A comparative study of the morphology of suboccipital cavernous sinus using magnetic resonance imaging and cast specimens / Un estudio comparativo de la morfología del seno cavernoso suboccipital utilizando imágenes de resonancia magnética y muestras de yeso

SUMMARY: A comparative study of the morphology of suboccipital cavernous sinus (SCS) using MRI and cast specimens was performed. The present retrospective study analysed the craniocervical magnetic resonance venography (MRV) imaging data of 61 patients. Three-dimensional reconstruction was performed using Mimics 19.0. The SCS left-right diameter(d1), distance from the midline (d2), supero-inferior diameter(d3), anteroposterior diameter (d4), distance from posterior diameter to skin (d5), and diameter of the SCS at different parts (d6-d8) were measured. Comparison between MRV images and cast specimens, the SCS, marginal sinus, anterior condylar vein, and vertebral artery venous plexus were symmetrical and could be bilaterally displayed, whereas the presence of extra condylar vein and posterior condylar vein exhibited different types. The adjacency between the SCS and its communicating vessels and changes in its communicating vessels corresponded well with the MRV images and cast specimens. Many types of the presence of left and right lateral condylar and posterior condylar veins were found in the cast specimens, which could be divided into the bilateral presence of posterior condylar and lateral condylar veins, unilateral presence of posterior condylar veins, and unilateral presence of lateral condylar vein. A total of 61 cases analysed using MRV images revealed the bilateral presence of posterior condylar and lateral condylar veins (77.1 %), the unilateral presence of posterior condylar vein (18.0 %), and the unilateral presence of lateral condylar vein (9.8 %), of which the bilateral presence of posterior condylar and lateral condylar veins accounted for the largest proportion. MRV images and cast specimens of the SCS showed its normal morphological structure and adjacency, thus providing accurate and complete Three-dimensional imaging anatomical data of the SCS and its communicating vascular structures. This study enriches the Chinese SCS imaging anatomy data and may be valuable in clinical practice.

RESUMEN: Se realizó un estudio comparativo de la morfología del seno cavernoso suboccipital (SCS) mediante resonancia magnética y muestras de yeso. El presente estudio retrospectivo analizó los datos de imágenes de venografía por resonancia magnética (RNM) craneocervical de 61 pacientes. La reconstrucción tridimensional se realizó con Mimics 19.0. Se midió: el diámetro izquierdo-derecho del SCS (d1), la distancia desde la línea mediana (d2), el diámetro superoinferior (d3), el diámetro anteroposterior (d4), la distancia desde el diámetro posterior hasta la piel (d5) y el diámetro del SCS en diferentes partes (d6-d8). En la comparación entre las imágenes RNM y las muestras de yeso, el SCS, el seno marginal, la vena condilar anterior y el plexo venoso de la arteria vertebral eran simétricos y se observaron bilateralmente, mientras que la presencia de la vena extracondilar y la vena condilar posterior presentaba tipos diferentes. La proximidad del SCS y sus vasos comunicantes y los cambios en sus vasos comunicantes se correspondieron bien con las imágenes de RNM y los especímenes moldeados. Se encontraron muchos tipos de venas condilares laterales y condilares posteriores izquierda y derecha en las muestras de yeso, que podrían dividirse en presencia bilateral de venas condilares posteriores y condilares laterales, presencia unilateral de venas condilares posteriores y presencia unilateral de venas condilares laterales. Un total de 61 casos analizados mediante imágenes MRV revelaron la presencia bilateral de venas condilares posteriores y condilares laterales (77,1 %), la presencia unilateral de venas condilares posteriores (18,0 %) y la presencia unilateral de venas condilares laterales (9,8 %) de los cuales la presencia bilateral de las venas condilar posterior y condilar lateral representó la mayor proporción. Las imágenes de RNM y las muestras de yeso del SCS mostraron su estructura morfológica y adyacencia normales, lo que proporcionó datos anatómicos de imágenes tridimensionales precisos y completos del SCS y sus estructuras vasculares comunicantes. Este estudio enriquece los datos de anatomía de imágenes de SCS chino y puede ser valioso en la práctica clínica.

