Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2016
Concurrent Alzheimer's pathology in patients with clinical normal pressure hydrocephalus: correlation of high-volume lumbar puncture results, cortical brain biopsies, and outcomes.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) remains most often a clinical diagnosis and has been widely considered responsive to the placement of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt. The high incidence of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) with NPH symptoms leads to poorer outcomes than would be expected in patients with NPH alone. This article reviews a series of patients operated on for presumed NPH in whom preoperative high-volume lumbar puncture (HVLP) and intraoperative cortical brain biopsies were performed. The data derived from these procedures were then used to understand the incidence of AD in patients presenting with NPH symptoms and to analyze the efficacy of HVLP in patients with NPH and patients with concurrent AD (NPH+AD). A review of the outcomes of shunt surgery is provided. ⋯ A high prevalence of AD histopathological findings (19%) occurred in patients treated with shunts for NPH based on cortical brain biopsies performed during placement of CSF shunts. HVLP results alone were not predictive of clinical outcome. However, cortical brain biopsy results and the presence of Alzheimer's pathology had a strong correlation with success after CSF shunting. Thirteen percent of patients who initially had a normal cortical brain biopsy result had evidence of AD pathology on repeat biopsy, demonstrating the progressive nature of the disease.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2016
Case ReportsUse of fat-suppressed T2 -weighted sagittal images after infusion of excess saline into the subarachnoid space as a new diagnostic modality for cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia: technical note.
The diagnosis of CSF hypovolemia remains controversial. The primary diagnostic factor relies on confirmation of leakage of the CSF based on reduced spinal fluid pressure. Determining the specific leakage site is the most important issue for effective treatment but remains a difficult task. ⋯ Three patients were successfully treated by the epidural blood patch based on data obtained with the new diagnostic modality. Two patients were treated in the cervical region and 1 in the lumbar region. The use of fat-suppressed T2-weighted sagittal images after saline infusion could be a relevant diagnostic modality compared with images obtained by CT myelography, radioisotope cisternography, and ordinary MRI to achieve accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of patients with CSF hypovolemia.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2016
Case ReportsAnaplastic meningioma: octreotide therapy for a case of recurrent and progressive intracranial disease.
Meningiomas are common intracranial tumors categorized as Grades I-III per the current WHO guidelines. A small percentage of meningiomas are Grades II and III, which are likely to recur after initial treatment. ⋯ The authors present the case of a patient with a meningioma that gradually progressed from Grade I to Grade III over 12 years despite repeated surgery and radiation therapy. The patient has been in remission for over 3 years following octreotide therapy.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2016
Case ReportsVarious patterns of the middle cerebral vein and preservation of venous drainage during the anterior transpetrosal approach.
The drainage of the superficial middle cerebral vein (SMCV) has previously been classified into 4 subtypes. Extradural procedures and dural incisions during the anterior transpetrosal approach (ATPA) may interrupt the route of drainage from the SMCV. In this study, the authors examined the relationship between anatomical variations in the SMCV and the corresponding surgical modifications to the ATPA that are necessary for venous preservation. ⋯ The authors propose an SMCV modified classification based on ATPA modifications required for venous preservation.