Incidence of cranial nerve palsy after preoperative embolization of glomus jugulare tumors using Onyx

Object The resection of glomus jugulare tumors can be challenging because of their inherent vascularity. Preoperative embolization has been advocated as a means of reducing operative times, blood loss, and surgical complications. However, the incidence of cranial neuropathy associated with the embolization of these tumors has not been established. The authors of this study describe their experience with cranial neuropathy following transarterial embolization of glomus jugulare tumors using ethylene vinyl alcohol (Onyx, eV3 Inc.). Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed all cases of glomus jugulare tumors that had been treated with preoperative embolization using Onyx at their institution in the period from 2006 to 2012. Patient demographics, clinical presentation, grade and amount of Onyx used, degree of angiographic devascularization, and procedural complications were recorded. Results Over a 6-year period, 11 patients with glomus jugulare tumors underwent preoperative embolization with Onyx. All embolization procedures were completed in one session. The overall mean percent of tumor devascularization was 90.7%. No evidence of nontarget embolization was seen on postembolization angiograms. There were 2 cases (18%) of permanent cranial neuropathy attributed to the embolization procedures (facial nerve paralysis and lower cranial nerve dysfunction). Conclusions Embolizing glomus jugulare tumors with Onyx can produce a dramatic reduction in tumor vascularity. However, the intimate anatomical relationship and overlapping blood supply between these tumors and cranial nerves may contribute to a high incidence of cranial neuropathy following Onyx embolization.

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Jugular foramen tumors: diagnosis and treatment

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/foc.2004.17.2.5 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 31-40 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

Ricardo Ramina ◽

Joao Jarney Maniglia ◽

Yvens Barbosa Fernandes ◽

Jorge Rizzato Paschoal ◽

Leopoldo Nizan Pfeilsticker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Facial Nerve ◽

Skull Base ◽

Cranial Nerve ◽

Cranial Nerves ◽

Jugular Foramen ◽

Lower Cranial Nerve ◽

Nerve Paralysis ◽

Great Auricular Nerve ◽

Csf Leakage ◽

Nerve Anastomosis

Object Jugular foramen tumors are rare skull base lesions that present diagnostic and complex management problems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a series of patients with jugular foramen tumors who were surgically treated in the past 16 years, and to analyze the surgical technique, complications, and outcomes. Methods The authors retrospectively studied 102 patients with jugular foramen tumors treated between January 1987 and May 2004. All patients underwent surgery with a multidisciplinary method combining neurosurgical and ear, nose, and throat techniques. Preoperative embolization was performed for paragangliomas and other highly vascularized lesions. To avoid postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and to improve cosmetic results, the surgical defect was reconstructed with specially developed vascularized flaps (temporalis fascia, cervical fascia, sternocleidomastoid muscle, and temporalis muscle). A saphenous graft bypass was used in two patients with tumor infiltrating the internal carotid artery (ICA). Facial nerve reconstruction was performed with grafts of the great auricular nerve or with 12th/seventh cranial nerve anastomosis. Residual malignant and invasive tumors were irradiated after partial removal. The most common tumor was paraganglioma (58 cases), followed by schwannomas (17 cases) and meningiomas (10 cases). Complete excision was possible in 45 patients (77.5%) with paragangliomas and in all patients with schwannomas. The most frequent and also the most dangerous surgical complication was lower cranial nerve deficit. This deficit occurred in 10 patients (10%), but it was transient in four cases. Postoperative facial and cochlear nerve paralysis occurred in eight patients (8%); spontaneous recovery occurred in three of them. In the remaining five patients the facial nerve was reconstructed using great auricular nerve grafts (three cases), sural nerve graft (one case), and hypoglossal/facial nerve anastomosis (one case). Four patients (4%) experienced postoperative CSF leakage, and four (4.2%) died after surgery. Two of them died of aspiration pneumonia complicated with septicemia. Of the remaining two, one died of pulmonary embolism and the other of cerebral hypoxia caused by a large cervical hematoma that led to tracheal deviation. Conclusions Paragangliomas are the most common tumors of the jugular foramen region. Surgical management of jugular foramen tumors is complex and difficult. Radical removal of benign jugular foramen tumors is the treatment of choice, may be curative, and is achieved with low mortality and morbidity rates. Larger lesions can be radically excised in one surgical procedure by using a multidisciplinary approach. Reconstruction of the skull base with vascularized myofascial flaps reduces postoperative CSF leaks. Postoperative lower cranial nerves deficits are the most dangerous complication.

