PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of three-dimensional(3D) short-range MR angiography(MRA) andmultiplanar reconstruction(MPR) imaging in hemifacial spasm(HS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundreds patientswith HS were studied using a 1.5T MRI system with a 3D time-of-flight(TOF) MRA sequence. To reconstructshort-range MRA, 6-10 source images near the 7-8th cranial nerve complex were processed using a maximum-intensityprojection technique. In addition, an MPR technique was used to investigate neurovascular compression. We observedthe relationship between the root-exit zone(REZ) of the 7th cranial nerve and compressive vessel, and identifiedthe compressive vessels on symptomatic sides. To investigate neurovascular contact, asymptomatic contralateralsides were also evaluated. RESULTS: MRI showed that in 197 of 200 patients there was vascular compression orcontact with the facial nerve REZ on symptomatic sides. One of the three remaining patients was suffering fromacoustic neurinoma on the symptomatic side, while in two patients there were no definite abnormal findings. Compressive vessels were demonstrated in all 197 patients; 80 cases involved the anterior inferior cerebellarartery(AICA), 74 the posterior cerebellar artery(PICA), 13 the vertebral artery(VA), 16 the VA and AICA, eight theVA and PICA, and six the AICA and PICA. In all 197 patients, compressive vessels were reconstructed on one 3Dshort-range MRA image without discontinuation from vertebral or basilar arteries. 3D MPR studies providedadditional information such as the direction of compression and course of the compressive vessel. In 31 patientsthere was neurovascular contact on the contralateral side at the 7-8th cranial nerve complex. CONCLUSION: Inpatients with HS, 3D short-range MRA and MPR images are excellent and very helpful for the investigation ofneurovascular compression and the identification of compressive vessels.
Angiography* ; Basilar Artery ; Cranial Nerves ; Facial Nerve ; Hemifacial Spasm* ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurilemmoma ; Pica

Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage is one of the important diseases in Korea, sociomedically, in view of high incidence and mortality rate of the disease, severity of its sequelae and the affected productive age-group of 40 to 50 years old. The indications for surgery in hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage are still controversial. The reason for this may be : 1) lack of adequate and comparable data in conservative and surgical therapy from the same institution : 2) lack of adequate close follow-up monitoring over an extended period of time ; or 3) lack of proper classification of hematomas for comparison of results from different institutions. The authors analysed 1009 cases of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, Kyung-Hee University Medical center for five years from January 1983 to December 1987. The site of hemorrhage have classified according to their anatomical site on computerized tomography. The long term outcome was analysed with reference to comparison between surgical treatment and conservative treatment. The results were as follows : 1) The incidence was high in the age-group of 50 years old and the sex ration was 1.23 : 1.0. 2) There was no seasonal variation in the incidence. 3) The occurrence of putamino-thalamic hemorrhage(38.7%) was most frequent, and then followed by putaminal(17.9%), thalamic(17.9%), subcortical(13.6%), pontine(7.5%), cerebellar(4.4%) hemorrhage in order. 4) The outcome was satisfactory in the cases of subcortical hemorrhage and cerebellar hemorrhage. The outcome was poorest in the cases of pontine hemorrhage. Both putamen and thalamic hemorrhage had brought about a high licidence of severe sequelae. 5) In correlation between the therapeutic modality and the outcome, surgical treatment increased the frequency of improvement towards Grade I-II, and also decreased the frequency of Grade III, but brought about the increase of the mortality rate. In general this results failed to support the view that the surgical treatment is superior to the conservative one in the management of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage. But, in the subcortical and cerebellar hemorrhage, surgical treatment showed better outcome than conservative treatment. 6) The outcome was poor in large sized hemorrhage than small one. In cases with large sized subcortical and cerebellar hemorrhage, surgical treatment had low mortality rate. 7) The level of consciousness at attack had closely related to the outcome. 8) In correlation between the time interval from ictus till operation and outcome, generally speaking, the outcome of delayed operation was slightly better than early operation. But, when the level of consciousness was good, the outcome of early operation was satisfactory. 9) Intraventricular hemorrhage occurred in 38.9% of all cases, and most frequently associated with thalamic hemorrhage. In the case of association with intraventricular hemorrhage, the mortality rate was greatly increased than in cases without intraventricular hemorrhage. 10) As far as the causes of death were concerned, cerebral swelling was most frequent and overall mortality rate was 22%.
Academic Medical Centers ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Cause of Death ; Classification ; Consciousness ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive* ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Neurosurgery ; Putamen ; Seasons

