British journal of neurosurgery
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In the UK approximately 4000 patients are diagnosed with brain tumours each year. Many patients undergo CT scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis as part of the investigation of such tumours. We aimed to determine the value of CT body scans in patients with newly diagnosed brain tumours. ⋯ The ability of a specialist neuro-oncology MDT to correctly identify primary and secondary brain tumours on initial imaging is high. If the radiological diagnosis is of a secondary brain tumour, then CT body scans are essential. If the radiological diagnosis is of a primary brain tumour, then CT scans of the body are likely to add little to patient management.
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The inpatient length of stay for lumbar discectomy has been steadily declining, since its original description over 80 years ago. The operation was first described as a day case procedure in 1987, but only sporadically since then, especially in the UK. We describe our initial experience in introducing this service in Manchester. ⋯ Lumbar microdiscectomy as a day case procedure remains a feasible and safe option in selected patients and can help free up in patient beds with a significant economic benefit also.
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Case Reports
Iatrogenic vertebral artery injury secondary to vessel tortuosity in a grossly degenerate cervical spine.
Iatrogenic vertebral artery (VA) injury is a rare but significant complication of anterior cervical spine surgery. In the grossly degenerate cervical spine the VA may adopt a tortuous pathway thus predisposing to inadvertent injury during surgery. Here we illustrate such a case and discuss potential management strategies.