Magnetic resonance imaging features of cerebellar atrophy pattern after epilepsy / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVES@#Clinically, it has been found that some patients with epilepsy are accompanied by cerebellar atrophy that is inconsistent with symptoms, but the pattern of cerebellar atrophy after epilepsy and the role of cerebellar atrophy in the mechanism of epilepsy have not been elucidated. This study aims to explore the specific pattern of cerebellar atrophy after epilepsy via analyzing magnetic resonance images in patients with postepileptic cerebellar atrophy.@*METHODS@#A total of 41 patients with epilepsy, who received the treatment in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2017 to January 2022 and underwent cranial MRI examination, were selected as the case group. The results of cranial MRI examination of all patients showed cerebellar atrophy. In the same period, 41 cases of physical examination were selected as the control group. General clinical data and cranial MRI results of the 2 groups were collected. The maximum area and signal of dentate nucleus, the maximum width of the brachium pontis, the maximum anterior-posterior diameter of the pontine, and the maximum transverse area of the fourth ventricle were compared between the 2 groups. The indexes with difference were further subjected to logistic regression analysis to clarify the characteristic imaging changes in patients with cerebellar atrophy after epilepsy.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, the maximum width of the brachium pontis and the maximum anterior-posterior diameter of the pontine were decreased significantly, the maximum transverse area of the fourth ventricle was increased significantly in the case group (all P<0.05). The difference in distribution of the low, equal, and high signal in dentate nucleus between the 2 groups was statistically significant (χ2=43.114, P<0.001), and the difference in the maximum area of dentate nucleus between the 2 groups was not significant (P>0.05). The maximum width of the brachium pontis [odds ratio (OR)=3.327, 95% CI 1.454 to 7.615, P=0.004] and the maximum transverse area of the fourth ventricle (OR=0.987, 95% CI 0.979 to 0.995, P=0.002) were independent factors that distinguished cerebellar atrophy after epilepsy from the normal control, while the anterior-posterior diameter of pontine (OR=1.456, 95% CI 0.906 to 2.339, P>0.05) was not an independent factor that distinguished them.@*CONCLUSIONS@#In MRI imaging, cerebellar atrophy after epilepsy is manifested as significant atrophy of the brachium pontis, significant enlargement of the fourth ventricle, and increased dentate nucleus signaling while insignificant dentate nucleus atrophy. This particular pattern may be associated with seizures and exacerbated pathological processes.

Efficacy of neuroendoscope-assisted exploration and release of the outflow tract of the fourth ventricle in patients with Chiari malformation type I / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective:To explore the treatment efficacy of neuroendoscope-assisted exploration and release of the outflow tract of the fourth ventricle in patients with Chiari malformation type I.Methods:Ninety-five patients with Chiari malformation type I, admitted to our hospital from January 2016 to January 2020, were chosen in our study. Patients from observation group ( n=57) were treated with posterior cranial fossa decompression+subdural tonsillectomy+endoscope-assisted exploration and release of the outflow tract of the fourth ventricle+enlarged reconstruction of the occipital cistern. Patients from control group ( n=38) were treated with posterior fossa decompression+subdural tonsillectomy+enlarged reconstruction of the occipital cistern. All patients were followed up for one year. Data of surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative length of hospital stay, and incidence of complications were retrospectively analyzed in patients from the two groups, and the imaging changes of spinal cavity were observed before surgery and during postoperative follow-up. Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale (CCOS) was used to evaluate the prognoses of all patients (scores of 11-16 were defined as good prognosis). The differences of good prognosis rate among patients with different gender, age, degrees of tonsillar herniation and distributions of spinal cavity segments were analyzed. Results:There was no significant difference in surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative length of hospital stay or incidence of complications between the two groups ( P>0.05). As compared with the control group (65.5%), the observation group had higher syringomyelia minification (75.5%) during postoperative follow-up, without significant difference ( P>0.05). The good prognosis rate of the observation group during postoperative follow-up (91.2%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (78.9%, P<0.05). Female patients, patients with age≤45 years, and patients with tonsillar herniation level below the atlas had significantly higher good prognosis rate than male patients, patients with age>45 years, and patients with tonsillar herniation level between the foramen magnum and the atlas during postoperative follow-up, respectively ( P<0.05). Conclusion:As compared with conventional surgery, neuroendoscope-assisted exploration and release of the outflow tract of the fourth ventricle is more effective in patients with Chiari malformation type I, and the good prognosis rate is likely higher in female patients, patients with age≤45 years, and patients with tonsillar herniation level below the atlas.

The value of configuration of the fourth ventricle to indicate surgical treatment in patients with spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To study the value of configuration of the fourth ventricle to indicate, surgical treatment in patients with spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage. Methods The data of 52 patients with spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between configuration of the fourth ventricle and consciousness, volume of the hematoma, frequence of hydrocephalus and incidence of deterioration of consciousness was investigated. Results The correlations between the degree of the fourth ventricular compression and the consciousness, the volume of the hematoma were strong (r= -0.881,P <0.01; r=0.808,P < 0.01, respectively). The more the degree of the fourth ventricular compression was severe,the more GCS score was low and the volume of the hematoma was large. The incidence of hydrocephalus in patients with composed the fourth ventricle[57.7%(15/26)] was significantly higher than that in patients with normal configuration of the fourth ventricle [16.7% (3/18)] (χ~2= 7.406, P < 0.01). The incidence of deterioration of consciousness in patients with compressed the fourth ventricle who accepted conservative therapy initially [72.7% (8/11)]was significantly higher than that in patients with normal configuration of the fourth ventricle [12.5%(2/16)] (P= 0.003). Conclusions The configuration of the fourth ventricle is an useful indicator for surgical treatment in patients with spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage. When making decision whether surgical treatment was used or not in patients with spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage, the configuration of the fourth ventricle should be take into account.

Management of neoplasms in the fourth ventricle by cerebellomedullary approach / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To study the advantage and major features of minimally invasive management of neoplasms in the fourth ventricle. Methods Twenty-eight cases of the fourth ventricle neoplasms underwent craniotomy through the cerebellomedullary fissure approach. Postoperative treatment and follow-up information were studied. Results Of the 28 studied cases, total resection was achieved in 23, and subtotal resection in 3. No approach-related complications such as cerebellar mutism, injury of posterior cranial nerves and hemiplegia occured. Conclusion The minimally invasive management of neoplasms of the fourth ventricle by cerebellomedullary fissure approach is safe and effective.

Microsurgery of pediatric the fourth ventricle tumor through cerebellomedullary fissure approach / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of cerebellomedullary fissure approach to resect the fourth ventricle tumors. Methods Eightten cases of the fourth ventricle tumors that have been operated on through the posterior fossa craniotomy and cerebellomedullary fissure approach were analyzed retrospectively. Results Total turmor resection was achieved in 13 patients and subtotal in 5 patients. All patients were conscious after surgery. None of them presented mutism. Three cases suffered from postoperative hydrocephalus, ventriculoperi-toneal hunts were applied in 2 cases, another case died of acute obstructive hydrocephalus. Conclusion The cerebellomedullary fissure approach can provide a sufficent exposure to resect the fourth ventricle tumor without incision of the inferior vermis.