Transverse fracture of the clivus

1973 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 610-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob B. Sanders ◽  
Gary D. Vanderark

✓ Three young patients with transverse fracture of the clivus exhibited clinical findings of progressive cranial nerve palsies associated with a Horner's syndrome. Clinical and radiological findings of this syndrome are described.

1981 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven J. Goldstein ◽  
Phillip A. Tibbs

✓ A case of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) complicating cerebral arterial ectasia is reported. While ischemia and cranial nerve palsies are commonly associated with this condition, review of the literature reveals that SAH is exceedingly rare. The pathogenesis, radiographic findings, and clinical complications of cerebral arterial ectasia are discussed.


1990 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 513-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuo Hashimoto ◽  
Haruhiko Kikuchi

✓ The authors review their 2-year experience with a rhinoseptal transsphenoidal approach to skull-base tumors of various pathologies involving both the sphenoid and cavernous sinuses. Eight patients with cranial nerve palsies attributable to compression of the contents of the cavernous sinus and/or optic canal are included in this report. Among these patients, a total of 17 cranial nerves were affected. Postoperative normalization was achieved in eight nerves, significant improvement in seven nerves, and no improvement in two nerves. There were no operative complications of aggravation of cranial nerve palsies in this series. In spite of the limited operating field, the results demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of this approach. The authors recommend that this approach be considered before more aggressive surgery is undertaken.


1999 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 510-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Reisner ◽  
Gary S. Marshall ◽  
Kristina Bryant ◽  
Gregory C. Postel ◽  
Steven M. Eberly

✓ Pseudoaneurysm formation of the cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) is a rare, potentially lethal complication of deep neck space infection. This entity typically occurs following otolaryngological or upper respiratory tract infection. The pseudoaneurysm is heralded by a pulsatile neck mass, Horner's syndrome, lower cranial neuropathies, and/or hemorrhage that may be massive. The recommended treatment includes prompt arterial ligation.The authors present a case of pseudoaneurysm of the cervical ICA complicating a deep neck space infection. A parapharyngeal Staphylococcus aureus abscess developed in a previously healthy 6-year-old girl after she experienced pharyngitis. The abscess was drained via an intraoral approach. On postoperative Day 3, the patient developed a pulsatile neck mass, lethargy, ipsilateral Horner's syndrome, and hemoptysis, which resulted in hemorrhagic shock. Treatment included emergency endovascular occlusion of the cervical ICA and postembolization antibiotic treatment for 6 weeks. The patient has made an uneventful recovery as of her 18-month follow-up evaluation.Conclusions drawn from this experience and a review of the literature include the following: 1) mycotic pseudoaneurysms of the carotid arteries have a typical clinical presentation that should enable timely recognition; 2) these lesions occur more commonly in children than in adults; 3) angiography with a view to performing endovascular occlusion should be undertaken promptly; and 4) endovascular occlusion of the pseudoaneurysm is a viable treatment option.


1976 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 716-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney A. Rozario ◽  
Bennett M. Stein

✓ When halo-pelvic traction is applied at a rapid rate it may induce cranial nerve palsies. The sixth, ninth, and tenth cranial nerves appear to be the most vulnerable. A proposed etiology is the stretching of these nerves resulting in a compromised blood supply with a consequent temporary paralysis which usually improves within 8 to 10 weeks.


1978 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvyn M. Gelch

✓ A case of symptomatic herniation at the first thoracic disc level is reported. The patient presented with hand weakness, Horner's syndrome, and pain radiating along the medial aspect of the upper extremity. Myelography demonstrated a smooth lateral defect at T1–2. Three sequestrated epidural disc fragments were removed with postoperative relief of pain. A slightly miotic pupil remains.


1974 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 264-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew R. Turnbull

✓ A case of cerebellar hemangioblastoma is presented in which multiple false localizing signs caused difficulty in the clinical localization of the lesion. The mode of presentation and pathogenesis of these signs are briefly discussed, and the observation made that the ninth and tenth cranial nerve palsies recorded in this case rarely lead to false localization.


1986 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc R. Mayberg ◽  
Lindsay Symon

✓ Between March, 1966, and June, 1985, 23 women and 12 men underwent partial or total resection of apical petrous or clivus meningiomas at The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases. Presenting symptoms were typically of long duration (mean 29 months) and consisted primarily of gait disturbance, headache, hearing loss, and facial pain. Cranial nerve deficits, especially affecting the fifth, seventh, and eighth nerves, were observed in nearly every patient. Tumor size, but not location, was generally associated with degree of preoperative disability. Plain skull films were usually unremarkable, but computerized tomography (CT) proved highly accurate in determining tumor location and size. A characteristic pattern of vascular displacement was seen on vertebral angiograms, although blood supply to the tumors was derived primarily from branches of the internal and external carotid arteries. Subtotal or total resection was undertaken in all cases; nine patients required adjunctive cerebrospinal fluid shunting procedures. Although surgical techniques evolved during the course of the 20-year study, a combined supra- and infratentorial approach proved a relatively safe and effective means of surgical treatment. New or worsened postoperative deficits, especially cranial nerve palsies, and complications in the immediate postoperative period frequently resulted in temporary deterioration of the clinical status during this period; the total operative mortality rate was 9%. Follow-up periods ranged up to 9 years; 70% of patients resumed an independent existence, and none is known to have required subsequent tumor surgery. The size of the lesion was the only significant factor in determining outcome. These data suggest that meningiomas of the clivus and apical petrous bone can be accurately diagnosed by CT and three-vessel angiography, and effectively treated by microsurgical resection.


