Cerebral Rete Mirabile in Identical Twin

Cerebral rete mirabile, as an entity of particular disease, have been reported by many authors with various discussion in opinion. But, until now, despite of good agreement of its angiographic opinions, its exact pathogenesis and etiology has not been established. Authors have been experienced a pair of cerebral rete mirabile in identical twin girls, which were confirmed by cerebral angiography.

Evaluation of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage due to Aneurysmal Rupture and Cerebral Vasospasm by CT

Cerebral vasospasm is one of the most serious complication after subarachnoid hemorrhage due to aneurysmal rupture. To date, the treatment of vasospasm remains unsatisfactory in a large numbers of cases in spite of recent therapeutic advances. Prompt diagnosis of this complication, before the establishment of lasting ischemic damage, should obviously improve the results of treatment. The possibility of predicting which patients will develop vasospasm, constitutes a further advance in the management of this complication. In this study, the value of the computed tomographic scan for the prediction of vasospasm was investigated in a consecutive series of 67 patients submitted to computed tomography within 7 days of the most recent subarachnoid hemorrhage.

A Case of Giant Ependymomas of the Cauda Equina associated with Thoracic Intradural Spinal A-V Malformations

Spinal ependymomas originate in the ependymal lining and grow rather slowly which allows them to reach considerable size and length. The great majority of primary tumors of the cauda equina are ependymomas and show a rather marked predilection for the male. Histologically ependymomas are benign but merastasis and anaplasia have been reported. The basic architectural structures of the ependymoma are the ependymal rosettes and pseudo-rosettes. Intradural spinal arteriovenous malformmations are relatively rare lesions and found only at autopsy or incidentally during surgical operations before the advent of investigative procedure. Development of myelography and spinal angiography have shown that vascular malformations of the spinal cord are not rare. Male is more predominant than female. The etiology and pathophysiological mechanisms are uncertain but many authors have believed that congenital, trauma, inflammations, tumoral processes, vasculitis and abnormal posture are influenced on A-V malformations of the spinal cord. No reports have been noticed about giant ependymomas of the cauda equina combined with spinal A-V malformations. We have experienced a case of giant ependymomas of the cauda equina associated with thoracic intradural spinal A-V malformations in forty-two year-old male and reviewed the literatures.