Clinical Applications of Digital Subtraction Angiography(DSA) in Neurosurgical Field

Methods for the identification and amplification of signals from quantities of intravascularly administered iodinated contrast agent and their combination with image subtraction have evolved into a clinically useful technique called digital subtraction angiography (DAS). The initial motivation for the development of DSA was the desire to replace standard conventional angiographic procedures with simpler, less invasive techniques. We have evaluated IV-DSA and IA-DSA which are made in 150 patients with clinically suspected intracranial diseases from Dec. 1983 to Mar. 1985. Comparison with IA-DSA and conventional angiography indicated that the quality and information of content of the film were equivalent. IV-DSA image quality was inferior to that of conventional angiography. But IV-DSA can be used for intracranial studies to evaluate results of surgery of aneurysm, AVM or tumor and to revaluate vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage before surgery. Also, IV-DSA can be used for neck vessel appearance due to reveal adequate information.

A Case of Intradural Spinal Ossifying Schwannoma

The spinal schwannomas are the most common spinal cord tumors and they make some regressive changes such as necrosis, mucous or cystic degeneration, caseation or calcification occasionally. We experienced a case of intradural ossifying schwannoma in 17 years old male, which occurred in the 2nd 3rd thoracic region. On operative finding, it was a very hard, pinkish gray and bean sized mass, and it firmly adhered to the spinal cord. We found dark bluish necrotic changes at the adhered sites of the spinal cord. On microscopical finding it revealed multiple foci of myxoid degeneration and osseous metaplasia with fibromatosis structure in schwannoma.