Evaluation of the central canal of the spinal cord in experimentally induced hydrocephalus

1978 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 970-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Everette James ◽  
William J. Flor ◽  
Gary R. Novak ◽  
Ernst-Peter Strecker ◽  
Barry Burns
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Experimental Model ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Central Canal ◽  
Communicating Hydrocephalus ◽  
Csf Flow ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Histological Appearance ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The central canal of the spinal cord has been proposed as a significant compensatory alternative pathway of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in hydrocephalus. Ten dogs were made hydrocephalic by a relatively atraumatic experimental model that simulates the human circumstance of chronic communicating hydrocephalus. The central canal was studied by histopathology and compared with 10 normal control dogs. In both groups the central canal of the spinal cord was normal in size, configuration, and histological appearance. In this experimental model dilatation of the canal and increased movement of CSF does not appear to be a compensatory alternative pathway.

The spinal cord central canal: response to experimental hydrocephalus and canal occlusion

1972 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 416-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald P. Becker ◽  
Jimmy A. Wilson ◽  
G. William Watson
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Neural Tube ◽  
Central Canal ◽  
Filum Terminale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Experimental Hydrocephalus ◽  
Increased Pressure ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The central canal of the spinal cord was studied with canal occlusion alone, and in experimental (kaolin) hydrocephalus without and with central canal occlusion. Massive dilatation of the canal occurred with kaolin hydrocephalus. Syrinxes extending into the gray and white matter of the cord and communicating with the central canal developed in both the upper and lower spinal cord. The completely isolated central canal (occlusion at the obex and filum terminale) did not dilate, but remained patent. Canal occlusion at the obex and filum terminale completely protected the spinal cord from central canal dilatation or syrinxes in kaolin hydrocephalus. These findings suggest that the choroid plexus is responsible for producing neural tube dilatation in hydrocephalus. It also supports the concept that syringomyelia results from inadequate drainage of cerebrospinal fluid and increased pressure (or pulse pressure) in the spinal cord central canal.

Stenosis of the central canal of the spinal cord following inoculation of suckling hamsters with reovirus type I

1994 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas H. Milhorat ◽  
René M. Kotzen
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Central Canal ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Type I ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Spinal Cord ◽  
Reovirus Type ◽  
Infectivity Titer ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The central canal of the human spinal cord is partially or completely occluded in the vast majority of individuals by the early years of adult life. The authors describe an experimental lesion following virus-induced ependymitis that bears a striking resemblance to the condition in man. Suckling hamsters were inoculated with 0.06 ml of 10−3 infectivity titer of reovirus type I between the 2nd and 5th days of life. The pathological events consisted of necrotizing ependymitis, healing of the ependyma by gliovascular scarring, and obstruction of narrow bottlenecks such as the central canal. Histological findings were characterized by disorganization of the ependyma, formation of ependymal rosettes and microtubules, subependymal gliovascular scarring, and intracanalicular gliosis. These features are the same as those encountered clinically and provide strong evidence that stenosis of the central canal in man is a pathological lesion involving ependymal injury and scarring.

Intrathecal phenol and glycerin in metrizamide for treatment of intractable spasms in paraplegia

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett A. Scott ◽  
Zelig Weinstein ◽  
Robert Chiteman ◽  
Morris W. Pulliam
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Intrathecal Injection ◽  
Fluoroscopic Guidance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Therapeutic Modalities ◽  
Comparative Review ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Intractable lower extremity spasms after spinal cord injury is a significant source of morbidity. A case of refractory spasticity in paraplegia was successfully converted to flaccid paraplegia by intrathecal injection of phenol and glycerin in metrizamide. This chemical rhizolysis is simple and effective, and the presence of metrizamide allows both fluoroscopic guidance for accurate intrathecal phenol placement and good miscibility with cerebrospinal fluid. A brief comparative review of alternative therapeutic modalities is presented.

Analysis of aqueductal cerebrospinal fluid flow after endoscopic aqueductoplasty by using cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging

2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry W. S. Schroeder ◽  
Christiane Schweim ◽  
Klaus H. Schweim ◽  
Michael R. Gaab
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Mr Imaging ◽  
Healthy Volunteers ◽  
Phase Contrast ◽  
Aqueductal Stenosis ◽  
Csf Flow ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Endoscopic Aqueductoplasty ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate aqueductal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow after endoscopic aqueductoplasty. In all patients, preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed hydrocephalus caused by aqueductal stenosis and lack of aqueductal CSF flow.Methods. In 14 healthy volunteers and in eight patients with aqueductal stenosis who had undergone endoscopic aqueductoplasty, aqueductal CSF flow was investigated using cine cardiac-gated phase-contrast MR imaging. For qualitative evaluation of CSF flow, the authors used an in-plane phase-contrast sequence in the midsagittal plane. The MR images were displayed in a closed-loop cine format. Quantitative through-plane measurements were performed in the axial plane perpendicular to the aqueduct. Evaluation revealed no significant difference in aqueductal CSF flow between healthy volunteers and patients with regard to temporal parameters, CSF peak and mean velocities, mean flow, and stroke volume. All restored aqueducts have remained patent 7 to 31 months after surgery.Conclusions. Aqueductal CSF flow after endoscopic aqueductoplasty is similar to aqueductal CSF flow in healthy volunteers. The data indicate that endoscopic aqueductoplasty seems to restore physiological aqueductal CSF flow.

