No abstract available.
Surgery, Computer-Assisted*

We report a case of dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum(Lhermitte-Duclos disease) that can cause progressive mass effect in the posterior fossa. Cowden disease is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by mucocutaneous hamartoma and high incidences of systemic malignancies. The patient had no mucocutaneous lesions indicating Cowden disease. With recent advances in molecular genetics, the association between Lhermitte-Duclos disease and Cowden disease has been recognized, it is considered that Cowden disease is a new phakomatosis. Recognition of this association has direct clinical relevance and long term follow up may lead to the early detection of malignancy.
Ganglioneuroma* ; Hamartoma ; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Molecular Biology ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes

PURPOSE: The present study was performed to determine the optimum conditions(RPM, load, sharpness of drill) for drilling human cortical bone with standard drill, and to evaluate the histological changes occuring in bone after drilling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: in experiment I, we measured temperature elevations and the durations of temperature elevation in cadaveric femoral cortices at specific distances from the drill hole wall while drilling. The effects of drilling force, speed and new versus worn drill on the termperature were determined. In experiment II, we also measured temperature elevations in the same manner in porcine femoral cortices and evaluated the histological changes occuring in bone after drilling. RESULTS: In experiment I, the most significant temperature elevation(68.4degrees C ) was found when worn drill was used. The lower drilling force and faster speed resulted in 55.1degrees C and 45.8degrees C temperature elevation, respectively. However, drill diameter was not a significant factor for temperature elevation. In experiment II, greater heat production was measured with worn drill, at lower drilling forces, at faster drill speed. The acute histologic reactions in bone were hyperemia, degeneration of osteocytes, change in bone stainability, tears, and fragmentation of the bone edges around the drill holes. The observed histological changes were proportional to the amount of trauma produced, that is, the greater the degree of thermal irritation, the greater the degree of histologic activity. CONCLUSION: In cortical drilling, greater heat production was measured with worn drill, at lower drilling forces, at faster drill speed and the greater the degree of thermal irritation, the greater the degree of histologic activity. A further study of the reaction of bone to drilling at longer intervals of time at different conditions may possibly show whether aseptic thermal necrosis could be prevented.
Cadaver ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Necrosis* ; Osteocytes ; Thermogenesis*

The goal of this study was to introduce a new method inducing an experimental brain injury model using ESWL(Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy) and to evaluate findings of localized lesions on 1H MR imaging and the response of cerebral energy metabolism using a 31P MR spectroscope to the ESWL brain injury in cats. This study also examined effects of cerebral protective drugs. 1) There were no statistically significant changes in pH at all measurement points. 2) In the trauma group, initial decrease of PCr/Pi was seen at 30 to 60 minutes with return to control levels by 2 hours after injury(P < 0.05), followed by a second decline at 4 hours which lasted until 8 hours after injury. 3) Significant recovery in PCr/Pi(P < 0.05) was observed in both the THAM and dexamethasone treated groups at all measurement points and in the mannitol treated group only temporary recovery at 30 and 60 minutes (P < 0.05). 4) High intensity signals were seen on 1H MR imaging in traumatized animals. This study demonstrated the immediate and persistent recovery of cerebral energy metabolism using THAM or dexamethasone and an immediate but transient effect with mannitol in traumatized animals.
Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Animals ; Brain/*drug effects/metabolism ; Brain Injuries/etiology/metabolism/*prevention & control ; Cats ; Dexamethasone/*therapeutic use ; *Disease Models, Animal ; Energy Metabolism/*drug effects ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Lithotripsy ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phosphocreatine/metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Tromethamine/*therapeutic use

Very few cases of arterial spasm after pituitary surgery have been reported to date. The author analysed 4 patients with vasospasm following transcranial subfrontal removal of pituitary adenoma, which were adimitted to our department and 4 cases were reviewed in the literature. In our 4 cases, the age of the patients varied between 23 to 59 years. There were 2 men and 2 women. Delayed deterioration of consciousness or neurologic deficit was observed in all cases. Two patients recovered completely and two were bed-ridden. Vasospasm was documented by angiogram or transcranial Doppler ultrasonography(TCD, EME, Co.). Possible mechanisms underlying this unusual complication are reviewed and discussed. Vessels were primed to spasm during operation due to blood in the cistern or mechanical injury. Vasoactive materials are liberated from the pituitary stalk or injured hypothalamus, either at the time of surgery, or later, after portions of tumor have undergone necrosis. These agents might then diffuse into the basal cisternal space and interact with blood vessel walls in such a way as to produce vascular spasm.
Blood Vessels ; Consciousness ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; Male ; Necrosis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Pituitary Gland ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Spasm

Surgery and radiotherapy are mainly used for plasma cell neoplasm which constitutes about 1~2% of human malignancy. The authors carried out Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy(FSRT) on the residual tumor after the subtotal removal of intracranial plasmacytoma. A huge mass lesion was observed on MRI (magnetic resonance image) in the left anterior and middle cranial fossa of a 63-year-old man with left exophthalmus which lasted for a month, and was suspected as a meningioma with strong contrast enhancement. Extramedullary plasmacytoma was diagnosed on histopathological examination. After the surgery, FSRT was also carried out on the residual tumor which invaded the skull base. One-year follow up after FSRT showed contrast enhancement only in the left sphenoid bone on MRI, which indicated significant decrease in the size of the tumor without any abnormal neurologic deficits. We treated intracranial plasmacytoma which invaded left anterior and middle cranial fossa and surrounded cavernous sinus without cranial nerve deficit through subtotal tumor removal and FSRT.
Cavernous Sinus ; Cranial Fossa, Middle ; Cranial Nerves ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningioma ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Neoplasms, Plasma Cell ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Plasmacytoma* ; Radiotherapy* ; Skull Base ; Sphenoid Bone

