Filar arteriovenous fistula associated with anomalous common posterior intercostal arterial trunk - A case report and review of literature.

An anomalous common trunk giving rise to bilateral intercostal arteries at multiple levels is exceedingly rare and its association with spinal filar AVF and low-lying cord has not been reported so far. Here, we report this uncommon anatomical variation in a 60-year-old male who presented with paraplegia and on imaging found to have low-lying spinal cord with filar AVF and venous congestive myelopathy and discuss its embryological basis and associated malformations. Although rare, interventional radiologists should be aware of this entity, as these trunks may be a major source of bleeding in patients with hemoptysis, and also may be involved in vital spinal cord supply.

Endovascular management of a ruptured aneurysm associated with distal PICA fenestration.

Fenestrations are rare but well-known arterial anatomic variations in which a segment of artery divides into two parallel channels that reunite distally. Although fenestrations as such are asymptomatic, they have gained clinical significance because of their association with aneurysms and other intracranial vascular pathologies. Here we present a 35-year-old woman with history of sudden severe occipital headache and vomiting. Imaging revealed a ruptured aneurysm in the distal posterior inferior cerebellar artery arising from one of the limbs of the fenestration. The aneurysm was successfully managed by coiling, and the patient made complete recovery without neurological sequelae.

Endovascular Management of a Rare Case of Pediatric Vertebral Artery Mycotic Aneurysm: A Case Report.

Pediatric posterior-circulation aneurysms are uncommon, difficult-to-treat lesions associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Infections and trauma are important risk factors in children. Here, we present a 10-year-old boy with a lower respiratory tract infection, rapidly progressive right-neck swelling, and weakness of the right upper limb. Imaging revealed a partially thrombosed right vertebral-artery pseudoaneurysm with multiple cavitory lung lesions. Subsequent laboratory work-up showed underlying primary immunodeficiency disorder (chronic granulomatous disease). The aneurysm was successfully managed by parent-artery occlusion. The child made a complete recovery without neurological sequelae.

Cerebral miliary micro aneurysms in polyarteritis nodosa: report of two cases.

Cerebral involvement is rare in polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) and is mostly characterized by ischemic events and intracranial hemorrhages secondary to cerebral aneurysms is extremely rare. We report two patients of PAN with multiple intracranial aneurysms. One patient presented with intracerebral hemorrhage and in the other patient multiple intracranial aneurysms were incidental findings and were asymptomatic. Both our cases suggest that multiple intracranial aneurysms are not very uncommon in PAN and cerebral angiography should be considered while doing abdominal angiogram in these patients.

Intra-arterial thrombolysis in basilar artery occlusions combination of intra-arterial thrombolytics and Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitors in basilar artery thrombosis.

Basilar artery thrombosis has high morbidity and mortality. Though intra-arterial thrombolytics have proven efficacy in the treatment of acute basilar artery occlusion, the elevation of procoagulant factors in the blood after intra-arterial thrombolysis could result in subsequent thrombus formation and clinical deterioration. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors have been shown to reduce this elevation in procoagulants. We present a pilot study of three cases of acute basilar artery occlusion treated with a combination of intra-arterial thrombolytics and Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor with remarkable clinical recovery seen in all the patients.

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor: a clinicopathological study of 32 cases.

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) is a relatively newly described entity and is an important cause of intractable epilepsy. We report 32 cases of DNT who were operated and treated in our hospital over a period of 12 years. Immunostaining for various proliferative markers and tumor suppressor gene proteins was done to assess the proliferative potential of these tumors. The most common presentation was partial complex seizures followed by generalized tonic-clonic seizures, focal motor seizures, and myoclonus. The most common location was temporal lobe followed by frontal and in one patient lesion was multifocal. All patients were seizure free at the last postoperative follow-up which varies from 12 to 96 months with mean of 33.7 months. Microscopic examination showed classical histology comprising of intracortical multinodular microcystic lesions with floating neurons. Proliferative indices were very low (<1%) and tumor suppressor gene protein expression was not seen in the present study. Cortical dysplasia of the surrounding brain was observed in 37.3% of cases.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in a case of endovascular aneurysm coiling.

