Primary hypertension—induced cerebellar encephalopathy causing obstructive hydrocephalus

2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 1307-1311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meg Verrees ◽  
Jose Americo Fernandes Filho ◽  
Jose I. Suarez ◽  
Robert A. Ratcheson
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Posterior Fossa ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Obstructive Hydrocephalus ◽  
Hypertensive Crisis ◽  
Systemic Blood Pressure ◽  
Neurological Status ◽  
Systemic Blood ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Hypertension-induced encephalopathy is a recognized pathological process commonly focused in the parietal and occipital lobes of the cerebral hemispheres. The parenchyma of the posterior fossa is infrequently involved. The authors report on two cases of isolated edema of the cerebellar hemispheres, which occurred in the setting of hypertensive crisis and led to complete obstruction of or significant impingement on the fourth ventricle and potentially lethal hydrocephalus. To the best of the authors' knowledge, these are the first reported cases of hypertensive encephalopathy centered in the posterior fossa. Two patients presented with profound decreases in neurological status subsequent to development of malignant hypertension. Imaging studies revealed diffusely edematous cerebellar hemispheres with effacement of the fourth ventricle, causing dilation of the lateral and third ventricles. Following emergency placement of external ventricular drains, control of systemic blood pressure was accomplished, and neurological functioning returned to baseline. Although neurological deterioration resolved swiftly following placement of ventricular catheters and administration of diuretic agents, systemic blood pressure did not fluctuate with the release of cerebrospinal fluid and resolution of increased intracranial pressure. Decrease in systemic blood pressure lagged well behind improvement in neurological status; the patients remained morbidly hypertensive until systemic blood pressure was controlled with multiple parenteral medications. The authors hypothesize that the development of hypertension beyond the limits of cerebral autoregulation led to breakdown of the blood—brain barrier in the cerebellum and development of posterior fossa edema secondary to the focal transudation of protein and fluid. Correction of the elevated blood pressure led to amelioration of cerebellar edema. In the appropriate clinical setting, hypertension as the inciting cause of cerebellar encephalopathy should be considered.

The histopathology of experimental spinal cord trauma

1978 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 1002-1007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen E. Rawe ◽  
William A. Lee ◽  
Phanor L. Perot
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Systemic Blood Pressure ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Systemic Blood ◽  
Edema Formation ◽  
Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Thoracic Spinal ◽  
Marked Enhancement

✓ The early sequential histopathological alterations following a concussive paraplegic injury to the posterior thoracic spinal cord in cats were studied. The lack of significant progression of hemorrhages over a 4-hour period after injury indicates that most hemorrhages probably occur within the first hour. The marked enhancement or retardation of hemorrhages in the post-injury period, when the blood pressure was increased or decreased, respectively, demonstrates the loss of autoregulation of spinal cord vasculature at the trauma site after a concussive paraplegic injury. Progressive edema formation was evident over a 4-hour period following injury, and it could be enhanced or retarded by elevation or reduction of the systemic blood pressure.

Acute cerebral blood flow response to dopamine-induced hypertension after subarachnoid hemorrhage

1994 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 857-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Darby ◽  
Howard Yonas ◽  
Elizabeth C. Marks ◽  
Susan Durham ◽  
Robert W. Snyder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Cerebral Blood Flow ◽  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Systemic Blood Pressure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Induced Hypertension ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The effects of dopamine-induced hypertension on local cerebral blood flow (CBF) were investigated in 13 patients suspected of suffering clinical vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The CBF was measured in multiple vascular territories using xenon-enhanced computerized tomography (CT) with and without dopamine-induced hypertension. A territorial local CBF of 25 ml/100 gm/min or less was used to define ischemia and was identified in nine of the 13 patients. Raising mean arterial blood pressure from 90 ± 11 mm Hg to 111 ± 13 mm Hg (p < 0.05) via dopamine administration increased territorial local CBF above the ischemic range in more than 90% of the uninfarcted territories identified on CT while decreasing local CBF in one-third of the nonischemic territories. Overall, the change in local CBF after dopamine-induced hypertension was correlated with resting local CBF at normotension and was unrelated to the change in blood pressure. Of the 13 patients initially suspected of suffering clinical vasospasm, only 54% had identifiable reversible ischemia. The authors conclude that dopamine-induced hypertension is associated with an increase in flow in patients with ischemia after SAH. However, flow changes associated with dopamine-induced hypertension may not be entirely dependent on changes in systemic blood pressure. The direct cerebrovascular effects of dopamine may have important, yet unpredictable, effects on CBF under clinical pathological conditions. Because there is a potential risk of dopamine-induced ischemia, treatment may be best guided by local CBF measurements.

