World Neurosurg
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Case Reports
Intracranial methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorder in rheumatoid arthritis: A case report.
Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used as an anchor drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because of its ability to control pain and inflammation. However, few studies have shown that long-term MTX use can lead to lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) in these patients. Here we describe a rare case of intracranial MTX-associated LPD in a patient with RA. ⋯ Intracranial MTX-associated LPD is extremely rare. Here we describe a particular case and review the literature pertaining to intracranial MTX-associated LPD. More attention should be paid to LPD in a patient receiving immunosuppressive treatment for RA.
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Case Reports
Giant Sporadic Unilateral Vestibular Schwannoma in a child: Can it get bigger than this?"
Vestibular schwannomas (VSs) are rare in children and, when present, are usually part of neurofibromatosis 2 and bilateral. Sporadic unilateral VSs in the pediatric age group itself are rare in medical literature and giant sporadic unilateral pediatric VSs (>4 cm) are extremely rare. Herein, we describe the largest reported case of giant sporadic left-sided VS in a 10-year-old boy.
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Case Reports
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising within a lumbar spinal plexiform neurofibroma.
A 41-year-old woman presented with a 16-year history of lumbar pain and right leg paresthesia. Twenty-four years previously, she had been diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 syndrome. ⋯ Biopsy led to the diagnosis of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, an uncommon soft tissue sarcoma of neural origin that may occur in the context of neurofibromatosis type 1 syndrome. Given the aggressive behavior of these tumors, prompt and accurate diagnosis is critical to improve patient outcomes.
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Case Reports
Modularized Implant Assembly for Spinal Fusion - A Means For Managing Adjacent Level Disease: Technical Report.
The occurrence of adjacent-level disease in spinal fusion is a complex and contentious issue. Through the years, surgeons have developed various approaches to address this problem. While some have avoided fusion altogether, others have advocated for large, multilevel fusion constructs. With the advent of minimally invasive spine surgery, there are now novel approaches to the spine which allow for less onerous and morbid revision surgeries. In this paper, we present the case of a woman who previously underwent a posterior cervical fusion and presented with adjacent-level disease. ⋯ We believe that our case is demonstrative of a new, modularized approach to spinal fusion and suggest a way forward in the treatment of adjacent-level disease.
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To understand cost distribution in a 90-day episode of care following posterior spinal fusions (PSFs) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). ⋯ Facility costs are a major determinant of overall 90-day costs following PSFs in AIS. Providers should aim at optimizing the co-morbidity burden and constructing accelerated care-pathways to decrease the length of stay and reduce the cost of the entire episode of care.