Intracranial lipomas are rare tumor which are usually found along the midline cerebral cisterns. A case of sylvian lipoma located usually at sylvian fissure was diagnosed by CT scanning and was confirmed with operation. Only partial resection could be done. The literature was reviewed and therapeutic options are proposed.
Corpus Callosum ; Lipoma* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The transoral approach to anteriorly placed lesions at the upper cervical region is not new, but is still infrequently used by neurosurgeons for lesions in this region. The indications and surgical methods vary widely, and there is much room for discussion of the technical details. We are reporting our experience with this technique in two patients; one is a traumatic odontoid fracture and another is a cervical epidural abscess.
Epidural Abscess* ; Humans ; Microsurgery

Although the operation for the ventral lesion of craniovrtebral junction and atlantoaxial area is considered difficult to perform, the transoral approach made it safer and easier. The authors report 10 cases(9 patients) treated by the transoral approach for the lesion of craniovertebral junction over the past 13 years at the Ajou University Hospital and the Presbyterian Medical Center. Of these 10 cases, there were 4 odontoid type II fractures, 1 atlantoaxial dislocation, 1 os odontoideum, 1 chordoma at lower clival area, 1 rheumatoid arthritis, 1 epidural abscess and 1 wound revision due to slippage of grafted bone after clivoaxial fusion. The surgical methods included 4 cases of anterior decompression and clivoaxial fusion, 2 cases of anterior decompression and C1-2 interarticular joint fusion, 1 case of anterior decompression and clivoaxial fusion followed by posterior fusion, and 3 cases of anterior decompression and posterior fusion. In nonreducible atlantoaxial dislocation or ventral cord compression le sion, if the clivoaxial angle was less than 120 degree, the transoral approach was selected. The appropriate surgical approach must be selected according to the degree of compression of the neural tissue involving the craniovertebral junction and atlantoaxial dislocation.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Chordoma ; Decompression ; Dislocations* ; Epidural Abscess ; Joints ; Protestantism ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.

An experimental model was devised to elucidate the role of spinal blockade in post-traumatic syringomyelia. 38 White adult rabbits were divided into four groups:in Group 1, eight animals received traumatic injury only to the midthoracic area via the weight-drop method but no further treatment;in Group 2, 12 animals received a traumatic injury following injection of 100mg kaolin suspended in 1cc normal saline into subarachnoid space at the midthoracic trauma level;in Group 3, nine animals received traumatic injury following injection of 200mg kaolin in 1cc of normal saline into subarachnoid space;in Group 4, nine animals without injury received an injection of 00mg kaolin in 1cc normal saline solution into subarachnoid space at the midthoracic level. The subjective criteria for syrinx formation were the presence of a definite round cyst having a smooth margin and an upper or lower extension of more than 2cm from the injured site. Syrinx formation was seen in 12.5% in Group 1, 41.7% in Group 2, 55.5% in Group 3 , and 0% in Group 4(p<0.05). In subarachnoid space, the specimen of trauma and kaolin groups showed neutrophils infiltration and obstruction of subarachnoid space on acute stage. The pathologic changes in subarachnoid space on chronic stage were infiltration of kaolin-laden macrophages and chronic arachnoiditis. In parenchyma, hemorrhagic necrosis of the cord, edema, microinfarcts and liquefaction of hematoma were found on acute stage, and multiple cysts in white mater, cell-debris-laden macrophages in the cyst, formation of foam cells, microcysts, and large yst were shown. In Group 4, the same findings as other groups were shown in the subarachnoid space, but in the parenchyma there was no cyst formation. The results suggest that subarachnoid block secondary to adhesive arachnoidities is important in initiating the extension of the syringomyelia cavity that have already formed at the time of initial injury.
Adhesives ; Adult ; Animals ; Arachnoid ; Arachnoiditis ; Edema ; Foam Cells ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Kaolin ; Macrophages ; Models, Theoretical ; Necrosis ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Neutrophils ; Rabbits ; Sodium Chloride ; Subarachnoid Space ; Syringomyelia*