We report a case of 46-year-old man who underwent endovascular coil embolization for left anterior inferior cerebellar and posterior inferior cerebellar aneurysms. During embolization of both aneurysms, thrombotic complications were observed along with a relative lack of response to heparin. Intra-arterial abciximab was used to recanalize an almost completely occluded posterior inferior cerebellar artery. A marked decrease in platelet counts was found soon after embolization, which normalized within a few days. Serologic tests confirmed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. This syndrome should be considered in cases with thromboembolic complications during endovascular procedures, particularly in patients undergoing repeated heparin exposure. A sudden decrease in platelet counts and lack of response to heparin, manifested as a relative lack of increasing activated clotting time, should make one suspect this syndrome.

Bilateral internal carotid artery segmental agenesis associated with persistent trigeminal artery, vascular ectasia, abnormal configuration of brain stem and cerebellum. A case report.

Bilateral segmental agenesis of the internal carotid artery is a rare developmental anomaly. We report a case of congenital bilateral internal carotid arteries segmental agenesis associated with persistent trigeminal artery, vascular ectasia and abnormal configuration brain stem and cerebellum. We postulate that these findings could result from interference in development during the early stages.

Bilateral cerebellar dysplastic gangliocytomas (lhermitte duclos disease) with cerebellar ectopia and presyrinx cord changes. A case report.

Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD) is a rare cerebellar lesion with features of both malformation and benign neoplasm. However, the fundamental nature of the entity, its pathogenesis, and the exact genetic alterations remain unknown. We describe a rare case of bilateral LDD with cerebellar ectopia and presyrinx spinal cord changes. Bilaterality of lesions should argue against a neoplastic origin and support a hamartomatous origin.

Delayed symptomatic cyst formation following gamma-knife radiosurgery. A case report.

We report a case of symptomatic cyst formation as a delayed complication of gamma knife radiosurgery for treatment of intracranial arteriovenous malformation. The cyst was discovered six years after GKS. Initially it was asymptomatic, presenting with symptoms of mass effect after another six months. It was decompressed by a cystoperitoneal shunt following which the symptoms were relieved.

Scalp malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) with bony involvement and new bone formation: case report.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare neoplasms, usually arising from somatic soft tissues or peripheral nerves. Primary MPNST of the scalp is extremely rare, with only a single case reported so far. Here, we describe an unusual case of scalp MPNST in a 50-year-old male. The tumor was associated with bony projection, intracranial extension and underlying bone destruction. The tumor was treated with complete surgical excision followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Histologically, the tumor showed malignant spindle cells with focal S-100 positivity on immunohistochemistry and a diagnosis of MPNST was made. This case is being reported for its rarity and presence of associated bony projection, which to the best of our knowledge, has not been described before in soft tissue sarcomas.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis: neuroimaging findings in two siblings from an Indian family.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is exceptionally rare in the Indian population. We present and discuss the clinical, radiological and histopathologic findings in 2 siblings with CTX. Both the patients had juvenile cataract, mental retardation and marked cerebellar ataxia. The Achilles tendon swelling was present in only 1 patient (Case 2). MR imaging showed typical bilateral and symmetrical involvement of the dentate nuclei, inferior olives, brainstem and cerebellar hemispheric white matter. Although the diagnosis of CTX was made in the 3rd decade in both our cases, early diagnosis is possible if neuroimaging is done in the early course of the disease.

Internuclear ophthalmoplegia and torsional nystagmus: an MRI correlate.

The association of internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO) with torsional nystagmus is rare. We report a case of a 72-year-old male who developed brainstem stroke and was found to have left INO with torsional nystagmus. An MRI correlation in this case has been described.

An unusual case of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia.

Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) is an uncommon neurological disorder characterised by abnormal episodic brief movements induced by sudden movements of the body. The recognition and understanding of this disorder has increased over the past few decades. While most cases are idiopathic, the association of PKD with various disorders, including metabolic abnormalities has also been reported. We report an interesting case of a 52 year old male who presented with PKD manifesting as subtle facio-brachial movements and apraxia of eyelid opening (ALO) secondary toidiopathic hypoparathyroidism.

Post-Traumatic Cavernous Fistula Fed by Persistent Trigeminal Artery: Treatment by GDC Embolisation.

SUMMARY: A case of traumatic persistent pnmltlve trigeminal artery (PPTA) cavernous sinus fistula treated with GDC embolisation is reported. Because of the small lumen of PP TA, posteriorly directed course and flow contribution from the posterior circulation, balloon embolisation via the carotid system was not considered appropriate. The fistula was successfully closed by GDC embolisation.

