Rapid development of an intranidal aneurysm with perifocal brain edema in an unruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformation

2002 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 1436-1440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsuya Akabane ◽  
Hidefumi Jokura ◽  
Kuniaki Ogasawara ◽  
Kou Takahashi ◽  
Kazuyuki Sugai ◽  
...  

✓ The authors present the case of a 22-year-old man with an unruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in which an intranidal aneurysm had grown in the course of 3 months and was complicated by perifocal brain edema. A left parietal AVM was incidentally diagnosed on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. No aneurysms were noted on cerebral angiograms obtained simultaneously. Three months later, T2-weighted MR imaging revealed perifocal brain edema (increased signal intensity in the brain parenchyma adjacent to the nidus). An aneurysm-like signal void was demonstrated in the center of the high-signal area, but no previous hemorrhages could be detected. Angiographic studies revealed an intranidal aneurysm 4 mm in diameter projecting anterolaterally from the nidus. Surgical removal was performed without incident, and no neurological deficits or postoperative complications were observed. An MR image obtained 2 weeks postsurgery revealed complete resolution of the perifocal brain edema. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of an unruptured AVM in which an intranidal aneurysm with perifocal brain edema developed rapidly (within a few months).

1975 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 661-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles G. Drake

✓ The author reports his surgical experience with five cases of arteriovenous malformation of the brain stem and cerebellopontine angle causing multiple hemorrhages and severe neurological deficits. Surgical removal of the lesions had good results in four cases; there was one death.


2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 68-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Hugues Roche ◽  
Jean Régis ◽  
Henry Dufour ◽  
Henri-Dominique Fournier ◽  
Christine Delsanti ◽  
...  

Object. The authors sought to assess the functional tolerance and tumor control rate of cavernous sinus meningiomas treated by gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS). Methods. Between July 1992 and October 1998, 92 patients harboring benign cavernous sinus meningiomas underwent GKS. The present study is concerned with the first 80 consecutive patients (63 women and 17 men). Gamma knife radiosurgery was performed as an alternative to surgical removal in 50 cases and as an adjuvant to microsurgery in 30 cases. The mean patient age was 49 years (range 6–71 years). The mean tumor volume was 5.8 cm3 (range 0.9–18.6 cm3). On magnetic resonance (MR) imaging the tumor was confined in 66 cases and extensive in 14 cases. The mean prescription dose was 28 Gy (range 12–50 Gy), delivered with an average of eight isocenters (range two–18). The median peripheral isodose was 50% (range 30–70%). Patients were evaluated at 6 months, and at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 years after GKS. The median follow-up period was 30.5 months (range 12–79 months). Tumor stabilization after GKS was noted in 51 patients, tumor shrinkage in 25 patients, and enlargement in four patients requiring surgical removal in two cases. The 5-year actuarial progression-free survival was 92.8%. No new oculomotor deficit was observed. Among the 54 patients with oculomotor nerve deficits, 15 improved, eight recovered, and one worsened. Among the 13 patients with trigeminal neuralgia, one worsened (contemporary of tumor growing), five remained unchanged, four improved, and three recovered. In a patient with a remnant surrounding the optic nerve and preoperative low vision (3/10) the decision was to treat the lesion and deliberately sacrifice the residual visual acuity. Only one transient unexpected optic neuropathy has been observed. One case of delayed intracavernous carotid artery occlusion occurred 3 months after GKS, without permanent deficit. Another patient presented with partial complex seizures 18 months after GKS. All cases of tumor growth and neurological deficits observed after GKS occurred before the use of GammaPlan. Since the initiation of systematic use of stereotactic MR imaging and computer-assisted modern dose planning, no more side effects or cases of tumor growth have occurred. Conclusions. Gamma knife radiosurgery was found to be an effective low morbidity—related tool for the treatment of cavernous sinus meningioma. In a significant number of patients, oculomotor functional restoration was observed. The treatment appears to be an alternative to surgical removal of confined enclosed cavernous sinus meningioma and should be proposed as an adjuvant to surgery in case of extensive meningiomas.