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Surgical Candidacy in Skull Base Paragangliomas: An Institutional Experience

Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1721201 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Govind Bhuskute ◽

Ravi Sankar Manogaran ◽

Amit Keshri ◽

Anant Mehrotra ◽

Neha Singh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skull Base ◽

Cranial Nerve ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Surgical Techniques ◽

Primary Data ◽

Team Approach ◽

Facial Nerve Paralysis ◽

Total Excision ◽

Lower Cranial Nerve ◽

Nerve Paralysis

Abstract Objective The aim of the study is to determine the surgical candidacy and nuances of skull base paraganglioma surgery in the era of radiotherapy. Methods This was a retrospective observational study conducted in patients who presented with skull base paragangliomas between January 2017 and December 2019. Primary data, including indication for surgery, the approach used, the extent of resection, complications, and postoperative lower cranial nerve status were studied. Results A total of 21 cases of skull base paragangliomas were analyzed, including seven cases of tympanic paraganglioma, 10 cases of jugular foramen paraganglioma, three cases of multiple paragangliomas, and one case of vagal paraganglioma. Indications for surgery were young age, bleeding from ear, neck mass with upper aerodigestive pressure symptoms, lower cranial nerve paralysis, and patients with intracranial pressure symptoms. Total excision was done in 11 patients, near-total excision in five patients, subtotal in three patients, and surgery was not done in two patients. Facial nerve paralysis was the most common complication observed, followed by bleeding and flap necrosis. Radiotherapy was considered as adjuvant treatment wherever indicated. Conclusion A thorough knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiology of the skull base paragangliomas and its management strategies can help to achieve excellent results in terms of tumor clearance and reduction in complications. A multidisciplinary team approach and meticulous skull base surgical techniques have a significant role to play in the management of paragangliomas, especially in developing countries where availability of radiosurgery is still a challenge.

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Resection of a Lower Clival Meningioma via Posterolateral Approach: Two-Dimensional Operative Video

Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B Skull Base ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1714407 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Pinar E. Ocak ◽

Selcuk Yilmazlar

Keyword(s):

Cranial Nerve ◽

Cranial Nerves ◽

Posterolateral Approach ◽

Left Vertebral Artery ◽

Posterior Arch ◽

Upper Cervical Spine ◽

Two Dimensional ◽

Lower Cranial Nerve ◽

Complex Anatomy ◽

Microsurgical Resection

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to demonstrate resection of a craniovertebral junction (CVJ) meningioma via the posterolateral approach. Design The study is designed with a two-dimensional operative video. Setting This study is conducted at department of neurosurgery in a university hospital. Participants A 50-year-old woman who presented with lower cranial nerve findings due to a left-sided lower clival meningioma (Fig. 1). Main Outcome Measures Microsurgical resection of the meningioma and preservation of the neurovascular structures. Results The patient was placed in park-bench position and a left-sided retrosigmoid suboccipital craniotomy, followed by C1 hemilaminectomy and unroofing the lip of the foramen magnum, was performed. The dural incision extended from the suboccipital region down to the posterior arch of C2 (Fig. 2). The arachnoid overlying the tumor was incised, revealing the course of the cranial nerve (CN) XI on the dorsolateral aspect of the tumor. The left vertebral artery (VA) was encased by the tumor which was originating from the dura below the jugular foramen. The mass was resected in a piecemeal fashion eventually. At the end of the procedure, all relevant cranial nerves and adjacent vascular structures were intact. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed total resection and the patient was discharged home on postoperative day 3 safely. Conclusions Microsurgical resection of the lesions of the CVJ are challenging as this transition zone between the cranium and upper cervical spine has a complex anatomy. Since adequate exposure of the extradural and intradural segments of the VA can be obtained by the posterolateral approach, this approach can be preferred in cases with tumors anterior to the VA or when the artery is encased by the tumor.The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/d3u5Qrc-zlM.

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Lower Cranial Nerve Palsies in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A 10-Case Series of Intensive Care Unit Patients

European Neurology ◽

10.1159/000519226 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Pierre Decavel ◽

Olympe Nahmias ◽

Carine Petit ◽

Laurent Tatu

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Prone Position ◽

Cranial Nerve ◽

Nerve Palsy ◽

Case Series ◽

University Hospital ◽

Cranial Neuropathy ◽

Lower Cranial Nerve ◽

Cranial Nerve Palsies

Introduction: A number of neurological complications of COVID-19 have been identified, including cranial nerve paralyses. We present a series of 10 patients with lower cranial nerve involvement after severe COVID-19 infection requiring hospitalization in an intensive care unit. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational study of patients admitted to the post-intensive care unit (p-ICU) of Besançon University Hospital (France) between March 16 and May 22, 2020. We included patients with confirmed COVID-19 and cranial neuropathy at admission to the p-ICU. All these patients were treated by orotracheal intubation, and all but one underwent prone-position ventilation therapy. Results: Of the 88 patients admitted to the p-ICU, 10 patients (11%) presented at least 1 cranial nerve palsy. Of these 10 patients, 9 had a hypoglossal nerve palsy and 8 of these also had a deficit in another cranial nerve. The most frequent association was between hypoglossal and vagal palsies (5 patients). None of the patients developed neurological signs related to a global neuropathy. We found no correlation between the intensity of the motor limb weakness and the occurrence of lower cranial nerve palsies. All but 2 of the patients recovered within less than a month. Conclusion: The mechanical compressive hypothesis, linked to the prone-position ventilation therapy, appears to be the major factor. The direct toxicity of SARS-CoV-2 and the context of immune dysfunction induced by the virus may be involved in a multifactorial etiology.

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Micro-neurosurgical excision of dumbbell shaped very large jugular foramen schwannoma

Bangladesh Journal of Otorhinolaryngology ◽

10.3329/bjo.v18i2.12015 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 183-192

Author(s):

Forhad H Chowdhury ◽

Mohammod R Haque ◽

Mahmudul Hasan

Keyword(s):

Cranial Nerve ◽

Cranial Nerves ◽

Young Male ◽

Carotid Bifurcation ◽

Short Review ◽

Jugular Foramen ◽

Lower Cranial Nerve ◽

Cranial Nerve Palsies ◽

Cervical Approach ◽

High Cervical

Introduction: Jugular foramen tumor is a rare tumor. Jugular foramen schwannoma is rarer. This type of tumor may present in combination of different cranial nerve palsies in the form of different syndromes or may also be diagnosed incidentally. Management of such tumor is not straight forward.Case reports: Two young male presented with headache, vomiting, gait instability, right sided hearing loss. Clinically they had different cranial nerves dysfunction. Imaging showed jugular foramen tumor extending from posterior fossa to almost common carotid bifurcation at neck in both cases. Near total microsurgical excisions of the tumor were done through retrosigmoid suboccipital plus transmastoid high cervical approach with facial nerve mobilization in one case and without mobilization in other case. In case 1 combination of lower cranial nerve palsies is unique with inclusion of VIII nerve and that does not belong to any of the jugular foramen syndromes (i.e. Vernet, Collet- Sicard, Villaret, Tapia, Schmidt, and Jackson). Here IX, X, XI, XII and VIII cranial palsies was present (i.e.Collet-Sicard syndrome plus VIII nerve syndrome!). In the second case there was IX & X dysfunction with VIII dysfunction. We also went through the short review of the literature here DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjo.v18i2.12015 Bangladesh J Otorhinolaryngol 2012; 18(2): 183-192

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Continuous electromyography monitoring of motor cranial nerves during cerebellopontine angle surgery

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/jns.2000.93.4.0586 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 93 (4) ◽

pp. 586-593 ◽

Cited By ~ 156

Author(s):

Johann Romstöck ◽

Christian Strauss ◽

Rudolf Fahlbusch

Keyword(s):

Detailed Analysis ◽

Cranial Nerve ◽

Cerebellopontine Angle ◽

Operative Procedure ◽

Cranial Nerves ◽

Postoperative Outcome ◽

Lower Cranial Nerve ◽

Content Type ◽

Lower Cranial Nerves ◽

Fine Print

Object. Electromyography (EMG) monitoring is expected to reduce the incidence of motor cranial nerve deficits in cerebellopontine angle surgery. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed analysis of intraoperative EMG phenomena with respect to their surgical significance.Methods. Using a system that continuously records facial and lower cranial nerve EMG signals during the entire operative procedure, the authors examined 30 patients undergoing surgery on acoustic neuroma (24 patients) or meningioma (six patients). Free-running EMG signals were recorded from muscles targeted by the facial, trigeminal, and lower cranial nerves, and were analyzed off-line with respect to waveform characteristics, frequencies, and amplitudes. Intraoperative measurements were correlated with typical surgical maneuvers and postoperative outcomes.Characteristic EMG discharges were obtained: spikes and bursts were recorded immediately following the direct manipulation of a dissecting instrument near the cranial nerve, but also during periods when the nerve had not yet been exposed. Bursts could be precisely attributed to contact activity. Three distinct types of trains were identified: A, B, and C trains. Whereas B and C trains are irrelevant with respect to postoperative outcome, the A train—a sinusoidal, symmetrical sequence of high-frequency and low-amplitude signals—was observed in 19 patients and could be well correlated with additional postoperative facial nerve paresis (in 18 patients).Conclusions. It could be demonstrated that the occurrence of A trains is a highly reliable predictor for postoperative facial palsy. Although some degree of functional worsening is to be expected postoperatively, there is a good chance of avoiding major deficits by warning the surgeon early. Continuous EMG monitoring is superior to electrical nerve stimulation or acoustic loudspeaker monitoring alone. The detailed analysis of EMG-waveform characteristics is able to provide more accurate warning criteria during surgery.

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Rehabilitation of Lower Cranial Nerve Dysfunction

Operative Techniques in Neurosurgery ◽

10.1053/j.otns.2005.07.001 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 50-53

Author(s):

Timothy D. Anderson ◽

Eva Michalakis ◽

Peter Catalano

Keyword(s):

Cranial Nerve ◽

Lower Cranial Nerve ◽

Cranial Nerve Dysfunction ◽

Nerve Dysfunction

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Complex tumors of the glomus jugulare: criteria, treatment, and outcome

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/foc.2004.17.2.14 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 1356-1366

Author(s):

Ossama Al-Mefty ◽

Aramis Teixeira

Keyword(s):

Malignant Tumor ◽

Cranial Nerve ◽

Treatment Plan ◽

Cranial Nerves ◽

Neurological Deficits ◽

Adrenal Tumors ◽

Glomus Jugulare ◽

Associated Lesions ◽

Vertebrobasilar Artery ◽

Lower Cranial Nerves

Object Tumors of the glomus jugulare are benign, slow-growing paragangliomas. Their natural history, surgical treatment, and outcome have been well addressed in the recent literature; however, there remains a subgroup of complex tumors—multiple, giant, malignant, neuropeptide-secreting lesions, and those treated previously by an intervention with an adverse outcome—that is high risk, presents surgical challenges, and is associated with treatment controversy. In this article the authors report on a series of patients with complex glomus jugulare tumors and focus on treatment decisions, avoidance of complications, surgical refinements, and patient outcomes. Methods In this retrospective study, the patient population was composed of 11 male and 32 female patients (mean age 47 years) with complex tumors of the glomus jugulare who were treated by the senior author within the past 20 years. These include 38 patients with giant tumors, 11 with multiple paragangliomas (seven bilateral and four ipsilateral), two with tumors that hypersecreted catecholamine, and one with a malignant tumor. Six patients had associated lesions: one dural arteriovenous malformation, one carotid artery (CA) aneurysm, two adrenal tumors, and two other cranial tumors. All but one patient presented with neurological deficits. Cranial nerve deficits, particularly those associated with the lower cranial nerves, were the prominent feature. Twenty-eight patients underwent resection in an attempt at total removal, and gross-total resection was achieved in 24 patients. Particularly challenging were cases in which the patient had undergone prior embolization or CA occlusion, after which new feeding vessels from the internal CA and vertebrobasilar artery circulation developed. The surgical technique was tailored to each patient and each tumor. It was modified to preserve facial nerve function, particularly in patients with bilateral tumors. Intrabulbar dissection was performed to increase the likelihood that the lower cranial nerves would be preserved. Each tumor was isolated to improve its resectability and prevent blood loss. No operative mortality occurred. In one patient hemiplegia developed postoperatively due to CA thrombosis, but the patient recovered after an endovascular injection of urokinase. In four patients a cerebrospinal fluid leak was treated through spinal drainage, and in five patients infection developed in the external ear canal. Two of these infections progressed to osteomyelitis of the temporal bone. There were two recurrences, one in a patient with a malignant tumor who eventually died of the disease. Conclusions Despite the challenges encountered in treating complex glomus jugulare tumors, resection is indicated and successful. Multiple tumors mandate a treatment plan that addresses the risk of bilateral cranial nerve deficits. The intra-bulbar dissection technique can be used with any tumor, as long as the tumor itself has not penetrated the wall of the jugular bulb or infiltrated the cranial nerves. Tumors that hypersecrete catecholamine require perioperative management and malignant tumors carry a poor prognosis.

