There is no definite histological criteria which can predict the biologic behavior of meningiomas, although resectability is the most important factor in terms of recurrence. For grading meningiomas, various factors have been studied, such as hypercellularity, nuclear pleomorphism, small cells with high N/C ratio, prominent nucleoli (PN), frequent mitosis, loss of architecture, focal necrosis (FN). We investigated 116 meningiomas to evaluate the correlation between the factors and the proliferative activity using AgNORs and MIB-1 labelling index (LI). They were divided into 3 groups: Group A includes meningiomas with none of the factors; group B with one of the factors; group C with two or more factors. MIB-1 LI was correlated with each factor, but AgNORs was not. There was a statistical difference among group A (<1.28%), B (2.7%) and C (5.1%) (p<0.05) using MIB-1 LI. FN was the most frequently associated with other factors, and it had the highest MIB-1 LI (6.31%). MIB-1 LI of group B was 5.1 2.3%. In group B, the most frequent combination was FN and PN, and it showed the highest MIB-1 LI (5.74%). This study indicates that FN and PN are important for diagnosis of atypical meningioma, and MIB-1 LI appears to be a useful method for estimating the proliferative activity of meningiomas, and 5% or more of MIB-1 LI could help in making a diagnosis of atypical meningioma.
Diagnosis ; Meningioma* ; Mitosis ; Necrosis ; Recurrence

Primary intracranial squamous cell carcinoma is extremely rare, with most cases arising from a preexisting benign epidermoid cyst. We report a rare case of primary intracranial squamous cell carcinoma in the brain stem with a cerebellopontine angle (CPA) epidermoid cyst. A 72-year-old female suffered from progressive left hemiparesis, difficulty in swallowing, and right hemifacial numbness. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed a high signal intensity (SI) lesion in the CPA region and an intra-axially ring-enhanced cystic mass in the right brain stem with low SI. Whole-body positron emission tomography showed no evidence of metastatic disease. The histological findings revealed a typical epidermoid cyst in the CPA region and a squamous cell carcinoma in the brain stem. We speculate that the squamous cell carcinoma may have been developed due to a chronic inflammatory response by the adjacent epidermoid cyst. The patient underwent a surgical resection and radiotherapy. After 12 months, she had no evidence of recurrence.
Aged ; Brain ; Brain Stem ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cerebellopontine Angle ; Deglutition ; Epidermal Cyst ; Female ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Paresis ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Enlargement of subdural hematomas is relatively rapid in subacute stage of hematoma with clinical deterioration, which eventually necessitates surgery. The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility and safety of burr hole drainage using urokinase for management of patients with subacute subdural hematoma (SASDH). METHODS: Nine patients with SASDH were treated by burr hole drainage using urokinase. Under local anesthesia a catheter was inserted into the hematoma through a burr hole. Burr hole drainage was followed by hematoma thrombolysis with instillation of urokinase (10,000 units) every 12 hours. Drainage was discontinued when a significant decrease of hematoma was observed on cranial computed tomography. RESULTS: The patients' median age was 70 years (range, 62-87). The median Glasgow Coma Scale score before surgery was 15 (range, 11-15). Drainage was successfully performed in all patients. All patients had Glasgow Outcome Scale scores of 5 at discharge. There was no surgery-related morbidity or mortality. CONCLUSION: A burr hole drainage using urokinase could be a safe, feasible and effective minimally invasive method with low morbidity in treatment of selected patients with SASDHs.
Anesthesia, Local ; Catheters ; Drainage* ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Trephining ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively analyzed the surgical outcomes of 42 patients with growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenoma to evaluate the clinical manifestations and to determine which preoperative factors that significantly influence the remission. METHODS: Forty-two patients with GH-secreting pituitary adenoma underwent transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) between 1995 and 2007. The patient group included 23 women and 19 men, with a mean age of 40.2 (range 13-61) years, and a mean follow-up duration of 49.4 (range 3-178) months after the operation. For comparable radiological criteria, we classified parasellar growth into five grades according to the Knosp classification. We analyzed the surgical results of the patients according to the most recent stringent criteria for cure. RESULTS: The overall rate of endocrinological remission in the group of 42 patients after primary TSS was 64% (26 of 42). The remission rate was 67% (8 of 12) for microadenoma and 60% (18 of 30) for macroadenoma. The remission rate was 30% (3 of 10) for the group with cavernous sinus invasion and 72% (23 of 32) for the group with intact cavernous sinus. Cavernous sinus invasion in Knosp grade III and IV was significantly correlated with the remission rate. There was a significant relationship between preoperative mean GH concentration and early postoperative outcome, with most patients in remission having a lower preoperative GH concentration. CONCLUSION: TSS is thought to be an effective primary treatment for GH-secreting pituitary adenomas according to the most recent criteria of cure. Because the remission rate in cases with cavernous sinus invasion is very low, early detection of the tumor before it extends into the cavernous sinus and a long-term endocrinological and radiological follow-up are necessary in order to improve the remission rate of acromegaly.
Acromegaly ; Cavernous Sinus ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Growth Hormone ; Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma ; Humans ; Male ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats* ; Reperfusion*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats*

In an attempt to eliminate some negative aspects of conventional extensive laminectomy, 4 cases of multiple level of cervical compression myelopathy, 1 OPLL (ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament) and 3 cervical stenosis, were treated with a technique of expansive laminoplasty. Operative results in all patients were satisfactory without surgical complications and all patients had a neurological improvement. We suggest that our technique is more effective one for cervical canal stenosis, OPLL, and spondylosis than conventional extensive laminectomy.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Laminoplasty* ; Spinal Cord Diseases* ; Spondylosis

In advent of high-resolutional CT and MRI, it is not so difficult to detect the lumbar synovial cyst, however the unusual disease should be included in the differential diagnosis of cauda equine compression syndromes. The case of a 55-year-old man who had a low back pain and severe radiating pain on both legs showed a retrolisthesis at L3-4 and L4-5 and epidural enhancing mass just around L4-5 facet joint on MRI. Microscopically a lining of synovial tissue was demonstrated. After surgery of the total resection of synovial cyst and stabilization, the patient's presenting symptoms were improved.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Synovial Cyst* ; Zygapophyseal Joint

Recently, many authors have reported about the relationship of the volumes of hemorrhage in the brain parenchyma, hemorrhagic sites, optimal operation time, and the effects of mannitol and steroid on control of ICP to clinical manifestations. Many attempts to measure ICP in hydrocephalus, brain tumor, and head injury have been reported. But the measurements of intracranial pressure in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage are rare. Intracranial pressure was monitored prospectively in 30 patients who had stereotaxic surgery for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. The results are as follows. 1. Intracranial pressure was increased in high PaCO₂. 2. There were no correlation in ICP, rebleeding and ADL ad discharge (P>0.05). 3. ICP was the most high level in 72 hours after operation. 4. There was 63.2% decrease in ICP after irrigation with 6000 IU urokinase in the site of hemorrhage. 5. There was no correlation between the numbers of natural drainage and ADL at discharge (P>0.05). 6. The higher the initial GCS, the higher the postoperative GCS.
Activities of Daily Living ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Drainage ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Intracranial Pressure* ; Mannitol ; Prospective Studies ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

No abstract available.
Cerebellopontine Angle*