Bilateral cavernous sinus and left dural sigmoid sinus thrombosis associated with extreme exertion: a case report / Trombose bilateral do seio cavernoso e do seio sigmoide esquerdo associada a exercício extremo: relato de caso

ABSTRACT Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis is a rare but often debilitating and potentially fatal disease. We describe a case of bilateral orbital cellulitis with rapidly progressing cavernous sinus thrombosis and left sigmoidal sinus thrombosis in an immunocompetent 20-year-old military man who had undergone intensive physical training. The patient presented with rapid painful swollen left eye for 2 days. The examination results were gross proptosis with total ophthalmoplegia. He was treated with intravenous antibiotics and corticosteroid. At 1 week, visual acuity improved to 20/20 OU, with a normal intraocular pressure. There was a significant improvement in proptosis. The ocular motility of the right eye was fully restored, with slight residual ophthalmoplegia in the left eye. There was no residual illness or recurrence of illness at 3 months' follow-up.

RESUMO A trombose séptica do seio cavernoso é uma condição rara, mas frequentemente debilitante e potencialmente fatal. Descrevemos um caso de celulite orbital bilateral com progressão rápida para trombose do seio cavernoso e trombose do seio sigmoide esquerdo, em um militar imunocompetente de 20 anos de idade que havia sido submetido a treinamento físico intenso. O paciente apresentou um inchaço rápido e doloroso no olho esquerdo por 2 dias. Os resultados do exame foram proptose macroscópica com oftalmoplegia total. Ele foi tratado com antibióticos intravenosos e costicosteróide. Em 1 semana, a acuidade visual melhorou para 20/20, com pressão intraocular normal. Houve uma melhora significativa na proptose. A motilidade ocular do olho direito foi totalmente restaurada, com leve oftalmoplegia residual no olho esquerdo. Não houve doença residual ou recorrência da doença após três meses de acompanhamento.

Síndrome de Tolosa-Hunt, uma oftalmoplegia dolorosa / Tolosa Hunt Syndrome, a painful ophthalmoplegia

Resumo A síndrome de Tolosa-Hunt (STH) é uma doença rara caracterizada por oftalmoplegia dolorosa unilateral de início súbito causada por uma inflamação granulomatosa inespecífica no seio cavernoso ou fissura orbital superior (ou ambos). A oftalmoparesia ocorre quando os nervos cranianos III, IV e VI são acometidos pela inflamação. Disfunções pupilares podem estar presentes e está relacionado com acometimento das fibras simpáticas que passam pelo seio cavernoso na porção da artéria carótida interna ou fibras parassimpáticas ao redor do nervo oculomotor. O acometimento do primeiro ramo do trigêmeo pode provocar parestesia território correspondente à distribuição desde ramo (testa). Raramente, pode haver extensão da inflamação para além do seio cavernoso ou fissura orbital superior podendo acometer também o nervo óptico. Há uma boa resposta com o uso de corticoides e pode haver remissões espontâneas. Recidivas ocorrem em 40% dos casos. A doença é mais comum após a segunda década de vida. Afeta ambos os gêneros de forma igualitária. O presente estudo trata-se de um relato de caso de um paciente que se apresentou com oftalmoplegia dolorosa de início súbito à direita com 4 dias de evolução seguido de amaurose ipslateral após um dia do início da dor.

Abstract Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (STH) is a rare disease characterized by sudden onset unilateral painful ophthalmoplegia caused by non-specific granulomatous inflammation in the cavernous sinus or superior orbital fissure (or both). Ophthalmoparesis occurs when the cranial nerves III, IV and VI are affected by inflammation. Pupillary dysfunctions may be present and is related to involvement of the sympathetic fibers that pass through the cavernous sinus in the portion of the internal carotid artery or parasympathetic fibers around the oculomotor nerve. The involvement of the first branch of the trigeminal can cause paresthesia corresponding to the distribution from the first branch (forehead). Rarely, there may be extension of inflammation beyond the cavernous sinus or superior orbital fissure and may also affect the optic nerve. There is a good response with the use of corticosteroids and there may be spontaneous remissions. Relapses occur in 40% of cases. The disease is most common after the second decade of life. It affects both genders equally. The present study is a case report of a patient who presented with painful ophthalmoplegia of sudden onset on the right with 4 days of evolution followed by ipsilateral amaurosis after one day of onset of pain.