1984 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 172-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Rosa ◽  
Mark Carol ◽  
Roberto Bellegarrigue ◽  
Thomas B. Ducker

✓ The case of a patient with multiple bilateral cranial nerve palsies and spinal cord sparing secondary to a stable hyperextension injury to C-1 is presented.


2001 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 825-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madjid Samii ◽  
Rama Eghbal ◽  
Gustavo Adolpho Carvalho ◽  
Cordula Matthies

Object. A careful retrospective analysis of 36 cases was performed to evaluate the pre- and postoperative rates of morbidity that occur in patients with brainstem cavernous angiomas. Methods. The authors evaluated immediate postoperative and follow-up outcomes with regard to clinical findings, the incidence of preoperative hemorrhage(s), location and size of the lesions, and the timing of the surgical procedure after the last hemorrhagic event. Specifically, the following parameters were analyzed: 1) number of hemorrhages; 2) the precise brainstem location (pontomesencephalic, pons, and medulla oblongata); 3) pre- and postoperative cranial nerve status; 4) pre- and postoperative motor and sensory deficits; 5) size (volume) of the lesions; and 6) pre- and postoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) scores. Multiple hemorrhages were observed in 16 patients, particularly in those with pontomesencephalic cavernous angiomas (75%). The mean preoperative KPS score was 70.3 ± 16.3 (± standard deviation). Twenty-six patients (72.2%) presented with cranial nerve impairment, 13 (36.1%) with motor deficits, and 17 (47.2%) with sensory disturbance. Volume of the lesions ranged from 0.18 to 18.18 cm3 (mean 4.75 cm3). Postoperative complications included new cranial nerve deficits in 17 patients, motor deficits in three, and new sensory disturbances in 12 patients. In a mean follow-up period of 21.5 months, KPS scores were 80 to 100 in 22 patients. Timing of surgery (posthemorrhage) and multiple hemorrhages did not influence the long-term results. Higher preoperative KPS scores and smaller-volume lesions, however, were factors associated with a better final outcome (p < 0.05). Major morbidity was related mainly to preoperative status and less to surgical treatment. The incidence of new postoperative cranial nerve deficits was clearly lower than that demonstrated preoperatively because of the brainstem hemorrhages. Conclusions. Based on these findings, resection of brainstem cavernomas is the treatment of choice in the majority of these cases because of the high incidence of morbidity related to one or often several brainstem hemorrhages.


2004 ◽  
Vol 101 (Supplement3) ◽  
pp. 362-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. Selch ◽  
Alessandro Pedroso ◽  
Steve P. Lee ◽  
Timothy D. Solberg ◽  
Nzhde Agazaryan ◽  
...  

Object. The authors sought to assess the safety and efficacy of stereotactic radiotherapy when using a linear accelerator equipped with a micromultileaf collimator for the treatment of patients with acoustic neuromas. Methods. Fifty patients harboring acoustic neuromas were treated with stereotactic radiotherapy between September 1997 and June 2003. Two patients were lost to follow-up review. Patient age ranged from 20 to 76 years (median 59 years), and none had neurofibromatosis. Forty-two patients had useful hearing prior to stereotactic radiotherapy. The fifth and seventh cranial nerve functions were normal in 44 and 46 patients, respectively. Tumor volume ranged from 0.3 to 19.25 ml (median 2.51 ml). The largest tumor dimension varied from 0.6 to 4 cm (median 2.2 cm). Treatment planning in all patients included computerized tomography and magnetic resonance image fusion and beam shaping by using a micromultileaf collimator. The planning target volume included the contrast-enhancing tumor mass and a margin of normal tissue varying from 1 to 3 mm (median 2 mm). All tumors were treated with 6-MV photons and received 54 Gy prescribed at the 90% isodose line encompassing the planning target volume. A sustained increase greater than 2 mm in any tumor dimension was defined as local relapse. The follow-up duration varied from 6 to 74 months (median 36 months). The local tumor control rate in the 48 patients available for follow up was 100%. Central tumor hypodensity occurred in 32 patients (67%) at a median of 6 months following stereotactic radiotherapy. In 12 patients (25%), tumor size increased 1 to 2 mm at a median of 6 months following stereotactic radiotherapy. Increased tumor size in six of these patients was transient. In 13 patients (27%), tumor size decreased 1 to 14 mm at a median of 6 months after treatment. Useful hearing was preserved in 39 patients (93%). New facial numbness occurred in one patient (2.2%) with normal fifth cranial nerve function prior to stereotactic radiotherapy. New facial palsy occurred in one patient (2.1%) with normal seventh cranial nerve function prior to treatment. No patient's pretreatment dysfunction of the fifth or seventh cranial nerve worsened after stereotactic radiotherapy. Tinnitus improved in six patients and worsened in two. Conclusions. Stereotactic radiotherapy using field shaping for the treatment of acoustic neuromas achieves high rates of tumor control and preservation of useful hearing. The technique produces low rates of damage to the fifth and seventh cranial nerves. Long-term follow-up studies are necessary to confirm these findings.


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