Dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are uncommon, representing only 10% to 15% of all intracranial AVFs. Here we present the case of a patient with cerebral infarction who experienced a dural AVF after craniotomy for superficial temporal artery (STA) to middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass surgery. A 48-year-old man presented with dysarthria and right side hemiparesis. A brain magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed multiple acute infarctions and severe stenosis of the left MCA. Therefore, STA-MCA bypass surgery was performed. A follow-up angiography performed 2 weeks after the surgery showed an abnormal vascular channel from the left middle meningeal artery (MMA) to the middle meningeal vein (MMV) just anterior to the border of the craniotomy margin. This fistula originated from a screw used for cranial fixation. The screw injured the MMA and MMV, and this resulted in the formation of a fistula. The fistula was successfully treated with transarterial embolization. Surgeons should be careful when fixing bones with screws and plates as fistulas can develop if vessels are injured.
Angiography ; Brain ; Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebral Revascularization ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Craniotomy ; Dysarthria ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningeal Arteries ; Middle Aged ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Paresis ; Temporal Arteries* ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock is the most common cause of in-hospital mortality after acute myocardial infarction. Despite improvement in coronary care, the in-hospital mortality rate of cardiogenic shock is very high in conventional conservative therapy. Recently, it was suggested that coronary angioplasty may reduce the mortality associated with cardiogenic shock. METHOD: Thirteen consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock who underwent coronary angioplasty were studied. Shock was not induced by mechanical complications, arrhythmia, hypovolemia and other reversible cause. We collected and analyzed the clinical, hemodynamic survivor groups. RESULTS: Of 13 patients, 11 had successful reperfusion of the infarct-related coronary artery and 2 had unsuccessful reperfusion. Of 11 patients with successful angioplasty, 8 survived at the time of hospital discharge. All patents with unsuccessful angioplasty died in the hospital. Therefore overall hospital survival rate was 62% and the rate increased to 73% in patients with successful reperfusion. Survivor and non-survivor groups in clinical, hemodynamic and angiographic variables were similar except systolic blood pressure and the presence of successful reperfusion. CONCLUSION: In patients with cardiogenic shock, the patency of infarct-related coronary artery was strongly associated with in-hospital mortality. This findings support aggressive interventional strategy in patient with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction.
Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Pressure ; Coronary Vessels ; Hemodynamics ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Reperfusion ; Shock ; Shock, Cardiogenic* ; Survival Rate ; Survivors

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock is the most common cause of in-hospital mortality after acute myocardial infarction. Despite improvement in coronary care, the in-hospital mortality rate of cardiogenic shock is very high in conventional conservative therapy. Recently, it was suggested that coronary angioplasty may reduce the mortality associated with cardiogenic shock. METHOD: Thirteen consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock who underwent coronary angioplasty were studied. Shock was not induced by mechanical complications, arrhythmia, hypovolemia and other reversible cause. We collected and analyzed the clinical, hemodynamic survivor groups. RESULTS: Of 13 patients, 11 had successful reperfusion of the infarct-related coronary artery and 2 had unsuccessful reperfusion. Of 11 patients with successful angioplasty, 8 survived at the time of hospital discharge. All patents with unsuccessful angioplasty died in the hospital. Therefore overall hospital survival rate was 62% and the rate increased to 73% in patients with successful reperfusion. Survivor and non-survivor groups in clinical, hemodynamic and angiographic variables were similar except systolic blood pressure and the presence of successful reperfusion. CONCLUSION: In patients with cardiogenic shock, the patency of infarct-related coronary artery was strongly associated with in-hospital mortality. This findings support aggressive interventional strategy in patient with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction.
Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Pressure ; Coronary Vessels ; Hemodynamics ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Reperfusion ; Shock ; Shock, Cardiogenic* ; Survival Rate ; Survivors

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the pattern of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) in patients with bipolar disorders managed by lithium or valproic acid. METHODS: The study participants were 106 patients with DSM-IV bipolar disorders receiving planned maintenance treatment at the Mood Disorders Clinic of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (aged between 17 and 64, mean duration of follow-up = 875.65 days). Using the bipolar disorder registry, thyroid function data were analyzed to assess the frequency of and the risk factors for SCH in patients managed by lithium (n = 64) or valproic acid (n = 42) for more than 5 months. RESULTS: Overall frequencies of SCH were 20.3% (13/64) in the lithium group, 14.3% (6/42) in the valproic acid group, and between the two groups there is no difference (p = 0.43). No differences were observed in the potential risk factors for SCH between the two groups including age, sex, subtype of bipolar disorder, baseline TSH, and concomitant antipsychotic use. In cases with SCH, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) showed a tendency to increase at 3 month after the initiation of lithium or valproic acid. A gradual increase in the number of patients showing SCH was found within the first 3 years of medication. CONCLUSIONS: With regular monitoring and careful assessment, there was no difference in the risk of SCH between lithium and valproic acid maintenance. The risk of mood stabilizer-associated SCH may gradually increase within 3 years following the commencement of medication, thereby mandating close monitoring for the first 3 years of treatment. Further studies with large sample size would be needed to confirm these findings.
Bipolar Disorder* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism* ; Lithium* ; Mood Disorders ; Risk Factors ; Sample Size ; Seoul ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin ; Valproic Acid*

