Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · May 2011
Case ReportsLong-term outcome after resection of brainstem hemangioblastomas in von Hippel-Lindau disease.
Brainstem hemangioblastomas are frequently encountered in patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. These tumors can cause significant morbidity, and their optimal management has not been defined. To better define the outcome and management of these tumors, the authors analyzed the long-term results in patients who underwent resection of brainstem hemangioblastomas. ⋯ Generally, resection of symptomatic brainstem hemangioblastomas is a safe and effective management strategy in patients with VHL disease. Most patients maintain their preoperative functional status, although long-term decline in functional status may occur due to VHL disease-associated progression.
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Journal of neurosurgery · May 2011
Portable head CT scan and its effect on intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, and brain oxygen.
Follow-up head CT scans are important in neurocritical care but involve intrahospital transport that may be associated with potential hazards including a deleterious effect on brain tissue oxygen pressure (PbtO(2)). Portable head CT (pHCT) scans offer an alternative imaging technique without a need for patient transport. In this study, the investigators examined the effects of pHCT scans on intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), and PbtO(2) in patients with severe brain injury. ⋯ These data suggest that pHCT scans do not have a detectable effect on a critically ill patient's ICP, CPP, or PbtO(2).
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Journal of neurosurgery · May 2011
The neurosurgical anatomy of the sphenoid sinus and sellar floor in endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery.
A considerable degree of variability exists in the anatomy of the sphenoid sinus, sella turcica, and surrounding skull base structures. The authors aimed to characterize neuroimaging and intraoperative variations in the sagittal and coronal surgical anatomy of healthy controls and patients with sellar lesions. ⋯ Preoperative assessment of neuroimaging studies is critical for characterizing the morphological characteristics of the sphenoid sinus, sellar floor, tuberculum sellae, and clivus. The flat sellar type identified in 11% of people) or a complex sphenoid sinus configuration (in 29% of people) may make intraoperative correlation substantially more challenging. An understanding of the regional anatomy and its variability can improve the safety and accuracy of transsphenoidal and extended endoscopic skull base approaches.
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Despite the increased detection of incidental or small meningiomas, the lesion's natural history is largely unknown. ⋯ Although the authors could obtain variable results depending on the measurement method, the data demonstrate patients younger than 60 years of age and those with meningiomas characterized by hyperintensity on T2-weighted MR imaging, no calcification, diameter greater than 25 mm, and edema need to be observed more closely. Volumetry was more sensitive to detecting tumor growth than measuring the linear diameter.