Method for measuring brain tissue pressure

1975 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Clark ◽  
Norman F. Capra ◽  
James H. Halsey
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Systemic Blood Pressure ◽  
Systemic Blood ◽  
Tissue Pressure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pressure Changes ◽  
Local Brain

✓ The authors report a method for measuring total local brain tissue pressure (BTP) using a miniature catheter transducer stereotaxically introduced into the white matter of the cat's cerebrum. Quantitative rapid phasic pressure changes were satisfactorily demonstrated. Due to some drift of baseline of the transducers and inability to perform in vivo calibration, reliable long-term quantitative pressure measurements sometimes could not be studied. The BTP from each cerebral hemisphere and the cisternal pressure (CP) were monitored during alterations of pCO2 and systemic blood pressure, and distilled H2O injection prior to and after right middle cerebral artery (MCA) ligation. The catheter transducers functioned well on chronic implantation for up to 6 weeks. Compared to the chronically implanted catheters, acutely implanted catheters responded identically except for drift. The response of intracranial pressure and CP to MCA occlusion, alterations in pCO2, and systemic blood pressure were similar. No BTP gradients appeared in response to MCA ligation, hypercapnia, hypertension, or progressive swelling of the resulting infarction.

Hydrocephalus due to membranous obstruction of the fourth ventricle

1971 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 672-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Loren Amacher ◽  
Larry K. Page
Keyword(s):  
Posterior Fossa ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Posterior Fossa Tumor ◽  
Cerebellar Development ◽  
Rare Entity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Operative Findings ◽  
Membranous Obstruction ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Four patients with hydrocephalus due to membranous obstruction of the fourth ventricle are presented. This rare entity produced radiographic and clinical findings suggestive of posterior fossa tumor. Operative findings included normal cerebellar development and a translucent membrane just above the foramen of Magendie. Etiological possibilities are discussed.

Isolated fourth ventricle as a complication of ventricular shunting

1978 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 910-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Hawkins ◽  
Harold J. Hoffman ◽  
Robin P. Humphreys
Keyword(s):  
Computerized Tomography ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Obstructive Hydrocephalus ◽  
Normal Function ◽  
Shunt Malfunction ◽  
Cerebellar Dysfunction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Isolated Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Ventricular Shunting ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Signs of cerebellar dysfunction combined with signs suggestive of shunt malfunction developed in three children with obstructive hydrocephalus. Shunt function was normal. In all cases, the cerebellar signs persisted and computerized tomography scans revealed enlargement of the fourth ventricle. Shunting of the fourth ventricle returned the patients to normal function.

Acute hydrocephalus in posterior fossa injury

1997 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideharu Karasawa ◽  
Hajime Furuya ◽  
Hiromichi Naito ◽  
Ken Sugiyama ◽  
Junji Ueno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posterior Fossa ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Ct Scanning ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
External Ventricular Drainage ◽  
Ventricular Drainage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Acute Hydrocephalus ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fine Print

✓ This is the first known report of the use of computerized tomography (CT) scanning to examine acute hydrocephalus in posterior fossa injury. Of the 1802 patients with acute head trauma treated at Funabashi Municipal Medical Center, 53 (2.9%) had suffered injury to the posterior fossa. Of these, 12 patients (22.6%) had associated acute hydrocephalus: nine patients with acute epidural hematoma (AEH) and three with intracerebellar hematoma and contusion (IH/C). There was a significant relationship between cases of AEH with hydrocephalus and supratentorial extension, hematoma thickness of 15 mm or more, and abnormal mesencephalic cisterns. In cases of IH/C, bilateral lesions and no visible fourth ventricle were significant causes of hydrocephalus. According to these results, possible mechanisms of acute hydrocephalus in posterior fossa injury may be as follows: in cases of AEH, hematoma that extends to the supratentorial area compresses the aqueduct posteriorly and causes hydrocephalus; in cases of IH/C, hematoma and contusional lesions may directly occlude the fourth ventricle and cause acute hydrocephalus. Seven patients suffering from AEH with acute hydrocephalus underwent evacuation of their hematoma without external ventricular drainage. In these cases, CT scanning showed that the hydrocephalus improved immediately after evacuation of the hematoma. Two patients suffering from IH/C with hydrocephalus underwent a procedure for evacuation of the hematoma and external ventricular drainage. The authors do not believe that ventricular drainage is necessary in treating posterior fossa AEH. However, both evacuation of the hematoma and ventricular drainage are necessary in cases of IH/C with hydrocephalus to provide the patient with every chance for survival. There was no significant difference in mortality rates when cases of AEH with acute hydrocephalus (0%) were compared with cases of AEH without hydrocephalus (7.7%). The observed mortality rates in cases of IH/C with hydrocephalus and those without hydrocephalus were 100% and 15.4%, respectively; this is statistically significant.

