Neurosurg Focus
-
Case Reports
Intracranial hypertension in two cases of craniometaphyseal dysplasia: differing surgical options.
Craniometaphyseal dysplasia (CMD) is a very rare bone disorder characterized by abnormally developed metaphyses in long bones and sclerosis of the craniofacial bones. In this paper, the authors report 2 cases of children diagnosed with CMD and chronic intracranial hypertension with deletion in exon 9 of the human ANK gene (ANKH). After intracranial monitoring, a different treatment was chosen for each patient. ⋯ The other patient underwent cranial expansion and decompressive craniotomy of the posterior fossa, because ventriculomegaly was excluded after cerebral MR imaging and cervical MR imaging showed a Chiari malformation Type I. The origin of intracranial hypertension in CMD is multifactorial. Previous intracranial pressure monitoring and a thorough understanding of neuroimaging studies are essential to achieve an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
-
Rathke cleft cysts (RCCs) are benign masses arising from the embryological Rathke pouch, and are commonly treated by transsphenoidal surgery. The authors retrospectively compared RCC extent of resection-either gross-total resection (GTR) or decompression-to the primary outcome measure, which was recurrences resulting in repeat surgery, and the secondary outcome measure, which was complications. ⋯ It appears that RCCs require repeat surgery in 13% of cases, and attempted GTR does not appear to reduce the overall rate of recurrence. However, more aggressive resections are associated with more complications in this series.
-
Early treatment of ischemic stroke with thrombolytics is associated with improved outcomes, but few stroke patients receive thrombolytic treatment in part due to the 3-hour time window. Advances in neuroimaging may help to aid in the selection of patients who may still benefit from thrombolytic treatment beyond conventional time-based guidelines. In this article the authors review the available literature in support of using advanced neuroimaging to select patients for treatment beyond the 3-hour time window cutoff and explore potential applications and limitations of perfusion imaging in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.
-
Review Case Reports Meta Analysis
The natural history of intracranial cavernous malformations.
Literature reports on the natural history of cerebral cavernous malformations (CMs) are numerous, with considerable variability in lesion epidemiology, hemorrhage rates, and risk factors for hemorrhage. In this review, the authors performed a meta-analysis of 11 natural history studies. The overall male-to-female ratio was 1:1, and the mean age at presentation was 30.6 years. ⋯ An overall annual hemorrhage rate of 2.4% per patient-year (range 1.6%-3.1%) was identified across 3 studies. Prior hemorrhage and female sex were risk factors for bleeding, while CM size and multiplicity did not affect hemorrhage rates. Although not impacting the hemorrhage rate itself, deep location was a risk factor for increased clinical aggressiveness.
-
Malignant middle cerebral artery stroke carries a very poor prognosis. Significant retrospective data support the hypothesis that decompressive hemicraniectomy decreases mortality rates due to this disease entity. ⋯ In this review, the rationale, risks, benefits, and unanswered questions related to hemicraniectomy for acute ischemic stroke are reviewed with an emphasis on how 3 randomized trials have influenced knowledge on this life-saving yet controversial procedure. Further randomized studies are needed to clarify lingering questions regarding age indications and impact on quality of life.