Hydrosyringomyelia of the conus medullaris associated with a thoracic meningioma

1981 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 833-835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell L. Blaylock
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Central Canal ◽  
Conus Medullaris ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The case of a 73-year-old woman found to have hydrosyringomyelia associated with a lower thoracic meningioma is reported. Possible mechanisms for the formation of the hydrosyrinx are discussed, with particular attention being paid to the possibility of transmural passage of cerebrospinal fluid into the central canal.

Cervical spinal cord in experimental hydrocephalus

1972 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 538-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
George J. Dohrmann
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Brain Stem ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Central Canal ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Experimental Hydrocephalus ◽  
Physiological Pressure ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Shunting Procedure ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Adult dogs were rendered hydrocephalic by the injection of kaolin into the cisterna magna. One group of dogs was sacrificed 1 month after kaolin administration, and ventriculojugular shunts were performed on the other group. Hydrocephalic dogs with shunts were sacrificed 1 day or 1 week after the shunting procedure. All dogs were perfused with formalin at physiological pressure, and the brain stem and cervical spinal cord were examined by light microscopy. Subarachnoid granulomata encompassed the superior cervical spinal cord and dependent surface of the brain stem. Rarefaction of the posterior white columns and clefts or cavities involving the gray matter posterior to the central canal and/or posterior white columns were present in the spinal cords of both hydrocephalic and shunted hydrocephalic dogs. Predominantly in the dogs with shunts, hemorrhages were noted in the spinal cord in association with the clefts or cavities. A mechanism of ischemia followed by reflow of blood is postulated to explain the hemorrhages in the spinal cords of hydrocephalic dogs with shunts.

Ventricular perfusion in cats with kaolin-induced hydrocephalus

1974 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard M. Eisenberg ◽  
James E. McLennan ◽  
Keasley Welch
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Subarachnoid Space ◽  
Central Canal ◽  
Ventricular System ◽  
Ventricular Pressure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lateral Ventricles ◽  
Spinal Subarachnoid Space ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Cats were made hydrocephalic by cisternal instillation of kaolin. Three to 8 weeks later it was found by perfusion between the ventricular system and the spinal subarachnoid space that communication had been reestablished through a demonstrably dilated central canal of the spinal cord. Absorption of fluid from the ventricular system, measured both by ventriculospinal perfusion and, after ligation of the spinal cord, by perfusion between the lateral ventricles, was found to be indistinguishable from zero over a wide range of ventricular pressure.

Effect of vasodilators and myelotomy on recovery after acute spinal cord injury in rats

1979 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex S. Rivlin ◽  
Charles H. Tator
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Quantitative Method ◽  
Cord Compression ◽  
Central Canal ◽  
Compression Injury ◽  
Dorsal Midline ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Spinal Cord Function ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The effect of papaverine, nitroprusside, or myelotomy on the recovery of spinal cord function was studied in rats after acute cord-compression injury. Spinal cord recovery was measured by a quantitative method of clinical assessment previously developed in our laboratory. Neither papaverine nor nitroprusside improved recovery of cord function. Dorsal midline myelotomy extending anteriorly as far as the central canal did not produce significant improvement (p > 0.05). However, when the myelotomy extended completely through the cord in the anteroposterior plane significant improvement (p < 0.01) was obtained.

Human arachnoid villi response to subarachnoid hemorrhage: possible relationship to chronic hydrocephalus

1999 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Massicotte ◽  
Marc R. Del Bigio
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Cellular Proliferation ◽  
Communicating Hydrocephalus ◽  
Csf Flow ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Arachnoid Villi ◽  
Cell Accumulation ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The origin of chronic communicating hydrocephalus following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is not well understood. Fibrosis of the arachnoid villi has been suggested as the cause for obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow, but this is not well supported in the literature. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between blood, inflammation, and cellular proliferation in arachnoid villi after SAH.Methods. Arachnoid villi from 50 adult patients were sampled at autopsy. All specimens were subjected to a variety of histochemical and immunohistochemical stains. The 23 cases of SAH consisted of patients in whom an autopsy was performed 12 hours to 34 years post-SAH. Fifteen cases were identified as moderate-to-severe SAH, with varying degrees of hydrocephalus. In comparison with 27 age-matched non-SAH controls, the authors observed blood and inflammation within the arachnoid villi during the 1st week after SAH. Greater mitotic activity was also noted among arachnoid cap cells. The patient with chronic SAH presented with ventriculomegaly 2 months post-SAH and exhibited remarkable arachnoid cap cell accumulation.Conclusions. The authors postulate that proliferation of arachnoidal cells, triggered by the inflammatory reaction or blood clotting products, could result in obstruction of CSF flow through arachnoid villi into the venous sinuses. This does not exclude the possibility that SAH causes generalized fibrosis in the subarachnoid space.

Primary spinal syringomyelia

2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 429-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Batzdorf
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Craniovertebral Junction ◽  
Arachnoid Cysts ◽  
Spinal Cord Tumors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Fine Print

✓ In the present review the author describes the different types of syringomyelia that originate from abnormalities at the level of the spinal cord rather than at the craniovertebral junction. These include posttraumatic and postinflammatory syringomyelia, as well as syringomyelia associated with arachnoid cysts and spinal cord tumors. The diagnosis and the principles of managing these lesions are discussed, notably resection of the entity restricting cerebrospinal fluid flow. Placement of a shunt into the syrinx cavity is reserved for patients in whom other procedures have failed or who are not candidates for other procedures.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document