Surg Neurol
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In patients with intracranial pathology, especially when comatose, it is desirable to have knowledge of the intracranial pressure (ICP). To investigate the relationship between ICP and transcranial Doppler (TCD) derived pulsatility index (PI) in neurosurgical patients, a prospective study was performed on patients admitted to our neurointensive care unit. ⋯ Independent of the type of intracranial pathology, a strong correlation between PI and ICP was demonstrated. Therefore, PI may be of guiding value in the invasive ICP placement decision in the neurointensive care patient.
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To compare the psychosocial outcomes of cohorts of elective [Acoustic Neuroma (AN)] and emergency [Aneu-rysmal Sub Arachnoid Hemorrhage (ASAH)] Neurosurgical patients and carers. ⋯ Despite many common psychosocial features, the differences between the cohorts were mainly psychological rather than physiological, because of greater 'post-traumatic-stress-reaction' in the emergency cohort, indicating the need for appropriate psychosocial care immediately after neurosurgery to reduce unnecessary distress and costs to patients, carers, and community.
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Case Reports
Cerebello-Pontine angle (CPA) lymphoma with perineural extension into the middle fossa: case report.
Tumors of the cerebello-pontine angle are most commonly schwannoma and meningioma. Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma usually presents deep within the cerebral hemispheres, occasionally is found in the cerebellum, and rarely occurs in the cerebello-pontine angle. We report a rare case of primary CNS lymphoma involving the right cerebello-pontine angle and the middle cranial fossa mimicking a tentorial meningioma. ⋯ Imaging and surgery disclosed a cerebello-pontine lymphoma with perineural extension along the 7(th) nerve to reach the middle cranial fossa. Because of the unusual imaging characteristics of this tumor, as well as special considerations with respect to treatment, preoperative consideration of this entity is important in planning direct surgical biopsy rather than an extensive resection.
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Anterior cranial fossa dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs), unlike those in other locations, form a distinct subgroup because of a high incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage and their unique anatomy. We surgically obliterated an unruptured anterior cranial fossa DAVF because the venous aneurysm in the DAVF increased in size during the follow-up period and we present the clinical symptoms, the natural history for a 7-year period before operation, the radiologic findings, and surgical management. This is the first case report in which the growth of a preexisting venous aneurysm in an anterior fossa DAVF was identified. The possible pathogeneses of the rupture of anterior cranial DAVFs are discussed. ⋯ In this case, we confirmed an increase in the size of a venous aneurysm of an anterior cranial fossa DAVF. Our findings support the belief that the catastrophic intracranial hemorrhage in an anterior cranial fossa DVAF may occur in the setting of increased hemodynamic pressure of its draining venous channel.