2002 ◽  
Vol 97 ◽  
pp. 600-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chihiro Ohye ◽  
Tohru Shibazaki ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Yoshitaka Andou

Object. The treatment of Parkinson disease and other kinds of involuntary movement by gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) is presented. This is an extension of previous work. The clinical course and thalamic lesions were the main factors examined. Methods. Seventeen new cases were added to the previously reported 36 cases. The course and results for the whole series of 53 patients were examined. Treatment was undertaken using a single 4-mm collimator shot to deliver 130 Gy to the target. The target was determined in the previously treated patients by using classic methods involved in conventional stereotactic thalamotomy with microrecording. More recently, target localization has been performed by relating the target point to the total length of the thalamus. Points may then be defined as percentages of that length measured from the anterior pole. Targets can then be determined in relationship to the appropriate percentage. Thirty-five patients have been followed for more than 2 years and the longest follow up was 8 years. Two kinds of thalamic lesion were seen after GKS. Volumetric analysis on MR imaging revealed that the larger lesion was 400 to 500 mm3 at the beginning and gradually decreased in size. The smaller lesion occupied approximately 200 mm3 and also shrank over several months. Eighty percent of the treated cases showed good results and no significant complications, with the tremor subsiding at 1 year (Type 1). Several cases deviated from this standard course in four different ways (Types 2–5). If tremor persisted, conventional stereotactic thalamotomy with microrecording was performed. During such operations, normal neuronal activity was recorded from the region adjacent to the GKS thalamotomy target. This was the region showing a high signal on MR imaging. The activity patterns included the rhythmical grouped discharge of tremor rhythm. Conclusions. Gamma thalamotomy for functional disorders is still under development, but because the results with careful target planning are satisfactory, there are grounds for increasing optimism.


1996 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 962-971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tohru Mizutani

✓ A long-term follow-up study (minimum duration 2 years) was made of 13 patients with tortuous dilated basilar arteries. Of these, five patients had symptoms related to the presence of such arteries. Symptoms present at a very early stage included vertebrobasilar insufficiency in two patients, brainstem infarction in two patients, and left hemifacial spasm in one patient. Initial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in serial slices of basilar arteries obtained from the five symptomatic patients showed an intimal flap or a subadventitial hematoma, both of which are characteristic of a dissecting aneurysm. In contrast, the basilar arteries in the eight asymptomatic patients did not show particular findings and they remained clinically and radiologically silent during the follow-up period. All of the lesions in the five symptomatic patients gradually grew to fantastic sizes, with progressive deterioration of the related clinical symptoms. Dilation of the basilar artery was consistent with hemorrhage into the “pseudolumen” within the laminated thrombus, which was confirmed by MR imaging studies. Of the five symptomatic patients studied, two died of fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and two of brainstem compression; the fifth patient remains alive without neurological deficits. In the three patients who underwent autopsy, a definite macroscopic double lumen was observed in both the proximal and distal ends of the aneurysms within the layer of the thickening intima. Microscopically, multiple mural dissections, fragmentation of internal elastic lamina (IEL), and degeneration of media were diffusely observed in the remarkably extended wall of the aneurysms. The substantial mechanism of pathogenesis and enlargement in the symptomatic, highly tortuous dilated artery might initially be macroscopic dissection within a thickening intima and subsequent repetitive hemorrhaging within a laminated thrombus in the pseudolumen combined with microscopic multiple mural dissections on the basis of a weakened IEL. The authors note and caution that symptomatic, tortuous dilated basilar arteries cannot be overlooked because they include a group of malignant arteries that may grow rapidly, resulting in a fatal course.


1973 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben B. Scott ◽  
Joachim F. Seeger ◽  
Richard C. Schneider

✓ A posterior fossa exploration was performed on a child thought initially to have an inoperable brain stem lesion. A pontine hematoma was discovered and evacuated. The pathological specimen was designated as a “cryptic” arteriovenous malformation. All preoperative neurological deficits disappeared except for a minimal left seventh nerve palsy.


2001 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Morandi ◽  
Laurent Riffaud ◽  
Beatrice Carsin-Nicol ◽  
Yvon Guegan

✓ The authors report a case of infra- and supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage complicating the postoperative course of a patient who had undergone surgical removal of a cervical schwannoma with an hourglass configuration. To their knowledge, this is the first case in which this neurosurgical procedure was followed by such a complication. Possible mechanisms are discussed; however, pathological events leading to this complication are unclear. The development of new neurological deficits not attributable to the surgical procedure should suggest this possibility.