Traumatic subdural hygroma has received little attention in the literature, the authors experienced 17 cases of traumatic subdural hygroma after introduction of Computerized Tomography(CT) since October 1977 in Kyung Hee University Hospital. Characteristics in CT of our experienced traumatic subdural hygromas were almostly bilateral and located on the anterior aspect of the interhemispheric fissure, frontal and frontotemporal side with decrease density as like cerebrospinal fluid. Subdural hygroma easily differentiated with subdural hematoma by use of the CT scan. Subdural hygroma usually respond readily to evacuation of watery yellowish or cerebrospinal fluid-like fluid through simple burr hole, conservative treatment effected only 3 cases out of 17 subdural hygromas.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Subdural Effusion* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Extradural hematomas are usually acute and rapidly progressing and the lucid intervals generally varies from a few moments to several hours. However, not uncommonly, an epidural hematoma may have a lucid interval lasting weeks, months or even years, which may present as a chronic epidural hematoma. Two cases have recently come under our care, demonstrating a paucity of objective neurologic abnormalities, but with extensive compressive extradural hemorrhage, which were found incidentally during the screening examination with the CT scanning.
Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Mass Screening ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We were recently encountered a cases of newborn infant with a congenital lumbar mass with associated anomalies which proved to be quite bizarre. This case if presented with review of the literatures because we were seldom able to find a cases of myelomeningocele as usual, interesting as this. A 15 day-old infant, the product of full term, was admitted to Busan National University Hospital on May 26th, 1972, because of a large pedunculated lumbar mass without any neurologic deficits. The tumor mass was translucent, flabby, infected and increased in tension when the infant cried. Chest film showed the underdeveloped with agenesis and fork rib in right upper 5 ribs and narrowed intercostal spaces between right 5,6,7 and 8th ribs. Right scapula was higher in position of axis. Total spine films showed non-fusion pattern of 3rd and 4rh thoracic vertebral bodies with cleft vertebrae, scoliosis in upper thoracic region, widening of lumbar canal, a large soft tissue mass overlying the abdominal region and hypoplasia of the spinous process at 4th lumbar vertebra. The sac of myelomeningocele was repaired successfully. He has regularly been followed up in the out-patient after discharge and has remained well. Repeated neurologic examination performed after discharge showed no neurologic deficits. We feel our present case will be of added interest.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Busan ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Meningomyelocele* ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Outpatients ; Ribs ; Scapula ; Scoliosis ; Spine ; Thorax

