OBJECTIVE: The incidence and prevalence of spinal metastases are increasing, and although the role of radiation therapy in the treatment of metastatic tumors of the spine has been well established, the same cannot be said about the role of stereotactic radiosurgery. Herein, the authors present a systematic review regarding the value of spinal stereotactic radiosurgery in the management of spinal metastasis. METHODS: A systematic literature search for stereotactic radiosurgery of spinal metastases was undertaken. Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Education (GRADE) working group criteria was used to evaluate the qualities of study datasets. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies met the study inclusion criteria. Twenty-three studies were of low quality, and 8 were of very low quality according to the GRADE criteria. Stereotactic radiosurgery was reported to be highly effective in reducing pain, regardless of prior treatment. The overall local control rate was approximately 90%. Additional asymptomatic lesions may be treated by stereotactic radiosurgery to avoid further irradiation of neural elements and further bone-marrow suppression. Stereotactic radiosurgery may be preferred in previously irradiated patients when considering the radiation tolerance of the spinal cord. Furthermore, residual tumors after surgery can be safely treated by stereotactic radiosurgery, which decreases the likelihood of repeat surgery and accompanying surgical morbidities. Encompassing one vertebral body above and below the involved vertebrae is unnecessary. Complications associated with stereotactic radiosurgery are generally self-limited and mild. CONCLUSION: In the management of spinal metastasis, stereotactic radiosurgery appears to provide high rates of tumor control, regardless of histologic diagnosis, and can be used in previously irradiated patients. However, the quality of literature available on the subject is not sufficient.
Humans ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Prevalence ; Radiation Tolerance ; Radiosurgery ; Reoperation ; Spinal Cord ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: We present our experience of conventional posterior approach without fat lateral approach for ventral foramen magnum (FM) meningioma (FM meningioma) and tried to evaluate the approach is applicable to ventral FM meningioma. METHODS: From January 1999 to March 2011, 11 patients with a ventral FM meningioma underwent a conventional posterior approach without further extension of lateral bony window. The tumor was removed through a working space between the dura and arachnoid membrane at the cervicomedullary junction with minimal retraction of medulla, spinal cord or cerebellum. Care should be taken not to violate arachnoid membrane. RESULTS: Preoperatively, six patients were of Nurick grade 1, three were of grade 2, and two were of grade 3. Median follow-up period was 55 months (range, 20-163 months). The extent of resection was Simpson grade I in one case and Simpson grade II in remaining 10 cases. Clinical symptoms improved in eight patients and stable in three patients. There were no recurrences during the follow-up period. Postoperative morbidities included one pseudomeningocele and one transient dysphagia with dysarthria. CONCLUSION: Ventral FM meningiomas can be removed gross totally using a posterior approach without fat lateral approach. The arachnoid membrane can then be exploited as an anatomical barrier. However, this approach should be taken with a thorough understanding of its anatomical limitation.
Arachnoid ; Cerebellum ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dysarthria ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foramen Magnum* ; Humans ; Membranes ; Meningioma* ; Recurrence ; Spinal Cord

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this multicenter, matched-pair study was to compare the outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and conventional external radiation therapy (RT) when used as a primary treatment in spine metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: From 2005 to 2012, 28 patients underwent SRS as the primary treatment in spine metastasis from HCC. Based on sex, age, number of spine metastasis, Child-Pugh classification, interval from original tumor to spine metastasis, and year of treatment, 28 patients who underwent RT were paired. Outcomes of interest were pain relief, progression free survival, toxicities, and further treatment. RESULTS: The perioperative visual analog scale (VAS) decrease was larger in SRS group than in RT group, but the difference was not significant (3.7 vs. 2.8, p=0.13). When pain medication was adjusted, the number of patients with complete (n=6 vs.3) or partial (n=12 vs.13) relief was larger in SRS group than in RT group; however, the difference was not significant (p=0.83). There was no significant difference in progression free survival (p=0.48). In SRS group, 32.1% of patients had 1 or more toxicities whereas the percentage in RT group was 63.0%, a significant difference (p=0.04). Six SRS patients and 7 RT patients received further intervention at the treated segment. CONCLUSION: Clinical and radiological outcome were not significantly different between the two treatments. Toxicities, however, were more prevalent in the RT group.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Classification ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Radiosurgery* ; Spine* ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: This 2009–2011 nation-wide study of adult Koreans was aimed to provide characteristics, medical utilization states, and survival rates for newly diagnosed patients with primary nonmalignant and malignant spine tumors. METHODS: Data for patients with primary spine tumors were selected from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. The data included their age, sex, health insurance type, co-morbidities, medical cost, and hospital stay duration. Hospital stay duration and medical costs per person occurring in one calendar year were used. In addition, survival rates of patients with primary malignant spine tumors were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence rate of a primary spine tumor increased with age, and the year of diagnosis (p≤0.0001). Average annual medical costs ranged from 1627 USD (pelvis & sacrum & coccyx tumors) to 6601 USD (spinal cord tumor) for primary nonmalignant spine tumor and from 12137 USD (spinal meningomas) to 20825 USD (pelvis & sacrum & coccyx tumors) for a primary malignant spine tumor. Overall survival rates for those with a primary malignant spine tumor were 87.0%, 75.3%, and 70.6% at 3, 12, and 24 months, respectively. The Cox regression model results showed that male sex, medicare insurance were significantly positive factors affecting survival after a diagnosis of primary malignant spine tumor. CONCLUSION: Our study provides a detailed view of the characteristics, medical utilization states, and survival rates of patients newly diagnosed with primary spine tumors in Korea.
Adult* ; Coccyx ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insurance ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Medicare ; Sacrum ; Spine* ; Survival Rate

