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Cerebral Biopsy in the Investigation of Presenile Dementia

I. Clinical Aspects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Myre Sim
Affiliation:
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, 15
Eric Turner
Affiliation:
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, 15
W. Thomas Smith
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham: Department of Pathology, Medical School, Birmingham, 15

Extract

In most instances presenile dementia is based on well-defined organic diseases and it is not necessary to resort to cerebral biopsy to establish a diagnosis. These organic disorders cover a wide spectrum and include cerebro-vascular disease, tumours, trauma and well-defined degenerative states such as Huntington's chorea, vitamin deficiencies, endocrine disturbances, infections (bacterial and viral) and poisons such as alcohol, lead, barbiturates, bromides and carbon monoxide. The effects of liver and kidney failure as well as the hypercapnia of pulmonary insufficiency account for others.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1966 

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