Tumors of the pineal area are a small proportion of neoplasm of the brain and the majority of these tumor are pathologically classified as pinealoma, Until recently, ventriculography was the most useful diagnostic methods in suspected cases of pineal tumor. However, the diagnosis of posterior third ventricular tumor may be established easily with computed tomography(CT) and its size, shape, component of tumor and the direction of expansion may be visualized. Authors had experienced nine cases of the pineal tumor during about two years from October 1977 to July 1979, which were diagnosed with CT, EMI-5005 in type. We presented a clinical findings for our cases and attempted to assess clinically. The result were summarized as following; 1. The age range was from 5 months after birth to 39 years. Of 9 cases, 6 cases were below age of 20 years and 3 over age of 20 years. All but one were found in males. 2. The duration of symptoms varied from two weeks to eighteen months. The average was approximately 7 months. 3. The symptoms and signs depend on the route taken by the expanding tumors. In our series, headache found in all cases initially, vomiting in 7 cases, and papilledema in 7 cases on admission. Parinaud's sign showed in 5 cases of all patients and papillary change in 3 cases. Of 9 cases, 3 cases had a transient DI symptoms and 2 cases manifested cerebellar dysfunction in corresponding to CT findings. 4. We had performed CT scan on all cases and diagnosed pineal tumor. In pre-enhancement CT, increased density around pineal area showed in 5 cases, isodensity in 2 cases and low density in 2 cases. Among the 9 cases, 5 cases, showed well outlined a lesion by contrast enhancement. All of the cases showed symmetrical dilatation of lateral ventricles with variable degree and distortion and compression defect to the posterior third ventricle disclosed in 6 cases. 5. We had treated 8 cases with V-P shunt following irradiation therapy ranged 3000-600 Rad. in total amount for 5-6 weeks. A case of the pineal tumor had treated with V-P shunt alone because of full coma at admission. We performed biopsy through the infratentorial supracerebellar approach in one case only and confirmed pineocytoma histopathologically. 6. The result of treatment obtained as follows with excellent in 3 cases, good in 4, poor in one, and death in one case. Two cases with exellent result of treatment spend their life happily without any symptoms and follow up CT disclosed no evidence of previous tumor shadow and normal sized ventricles. A poor case developed quadriplegia during irradiation therapy due to tumor seeding to cervical cord probably.
Biopsy ; Brain ; Cerebellar Diseases ; Coma ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Male ; Papilledema ; Parturition ; Pinealoma* ; Quadriplegia ; Third Ventricle ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vomiting

Although the mechanism of hemifacial spasm (HFS) is not yet well established, vascular compression of the facial nerve root exit zone and hyperexcitability of the facial nucleus have been suggested. We report a case of HFS in the setting of coinciding intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) of the pons and proximal ligation of the contralateral vertebral artery (VA) for the treatment of a fusiform aneurysm of the distal VA and discuss the possible etiologies of HFS in this patient. A 51-year-old male with an ICH of the pons was admitted to our hospital. Neuroimaging studies revealed an incidental fusiform aneurysm of the right VA distal to the origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Eight months after proximal ligation of the VA the patient presented with intermittent spasm of the left side of his face. Pre- and post-ligation magnetic resonance angiography revealed an enlarged diameter of the VA. The spasm completely disappeared after microvascular decompression.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Decompression ; Facial Nerve ; Hemifacial Spasm ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Ligation ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neuroimaging ; Pons ; Spasm ; Vertebral Artery

A case of metastatic renal cell carcinoma is reported. The tumor had imaging features of meningioma on brain computerized tomography and magnetic resonance.
Brain ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Dura Mater* ; Meningioma*

We traced median nerve somatosensory evoked potential(SSEP) in 57 patients with putaminal hemorrhage from February, 1986 to January, 1991 for evaluation of relationship between SSEP findings and Glasgow outcome scale. 1) All patients with normal SSEP, prolonged central condution time and low ampulitude of cortical wave at affected side with small sized putaminal hemorrhage had good recovery to grade I. 2) Nine out of 25 patients with flat cortical wave of SSEP in small sized putaminal hemorrhage recovered to grade I. 3) All patients with moderate or large sized putaminal hemorrhage had flat cortical wave at affected side, none of them improved to grade I. It suggested that SSEP tracing in putaminal hemorrhage seemed to be valuable for evaluation of prognosis.
Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory* ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Prognosis ; Putaminal Hemorrhage

A 66-year-old man presented with typical trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) revealed a primitive trigeminal artery (PTA) that came into contact with the trigeminal nerve. Based on MRA, we performed microvascular decompression (MVD). In the operational field, we confirmed the PTA location and performed MVD successfully. Postoperatively, the patient's pain subsided without any complications.
Aged ; Arteries* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Trigeminal Nerve ; Trigeminal Neuralgia*