Elastin Degradation and Collagen III Deficiency in the Superficial Temporal Arteries of Patients with Intracranial Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: We present the difference of histopathologic changes of the internal elastic lamina (IEL) and collagen III in the superficial temporal artery (STA) between aneurysmal patients and non-aneurysmal patients. Also, the pathologic data with clinical features by comparative methods to validate the risk factor of the intracranial aneurysm are presented. METHODS: Samples of the STA were harvested form 38 patients including aneurysmal and non-aneurysmal patients undergoing craniotomy. Paraffin-embedded sections were examined, using hematoxylin and eosin, van Giebson and mouse anti-collagen III staining techniques. Histopathological observations were analysed and correlated with clinical features such as presence of aneurysm, hypertension, age, and sex. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients had the intracranial aneurysm. Of these 24 patients were 50 years old or older. Nineteen patients had a history of hypertension. Twenty patients were female. Histopathological study demostrated the derangement of IEL and the deficiency of type III collagen were prominent in aneurysmal patients (p<0.05). Fifty years old or older patients did not show correlation with the deficiency of type III collagen, but with the derangement of IEL (p<0.05). The female sex was not correlated with the derangement of IEL but with the deficiency of type III collagen (p<0.05). However, Hypertension was not correlated with these pathologic data. CONCLUSION: Patients with intracranial aneurysms have severe histopathologic changes of the arterial wall showing the derangement of IEL and the deficiency of type III collagen. In the clinico-pathologic study, the advanced age and female sex were considered as risk factors of the intracranial aneurysm.

Primary Cerebellar Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Authors report a very rare case of primary Hodgkin's lymphoma limited to the cerebellum. A 64-year-old female patient presented with headache, nausea, and vomiting. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a nodular enhancing mass in the left cerebellar hemisphere. Tumor was removed totally with retromastoid suboccipital approach. Diagnosis was Hodgkin's lymphoma of mixed cellularity type, consisting of a dense mixed inflammatory infiltrate containing scattered large atypical mononuclear Hodgkin cells and multinucleated Reed-Sternberg cells. Systemic work-up for the Hodgkin's lymphoma was followed with negative result. Postoperative radiation therapy was given and the patient is disease-free at 16 months after the operation.