advent and widespread use of MRI Brain, more number of asymptomatic pineal region metastases has been reported. The most frequently reported histological type of lung cancer

Figure 1: CT brain with contrast axial film showing pineal tumor which is enhancing brightly with hydrocephalus with significant periventricular ooze

Figure 3: CT brain with contrast saggital view showing pineal metastatic lesion

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metastasizing to the pineal region is small cell carcinoma, in this case report the patient had adenocarcinoma; the metastasis of this histological type to the pineal region is rare.[1] The solitary metastasis to the pineal region poses a diagnostic dilemma, whether it is a solitary metastases or a pineal tumor itself. Most patients with primary pineal tumors are reported to be younger than 30 years old, and metastasis should be considered in older patients. In patients with a known history of malignancy, approximately 90% of all supratentorial lesions represent metastases.[2] The prognosis of pineal region metastasis is extremely poor, and most such metastases are diagnosed by autopsy. Therefore, it is important to obtain improvement of the symptoms caused by pineal lesion tumors and confirm the histological diagnosis as soon as possible. Options include Tumor debulking in stable patients, Endoscopic biopsy and CSF diversion, or VP shunt with biopsy of primary in medically frail patients. Debulking of the pineal tumor is not without risks and cannot be justified if life expectancy of the patient is less than 6 months surgical interventions, including ventricular drainage, Endoscopy and ventriculoperitoneal shunting are useful for alleviating symptoms due to hydrocephalus. Endoscopy offers additional benefit that a biopsy can be taken simultaneously. But it requires an expertise, has a significant failure rate, can take significant amount of time and is not readily available at many centers. In such scenario, VP shunt offers an effective mean of initial treatment and CSF examination. Serum markers can further aid in diagnosing a primary pineal tumor. In addition a

Figure 2: MRI brain with contrast, axial film showing well enhancing tumor in pineal region

Figure 4: HRCT chest showing right sided lung malignancy

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biopsy from accessible lesion in the lung can confirm the diagnosis without subjecting the patient to a major surgical intervention. The pineal region is an uncommon site for intracranial metastasis, and metastasis to the pineal region without other brain metastases is rare. Any lesion in the pineal gland merits work up for metastases.

Mumbai - 400 002, Maharashtra, India. E-mail: [email protected]

References 1.

2.

Jasmit Singh1, Vernon Velho2, Hrushikesh Kharosekar3 Department of Neurosurgery, 1Assistant Professor, 2 Head of Department, Neurosurgery, 3 Final year Neurosurgery Resident, Grant Medical College and Jamshetjee Jeejebhoy Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Nemoto K, Aoshiba K, Itoh M, Semba S, Tsuji T, Adachi H, et al. Isolated pineal region metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma with obstructive hydrocephalus: A case report. J Med Case Rep 2013;7:71. Voorhies RM, Sunaresan N, Thaler HT. The single supratentorial lesion. An evaluation of preoperative diagnostic tests. J Neurosurg 1980;53:364-8.

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For correspondence:

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DOI: 10.4103/0972-2327.144047

Dr. Jasmit Singh, Assistant Professor,

Department of Neurosurgery, Grant Medical College and Jamshetjee Jeejebhoy Group of Hospitals

Efficacy and safety of methylcobalamin, alpha lipoic acid and pregabalin combination versus pregabalin monotherapy in improving pain and nerve conduction velocity in type 2 diabetes associated impaired peripheral neuropathic condition. [MAINTAIN]: Results of a pilot study Sir, This is in response to the comments on published article entitled, “Efficacy and safety of methylcobalamin, alpha lipoic acid and pregabalin combination versus pregabalin monotherapy in improving pain and nerve conduction velocity in type 2 diabetes associated impaired peripheral neuropathic condition. [MAINTAIN]: Results of a pilot study” published in Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology (Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2014;17:19-24).[1] We really appreciate detailed review, analysis, and comments on the study procedure by the author in a letter to editor. We wish to clarify the details on issues raised: No treatment or placebo-control treatments are two different subtypes of concurrently control group. Control groups used in the clinical trials can be classified into two main types: Concurrent control or historical control.[2] Concurrent control: In this type, the control group and test groups are selected from the same population and treatment is

given concurrently. Four different subtypes of control groups can be used in concurrently controlled types: placebo control, no treatment, different dose or regimen of the study treatment, or a different active treatment. External (historical) control: In this type, the control group is the group of patients treated earlier (historical) control or patients treated during the same time period but in another setting. In our study, the control arm was from the first category i.e., concurrently controlled (different active treatment). We agree about the practical difficulty of conducting randomization, precautions to be taken in randomization procedure and allocation concealment to avoid bias. Both of these procedures were followed in our “Pilot” study. A total of 30 patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to two treatment groups. The patients were treated based on a pre-determined computergenerated randomization code which were prepared by a person other than investigator and were provided to the investigator in a sealed envelope separately for each patient to ensure allocation

Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, October-December 2014, Vol 17, Issue 4

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Parinaud's syndrome: A rare presentation of lung carcinoma with solitary pineal metastasis.

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