No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

A 31-year-old man presented with dull headache and memory disturbance lasting for one week. Computed tomographic scans revealed acute hydrocephalus. The cerebrospinal fluid contained 53 leukocytes/mm3, with a mononuclear preponderance and no erythrocytes. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed hydrocephalus and leptomeningeal enhancement. Magnetic resonance angiography and digital subtraction angiography showed supraclinoid occlusion of the right internal carotid artery, which resembled unilateral moyamoya disease. Neuroendoscopic biopsy of a lesion in the septum pellucidum revealed noncaseating granulomas, which was consistent with sarcoidosis. The patient was successfully managed with intravenous methylprednisolone and ventriculoperitoneal shunting. To our knowledge, this is the first case of moyamoya-like vasculopathy associated with neurosarcoidosis.
Adult ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Biopsy ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; Erythrocytes ; Granuloma ; Headache ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory ; Methylprednisolone ; Moyamoya Disease ; Sarcoidosis ; Septum Pellucidum ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

The authors describe a case of intradural epidermoid tumor in which the patient presented with low back pain and weakness of right lower extremity. The magnetic resonance imaging study showed intraspinal mass lesion at L2-3. The patient had no history of previous lumbar puncture. It was removed totally through laminectomy of L2 and L3 without any injury of the neural structure. The pathological findings were compatible with epidermoid tumor. The postoperative course was uneventful without any neurologic deficit. Characteristics of this lesion with a pertinent literature is reviewed.
Humans ; Laminectomy ; Low Back Pain ; Lower Extremity ; Lumbosacral Region* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Spinal Puncture

OBJECTIVE: The anatomy of middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation aneurysms has been noted to be unfavorable for endovascular treatment. Our purpose was to analyze the clinical and angiographic results of coiling of the MCA bifurcation aneurysms. METHODS: From January 2004 to April 2007, 26 patients harboring 29 MCA bifurcation aneurysms were treated with coils. Of these patients, 16 had subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH). The bleeding source was a ruptured MCA bifurcation aneurysm in 11 patients and a ruptured aneurysm in a different location in 5 patients, respectively. Treatment-related complications, clinical outcomes, and postprocedural and follow-up angiography results were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: 29 MCA bifurcation aneurysms (11 ruptured, 18 unruptured) were occluded with coils in 26 patients. Occlusion was complete for 24 (82.8%) of the 29 aneurysms, incomplete for 3 (10.3%), and partial for 2 (6.9%) aneurysms. Procedural complications included thromboembolism in 6, a small nonocclusive thrombus formation in 1, and intraprocedural aneurysmal rupture in 1. All of symptomatic complications were thromboembolic events that occurred 3 patients with unruptured aneurysm and they discharged with moderate disability state. Follow-up angiograms were available on 16 patients with 18 aneurysms and 1 patient with an initial complete occlusion had a slight neck recanalization. CONCLUSION: Coiling of MCA bifurcation aneurysm could be achieved without treatment-induced neurologic deficit in 88.5% (23/26) of the patients while at the same time obtaining favorable anatomic results. Improvements in device technology and technique will certainly greatly increase the safety of coiling of MCA bifurcation aneurysm, widening its indications.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Neck ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis

We report a case of suspicious neurofibromatosis associated with multiple spinal tumors with dual pathology. The patient was a 16-year-old girl who had developed progressive paraparesis for 6 months. She had cafe-au-lait spots and multiple subcutaneous nodule. Magnetic resonance(MR) imaging of the lumbar spine had shown dumbbell-shape spinal tumor at L1-2. The tumor had been removed successfully at the local hospital. But, she had got worse to paraplegia. Postoperative MR image of the whole spine had revealed multiple spinal tumors at T3-4, T6-7, C2-3, C7-T1. She underwent 3 additional operations to remove the compressive lesions. Histopathologic findings documented 3 schwannomas and 2 meningiomas. She improved dramatically and was discharged from the hospital. Subsequent MR images of the whole spine revealed numerous small spinal tumors around the spinal cord and cauda quina.
Adolescent ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Female ; Humans ; Meningioma* ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neurofibromatoses ; Paraparesis ; Paraplegia ; Pathology ; Spinal Cord ; Spine

