World Neurosurg
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Review Case Reports
Endoscopic endonasal repair of a persistent craniopharyngeal canal and sphenoid meningoencephalocele: Case report and review of literature.
A persistent craniopharyngeal canal (PCC) is a rare cause of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea in children. The condition often coexists with other midline facial defects, such as cleft palate. Children with PCC may also have pituitary dysfunction or neoplasms, such as craniopharyngiomas within the canal. ⋯ The extended endonasal approach can be used to treat PCC with nasopharyngeal encephaloceles in young children. The approach is suitable to address both conditions at the same time. The extended endonasal approach avoids potentially morbid transfacial approaches and can help in earlier recovery after surgery.
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The management of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) remains a controversial topic. Given the relatively low incidence, high heterogeneity, and high morbidity and mortality of these lesions, consensus on treatment strategies is an issue of concern to organized neurosurgery. The present retrospective analysis examined and quantified the outcomes of patients with an initial presentation of intracranial hemorrhage from a Spetzler-Martin grade III or IV AVM, later ruled out as surgical candidates. ⋯ These findings warrant consideration of endovascular embolization with adjuvant SRS as a powerful treatment option for cases with high surgical morbidity due to AVM characteristics.
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Review Case Reports
Pneumoventricle of Unknown Origin: A Personal Experience and Literature Review of a Clinical Enigma.
Pneumocephalus is an uncommon and life-threatening neurologic condition. Air within the ventricular system of the brain is also known as pneumoventricle (PV). It requires emergency treatments to prevent catastrophic neurologic outcomes. Head injury is the most common cause of PV, but there are other well-recognized etiologies in case there is no clear radiological evidence of skull discontinuity. ⋯ The aim of the present paper is to report a case of post-traumatic PV without radiological signs of skull base or convexity fracture in a 72-year-old man, underlining the diagnostic and clinical features, and review the relevant literature.
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The pial (leptomenigeal) collateral circulation is a key determinant of functional outcome after mechanical thrombectomy after large-vessel ischemic stroke. Patients with good collateral blood flow benefit up to 24 hours after stroke onset, whereas those with poor collateral flow evidence less or no benefit. ⋯ The comprehension of collagerogenesis in humans and the evaluation of collateral status could aid in identifying patients who will benefit not only from mechanical thrombectomy in the extended time window but also from any reperfusion strategy. We performed a literature review focused on radiographic, clinical, and genetic aspects of the collateral circulation.
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Review
Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Neurosurgical Patients: A Historical Review and Current Perspectives.
Today, stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective therapy for a variety of intracranial pathology that were treated solely with open neurosurgery in the past. The technique was developed from the combination of therapeutic radiation and stereotactic devices for the precise localization of intracranial targets. ⋯ Although neurosurgeons, residency directors, and department chairs agree that stereotactic radiosurgery education and exposure during neurosurgery training could be improved, a limited number of resources exist for this kind of education. This review describes the history of stereotactic radiosurgery, assesses the state of its use and education today, and provides recommendations for the improvement of neurosurgical education in stereotactic radiosurgery for the future.