A clinical analysis and follow-up study were performed with 35 cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage of unknown etiology among 217 cases of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage who were diagnosed by cerebral pan-angiohraphy and brain C-T scan and treated at department of neurosurgery, Chonju Presbyterian Medical Center from 1977 to 1982. The duration of follow-up study was 6 months to 8 years(mean 4.4years). The author obtained the following results. 1) Subarachnoid hemorrhage of unknown etiology was 16% of 217 cases of spontaneous hemorrhage. 2) The incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage of unknown etiology was high in 5th decade and higher in women. 3) Manifestations of subarachnoid hemorrhage of unknown etiology were similar to those of ruptured aneurysm. 4) When primary cerebral pan-angiography was normal, the secondary cerebral pan-angiography was not so meaningful. 5) The overall prognosis of the cases of unknown etiology was good in 30 among 35 cases(86%) who were able to return to their previous occupation. 6) Age and blood pressure were probably major prognostic factor.
Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Blood Pressure ; Brain ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jeollabuk-do ; Neurosurgery ; Occupations ; Prognosis* ; Protestantism ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage*

The authors carried out various treatment modalities in 74 consecutive patients with hypertensive basal ganglionic-thalamic intracerebral hemorrhage and were admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery. Konkuk University Hospital, from Jan. 1991 to Dec. 1993. A variety of prognostic factors that influence mortality were observed. The locaton of hematoma was at the basal ganglia in 47 cases and at the thalamus in 27 cases. The prognosis gets poorer as the hematoma extended wider and deeper. The prognosis was unfavorable when the hematoma was over 30cc(P<0.001). The mortality rate was higher in cases with IVH than in cases without IVH(P<0.005). In cases with IVH, 19 cases(26%) showed dilated 4th ventricular hemorrage and higher mortality rate(P<0.001). Cases in which the GCS were less than 9 on admission showed higher mortality rate(P<0.0001). The mortality rate was also higher if the midline shift was more than 10mm on the initial brain CT scan(P<0.005). THe group where the unilateral or bilateral pupillary light reflex was unreactive(35cases) showed poorer prognosis than the group where the bilateral pupillary light reflex was reactive(P<0.0001). The ventriculocranial ratio(VCR), hydrocephalus, surrounding edema edema around the heamtoam, and treatment modality were not related to the prognosis. The significant prognostic factors in patients with hypertensive basal ganglionic-thalamic intracerebral hemorrhage were location and type of hematoma, whether or not the volume of hematoma is more than 30cc, IVH, dilated 4th ventricular hemorrhage, Graeb's score of more than 7, GCS of less than 9, midline shift of more than 10mm, and reactivity of pupillary light reflex.
Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Edema ; Ganglion Cysts* ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Mortality ; Neurosurgery ; Prognosis ; Reflex ; Thalamus

Twenty-five patients with spontaneous intracerebellar hematoma were analyzed, who had been admitted to Jeonju Jesus Hospital from 1982 to 1985. All cases were diagnosed by CT scan and the amount of the hematoma was assessed by the largest diameter and the height as large, moderated, and small. Three clinical types were defined to evaluate the method of treatment and the outcome. All twelve acute cases were operated and seven were dead-five from brainstem failure, one from rebleeding, and one from chest infection. All chronic cases were treated conservatively to yield good results. Of seven subacute cases, five were operated and two died. Overall mortality was 36% and surgical mortality was 53%. To avoid considerable loss of potential recovery, it is suggested that prompt confirmation of the intracerebellar hematoma by CT scan, emergency surgical management, proper pre-and post-operative care results in better prognosis in cases of this not-uncommon-not-incurable disease.
Brain Stem ; Emergencies ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A 24 year-old woman with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is presented, who showed repeated episodes of shunt malfunction before and during pregnancy. Daily pumping of the flushing device relieved the symptoms at first, but reattack during the third trimester of pregnancy was managed with revision of the shunt to ventriculoatrial system. She delivered a healthy female baby successfully at term.
Female ; Flushing ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt* ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Hyperthyroidism* ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic*