A man visited the emergency room with a headache. Brain computed tomography showed aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and multiple aneurysms. After aneurysm clipping surgery, the patient was discharged. After 5 days, he was admitted to the hospital with skin ulceration and was diagnosed with Behcet syndrome. An angiogram taken 7 weeks after aneurysmal SAH showed intracranial vasospasm. Because inflammation in Behcet syndrome may aggravate intracranial vasospasm, intracranial vasospasm after aneurysmal SAH in Behcet syndrome should be monitored for longer compared to general aneurysmal SAH.
Aneurysm* ; Behcet Syndrome* ; Brain ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Headache ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Skin Ulcer ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Vasospasm, Intracranial

Although the pathogenesis of moyamoya disease (MMD) has not been fully elucidated, the effectiveness of surgical revascularization in preventing stroke has been addressed by many studies. The main mechanism of surgical revascularization is augmenting the intracranial blood flow using an external carotid system by either direct bypass or pial synangiosis. This can improve resting cerebral blood flow as well as vascular reserve capacity. For direct revascularization, the superficial temporal artery is used as the donor artery in most cases, although the occipital artery may be used in limited cases. Usually, the cortical branch of the middle cerebral artery is selected as the recipient of direct anastomosis. As for indirect revascularization, various techniques using different kinds of connective tissues have been introduced. In some cases, reinforcing the anterior cerebral artery and the posterior cerebral artery territories can be considered. The effectiveness of surgical revascularization for preventing ischemic stroke had been generally accepted by many studies. However, for preventing hemorrhagic stroke, new evidence has been added by a recent randomized controlled trial. The incidence of peri-operative complications such as stroke and hyperperfusion syndrome seems to be high due to the nature of the disease and technical demands for treatment. Preventing and adequately managing these complications are essential for ensuring the benefits of surgery.
Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Arteries ; Cerebral Revascularization ; Connective Tissue ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Moyamoya Disease* ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; Stroke ; Temporal Arteries ; Tissue Donors ; Treatment Outcome

Although the pathogenesis of moyamoya disease (MMD) has not been fully elucidated, the effectiveness of surgical revascularization in preventing stroke has been addressed by many studies. The main mechanism of surgical revascularization is augmenting the intracranial blood flow using an external carotid system by either direct bypass or pial synangiosis. This can improve resting cerebral blood flow as well as vascular reserve capacity. For direct revascularization, the superficial temporal artery is used as the donor artery in most cases, although the occipital artery may be used in limited cases. Usually, the cortical branch of the middle cerebral artery is selected as the recipient of direct anastomosis. As for indirect revascularization, various techniques using different kinds of connective tissues have been introduced. In some cases, reinforcing the anterior cerebral artery and the posterior cerebral artery territories can be considered. The effectiveness of surgical revascularization for preventing ischemic stroke had been generally accepted by many studies. However, for preventing hemorrhagic stroke, new evidence has been added by a recent randomized controlled trial. The incidence of peri-operative complications such as stroke and hyperperfusion syndrome seems to be high due to the nature of the disease and technical demands for treatment. Preventing and adequately managing these complications are essential for ensuring the benefits of surgery.
Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Arteries ; Cerebral Revascularization ; Connective Tissue ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Moyamoya Disease* ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; Stroke ; Temporal Arteries ; Tissue Donors ; Treatment Outcome

We report a rare case of an idiopathic pseudoaneurysm causing intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). A 28-year-old man presented with sudden onset of severe headache. He underwent external ventricular drainage for an isolated IVH in the right lateral ventricle. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed that the aneurysm (7.5x4.5 mm) arose from the distal part of the medial lenticulostriate artery. Following removal of the external ventricular drainage catheter, the aneurysm decreased in size (4.0x2.3 mm). However, follow-up DSA revealed a slightly enlarged aneurysm (4.2x3.2 mm) with morphologic change. The aneurysm was clipped via the interhemispheric transcallosal approach, but postoperative DSA revealed a residual aneurysm sac beside the clips. Given the risk of rebleeding, a second operation was planned for complete resection of the aneurysm. After revised craniotomy and careful dissection of the caudate nucleus, the aneurysm sac was completely resected. Histopathological examination revealed that the aneurysm was a pseudoaneurysm. The patient recovered without any neurological sequel and was discharged. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an idiopathic lenticulostriate artery pseudoaneurysm protruding into the right lateral ventricle and causing an IVH that was successfully treated with microsurgical resection.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, False ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Arteries ; Catheters ; Caudate Nucleus ; Craniotomy ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles

There have been a few studies reporting the epidemiology of moyamoya disease in Korea. Previous studies revealed relatively high prevalence and incidence of moyamoya disease in Korea and Japan. This study was designed to provide the latest epidemiologic information of moyamoya disease in Korea. We analyzed a database comprising of 50 million people covered in Korea by the National Health Insurance Service to calculate the prevalence. The incidence was estimated by eliminating the duplicated records of previous 3 years. We summarized the prevalence and incidence according to age, sex, and local distribution. In addition, the chronological changes were demonstrated with direct standardization using the 2010 population structure information. The standardized prevalence was 6.5 per 100000 persons in 2005, which was increased to 18.1 in 2013. In the same period, standardized incidence was increased from 2.7 to 4.3 per 100000 persons. The prevalence for men was 4.9 and 8.3 for women in 2005. In 2013, the prevalence had increased for men and women to 13.8 and 25.3, respectively. The incidence for men and women was 2.2 and 3.2, respectively, in 2005. It had increased to 3.5 and 5.7, respectively. The mean age of patients was 33.5 in 2005 and increased to 42.5 in 2013. The peak prevalent age group had shifted slightly to the older age groups, with chronologically consistent female predominance. The prevalence was highest in Jeollabuk province and lowest in Ulsan city.
Epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Japan ; Korea ; Male ; Moyamoya Disease* ; National Health Programs* ; Prevalence ; Ulsan

OBJECTIVE: To investigate nationwide statistics on flow-diverting stent usage for cerebral aneurysm treatment and related mortality data.METHODS: We requested data extraction from the National Health Insurance Service claims database using electronic data interchange codes (J3207064, J3207073). Patient and hospital information as well as death statistics were collected from the database.RESULTS: A total of 169 procedures were performed using flow-diverting stents for cerebral aneurysm treatment from November 2014 to December 2016 in Korea. The majority of primary diagnosis was unruptured intracranial aneurysm. During the study period, nine subjects died, including one patient initially diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The crude mortality rate was 5.3%. Five patients died within one month after the procedure; therefore, the estimated periprocedural mortality rate was 3.0±1.3%. The mortality rate as of the last day of 2016 was 6.3±2.1%.CONCLUSION: In a 171 person-year follow-up in a Korean series, nine deaths occurred after flow-diverting stent treatment. The crude mortality rate in Korea (5.3%) was higher than that reported in a previous meta-analysis (3.8%).
Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Korea ; Mortality ; National Health Programs ; Stents ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) was the third most common cause of death in South Korea in 2014. Evidence from abroad suggests that comprehensive stroke centers play an important role in improving the mortality rate of stroke. However, surgical treatment for CVD is currently slightly neglected by national policy, and there is still regional imbalance in this regard. For this reason, we conducted a survey on the necessity of, and the requirements for, establishing regional comprehensive cerebrovascular surgery centers (CCVSCs).METHODS: This investigation was performed using the questionnaire survey method. The questionnaire was consisted with two sections. The first concerned the respondent’s opinion regarding the current status of demand and the regional imbalance of cerebrovascular surgery in South Korea. The second section asked about the requirements for establishing regional CCVSCs. We sent the questionnaire to 100 board members of the Korean Society of Cerebrovascular Surgeons.RESULTS: Most experts agreed that cerebrovascular surgery patients were concentrated in large hospitals in the capital area, and 83.6% of respondents agreed that it was necessary to alleviate the regional imbalance of cerebrovascular surgery. With regards to personnel, over 90% of respondents answered that at least two neuro-vascular surgeons and two neuro-interventionists are necessary to establish a CCVSC. Regarding facilities, almost all respondents stated that each CCVSC would require a neuro-intensive care unit and hybrid operating room. The survey asked the respondents about 13 specific neurovascular surgical procedures and whether they were necessary for a regional CCVSC. In the questions about the necessity of cerebrovascular surgical equipment, all seven pieces of equipment were considered essential by all respondents. A further five pieces of equipment were considered necessary on site: computed tomographic angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, conventional angiography, surgical microscope, and surgical navigation. Our results may provide a basis for future policy regarding treatment of cerebrovascular disease, including surgery.CONCLUSION: Raising the comprehensiveness of treatment at a regional level would lower the national disease burden. Policies should be drafted regarding comprehensive treatment including surgery for cerebrovascular disease, and related support plans should be implemented.
Angiography ; Cause of Death ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Health Resources ; Humans ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Mortality ; Operating Rooms ; Patient Transfer ; Stroke ; Surgeons ; Surgical Equipment ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have reported on the effectiveness of fronto-lateral craniotomy in reducing the operating time and post-operative complications. However, no study has practically evaluated this method from the cosmetic point of view. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed this study for comparison of the clinical differences and cosmetic outcomes between the frontolateral craniotomy and the conventional pterional craniotomy for clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. We performed a retrospective analysis of the two groups based on their medical records and radiologic findings juxtaposed with their length of hospital stay, intensive care unit day and operation time, and the emergence of postoperative complication, mean size of aneurysm, and temporal depression. RESULTS: After careful comparison of the thickness of temporalis muscle between the craniotomy side and the contralateral side, the results clearly showed that the conventional pterional craniotomy group was asymmetric by a p value of 0.152 and the frontolateral craniotomy group was symmetric by a p value of 0.002. CONCLUSION: Frontolateral craniotomy could be a practical alternative for patients with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm in the anterior circulation including the posterior communicating artery, particularly those who are in a medically poor state or who highly demand minimal aesthetic mutilation.
Aneurysm* ; Arteries ; Craniotomy ; Depression ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is rare. Patients with SSEH, however, present disabling neurologic deficits. Clinical outcomes are variable among patients. To evaluate the adequate treatment method according to initial patients' neurological status and clinical outcome with comparison of variables affecting the clinical outcome. METHODS: We included 15 patients suffered from SSEH. Patients were divided into two groups by treatment method. Initial neurological status and clinical outcomes were assessed by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale. Also sagittal hematoma location and length of involved segment was analyzed with magnetic resonance images. Other factors such as age, sex, premorbid medication and duration of hospital stay were reviewed with medical records. Nonparametric statistical analysis and subgroup analysis were performed to overcome small sample size. RESULTS: Among fifteen patients, ten patients underwent decompressive surgery, and remaining five were treated with conservative therapy. Patients showed no different initial neurologic status between treatment groups. Initial neurologic status was strongly associated with neurological recovery (p=0.030). Factors that did not seem to affect clinical outcomes included : age, sex, length of the involved spinal segment, sagittal location of hematoma, premorbid medication of antiplatelets or anticoagulants, and treatment methods. CONCLUSION: For the management of SSEH, early decompressive surgery is usually recommended. However, conservative management can also be feasible in selective patients who present neurologic status as ASIA scale E or in whom early recovery of function has initiated with ASIA scale C or D.
Anticoagulants ; Asia ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Medical Records ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Recovery of Function ; Spinal Injuries

OBJECTIVE: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common form of extra axial hemorrhage in the elderly. A surgical procedures such as a burr hole trephination are used for the CSDH treatment. The recurrence rate of CSDH is reported to range from 2.3 to 33%. In the current study, we focused on the determination of risk factors associated with the recurrence of CSDH. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 368 consecutive patients with CSDH treated by burr hole trephination. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to describe the relationships between clinical and radiological factors as well as the recurrence of CSDH. RESULTS: Totally 31 (8.4%) patients experienced a recurrence of CSDH in our study. The male group (10.2%) had a higher recurrence rate than the female group (3.1%). Also patients with malignant neoplasm history showed a high recurrence rate (17.9%). The recurrence rate of single layer CSDH (13.1%) and isodensity CSDH (11.7%) was highly significant also. CONCLUSION: Sex, history of malignant neoplasm and the hematoma type on computed tomography were factors related with the recurrence of CSDH in our study. These findings may be supportive in the identification of patients at risk for a recurrence of CSDH.
Aged ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Trephining