Neurosurgery
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Performing a cost analysis in spine outcomes research: comparing ventral and dorsal approaches for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
Medical cost analysis is increasingly important, but the methodology is complex and varied. ⋯ The choice of cost methodology may substantially influence the final results of an economic study.
-
The literature is controversial on whether intraventricular bleeding has a negative impact on the prognosis of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Nevertheless, an association between intraventricular bleeding and spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage volumes has been consistently reported. ⋯ Intraventricular bleeding with a LeRoux scale score >8 appears to have a negative effect on deep spontaneous intraparenchymal cerebral hemorrhage of small volume.
-
Review Case Reports
Catecholamine-secreting paraganglioma of the thoracic spinal column: report of an unusual case and review of the literature.
Paragangliomas are rare tumors of neuroendocrine origin that arise from paraganglionic tissue of the extrachromaffin cell system. These lesions may be seen at various sites along the neuraxis. Primary thoracic paragangliomas have rarely been reported in the literature, with secretory thoracic lesions being exceedingly rare as only 3 previous cases have been cited. ⋯ Two years postoperatively, the patient has continued to have regression of her symptoms. We report a rare case of a catecholamine-secreting primary thoracic paraganglioma in a 49-year-old woman. These tumors should be treated carefully by the neurosurgeon with preoperative assistance from endocrinology for α-blockade, followed by gross total resection and postoperative radiation if residual tumor remains.
-
The ventrolateral thalamus (ventral intermediate nucleus [Vim]) is the traditional target for neurosurgical treatment of essential tremor. The target, however, has varied substantially among different neurosurgeons. ⋯ More contacts yielding an optimal effect were found in the PSA group than in the Vim. Many patients operated on in the Vim got the best effect from a contact located in the PSA. This might suggest that the PSA is a more efficient target than the Vim.