Chondromas are benign tumor of cartilaginous tissue that is rarely found in spine. The authors document a rare case of a 72 year old male patient with a cervical spinal chondroma compressing the spinal cord. The patient had symptoms of motor and sensory deficits, dysphagia and dysarthria. C1 and C2 laminotomy was done and the spinal tumor was removed. The patient gradually recovered from his previous symptom after the surgery.
Chondroma* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dysarthria ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Male ; Spinal Cord* ; Spine*

A 45-year old man, who had tuberculosis five years ago presented with paresthesia, decreased proprioception, and gait disturbance in the lower extremity which were aggravated for a month. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the T3-7 intradural extramedullary fibrotic mass with dark signal intensity on T2-weighted images. The yellowish material in the thick fibrous mass was confirmed as caseous necrosis. Two days after the operation, the symptoms improved. Although quite rare, intradural extramedullary tuberculoma should be considered as a chronic sequel of the previous medical history of pulmonary tuberculosis or tuberculous meningitis.
Gait ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Necrosis ; Paresthesia ; Proprioception ; Tuberculoma ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

There are a number of complications associated with ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) surgery. The authors present a rare case of iatrogenic common carotid artery injury during VPS surgery.
Carotid Artery, Common* ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ventricular assist device(VAD) was developed for the bridge to cardiac transplantation, but the current research trends proceed to the purpose of bridge to cardiac recovery. We investigated the effects of long-term VAD implantation on the hemodynamic parameters related to the prognosis of heart failure by simulation to provide the preclinical and clinical applicability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A moving-actuator type artificial heart developed by Seoul National University Artificial Heart Laboratory was used as a model of biventricular assist device. We set initial values of hemodynamic parameters according to the guideline of VAD implantation, and performed simulation of the change of hemodynamic variables related to successful device weaning and the prognosis of heart failure. RESULTS: Cardiac indices (CIs) at 1 hour and 6 months after VAD implantation were 2.98 l/min/m2 and 2.60 l/min/m2, respectively. Systolic/diastolic/mean aorta pressure were 121/84/99 mmHg at 6 months after VAD implantation. During pump-off state at 6 month, each value of hemodynamic parameters were as follows: CI 2.53 l/min/m2, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure 10 mmHg, left ventricular end-diastolic volume 105 ml, left ventricular ejection fraction 0.58, mean aorta pressure 84 mmHg, end-systolic wall stress 108 kdyn/cm2. Peak rate of change of power(peak dPWR(t)/dt) was 5.62x108 dyneXcm/s2 after 6-month VAD implantation. In a real VAD-implanted patient, simulation data were partly compatible with real hemodynamic data, especially in the aspects of predicting VAD weaning. CONCLUSION:Long-term VAD implantation partially improved the values of hemodynamic parameters related to the prognosis, and this simulation results will provide the basic concept and applicability of clinical trial for end-stage heart failure.
Aorta ; Heart Failure* ; Heart Transplantation ; Heart* ; Heart, Artificial ; Heart-Assist Devices ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Seoul ; Stroke Volume ; Weaning

Objective: : The goal of the following statewide age and gender-coordinated cohort study in Korea is to find out if there is a link between acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: : Utilizing the National Health Insurance Sharing Service cohort, patient data were collected. Six thousand four hundred seventy-five individuals with PD were distinguished by utilizing the International Classification of Diseases 10 code G20 and have enrolled in the PD group. The number of participants decreased to 5259 after excluding 1039 patients who were hospitalized less than one time or who visited an outpatient clinic less than twice. Then, 26295 individuals were selected as part of the control group after case control matching was conducted through 1 : 5 age- and gender-coordinated matching. The Cox proportional hazard regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier method were utilized to analyze the likelihood of AMI in PD. Results: : After controlling for age and gender, the hazard ratio of AMI in the PD group was 3.603 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.837–4.577). After that, the following hazard ratio of AMI in the PD group was modified against for co-morbid medical disorders, resulting in 3.551 (95% CI, 2.795–4.511). According to a subgroup analysis, in males and females aged <65 and aged ≥65 and in the non-diabetes and diabetes, hypertension and non-hypertension, dyslipidemia and non-dyslipidemia subgroups, the AMI incidence rates were dramatically higher in the PD group compared to that of the control. Conclusion : Individuals with PD have a greater chance of AMI, according to this cross-national study.

Objective: The aim of this nationwide age- and sex- matched longitudinal follow up study is to determine the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD) associated with ischemic stroke in Korea. Methods: Patient data were collected from the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort (NHIS-HEALS). PD was identified using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10-CM code G 20. In total, 6,475 patients were enrolled in the PD group from the NHISS. After subtracting 1,039 patients who underwent hospitalization less than once or those who visited an outpatient clinic less than two times, 5,259 patients who were diagnosed after January 1, 2004 ultimately participated in this study. After case-control match was done through 1:5 age- and sex- stratified matching, 26,295 individuals were chosen as control. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis were performed to evaluate the risk of ischemic stroke in PD. Results: The hazard ratio of ischemic stroke in the PD group was 3.848 (95% confidence interval (confidence interval [CI]): 3.14-4.70) after adjusting for age and sex. The adjusted hazard ratio of ischemic stroke in PD group was 3.885 (95% CI: 3.17-4.75) after adjusting for comorbidities. According to subgroup analysis, in male and female and non-diabetes and diabetes and non-hypertension and hypertension and dyslipidemia and non-dyslipidemia subgroups, ischemic stroke incidence rates were significantly higher in the PD group than those in the control group. Conclusions This nationwide longitudinal study suggests an increased risk of ischemic stroke in PD patients.