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INCIDENCE OF CRANIAL NERVE PARALYSIS IN POLIOMYELITIS IN RELATION TO PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF TONSILS

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.21.1.106 ◽

1958 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 106-111

Author(s):

F. H. Top

Keyword(s):

Facial Nerve ◽

Rural Area ◽

Cranial Nerve ◽

Cranial Nerves ◽

Nerve Paralysis ◽

Cranial Nerve Paralysis ◽

Clinical Type ◽

Composite Study

A study of patients from a largely rural area in Iowa corroborates the evidence of many previous studies that bulbar and bulbospinal types of poliomyelitis occur more commonly in persons whose tonsils have been removed irrespective of the time in life the operation was performed. The tonsillectomy rate for all cases was the lowest encountered thus far. Agreement is not on the same level as noted in the author's Detroit composite study previously reported, and is more marked for bulbospinal than for the bulbar type of poliomyelitis (some studies combine bulbar and bulbospinal cases). Adjustment for age reduces differences between cases with tonsils absent and tonsils present by clinical type and further strengthens the finding of Paffenbarger and of the author's Detroit composite study that age must be reckoned with in an assessment of the problem. Incidence of paralyses of cranial nerves by tonsillectomy status is similar to the Detroit composite study in the case of palatal and pharyngeal paralyses but less strongly; incidence of paralysis of the facial nerve is dissimilar.

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Hypoglossal-Facial Nerve Anastomosis: A Meta-Analytic Study

Annals of Otology Rhinology & Laryngology ◽

10.1177/000348940711600710 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 116 (7) ◽

pp. 542-549 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Sertac Yetiser ◽

Ugur Karapinar

Keyword(s):

Facial Nerve ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Cranial Nerves ◽

Facial Nerve Paralysis ◽

Nerve Function ◽

Facial Nerve Function ◽

Reliable Technique ◽

Nerve Paralysis ◽

Nerve Anastomosis

Objectives: A meta-analysis was conducted on the outcome of facial nerve function after hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis in humans. The roles of the timing of and the underlying cause for surgery, the type of the repair, and previous facial nerve function in the final result were analyzed. Methods: Articles were identified by means of a PubMed search using the key words “facial-hypoglossal anastomosis,” which yielded 109 articles. The data were pooled from existing literature written in English or French. Twenty-three articles were included in the study after we excluded those that were technical reports, those describing anastomosis to cranial nerves other than the hypoglossal, and those that were experimental animal studies. Articles that reported facial nerve function after surgery and timing of repair were included. Facial nerve function had to be reported according to the House-Brackmann scale. If there was more than 1 article by the same author(s), only the most recent article and those that did not overlap and that matched the above criteria were accepted. The main parameter of interest was the rate of functional recovery of the facial nerve after anastomosis. This parameter was compared among all groups with Pearson's X2 test in the SPSS program for Windows. Statistical significance was set at a p level of less than .05. Results: Analysis of the reports indicates that early repair, before 12 months, provides a better outcome. The severity of facial nerve paralysis does not have a negative effect on prognosis. Gunshot wounds and facial neuroma are the worst conditions for favorable facial nerve recovery after anastomosis. Transection of the hypoglossal nerve inevitably results in ipsilateral tongue paralysis and atrophy. Modification of the anastomosis technique seems to resolve this problem. Nevertheless, the effect of modified techniques on facial reanimation is still unclear, because the facial nerve function results were lacking in these reports. Conclusions: Hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis is an effective and reliable technique that gives consistent and satisfying results.

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