Partial aplasia of the posterior arch of the atlas with an isolated posterior arch remnant: findings in three cases.

We report the imaging findings in three symptomatic cases of partial aplasia of the posterior arch of the atlas with an isolated posterior remnant of the arch. These cases are instructive in illustrating the mechanism of cord impingement produced by the posterior arch remnant during extension of the cervical spine. Additionally, focal increased T2 signal was observed within the cord at the level of the anomaly in two of the patients.

Intrasellar tuberculoma--an enigmatic pituitary infection: a series of 18 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Intrasellar tuberculomas are rare and only few case reports have been described in the literature. We report a series of 18 cases of histologically proven intrasellar tuberculomas, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the largest series in the English literature. METHODS: A total of 1143 pituitary lesions, between 1984 and June 1999, were operated for various reasons in our institute. Of these, 18 cases were histopathologically proven intrasellar tuberculomas. The clinical profile was reviewed in detail. Radiological data and histopathological slides were also reviewed. RESULTS: The age ranged from 8 to 43 years (average 23.6 years) with a female preponderance. The duration of symptoms varied from 15 days to 2 years (average 4 months), the most common symptoms being headache followed by decrease or loss of vision. Five patients had features of pan-hypopituitarism whereas three had raised prolactin (PRL) levels. In six patients, both sella as well as sphenoid sinus were involved. In one patient the lesion was extending from the sella over the clivus. Clinically as well as radiologically, these lesions were mistaken for pituitary adenomas except for one case where tuberculoma was suspected on imaging. In three patients, there was past history of pulmonary tuberculosis, in one patient of tuberculous meningitis, and in one patient, of spondilytis of the spine. In one patient there was cervical lymphadenopathy along with features of acromegaly (also proved by high levels of serum growth hormone) and radiology revealed a pituitary pathology. Microscopic examination of the excised lesion revealed a composite lesion consisting of a pituitary adenoma and tuberculoma, which has not been documented in literature to date. One patient died during the hospital stay. All the other patients were put on antitubercular chemotherapy following surgery and had good outcomes. CONCLUSION: Intrasellar tuberculomas are rare. These may be suspected in female patients especially if radiological imaging shows involvement of paranasal sinuses and pituitary fossa along with thickening of pituitary stalk. Simultaneous involvement of clivus may also be an additional feature. The incidence of pituitary tuberculosis is likely to increase with a rise in the incidence of AIDS.

Invasive aspergillosis presenting as a cavernous sinus mass in immuno competent individuals; report of 3 cases.

Aspergillosis of the cavernous sinus is rare, especially in immuno competent individuals. We report three such cases secondary to paranasal sinus aspergillosis, with imaging findings.

Alcohol ablation of symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Many therapeutic techniques have been used for the treatment of symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas (SVH), and each has its own limitations. Our objective was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of alcohol ablation for treating these lesions. METHODS: Fourteen patients with SVH were treated by injection of absolute alcohol into the lesion via the percutaneous transpedicular route under CT guidance. Symptoms before treatment included neurologic deficit in 13 patients and debilitating pain in one. All patients underwent preprocedural MR imaging. All patients had clinical and MR imaging follow-up (14 patients at 48-96 hours and 2 months; six at 9-15 months). Results were divided into excellent (resumption of work, alleviation of pain), good (significant improvement), and failure of treatment categories on the basis of subjective assessment of clinical improvement. Clinical improvement/deterioration was correlated with MR-revealed changes. RESULTS: All patients showed transient deterioration of neurologic status after alcohol ablation. Subsequently, excellent results were seen in five patients and eight were in the good category. One patient in whom treatment failed also developed a complication (paravertebral abscess). Four of the eight patients with good results had preprocedural cord changes. Total follow-up ranged from 5 to 31 months, with 11 patients showing stable improvement. One patient developed recurrent hemangioma within a month. Another patient became symptomatic after initial good response, secondary to the collapse of the involved vertebral body. Good correlation was found between clinical improvement and reduction of epidural soft-tissue masses on MR images. Cord signal alteration seen on MR images in four treated patients, however, did not show any change after treatment. CONCLUSION: Alcohol ablation is an effective management option for symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas. Although encouraging results were seen in almost 86% of our patients, a longer follow-up period still is needed to assess the stability of improvement. Potential complications include vertebral collapse and infection.