World Neurosurg
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Case Reports
An alternative display could lead to earlier diagnosis of intracerebral pathology with a Hemedex flow probe in-situ.
To report 2 cases of patients who had an ischemic stroke and an intracerebral hematoma after a superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass with a thermal diffusion blood flow probe in situ and emphasize how a change in the way the data are presented could have led to an earlier diagnosis. ⋯ Although there was good clinical correlation, data displayed on the perfusion monitor can be incorrectly interpreted because the signal-to-noise ratio is small. We therefore suggest an alternative presentation of perfusion data for clinicians to recognize hypoperfusion and to take informed action before a stroke or hematoma is clinically manifest.
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Intramedullary ependymomas represent 40%-60% of spinal cord tumors in adults and can be located along the entire spinal cord. Intradural extramedullary (IDEM) ependymomas are very rare with the exception of tumors located at the filum terminale or conus medullaris, with histologic features of myxopapillary ependymomas (World Health Organization grade I). ⋯ To the best of our knowledge, no other cases of craniocervical junction ependymomas with vertebral bone abnormalities are described in the literature. This association supports the hypothesis that these lesions may originate from the extrusion of ependymal cells before neural tube closure. Differential diagnosis should include other extramedullary tumors that are more frequent in this region, such as meningioma, schwannoma, or dermoid tumor.
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Diagnosing normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) remains challenging. Most clinical tests currently used to evaluate suspected NPH patients for shunt surgery are invasive, require inpatient admission, and are not without complications. An objective, noninvasive, and low-cost alternative would be ideal. ⋯ A baseline DGI ≥ 7 appears to provide an objective, low-cost, noninvasive measure to select patients with suspected NPH for a positive response to CSF diversion with high sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio.
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Neurosurgical procedures expose the brain surface to a constant risk of collateral injury. We describe a technique where the brain surface is covered with a protective layer of fibrin glue and discuss its advantages. ⋯ We propose beside an appropriate and careful microsurgical technique the possible use of fibrin glue as alternative, safe, and helpful protection during complex microsurgical dissections. Its intrinsic features allow the neurosurgeon to minimize the cortical manipulation preventing minor collateral brain injury.
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Case Reports
Effectiveness of Postoperative Gamma Knife Radiosurgery to the Tumor Bed after Resection of Brain Metastases.
The role of Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) after the resection of brain metastases remains undefined. We evaluated the outcomes of postoperative GKS to the tumor bed after the resection of brain metastasis compared with GKS alone without resection in the same patients. ⋯ For patients with brain metastases treated with surgical resection, postoperative GKS to the resection area is an effective and safe treatment option. Particularly, concurrent postoperative GKS to the surgical cavity with GKS alone for multiple small metastatic lesions is a feasible treatment strategy for multiple brain metastases.