Meningioma de nervio óptico y seno cavernoso: Reporte de caso / Optic nerve and cavernous sinus meningiomas: case report

Los meningiomas de nervio óptico y de seno cavernoso son patologías poco frecuentes, y hasta el momento no ha habido ningún reporte de que se presenten ambos en un mismo paciente. Cabe resaltar que cuando llega un paciente a consulta diagnosticado con alguna patología, asumimos que este diagnóstico es adecuado y pertinente. Pero en nuestro caso, el paciente presentó signos y síntomas de etiología desconocida que hicieron que se re-evaluarán los diagnósticos oftalmológicos que traía la paciente, encontrando que había sido tratada por un diagnóstico que no le correspondía y a su vez este hallazgo nos ayudó a encontrar la verdadera causa(AU)

Optic nerve and cavernous sinus meningiomas are uncommon pathologies, and so far there have not been previously reported to occur in the same patient. It should be emphasized that when a patient arrives at a doctor's office diagnosed with pathology, we assume that this diagnosis is appropriate and pertinent. But in our case, the patient presented signs and symptoms of unknown etiology that led to a re-evaluation of the previous ophthalmological diagnoses that the patient brought, finding that she had been treated for a diagnosis that did not match with all her clinical sign and symptoms and this helped us to find the real cause(AU)

Trombosis del seno cavernoso derecho secundaria a rinosinusitis esfenoidal: reporte de caso / Right cavernous sinus thrombosis secondary to sphenoidal rhinosinusitis: case report

RESUMEN La rinosinusitis bacteriana aguda es la infección de la mucosa nasal y de senos paranasales, que se manifiesta con congestión nasal, rinorrea purulenta y fiebre, de curso generalmente autolimitado. La trombosis del seno cavernoso (TSC) es una complicación poco frecuente, que se asocia a compromiso del seno esfenoidal y etmoidal, manifestándose clínicamente con cefalea, fiebre, alteración de pares craneanos y síntomas oculares. Ante su sospecha el estudio imagenológico es fundamental. En estos exámenes se debe buscar un defecto de llene en el seno cavernoso comprometido. El tratamiento debe iniciarse de forma precoz y contempla: antibioticoterapia, drenaje quirúrgico del seno afectado y anticoagulación. Se presenta a un paciente pediátrico masculino con TSC derecha posterior a una rinosinusitis esfenoidal no tratada, que respondió favorablemente al tratamiento. Se describe la clínica y manejo de esta patología, que presenta alta morbimortalidad, y que puede disminuirse considerablemente con un tratamiento precoz y agresivo.

ABSTRACT Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis is the infection of the nasal and paranasal mucous membrane, with symptoms such as nasal congestion, purulent rhinorrhea and fever, usually self-limiting. Cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) is a rare complication, which is associated with sphenoid and ethmoid sinus involvement, clinically manifest with headache, fever, cranial nerve involvement and ocular symptoms. When suspected, imaging studies will confirm the clinical impression. They will show abnormal flow parameters in the compromised cavernous sinus. The treatment has to start as soon as possible and consists in broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics, surgical drainage of the site of the infection and anticoagulation. We present a patient with a right CST secondary to a non-treated sphenoidal sinusitis, that responded favorably to treatment. The clinical and management of this pathology is described, which presents a high morbidity and mortality that can be reduced considerably with an early and aggressive treatment.

Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome / Síndrome de Tolosa-Hunt

Abstract We present a case study of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome, a rare idiopathic disease, that is characterized by painful ophthalmoplegia of strong intensity, generally affecting the third cranial nerve, and, less frequently, the fourth or the sixth cranial nerves. Usually, there is no visual impairment. The treatment is based on corticosteroids with satisfactory results in most cases although recurrences can occur at intervals from months to years. In our case, the patient presented sudden pain periorbital associated with cranial nerves involvement, which have an excellent outcome after treatment with corticosteroids, with no relapses until today.

Resumo Nós apresentamos um caso de Síndrome de Tolosa-Hunt, uma doença idiopática rara, caracterizada por oftalmoplegia dolorosa, de forte intensidade, geralmente afetando o terceiro par craniano, e, menos frequentemente, o quarto e/ou o sexto par. Geralmente, não há acometimento visual. O tratamento é feito com base em corticóides com resultados satisfatórios na maior parte dos casos, embora recorrências possam ocorrer após meses a anos. Relatamos caso de paciente masculino de 36 anos, com diagnóstico prévio de sífilis congênita e esquizofrenia, com dor periocular súbita associada com envolvimento de pares cranianos, que teve melhora total após vigência de corticoterapia, sem recorrências até a presente data.

Cavernous Carotid Artery Giant Aneurysm: Case Report and Literature Review

The giant aneurysm of the cavernous internal carotid artery is an uncommon event. In the case of giant aneurysmal formation, the patient presents with some signs or symptoms, reported or observed on physical examination,which reveal a possiblemass effect with neurovascular compression of the aneurysm, or even a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to the rupture of the aneurysm. We report the case of a 69-year-old patient who was admitted to the emergency department, referred by the basic health unit (BHU) of her locality for neurosurgical evaluation after suffering a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). The patient, who was asymptomatic, carried with her a tomographic computerized examination of the skull, performed one day after the incident, evidencing left nodular parasellar lesion involving the cavernous sinus, discovered at random. After more specific clinical, laboratory and imaging exams, she was diagnosed with a giant aneurysm of the cavernous segment of the left internal carotid artery (LICA) and was submitted to endovascular embolization for correction.

