Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas Involving the Transverse-Sigmoid Sinus: A Single Center Experience and Review of the Literatures

OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively assessed the efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) involving the transverse-sigmoid sinus and analyzed the angiographic and clinical results with our 8-year experience. METHODS: Nine patients with intracranial DAVFs involving the transverse-sigmoid sinus underwent SRS using a Gamma Knife® (Elekta Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA) between 2009 and 2016. Five patients underwent SRS for residual DAVFs after embolization and four patients were treated with SRS alone. The median target volume was 1.9 cm3 (range, 0.8–14.2) and the median radiation dose of the target was 17 Gy (range, 16–20). The median follow-up period was 37 months (range, 7–81). RESULTS: Pulsating tinnitus (33%) was the most common symptom. DAVFs were completely obliterated in four patients (44%) and subtotally obliterated in five (56%). Six patients (67%) showed complete recovery of symptoms or signs, and three (33%) showed incomplete recovery. One patient experienced a recurrent seizure. Adverse radiation effects after SRS occurred in one patient (11%). The total obliteration rates after SRS were 16.7%, 37.5%, and 68.7% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. The median interval from SRS to total obliteration of the fistula was 31 months (range, 12–38). The rates at which the symptoms started to improve were 40% at 1 month and 80% at 2 months after SRS. Symptoms started to improve at a median of 5 weeks after SRS (range, 3–21). CONCLUSION: SRS with or without embolization is a safe and effective treatment to relieve symptoms and obliterate DAVFs on the transverse-sigmoid sinus.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas Involving the Transverse-Sigmoid Sinus: A Single Center Experience and Review of the Literatures

OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively assessed the efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) involving the transverse-sigmoid sinus and analyzed the angiographic and clinical results with our 8-year experience.METHODS: Nine patients with intracranial DAVFs involving the transverse-sigmoid sinus underwent SRS using a Gamma Knife® (Elekta Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA) between 2009 and 2016. Five patients underwent SRS for residual DAVFs after embolization and four patients were treated with SRS alone. The median target volume was 1.9 cm3 (range, 0.8–14.2) and the median radiation dose of the target was 17 Gy (range, 16–20). The median follow-up period was 37 months (range, 7–81).RESULTS: Pulsating tinnitus (33%) was the most common symptom. DAVFs were completely obliterated in four patients (44%) and subtotally obliterated in five (56%). Six patients (67%) showed complete recovery of symptoms or signs, and three (33%) showed incomplete recovery. One patient experienced a recurrent seizure. Adverse radiation effects after SRS occurred in one patient (11%). The total obliteration rates after SRS were 16.7%, 37.5%, and 68.7% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. The median interval from SRS to total obliteration of the fistula was 31 months (range, 12–38). The rates at which the symptoms started to improve were 40% at 1 month and 80% at 2 months after SRS. Symptoms started to improve at a median of 5 weeks after SRS (range, 3–21).CONCLUSION: SRS with or without embolization is a safe and effective treatment to relieve symptoms and obliterate DAVFs on the transverse-sigmoid sinus.

Craniotomy and Membranectomy for Treatment of Organized Chronic Subdural Hematoma / 대한신경손상학회지

We report the case of a patient with organized chronic subdural hematoma (OCSH) that was treated with craniotomy. A 72-year-old man was admitted with a complaint of a drowsy mental status after a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. A brain computed tomography scan acquired at a local hospital revealed a large chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) in the left frontoparietal lobe. The patient had not experienced head trauma and had been taking clopidogrel due to angina. A neurosurgeon at the local hospital performed single burr hole trephination in the left frontal bone and drained some of the hematoma. Brain magnetic resonance imaging performed upon transfer to our hospital showed a large OCSH with a midline shift to the right side, revealing a low, heterogeneous signal on T2-weighted images (WI) and an isodense signal on T1-WI. We performed craniotomy and membranectomy to achieve adequate decompression and expansion of the brain. Following this, the patient recovered completely. Our findings support that neurosurgeons should consider the possibility of organization of a CSDH when selecting a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Carcinosarcoma of the Esophagus with Cartilagenous Production: A Case Report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Progressive dysphagia in a 53 year old man was caused by a giant polypoid tumor in the lower intrathoracic esophagus. Radical transthoracic esophagectomy and esophagogastrostomy were carried out. Microscopic examination of the tumor revealed a true carcinosarcoma, composed of a mixture of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma and chondrosarcoma with multiple cartilagenous productions. Carcinoma metastases were found in the subcarinal and perigastric lymph nodes. Immunohistochemically, squamous area displayed strong positive to cytokeratin, and basaloid area showed positive immunoreaction to high molecular weight cytokeratin (34beta E12). Spindle cell sarcoma reacted to vimentin and smooth muscle actin. Chondrosarcomatous area reacted to vimentin and S-100 protein. He received postoperative chemotherpy and radiotherapy. He has been free of disease for 11 months.