World Neurosurg
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Case Reports
Risky cerebrovascular anatomical orientation: implications for brain revascularization.
This study documents a risky vascular anatomic orientation that might play an important role in the postoperative hemodynamics following anterior cerebral artery (ACA) revascularization. A 71-year-old woman presented with uncontrollable frequent right lower limb transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) attributed to a left cerebral ischemic lesion due to severe left ACA stenosis. ⋯ The patient awoke satisfactory from anesthesia; however, on postoperative day 1, she developed right-sided hemiparesis. Extensive postoperative investigations disclosed that watershed shift infarction was considered the etiology for this neurologic deterioration.
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Case Reports
Recurrent olfactory neuroblastoma in remote leptomeninges, mimicking intracranial meningioma.
Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is an uncommon neoplasm that arises from olfactory epithelium in the nasal cavity near the cribriform plate. Although local recurrence or direct extension along olfactory epithelium and metastasis to the central nervous system has been reported, remote leptomeningeal metastasis is quite rare. In our report of a leptomeningeal metastasis of ONB without recurrence of primary site, we discuss the possible pathogenesis of this rare phenomenon with a review of the literature. ⋯ ONB is a locally aggressive tumor, but it also potentially spreads to remote leptomeninges via blood or cerebrospinal fluid. Therefore, careful evaluation is needed not to misdiagnose a meningioma and delay the treatment. Moreover, understanding the route of remote leptomeningeal metastasis and en-bloc resection of tumor at first operation might reduce leptomeningeal metastasis, irrespective of surgical corridors.
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Patients with cervical compression myelopathy (CCM) generally present bilateral neurological symptoms in their extremities. However, a substantial portion of patients with CCM exhibit laterality of neurological symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between intrinsic structural damage and laterality of symptoms using spinal cord diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the corticospinal tract. ⋯ Using tract-specific DTI, we demonstrated that microstructural damages in the left and right corticospinal tracts correlated with corresponding neurological symptoms in the ipsilateral side and the FA asymmetry index could indicate laterality in neurological symptoms of patients with CCM.
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The auditory brainstem response (ABR) may be a predictor of postoperative cochlear nerve function. In this study, the course of intraoperative ABR monitoring was analyzed to find predictive markers for postoperative hearing function. ⋯ Intraoperative ABR development is a predictive factor for postoperative hearing outcome. Deterioration should be avoided, because ABR improvement as a result of good status at the beginning of surgery could not be assumed.
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Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) guidelines recommend to maintain mean arterial pressures (MAPs) above 85 mm Hg for 7 days following SCI to minimize spinal cord ischemia. Some physicians doubt that patients with initially complete injuries benefit. ⋯ A positive correlation was observed between MAP values and neurologic recovery in AIS A, B, and C patients but not AIS D patients. These data raise the possibility that patients with an initially complete SCI may derive greater benefit from MAP augmentation than patients with initial AIS D injuries.