1990 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul C. McCormick ◽  
Roland Torres ◽  
Kalmon D. Post ◽  
Bennett M. Stein

✓ A consecutive series of 23 patients underwent operative removal of an intramedullary spinal cord ependymoma between January, 1976, and September, 1988. Thirteen women and 10 men between the age of 19 and 70 years experienced symptoms for a mean of 34 months preceding initial diagnosis. Eight patients had undergone treatment prior to tumor recurrence and referral. Mild neurological deficits were present in 22 patients on initial examination. The location of the tumors was predominantly cervical or cervicothoracic. Radiological evaluation revealed a wide spinal cord in all cases. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was the single most important radiological procedure. At operation, a complete removal was achieved in all patients. No patient received postoperative radiation therapy. Histological examination revealed a benign ependymoma in all cases. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 159 months (mean 62 months) with seven patients followed for a minimum of 10 years after surgery. Fourteen patients underwent postoperative MR imaging at intervals ranging from 8 months to 10 years postoperatively. No patient has been lost to follow-up review and there were no deaths. No patient showed definite clinical or radiological evidence of tumor recurrence during the follow-up period. Recent neurological evaluation revealed functional improvement from initial preoperative clinical status in eight patients, no significant change in 12 patients, and deterioration in three patients. The data support the belief that long-term disease-free control of intramedullary spinal ependymomas with acceptable morbidity may be achieved utilizing microsurgical removal alone.


1998 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 1029-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wouter I. Schievink ◽  
Paul J. Apostolides ◽  
Robert F. Spetzler

✓ In many patients with superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (CNS) no source of bleeding can be established, despite extensive examinations. The authors report a patient with superficial siderosis and a spinal arteriovenous malformation (AVM) that was not visible on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging or myelography but was identified on angiographic studies. This 71-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of progressive gait difficulties and hearing loss. Examination showed ataxia, hearing loss, and quadriparesis. On MR imaging superficial siderosis of the brain and spinal cord as seen; however, MR imaging of the CNS, as well as cerebral angiography and myelography studies, did not reveal the source of hemorrhage. Spinal angiography revealed a small slow-flow pial AVM at the C-5 level originating from the anterior spinal artery. A C-5 corpectomy was performed and the AVM was obliterated. The patient did well and reported no further progression of his symptoms during 3 months of follow up. Spinal angiography is indicated to complete the evaluation of patients with superficial siderosis, even if results of spinal MR imaging and myelography studies are normal. Obliteration of spinal AVMs may successfully prevent the progression of superficial siderosis.


2004 ◽  
Vol 101 (5) ◽  
pp. 869-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel R. Fassett ◽  
Peter E. Schloesser ◽  
William T. Couldwell

✓ The authors describe a case of subarachnoid hemorrhage from moyamoya-like vessels associated with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in a 44-year-old Hispanic man who presented with severe headache. The AVM was located in the left parietal lobe and the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery was occluded. Although the patient was initially neurologically intact, he began to experience neurological deficits from mild vasospasm, illustrating the sensitivity of the underperfused portion of brain surrounding an AVM. His neurological deficits improved with aggressive hydration and elevated blood pressure. After a 3-week period, the AVM was resected without complication and all of the patient's neurological deficits resolved. The authors review radiographic findings of this unique case.


1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald A. Grant ◽  
Sohail K. Mirza ◽  
Jens R. Chapman ◽  
H. Richard Winn ◽  
David W. Newell ◽  
...  

Object. The authors retrospectively reviewed 121 patients with traumatic cervical spine injuries to determine the risk of neurological deterioration following early closed reduction. Methods. After excluding minor fractures and injuries without subluxation, the medical records and imaging studies (computerized tomography and magnetic resonance [MR] images) of 82 patients with bilateral and unilateral locked facet dislocations, burst fractures, extension injuries, or miscellaneous cervical fractures with subluxation were reviewed. Disc injury was defined on MR imaging as the presence of herniation or disruption: a herniation was described as deforming the thecal sac or nerve roots, and a disruption was defined as a disc with high T2-weighted signal characteristics in a widened disc space. Fifty-eight percent of patients presented with complete or incomplete spinal cord injuries. Thirteen percent of patients presented with a cervical radiculopathy, 22% were intact, and 9% had only transient neurological deficits in the field. Early, rapid closed reduction, using serial plain radiographs or fluoroscopy and Gardner—Wells craniocervical traction, was achieved in 97.6% of patients. In two patients (2.4%) closed reduction failed and they underwent emergency open surgical reduction. The average time to achieve closed reduction was 2.1 ± 0.24 hours (standard error of the mean). The incidence of disc herniation and disruption in the 80 patients who underwent postreduction MR imaging was 22% and 24%, respectively. However, the presence of disc herniation or disruption did not affect the degree of neurological recovery, as measured by American Spinal Injury Association motor score and the Frankel scale following early closed reduction. Only one (1.3%) of 80 patients deteriorated, but that occurred more than 6 hours following closed reduction. Conclusions. Although disc herniation and disruption can occur following all types of traumatic cervical fracture subluxations, the incidence of neurological deterioration following closed reduction in these patients is rare. The authors recommend early closed reduction in patients presenting with significant motor deficits without prior MR imaging.


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