We present a rare case of massive intracerebral hemorrhage resulting from a small, superficially-located supratentorial cavernous malformation, or cavernoma. These lesions rarely lead to massive, life-threatening intracerebral hemorrhages. A 17-year-old female presented with a 3-week history of declining mental status. Brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a sizable intracranial hemorrhage, within the right occipital region, associated with a small nodule at the hematoma's posterior margin. An emergency operation removed the entire hematoma and nodule. Histological examination of the nodule was compatible with a diagnosis of cavernous malformation. The patient's post-operative course was uneventful.
Adolescent ; Brain ; Caves ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Temple trauma that appears initially localized to the skin might possess intracranial complications. Early diagnosis and management of such complications are important, to avoid neurologic sequelae. Non-penetrating head injuries with intracranial hemorrhage caused by a driven bone fragment are extremely rare. A 53-year-old male was referred to our hospital because of intracerebral hemorrhage. He was a mechanic and one day before admission to a local clinic, tip of metallic rod hit his right temple while cutting the rod. Initial brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated scanty subdural hematoma at right temporal lobe and left falx and intracerebral hematoma at both frontal lobes. Facial CT with 3-D reconstruction images showed a small bony defect at the right sphenoid bone's greater wing and a small bone fragment at the left frontal lobe, crossing the falx. We present the unusual case of a temple trauma patient in whom a sphenoid bone fragment migrated from its origin upward, to the contralateral frontal lobe, producing hematoma along its trajectory.
Brain ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Early Diagnosis ; Frontal Lobe ; Head ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Sphenoid Bone ; Temporal Lobe

OBJECTIVE: Vasospasm of cerebral vessels remains a major source of morbidity and mortality after an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transluminal balloon angioplasty (TBA) for SAH-induced vasospasm. METHODS: Eleven patients with an angiographically confirmed significant vasospasm (>50% vessel narrowing and clinical deterioration) were studied. A total of 54 vessel segments with significant vasospasm were treated by TBA. Digital subtraction angiography was used to confirm the presence of vasospasm, and TBA was performed to dilate vasospastic arteries. Medical and angiographic reports were reviewed to determine technical efficacy and for procedural complications. RESULTS: TBA using Hyper-Glide or Hyper-Form balloons (MicroTherapeutics, Irvine, CA) was successfully accomplished in 88.9% vasospastic segments (48 of 54), namely, in the distal internal carotid artery (100%, n=7), the middle cerebral artery (100%), including the M1 (n=10), M2 (n=10), and M3 segments (n=4), in the vertebral artery (100%, n=2), basilar artery (100%, n=1), and in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), including the A1 (66%), A2 (66%), and A3 segments (100%). Vessel diameters significantly increased after TBA. There were no cases of vessel rupture or thromboembolic complications. GCS at one day after TBA showed an improvement in all patients except one. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that TBA using Hyper-Glide or Hyper-Form balloons is a safe and effective treatment for subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced cerebral vasospasm.
Aneurysm ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Arteries ; Basilar Artery ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Endovascular Procedures ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Rupture ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Vasospasm, Intracranial ; Vertebral Artery

A 31-year-old man presented with right hemiparesis, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a small infarct at left basal ganglia. Digital subtraction angiography showed left cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion and severe stenosis of the ipsilateral external carotid artery (ECA) with collateral cerebral circulation fed by ECAs. Based on the results of a functional evaluation of cerebral blood flow, we performed preventive ECA angioplasty and stenting for advanced ECA stenosis to ensure sufficient blood flow to the superficial temporal artery. Eight weeks later, superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis was performed. His postoperative course was uneventful and no additional transient ischemic attacks have occurred. To our knowledge, this is the first report of preventive angioplasty and stenting for advanced narrowing of an ECA before STA-MCA anastomosis for ipsilateral ICA occlusion.
Adult ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Angioplasty ; Basal Ganglia ; Carotid Artery, External ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dietary Sucrose ; Humans ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Paresis ; Stents ; Temporal Arteries