Various surgical procedures for the treatment of post-traumatic syringomyelia have been introduced recently, but most surgical strategies have been unreliable. We introduce the concept and technique of a new shunting procedure, syringo-subarachnoid-peritoneal shunt. A 54-year-old patient presented to our hospital with a progressive impairment of motion and position sense on the right side. Sixteen years before this admission, he had been treated by decompressive laminectomy for a burst fracture of L1. On his recent admission, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies of the whole spine revealed the presence of a huge syrinx extending from the medulla to the L1 vertebral level. We performed a syringo-subarachnoid-peritoneal shunt, including insertion of a T-tube into the syrinx, subarachnoid space and peritoneal cavity. Clinical manifestations and radiological findings improved after the operation. The syringo-subarachnoid-peritoneal shunt has several advantages. First, fluid can communicate freely between the syrinx, the subarachnoid space, and the peritoneal cavity. Secondly, we can prevent shunt catheter from migrating because dural anchoring of the T-tube is easy. Finally, we can perform shunt revision easily, because only one arm of the T-tube is inserted into the intraspinal syringx cavity. We think that this procedure is the most beneficial method among the various shunting procedures.
Arm ; Catheters ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Proprioception ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spine ; Subarachnoid Space ; Syringomyelia

No abstract available.
Hypoparathyroidism

Meningiomas are usually benign neoplasms in which extracranial metastases occur very rarely. We report a case of multiple extracranial metastases of an atypical meningioma following a local recurrence. A 68-year-old man presented with left-side motor weakness and dysarthria for two weeks. A computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an intraventricular tumor. We performed a total mass removal, and the histopathologic findings were consistent with benign meningioma. Eight months later, the meningioma recurred. We performed a reoperation and whole brain radiation therapy postoperatively. The histopathologic findings showed atypical meningioma. Six months later, CT and MRI revealed metastases to multiple vertebrae, lung, ribs and perirenal soft tissue so a decompressive laminectomy with mass removal was performed. The histopathologic findings of the spinal tumors showed atypical meningioma. The results from perirenal biopsies were consistent with metastatic meningioma. In conclusion, extracranial metastasis as well as local recurrence must be considered in atypical or anaplastic meningioma. There must be regular follow-ups. Finally, an evaluation of the chest, abdomen and bone is necessary, especially when related symptoms or signs develop.
Abdomen ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Dysarthria ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Lung ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningioma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Reoperation ; Ribs ; Spine ; Thorax

Spinal cord herniation is a rare condition that has become increasingly recognised in the last few years. The authors report a case of idiopathic spinal cord herniation in a 33 year old woman performed with progressive Brown-Sequard syndrome. The diagnosis was made on MR imaging. After repairing the herniation, the patient made a gradual improvement. Potential causes are discussed, including a possible role of dural defect. In conclusion, idiopathic spinal cord herniation is a potentially treatable condition that should be more readily diagnosed that increasing awareness and improved imaging techniques.
Brown-Sequard Syndrome* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Spinal Cord*

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed at the pathoanatomic correlates of depression and anxiety in acute stroke patients including subcortical lesion(periventricular hyperintensity, deep white matter hyperintensity, subcortical gray matter hyperintensity). METHODS: Sixty nine patients with acute stoke were recruited. Their brain lesions were measured using Brain MRI. Depressive or anxiety symptoms were rated by Beck depression inventory(BDI) or Beck anxiety inventory, respectively. RESULTS: There were significant correlation between depression and periventricular hyperintensity and deep white matter hyperintensity in acute stroke patients. There are no significant pathoanatomic correla- tions between anxiety and brain lesions on MRI. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the white matter lesion may increase the risk of depression after stroke. Prevention of asymptomatic cerebrovascular lesion could decrease the risk of depression in acute stroke patients as well as the risk of stroke.
Anxiety* ; Brain ; Depression* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Stroke*

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed at the pathoanatomic correlates of depression and anxiety in acute stroke patients including subcortical lesion(periventricular hyperintensity, deep white matter hyperintensity, subcortical gray matter hyperintensity). METHODS: Sixty nine patients with acute stoke were recruited. Their brain lesions were measured using Brain MRI. Depressive or anxiety symptoms were rated by Beck depression inventory(BDI) or Beck anxiety inventory, respectively. RESULTS: There were significant correlation between depression and periventricular hyperintensity and deep white matter hyperintensity in acute stroke patients. There are no significant pathoanatomic correla- tions between anxiety and brain lesions on MRI. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the white matter lesion may increase the risk of depression after stroke. Prevention of asymptomatic cerebrovascular lesion could decrease the risk of depression in acute stroke patients as well as the risk of stroke.
Anxiety* ; Brain ; Depression* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Stroke*