Diffuse craniospinal seeding from a benign fourth ventricle choroid plexus papilloma

1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 757-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Leblanc ◽  
Sabah Bekhor ◽  
Denis Melanson ◽  
Stirling Carpenter
Keyword(s):  
Choroid Plexus ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Obstructive Hydrocephalus ◽  
Choroid Plexus Papilloma ◽  
Blurred Vision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Biological Potential ◽  
History Of ◽  
Fine Print ◽  
Plexus Papilloma

✓ Choroid plexus papillomas can metastasize to the subarachnoid space, but extensive metastasis has only been reported when the tumors are malignant. The authors report a case of diffuse, extensive metastasis to the craniospinal leptomeninges from a benign fourth ventricular choroid plexus papilloma in an adult. This 19-year-old woman presented with a 2-year history of headache, blurred vision, diplopia, and ataxia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spinal cord revealed obstructive hydrocephalus caused by a 4-cm, partially calcified, inhomogeneously enhancing tumor of the fourth ventricle that was displacing the pons, medulla oblongata, and cerebellum. Innumerable cystic lesions of varying size were also seen in the cranial and spinal leptomeninges. Histological examination of the resected fourth ventricular tumor and of a few of the leptomeningeal lesions revealed a benign choroid plexus papilloma and leptomeningeal choroid plexus cysts. This singular case of diffuse and extensive metastasis to the craniospinal leptomeninges from a histologically benign fourth ventricular papilloma adds to the available information about the biological potential of these tumors and expands the differential diagnosis of posterior fossa lesions with subarachnoid metastasis.

Treatment of bilateral mycotic intracavernous carotid aneurysms

1982 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsuneyoshi Eguchi ◽  
Tadayoshi Nakagomi ◽  
Akira Teraoka
Keyword(s):  
Internal Carotid ◽  
Superficial Temporal Artery ◽  
Temporal Artery ◽  
Systemic Blood Pressure ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Systemic Blood ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carotid Aneurysms ◽  
The Right ◽  
Fine Print

✓ A case of bilateral mycotic intracavernous carotid aneurysms is reported. Because of progressive bilateral ophthalmoplegia, the internal carotid artery (ICA) was ligated on both sides, combined with bilateral extracranial-intracranial arterial bypass. A superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery anastomosis was performed first on the right side followed by ligation of the right ICA at the neck. After an interval of 20 days, a bypass and ICA ligation was carried out on the left side. The patient developed mild hemiparesis and dysphasia during and immediately after the second operation, but these neurological deficits disappeared after elevation of systemic blood pressure.

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the brain

1975 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuhiko Matsukado ◽  
Akira Yokota ◽  
Touru Marubayashi
Keyword(s):  
Posterior Fossa ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Cerebral Hemisphere ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Fine Print

✓The authors report a case of rhabdomyosarcoma originating in the fourth ventricle and review the eight comparable previous reports of true rhabdomyosarcoma, composed solely of mesenchymal elements. Tumors in most adults arose in the cerebral hemisphere, while those in children arose exclusively in the midline structures of the posterior fossa. The tumor in the authors' case was initially benign and well circumscribed, but within 2 years had changed into a malignant rhabdomyosarcoma. The histological documentation during the interval is presented and discussed.

Acute obstructive hydrocephalus associated with infratentorial subdural hygromas complicating Chiari malformation Type I decompression

2005 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 752-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence A. G. Marshman ◽  
Jonathan C. Benjamin ◽  
Sanjiv J. Chawda ◽  
Karoly M. David
Keyword(s):  
Mr Imaging ◽  
Chiari Malformation ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Obstructive Hydrocephalus ◽  
External Ventricular Drain ◽  
Type I ◽  
Chiari Malformation Type I ◽  
Shunt Insertion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Obstructive hydrocephalus complicating foramen magnum decompression (FMD) for a Chiari malformation (CM) Type I is rare. Two female patients (17 and 55 years old) presented with strain-related headaches. In both cases magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies confirmed a CM Type I, which was accompanied by syringomyelia in one case. Both patients underwent uncomplicated FMD with good initial recovery. Unfortunately, conditions in both patients deteriorated, with severe headaches occurring between Days 5 and 6 post-FMD. Decreased consciousness occurred in one case. In both patients, computerized tomography scanning demonstrated an acute obstructive hydrocephalus associated with bilateral infratentorial extraaxial fluid collections (EAFCs). In addition, left parafalcine and convexity EAFCs were present in one case. An emergency external ventricular drain was required in one patient, with delayed conversion to a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Spontaneous resolution occurred in the other patient without neurosurgical intervention. In both cases, MR imaging confirmed that each EAFC was subdural, resembled cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and had distorted the superior cerebellum anteroinferiorly. Despite upper fourth ventricle/aqueduct compromise in one case, normal aqueduct flow artifacts were apparent on examination. All EAFCs resolved spontaneously. Obstructive hydrocephalus complicating FMD is rare but invariably associated with infratentorial EAFCs, which were confirmed to be subdural hygromas in this report. The authors assert that hydrocephalus results from upper fourth ventricle/aqueduct compromise as a result of CSF subdural dissection following a pinhole arachnoid tear on durotomy. Because such hygromas spontaneously resolve, permanent shunt insertion should be avoided.

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