Systematic Review of Intraoperative Blood Salvage in the Surgical Management of Craniosynostosis

Introduction/Background: The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the literature regarding complications associated with intraoperative blood salvage (IOBS) in the setting of surgical management of craniosynostosis. Methods: A systematic review was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE by 2 independent reviewers which included any primary literature investigating the use of IOBS in the surgical management of craniosynostosis. Results: The literature search resulted in 354 initial articles. After removing duplicates and articles not written in English, 330 articles underwent title review, resulting in 25 papers for abstract review. A total of 24 manuscripts were reviewed and 9 were deemed appropriate for inclusion of this systematic review. Two of the nine articles mentioned complications as a secondary objective. Conclusion: There is a paucity of current literature measuring the complications of IOBS in craniosynostosis patients undergoing cranial vault reconstruction.

Intraoperative Measurement of Intracranial Pressure During Cranial Vault Remodeling in Children with Craniosynostosis

Purpose In this study, we analyzed the utility of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring intraoperatively for deciding height reduction and need for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion during cranial vault remodeling in children with multisutural craniosynostosis (CS). Methods This is a retrospective observational study of children who underwent surgery for CS and ICP monitoring during surgery. The ICP was monitored using an external ventricular drainage catheter. The ICP monitoring was continued during the entire procedure. Results A total of 28 (19 boys) children with the involvement of two or more sutures underwent ICP monitoring during surgery. The commonest pattern of suture involvement was bicoronal seen in 16 (57.1%) children followed by pancraniosynostoses in eight (28.6%) cases. The mean opening ICP was 23 mm Hg, which dropped to 10.9 mm Hg after craniotomy. The ICP increased transiently to 19.5 mm Hg after height reduction, and the mean ICP at closure was 16.2 mm Hg. The ICP recordings helped in undoing the height reduction in two children and ventriculoperitoneal shunt after surgery in two children. Conclusions Intraoperative monitoring of ICP helps in deciding the type of cranial vault remodeling and the need for CSF diversion after surgery.

Solitary Temporal Plasmocytoma: A Case Report

Introduction: Solitary plasmacytoma is a malignant plasma cell tumor that is much rarer than multiple myeloma. The location in the vault of plasmacytoma is extremely rare. We report the case of a plasmacytoma of the cranial vault in a 53-year-old adult. Observation: A 53-year-old man consulted for tinnitus, left hypoacusis and trigeminal neuralgia of the left V2 and V3, which had been evolving for one year and was aggravated one month later by the appearance of a left temporal swelling with decreased visual acuity on the left. The MRI confirmed the existence of a lesional process of the temporal vault, in T1 iso signal, T2 hypersignal and flair, intensely and heterogeneously enhanced after injection of gadolinium. Anatomopathological study revealed a solitary temporal plasmacytoma, which was referred to oncology for further management. Discussion: Plasmacytoma is defined as an isolated malignant plasma cell tumor without clinical, biological, or radiological signs of Myeloma. Craniocerebral localization is rare and constitutes only 0.7% of all solitary plasmacytomas. Conclusion: Cranial plasmacytoma is a rare tumor that should be investigated for associated myeloma. Although the imaging appearance is not very specific, plasmacytoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any invasive lytic lesion of the cranial vault.

A triple Cranial Vault lesion of Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna, Osteoma and Meningioma in a Cadaveric Skull

Cranial vault lesions are rare and may alter skull figure. Among them, osteomas are the most frequent entities found on burial remains. We present a skull (dry bone) which was unearth in the cemetery of Serres city in Northern Greece and was then donated to the Anatomy Department of the Democritus University of Thrace. The specimen presents a triple lesion and an odd figure, a reason which may explain why it was neglected for a long time period as an unwanted remain of a probably stigmatized person. Radiology (computed tomography) revealed a peculiar combination of a meningioma, an osteoma and a hyperostosis frontalis interna. KEY WORDS: Cranial Radiology, Meningioma en plaque, Hyperostosis.

Incidence and Effects of Posterior Cranial Vault Deformation in Adult Females With Skeletal Class III Malocclusion

BackgroundThe precise characteristics of posterior cranial vault deformation are difficult to identify using a two-dimensional analysis. Recently, three-dimensional analysis using computed tomography (CT) data and software analysis has enabled us to examine the craniofacial structure precisely. To identify the deformation in the cranial vaults by a three-dimensional analysis and examine its effects on other structures, CT data of skeletal mandibular protrusion cases without lateral deviation of pogonion (Pog) were examined.MethodsThirty-two adult female patients with skeletal mandibular protrusion who visited Meikai University Hospital were included in this study. CT images were taken before orthognathic surgeries, and the craniofacial structures were examined threedimensionally.The lateral deviation of Pog was less than 3 mm in all cases.Genetic/congenital anomaly cases, endocrine disorders, or cases with severe trauma or temporomandibular disorder were excluded.ResultsMany cases had three-dimensional deformations in the cranial vaults. The cranial vaults with unilateral posterior deformation had posteriorly positioned mandibular fossae on the same sides. Mandibular body lengths were related to the position of the mandibular fossae, and the posterior mandibular fossae tended to have longer mandibular body lengths on the same sides. Masseter muscles with larger volumes were related to longer mandibular body lengths.ConclusionsMandibular body lengths can compensate for the bilateral difference in the position of the mandibular fossae to avoid lateral deviation of the Pog. The masseter muscles are likely one of the factors related to the bilateral differences in the mandibular body length.

Acalvaria in a Malian girl: a new surviving case

Acalvaria is a rare and lethal congenital malformation characterized by the absence of the cranial vault bones, dura mater and associated muscles with complete cranial content. We report a 5-year-old Malian girl seen at 20 months old for facial dysmorphia, hemiparesis, and a cranial bone defect that improved progressively.