Journal of neurosurgery
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2004
Case ReportsGiant cell ependymoma of the spinal cord. Case report and review of the literature.
Several rare histological variants of ependymoma have been described. The authors report on a patient in whom cervical spinal cord astrocytoma was originally diagnosed after evaluation of a limited biopsy specimen. More abundant tissue obtained during gross-total resection included areas of well-differentiated ependymoma. ⋯ Only two cases of terminal filum and two of supratentorial giant cell variant of ependymoma have been reported. To the authors' knowledge, this represents the first case of giant cell ependymoma of the spinal cord. The clinical significance is the potential for misdiagnosis with anaplastic (gemistocytic) astrocytoma, especially in cases in whom limited biopsy samples have been obtained.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2004
Microsurgical interlaminary vertebro- and kyphoplasty for severe osteoporotic fractures.
Percutaneous vertebro- and kyphoplasty have become established methods for the treatment of uncomplicated osteoporotic vertebral fractures. In the setting of severe fractures involving fragmentation of the posterior wall and neural compromise, however, decompressive surgery cannot be performed and epidural cement leakage is poorly controlled. A microsurgical interlaminary approach for vertebro- and kyphoplasty was developed to allow spinal decompression and control of the spinal canal during augmentation. ⋯ The present microsurgical interlaminary approach for vertebro- and kyphoplasty enables treatment of severe osteoporotic fractures involving fragmentation of the posterior wall and neural compromise. Decompressive surgery is possible and the risk of epidural cement leakage is controlled intraoperatively. This technique can be regarded as a procedure on the treatment continuum between percutaneous augmentation and conventional open reconstruction.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2004
Delayed neurological deficits detected by an ischemic pattern in the extracellular cerebral metabolites in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
In the treatment of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), early occlusion of the aneurysm is necessary as well as monitoring and treatment of complications following the primary bleeding episode. Monitoring with microdialysis has been studied for its ability to indicate and predict the occurrence of delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DINDs) in patients with SAH. ⋯ Microdialysis monitoring of the cerebral metabolism in patients with SAH may predict with high sensitivity and specificity the occurrence of a DIND. Whether an earlier diagnosis results in better treatment of DINDs and, therefore, in overall better outcomes remains to be proven, as it is linked to an efficacious treatment of cerebral vasospasm.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2004
Experience in the surgical management of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma.
Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a rare disease entity. Although many cases have been reported in the literature, controversy persists as to its origin, diagnosis, and timing of treatment. The authors conducted a study in patients treated in their hospital and report the results. ⋯ Surgery is a safe and effective procedure to treat SSEH. The disease-related mortality rate was 5.7%, the surgery-related complication rate was 2.9%, and there were no operation-related deaths. Neurological outcome after surgery is positively correlated with preoperative neurological deficits (88.9% complete recovery in patients with incomplete neurological deficits compared with 37.5% in those with complete deficits [p < 0.001]). In patients in whom the time interval from initial ictus was shorter (< 48 hours) and in whom the duration of complete neurological symptoms was also briefer (< 12 hours), there is a positive correlation with better neurological and functional recovery (p < 0.05).