We describe the behavioral and neuroanatomical features of asymbolia for pain occurring in 6 patients following unilateral hemispheric damage secondary to ischemic lesions in 5 and traumatic hematoma in 1. In the absence of primary sensory deficits, these 6 patients showed a lack of withdrawal and absent or inadequate emotional responses to painful stimuli applied over the entire body, as well as to threatening gestures. Five patients also failed to react to verbal menaces. Patients appeared unconcerned about the defect and seemed unable to learn appropriate escape or protective responses. Common associated abnormalities were rapidly resolving hemiparesis, cortical-type sensory loss, unilateral neglect, and body-schema disorders. Neuroradiological examination disclosed left hemispheric lesions in 4 patients and right hemispheric involvement in 2. Although lesion extension differed, the insular cortex was invariably damaged in all 6 patients. These findings suggest that insular damage may play a critical role in the development of the syndrome by interrupting connections between sensory cortices and the limbic system.

Twenty-five cases (38%) of ischemic infarction occurred among 65 cases of tuberculous meningitis in patients <14 years of age. The male •' female ratio was 1.3:1. The most frequent clinical findings were meningeal signs, fever, alteration of consciousness, cranial nerve involvement, seizures, and focal neurologic deficit. Twenty-three patients had anterior circulation infarcts, and two more had infarcts in the vertebrobasilar territories. Distribution of infarcts in the anterior circulation was shown by computed tomography in the territories of the following arteries: lenticulostriate, 10 cases unilateral and 6 bilateral; middle cerebral, 3 cases; internal carotid, 1 case; multiple areas, 3 cases. Of the 25 ischemic infarction cases, 23 (92%) had hydrocephalus, 19 (76%) basal exudates, and 2 (8%) tuberculomas. Outcome was poor since no patient with infarction recovered completely. Six died and bilateral subcortical infarcts led to a considerably higher mortality than unilateral ones, whether cortical or subcortical. (Stroke 1988; 19:200-204)

Four cases of intraventricular tuberculoma (IVT) in children are here reported. In none of the patients was there clinical evidence pointing to the intraventricular location. CT scan findings comprised three stages of development, namely: immature, mature and old. Ependymal attachment and asymmetric hydrocephalus were present in three cases, meningitis in two and ependymitis in one. Septum pellucidum traction was clearly observed in two patients, strongly supporting an adhesive process characteristic of intraventricular tuberculosis. Following specific treatment, the tuberculomas remitted partially or entirely.

The incidence of phycomicosis has increased in the last decades. Its diagnosis is very difficult and usually not established ante morten. Early treatment is of crucial importance, because despite the antifungal drugs, the mortality rate remains around 80%. The present report describes a successfully treated diabetic patient with a rhino-orbital form of the disease and an unusual complication--a cerebral abscess--in whom the clinical diagnosis was supported by the CT findings.