Internal carotid artery aneurysm mimicking normal-tension glaucoma / Aneurisma de carótida interna simulando glaucoma de pressão normal

ABSTRACT Differentiating glaucomatous from nonglaucomatous optic disc cupping remains challenging. We present a case of a 48-year-old woman with an internal carotid aneurysm of approximately 3.5 mm × 6.5 mm that mimicked normal-tension glaucoma. The patient had a 2-year history of low vision acuity in her left eye and frontal oppressive headache. Owing to the carotid aneurysm, she developed an asymmetric vertical cup-to-disc ratio above 0.2, and marked inferotemporal neuronal rim loss and pallor of the residual rim were noted in the left disc. She also developed a visual field defect with an arcuate scotoma in the left eye. The patient was referred to a neurosurgeon and underwent endovascular aneurysm occlusion. This case highlights the diagnostic importance of recognizing that many neurological defects remain underdiagnosed.

RESUMO diferenciação de escavações glaucomatosas e não glaucomatosas ainda permanece um desafio ainda nos dias de hoje. Nos descrevemos um caso de aneurisma de carótida interna medindo 3.5mm x 6.5mm que simulava um glaucoma de pressão normal. O caso é sobre uma paciente feminino de 48 anos com história de 2 anos de baixa acuidade visual no olho esquerdo e cefaléia frontal. Devido ao aneurisma de carótida a paciente desenvolveu uma assimetria de escavação vertical maior que 0.2 no olho esquerdo em relação ao direito com defeito localizado da camada de fibras nervosas temporal inferior. Ela também apresentava um defeito arqueado temporal superior a esquerda, cruzando a linha média vertical consistente. Após o diagnostico confirmado pela ressonância magnética funcional, a paciente foi enviada para o neurocirurgião para realização de uma oclusão endovascular do aneurisma. Esse caso nos alerta da importância de se lembrar que não apenas o glaucoma gera escavações suspeitas no disco óptico e que ainda muitos defeitos por causas neurológicas são subdiagnosticados.

The therapeutic challenge of giant splenic artery aneurysm: a case repport / O desafio terapêutico do aneurisma gigante da artéria esplênica: um relato de caso

ABSTRACT Giant splenic artery aneurysm is a rare condition that represents an eminent life threatening for the patient, requiring, therefore, urgent surgical correction. A 61-year-old woman, former smoker, hypertensive, hypercholesterolemic and multipara sought our service because of a large tumor in the mesogastrium, which was an abdominal ultrasound finding. Despite the size of the tumor, the patient was asymptomatic. The angiotomography and the magnetic resonance image of the abdomen were suggestive of giant splenic artery aneurysm with more than 10cm in diameter that was confirmed by an angiography. She underwent surgery, open splenectomy, and partial aneurysmectomy. The approach of the celiac artery, which was ligated, was only possible with medialvisceral rotation because there was no possibility to view it through the anterior access. The histopathological test of aneurysmatic wall revealed atheroma plaques in the intima. The patient progressed without complications and she was discharged cured. In general, giant splenic artery aneurysms are symptomatic, however, as in the case we report, it may be asymptomatic and found in abdominal imaging exam. Although less invasive Interventional methods exist, such as laparoscopy and endovascular techniques, they were considered inappropriate in this case. Conventional open surgery should be the therapy of choice for a giant splenic artery aneurysm.

RESUMO O aneurisma gigante da artéria esplênica constitui condição rara, que representa risco de vida iminente para o paciente, necessitando, consequentemente, de correção cirúrgica urgente. Mulher de 61 anos, ex-fumante, hipertensa, com hipercolesterolêmica e multípara nos procurou por apresentar grande tumor no mesogástrio, achado de ultrassonografia abdominal. Apesar das dimensões do tumor, era assintomática. Angiotomografia e ressonância magnética de abdômen sugeriam tratar-se de aneurisma gigante de artéria esplênica com mais de 10cm de diâmetro, confirmado por angiografia. Foi submetida a tratamento cirúrgico aberto, tendo sido realizadas esplenectomia e aneurismectomia parcial. A abordagem do tronco celíaco, que foi ligado, só foi possível com rotação visceral medial, pois não havia possibilidade de visualizá-lo pela via anterior. O exame anatomopatológico da parede do saco aneurismático revelou placas de ateroma na íntima. A paciente evoluiu sem intercorrências e teve alta hospitalar curada. Aneurismas da artéria esplênica de dimensões avantajadas, em geral, são sintomáticos, porém, como no caso em questão, podem ser assintomáticos e descobertos em exame de imagem do abdômen. Apesar de existirem métodos intervencionistas menos invasivos, como laparoscopia e técnicas endovasculares, eles não foram considerados adequados neste caso. Diante de um aneurisma gigante de artéria esplênica, a conduta terapêutica de eleição é a cirurgia convencional aberta.

