World Neurosurg
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Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SS-EDH) is a rare neurosurgical emergency. Little is known about predictive factors of outcome in patients suffering from SS-EDH. Here we present a case series of patients operated on for an SS-EDH. ⋯ In our series, half of the patients with SS-EDH recovered well after surgery. Although no statistically significant association could be established, hematoma location, size and pre-operative motor function seem to be some of the most important predictive factors of post-operative recovery.
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Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventrocaudalis nucleus of the thalamus is a last resort treatment for chronic refractory pain. DBS is generally a safe procedure, although it can result in functional disturbances depending on the site of stimulation. There has been 1 previous report of stuttering induced by microlesioning of the thalamus, as well as several reports of stuttering induced by stimulation of the thalamus and other related structures in the brain. ⋯ Stuttering is a rare complication of deep brain exploration of the sensory thalamus. Our coordinates are near to but in a distinct anatomic region compared with cases previously described as having similar effects on speech.
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Gliosarcomas are rare, extremely high-grade, bimorphous malignant tumors of the central nervous system. Intraventricular location is extremely rare, and only a few case reports exist in the literature. The aim of our study is to review clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of this unique oncological entity and report this rare case of primary cystic intraventricular gliosarcoma (IVGS) with a mural nodule. ⋯ Primary IVGS is an extremely rare malignancy, with only 9 cases reported in the literature, and it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lateral ventricular tumors.