World Neurosurg
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Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is the most common benign tumor originating in the cerebellopontine angle. In most cases, tumors tend to grow and deserve proper treatment. Sometimes they stabilize, and rarely they decrease in size spontaneously. ⋯ Some MRI features may demonstrate a spontaneous involution of VS and may be closely followed in asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic patients.
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Comparative Study
Anterior lumbar interbody fusion may provide superior decompression of the foraminal space compared to direct foraminotomy: A biomechanical cadaveric study.
The objective of this cadaveric biomechanical study was to compare the area of the foraminal space during motion in the intact condition, after direct decompression via foraminotomy, and after indirect decompression via anterior lumbar interbody spacer insertion. ⋯ ALIF maintains the foraminal area in extension while direct posterior foraminotomy does not.
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Ultrasonographic elastography imaging visualizes the elastic properties of tissues to distinguish pathologic and healthy areas. Real-time elastography measures relative tissue hardness by evaluating changes in local strain in response to external forces. ⋯ We objectively describe the elastographic patterns of different types of brain tumors (i.e., gliomas, metastases, and meningiomas). We have identified differences in both the tumors and the peritumoral areas of these histologic types.
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Brainatomy: A novel way of teaching sphenoid bone anatomy with a simplified three-dimensional model.
The diagnosis and treatment of diseases at and around the sphenoid bone demands throughout understanding of its anatomy in 3-dimensional (3-D) space. However, despite the complex anatomic nature of the sphenoid bone, the current educational resources for its 3-D anatomy are insufficient for fast and long-term retention of the anatomic relationships. ⋯ This simplified 3-D model, along with the video lecture, will enhance the efficiency of studying sphenoid bone anatomy. The educational resources of this study can be obtained by medical students, radiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroscientists, or anyone else seeking for fundamental understanding of sphenoid bone anatomy.
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Cerebral edema is a major cause of morbidity in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Intraparenchymal thermal conductivity-based probes that measure local cerebral blood flow can measure percent brain tissue water (%BTW) content, but such measures have been insufficiently characterized in patients with TBI. ⋯ %BTW may be a clinically useful, real-time measurement of cerebral edema in patients with TBI. It is closely associated with the serum sodium concentration and follows a characteristic temporal course with characteristic trajectory and stability over time.