Histological characteristics of arterialized medullary vein in spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas related with clinical findings: report of five cases.

The histological features of arterialized medullary vein (MV) in spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVF) were studied in five consecutive patients who presented with progressive congestive myelopathy. Retrograde venous filling on preoperative angiography was recognized as being severe in 3 cases and moderate in 2 cases. Direct intradural interruption of the arterialized MV was performed in all patients. The arterialized MV was sampled and examined histologically to determine the percentage of the hyperplasia of venous wall (hypertrophic ratio). Histological examination of arterialized MV showed that hypertrophic alteration of venous wall structure was due to hyperplasia of elastic fibers, ranging from 41 to 82%. Patients with angiographically severe venous hypertension tended to have a higher hypertrophic ratio than patients with moderate venous hypertension. Our observations support the clinical concept that long-standing arterial stress in the spinal venous circulation causes histological alterations of spinal vascular structure associated with the progression of venous hypertension. We suggested that possibly the histological parameter can be used for predicting neurological recovery after occlusion of the fistulas.

Origin of the basilar artery in the encephalon of zebuine bovine fetuses

In the reseach we used 30 encephalon of zebuine bovine fetuses, previously injected with colored latex and fixed in formlin solution of 20 percent, followed by careful dissections. The basilar artery has its origin off the convergnce of the caudal branch of he carotid artery of the encephalon (both right and left sides) in a hundred per cent of the cases, showing progressively a smaller caliber a facial-caudal way, which suggests that maybe the blood flow goes along in this way, where there are some collateral branches of the basilar artery, as it follows: caudal cerebellar artery, arteries to the bridge and to the medulla oblongata

Bilateral medial medullary infarction manifested as sensory ataxia: a case report and review of the literature

Medial medullary infarction is usually manifested as hypoglossal palsy, limb weakness, impairment of proprioception, and oculomotor disturbance. We report a case with the unusual presentation of sensory ataxia. A 71 year-old male presented with ataxia and disequilibrium. Bilateral dysmetria, truncal ataxia, Upbeat nystagmus, and impaired vibration and position sense were the clinical features. However, weakness of the limbs, tongue, or face was not definite. MRI revealed bilateral lesion in the medullary tegmentum, and cortical potentials of somatosensory evoked response were absent. Recovery was fair after treatment. According to the literature, motor weakness is a cardinal manifestation in medial medullary infarction, and there has been no reported case presented as sensory ataxia preserving motor power. Current development of diagnostic tools would contribute to define a variety of clinical manifestations, topography, vascular concomitants, and prognosis in medial medullary infarction.

Successful surgical removal of intrinsic medullar vascular malformation: a case presentation.

A 22-year-old man with an intrinsic arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the medulla, who presented with recurrent subarachnoid hemorrhage and bulbar palsy was described. The successful total surgical removal of this AVM was demonstrated. The clinical, roentgenographic, pathological features and surgical approach of the brainstem vascular malformation were summarized.