Pituitary macroadenoma: analysis of intercarotid artery distance compared to controls / Macroadenoma de hipófise: análise da distância intercarotídea comparada a controles

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the intercarotid distance (ICD) of patients with pituitary macroadenoma and compare to heatlhy controls. Method We retrospectively reviewed contrast-enhanced MRI images from twenty consecutive patients diagnosed with non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma, measured the ICD at two different levels (petrous segment – ICD1 and horizontal cavernous segment – ICD2) and compared to twenty paired controls. Results There was no statistically significant difference of the mean ICD1 between the groups and subgroups. For the ICD2 there was statistically significant difference between the case and controls. However, there was no significant difference between the patients with smaller adenomas and the controls. In contrast, the patients with giant adenomas showed statistically significantly higher ICD2 than the controls. Conclusion The ICD at the horizontal segment of the cavernous carotid tends to be wider in patients with giant pituitary adenomas than in healthy individuals or patients with smaller adenomas.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a distância intercarotídea (DIC) de pacientes com macroadenoma de hipófise e comparar com controles saudáveis. Método Foram analisados retrospectivamente imagens de ressonância magnética com contraste de vinte pacientes consecutivos com diagnóstico de macroadenoma hipofisário não-funcionante, medidas as DIC em dois níveis diferentes (segmento petroso – DIC1 e segmento cavernoso horizontal – DIC2) e comparados com vinte controles pareados. Resultados Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa da DIC1 média entre os grupos e subgrupos. Para a DIC2 houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os casos e controles. No entanto, não houve diferença significativa entre os doentes com adenomas menores e os controles. Entretanto, os pacientes com adenomas gigantes tiveram estatisticamente significativamente DIC2 que os controlos. Conclusão A DIC no segmento horizontal da carótida cavernoso, tende a ser mais larga em doentes com adenomas hipofisários gigantes do que em indivíduos saudáveis ou de pacientes com adenomas menores.

Congenital Pial Arteriovenous Fistula in the Temporal Region Draining into Cavernous Sinus: A Case Report

This report concerns a 4-month-old infant with progressive prominent and redness of his left eye since birth. This report concerns a 4-month-old infant with progressive prominent redness of his left eye since birth. Angiography revealed a congenital pial arteriovenous fistula between the temporal branch of the left posterior cerebral artery and left cavernous sinus through the sphenoparietal sinus, a condition not reported in the literature. The fistula was successfully occluded with two micro-coils by vertebrobasilar approach.

Hemodynamical Assessment of Cavernous Hemangioma in Cavernous Sinus Using MR-DSA and Conventional DSA

We report a hemodynamical assessment of the blood turnover pattern as well as the imaging of cavernous hemangioma in a cavernous sinus using time-resolved contrast enhanced 2D projection MRA, also known as MR-DSA, and conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA), before and after radiotherapy. MR-DSA showed very fast dynamical images of a contrast turnover pattern and was well matched with the findings obtained from DSA. MR-DSA is a non-invasive study, and can replace DSA in examining a vascular tumor for the initial work-up and follow-up examination.

Isolated bilateral abducens nerve palsy due to carotid cavernous dural arteriovenous fistula

Carotid cavernous dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) usually presents with conjunctival injection, proptosis, loss of visual acuity and ophthalmoplegia. There have been some carotid cavernous DAVF case reports presenting with isolated oculomotor, abducens and trochlear nerve palsy. We experienced a patient presenting with bilateral abducens nerve palsy and no other ocular signs who was diagnosed as carotid cavernous DAVF after conventional angiography. According to this case, carotid cavernous DAVF should be considered in the differential diagnosis of isolated bilateral abducens nerve palsy, in which case conventional angiography may be helpful in diagnosis.

Computerised tomography in Tolosa-Hunt syndrome.

Twelve patients who satisfied the clinical criteria of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS), underwent axial computerised tomography (CT) scan of the head. Two patients had abnormalities detected in the cavernous sinus on the affected side which supported the clinical diagnosis. This coupled with steroid responsiveness and long-term asymptomatic follow-up firmly established the diagnosis of THS. We discuss the computerised tomographic findings seen in THS and the relevance of using accurate imaging techniques as the first line of investigation in these cases.