Stereotaxic lesion as a model of brain edema.
Repeated computed tomographic (CT) examinations after thalamotomy showed a lesion vrying in size over time. This variation was interpreted as indicating presence of an edema. The effect of steroid treatment upon such an edema was tested in a pilot study of 28 patients, 16 of whom were given betamethasone. The diameter of the lesion as observed on CT was used as a measure of the amount of edema. The mean diameter was significantly lower in the steroid-treated group as compared with controls (p less than 0.01, Mann-Whitney U test). The groups were comparable with respect to other variables that might influence lesion size. It is concluded that steroid treatment has an edema-preventing effect.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013788:Thalamus / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D001623:Betamethasone