World Neurosurg
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Benign meningiomas constitute 80%-90% of all meningiomas and represent the most common type of central nervous system tumor in adults. The vast majority of meningiomas are minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic early in their onset and thereby can often result in delayed diagnosis. Early diagnosis of meningioma is critical, as it can maximize treatment options and improve outcomes and survival. Although seizures and focal neurologic deficits are considered to be the most prevalent symptoms, depression also may be an important and significant sign. A subtle neurologic depression may be an even early presenting sign of meningioma and may precede more traditional presenting symptoms. ⋯ For patients who exhibit nuances of depression without a history of psychiatric illness, an index of suspicion for meningioma may be warranted.
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Case-control studies (CCS) and cohort studies (CS) are common research designs in neurosurgery. But the term case-control study is frequently misused in the neurosurgical literature, with many articles reported as CCS, even although their methodology does not respect the basic components of a CCS. We sought to estimate the extent of these discrepancies in neurosurgical literature, explore factors contributing to mislabeling, and shed some light on study design reporting. ⋯ Many studies reported as CCS are not true CCS. Reporting guidelines should include items that ensure that studies are labeled correctly. STROBE guidelines should be implemented in assessment of observational studies. Researchers in neurosurgery need better training in research methods and terminology. We also recommend accrued vigilance from reviewers and editors.
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Review Case Reports
Coarctation of the Aorta Complicated with Intracranial Aneurysm: A Case Report and Literature Review.
Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) complicated with rupture and hemorrhage of intracranial aneurysms is not commonly seen in clinical practice. Here we report a middle-aged female patient who presented with acute severe headache. ⋯ The pathophysiological mechanism of CoA complicated with intracranial aneurysm remains unclear, but attention should be given to the relationship between the 2 entities in clinical practice, and effective treatment should be provided according to specific conditions.
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Review Case Reports
Median Supraorbital Keyhole Approach for Clipping Ruptured Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm: Technical Report with Review of Literature.
The minimally invasive approach to distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms has not gained much acceptance due to difficulties associated with the conventional frontal paramedian approach. The more proximal basal interhemispheric approach, however, necessitates extensive dissection of soft tissues. We describe a novel minimally invasive median supraorbital keyhole craniotomy with a basal interhemispheric approach for clipping a ruptured DACA aneurysm. ⋯ The median supraorbital keyhole approach is a minimally invasive technique sufficient for clipping most DACA aneurysms, with easier access, better proximal control, and good cosmesis.
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Review Case Reports
Giant Tumefactive Perivascular Spaces: A Case Report and Literature Review.
Perivascular spaces (PVS), also known as Virchow-Robin spaces, are pial-lined, interstitial fluid-filled structures in the brain that accompany cerebral vessels as they penetrate the cerebral substance. In healthy individuals, a PVS diameter of <2 mm is considered normal and can typically be seen within the white matter on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). When PVS dilate, they are considered benign lesions and are associated with aging and other risk factors. These dilated PVS can cause neurologic symptoms, depending on their size and location. Symptomatic, massive enlargement of PVS are referred to as "giant" or "tumefactive" PVS; these are extremely rare and require neurosurgical intervention. ⋯ PVS are found on MRI in healthy people; rarely, they may dilate and cause neurologic symptoms. GTPVS are rare and can be misdiagnosed as central nervous system tumors; however, their imaging characteristics facilitate diagnosis. It has been postulated that these expanding PVS are due to defects in the drainage of interstitial fluid, where it enters into the ventricular system, and they are not the result of increased intraventricular pressure. We hypothesize that this may have been the case for the patient in our study, as the GTPVS collapsed following the insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. However, more recent literature provides evidence to support the idea that hydrocephalus is the consequence, and not the cause, of aqueduct compression by the lesion.