Analysis of 36 patients with type B aortic intramural hematoma: clinical presentations, treatments and outcomes in a single center / 中国医师杂志

Objective To review the clinical manifestation,diagnosis method,misdiagnosis,risk factors,treatments and prognosis of Stanford B aortic intramural hematoma (IMHB).Methods All of the Stanford B aortic IMHB patients admitted in Wuhan Union hospital from January 2008 to December 2013 were analyzed.The clinical manifestation,diagnosis method,misdiagnosis,managements and prognosis were studied.Furthermore,the effect and long-term survival of different therapies were compared,including medical treatment and endovascular repair.The statistics was performed with SPSS 16.0.Results There were 36 B aortic IMHB patients,and the percent of male patients was 72.22％.The mean age of IMHB was 60.19 ± 11.12.Most patients complained of acute chest and back pain,accompanied with hypertension.Twenty-eight patients (77.78％) received medication therapy,among them,there were 5 patients died of aortic rupture; eight patients (22.22％) received endovascular surgery,one died of cerebral hemorrhage (12.5％).No difference was found between medication therapy and endovascular surgery (17.86％ vs 12.5％,P ＞0.05).Conclusions For simple type B aortic IMHB patients,medication therapy and a dynamic monitoring of full aortic CT angiography was recommended,and for pejorative patients the endovascular treatment should be taken actively.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Popliteal Aneurysm:Report of 11 Cases / 中国普外基础与临床杂志

Objective To present and summarize the data concerning the diagnosis and treatment of popliteal aneurysm in our hospital. Methods The data of popliteal aneurysm in our hospital from 1975 to 2004 were reviewed and analyzed. Eleven patients with 11 diseased limbs were treated, including 8 males and 3 females, age from 21 years to 64 years 〔(48.54?13.66) years〕. The combined diseases include syphilis, rheumatic heart disease and chronic obstructire pulmonary disease etc. Ten patients received operations, including endoaneurysmorrhaphy (n=4) and graft bypass after aneurysmal resection (n=6), through posterior approach (n=7) or medial approach (n=3). One patient, combined with advanced syphilis and heart failure, received conservative treatment because of his poor general condition. Results The common clinical manifestations included popliteal pulsating mass, claudication, difficulty in extension of the knee, pain etc. Acute ischemia occurred in 3 limbs. The diameter of popliteal aneurysms varied from 4-13 cm 〔(6.73?2.69) cm〕. There were 3 (27.3) cases of ruptured aneurysms whose diameters were 7 cm, 7 cm and 11 cm respectively. Special examinations included arteriography and Doppler sonography. Pathological results of these patients were pseudoaneurysm (n=3), syphilitic aneurysm (n=3) and atherosclerotic aneurysm (n=4). Two patients were not followed up, and postoperative follow up of the other 8 patients ranged from 18 months to 30 years. In the group of endoaneurysmorrhaphy, postoperative gangrene of the affected limb occurred in one patient, and above-knee amputation was performed. One patient suffered from intermittent claudication in the group of endoaneurysmorrhaphy and of graft bypass respectively. No manifestations of limb ischemia were found in the other 5 patients during the time of follow up. Conclusion General utilization of Doppler sonography in screening high risk patients might be helpful to detect popliteal aneurysm. For symptomatic popliteal aneurysm or asymptomatic popliteal aneurysm with diameter larger than 3 cm, operation is indicated. Asymptomatic popliteal aneurysms no more than 3 cm in diameter could be monitored with care.