OBJECTIVE: Thoracoscopic spinal surgery provides minimally invasive approaches for effective vertebral decompression and reconstruction of the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine, while surgery related morbidity can be significantly lowered. This study analyzes clinical results of thoracoscopic spinal surgery performed at our institute. METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients underwent video-assisted thoracosopic surgery (VATS) to treat various thoracic and thoracolumbar pathologies from April 2000 to July 2006. The lesions consisted of spinal trauma (13 cases), thoracic disc herniation (4 cases), tuberculous spondylitis (1 case), post-operative thoracolumbar kyphosis (1 case) and thoracic tumor (1 case). The level of operation included upper thoracic lesions (3 cases), midthoracic lesions (6 cases) and thoracolumbar lesions (11 cases). We classified the procedure into three groups: stand-alone thoracoscopic discectomy (3 cases), thoracoscopic fusion (11 cases) and video assisted mini-thoracotomy (6 cases). RESULTS: Analysis on the Frankel performance scale in spinal trauma patients (13 cases), showed a total of 7 patients who had neurological impairment preoperatively : Grade D (2 cases), Grade C (2 cases), Grade B (1 case), and Grade A (2 cases). Four patients were neurologically improved postoperatively, two patients were improved from C to E, one improved from grade D to E and one improved from grade B to grade D. The preoperative Cobb's and kyphotic angle were measured in spinal trauma patients and were 18.9+/-4.4 degrees and 18.8+/-4.6 degrees, respectively. Postoperatively, the angles showed statistically significant improvement, 15.1+/-3.7 degrees and 11.3+/-2.4 degrees, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Although VATS requires a steep learning curve, it is an effective and minimally invasive procedure which provides biomechanical stability in terms of anterior column decompression and reconstruction for anterior load bearing, and preservation of intercostal muscles and diaphragm.
Decompression ; Diaphragm ; Diskectomy ; Humans ; Intercostal Muscles ; Kyphosis ; Learning Curve ; Pathology* ; Spinal Fractures ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Weight-Bearing

The treatment of patients with spontaneous intracerebral hematoma is still controversial, but stereotaxic surgery is preferred to conservative treatment recently. We analyzed 78 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hematoma and compared the result of treatment between two groups ; 40 patients with stereotaxic hematoma evacuation, 38 patients with conservative treatment. The results were as following : In thalamic and basal ganglia hematoma, improvement of consciousness level, motor grade and Glasgow coma scale in stereotaxic surgery group was better than that of conservative treatment group and the mortality rate was lower in the stereotaxic surgery group than in the conservative treatment group. Patients with alert or somnolent state preoperatively had better functional recovery in the surgically treated group, but stuporous or comatose patients had no better outcome after surgery. Stereotaxic hematoma evacuation can minimize the brain damage and be performed under the local anesthesia, so it can lower the mortality and morbidity rate of the spontaneous intracerebral hematoma patients.
Anesthesia, Local ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Coma ; Consciousness ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Stupor

Malignant CNS lymphoma is a malignant intracranial tumor and in most cases they run a fulminating course if left untreated, with 3 to 5 months survival after appearance of the initial symptoms. Sixteen patients with malignant lymphoma were treated in Asan Medical Center from 1989 to 1994. All patients were underwent tissue diagnosis with subtotal resection or stereotactic biopsy and followed by cranial or craniospinal irradiation with or without systemic chemotherapy. One and three year survival rate of the patients was 88% and 78% respectively. In conclusion, addition of chemotherapy and/or cranial radiation for treatment of the CNS lymphoma may improve survival.
Biopsy ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Craniospinal Irradiation ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Survival Rate

Microsurgical tumor removal is the treatment of choice to relieve the mass effect for the treatment of acoustic neurinoma patients. Gamma knife radiosurgery is another treatment option for patients with tumor size of less than approximately 4cm. Between May, 1990 and March, 1994, 55 tumor lesions from 50 patients were treated with gamma knife radiosurgery at Asan Medical Center. Following microsurgery, 20 patients underwent gamma knife radiosurgery for tumors not removed surgically. The remaining 30 patients underwent gamma knife radiosurgery alone. For an average follow-up period of 26 months(ranging from 6 to 45 months), 37 lesions out of 39 lesions responded, giving a tumor growth control rate of 94.9%. Facial neuropathy and trigeminal neuropathy were noted in 8% and 6%, respectively. According to these results, it is suggested that gamma knife radiosurgery in an effective altrnative therapeutic modality for the management of small to moderate sized acoustic neurinomas.
Acoustics* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Facial Nerve Diseases ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Microsurgery ; Neuroma, Acoustic* ; Radiosurgery ; Trigeminal Nerve Diseases