World Neurosurg
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Extraventricular neurocytoma (EVN) is an exceedingly rare brain tumor. The radiologic and histologic features of EVN are insidious, and only a few reports and clinical cases describe the characteristics of the tumor, which may show different presentations. ⋯ In light of the high variability of imaging presentation, the definitive diagnosis of EVN remains histologic. Although some cases have already been reported in the literature, we believe that the description of our case could be useful to increase the knowledge of this insidious tumor, which has gained recognition only over the past 2 decades and should be included in the differential diagnosis in young patients who present brain tumors.
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Intramedullary spinal cord cavernous malformations (ISCCMs) are a rare entity. Most commonly, ISCCMs present with neurologic decline from lesion hemorrhage, which can be catastrophic and irreversible irrespective of surgical intervention. Given the challenging anatomic location of these lesions in highly critical neurologic areas, precise surgical localization and visualization is necessary to limit collateral damage during resection particularly for deep ISCCMs that do not present to a pial surface. ⋯ The approach represents a novel application of intraoperative CT navigation assistance in the resection of deep ISCCMs.
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Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is an uncommon disease. Considering ruptured intracranial aneurysms as the main cause of this disease and only a minority of the intracranial aneurysms will rupture sooner or later, to understand the underlying pathology or a specific gene expression profile of an impending ruptured intracranial aneurysm is of great importance. ⋯ This study identified a range of DEGs SAH patients with ruptured aneurysms, which may enhance our current knowledge on this disease and may provide potential biomarkers of this disease.
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The posterior ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement procedure is technically efficient and cosmetically appealing. The main limitations of the posterior approach relate to the technical challenges associated with accurately placing the ventricular catheter. In this report, we describe methods and simple devices used for posterior VPS surgery that have evolved over a >25-year period to enhance catheter placement accuracy and reduce complication rates. ⋯ Using the methods and devices described in this series, posterior VPS operations can be performed safely with a high degree of ventricular catheter placement accuracy.
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Lesions located at the petrous apex, cavernous sinus, clivus, medial aspect of the jugular foramen, or condylar regions are still difficult to fully expose using the operating microscope. Although approaches to this region through the middle cranial fossa have been previously described, these approaches afford only limited visualization. We have confirmed a transcranial infratemporal fossa combined microsurgical and endoscopic access to the petrous apex, clivus, medial aspect of the jugular foramen, and occipital condyle. We have presented the results of a micro-anatomical cadaver dissection study and its clinical application. ⋯ After microscopic exposure of the middle fossa rhomboid, neuronavigational endoscopic assistance facilitated visualization of the ventral cavernous region, petrous apex, retropharyngeal space, and middle and inferior clivus down to the medial aspect of the jugular bulb and condyle regions. Additional maxillary nerve-mandibular nerve vidian corridor visualization provides a lateral transsphenoidal approach to upper clivus lesions.