Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2014
Cerebral vascular malformations in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a hereditary disorder characterized by mucocutaneous telangiectasias, frequent nosebleeds, and visceral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Few reports have outlined the prevalence of the various cerebral vascular malformations found in patients with HHT. The authors set out to define the prevalence of cerebral vascular malformations in a population of HHT patients who underwent imaging with 3-T imaging (MRI/MR angiography [MRA]) of the brain. ⋯ Few studies have investigated the prevalence of the various vascular malformations found in HHT patients screened with 3-T MRI/MRA of the brain. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia AVMs are more likely to be multiple and have a tendency toward small size and cortical location. As such, they are often treated using a single-modality therapy.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2014
ReviewSubthalamotomy in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: clinical aspects and mechanisms of action.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition that can be pharmacologically treated with levodopa. However, important motor and nonmotor symptoms appear with its long-term use. The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is known to be involved in the pathophysiology of PD and to contribute to levodopa-induced complications. ⋯ Deep brain stimulation of the STN is currently the main surgical procedure for PD, but lesioning is still performed. This review covers the clinical aspects and complications of subthalamotomy as one of the lesion-based options for PD patients with levodopa-induced dyskinesias. Moreover, the authors discuss the possible effects of subthalamic lesioning.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2014
Case ReportsDefinitive treatment of vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation with stereotactic radiosurgery.
Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformations (VGAMs) are uncommon congenital malformations arising from fistulous communication with the median vein of the prosencephalon, a primitive precursor of midline cerebral venous structures. Angiographic embolization is the primary modality for treatment given historically poor microsurgical outcomes. ⋯ The authors present 2 cases of VGAM in which GKRS provided definitive treatment with good outcome: one case involving antenatal presentation of a high-output, mural-type VGAM with complex clinical course refractory to multiple embolic procedures, and the other a choroidal-type VGAM presenting with hemorrhage in an adult and without a feasible embolic approach. With discussion of these cases and review of the literature, the authors advocate inclusion of GKRS as a therapeutic option for treatment of these complex lesions.