Temporal Muscle and Stroke-A Narrative Review on Current Meaning and Clinical Applications of Temporal Muscle Thickness, Area, and Volume.

BACKGROUND: Evaluating muscle mass and function among stroke patients is important. However, evaluating muscle volume and function is not easy due to the disturbances of consciousness and paresis. Temporal muscle thickness (TMT) has been introduced as a novel surrogate marker for muscle mass, function, and nutritional status. We herein performed a narrative literature review on temporal muscle and stroke to understand the current meaning of TMT in clinical stroke practice. METHODS: The search was performed in PubMed, last updated in October 2021. Reports on temporal muscle morphomics and stroke-related diseases or clinical entities were collected. RESULTS: Four studies reported on TMT and subarachnoid hemorrhage, two studies on intracerebral hemorrhage, two studies on ischemic stroke, two studies on standard TMT values, and two studies on nutritional status. TMT was reported as a prognostic factor for several diseases, a surrogate marker for skeletal muscle mass, and an indicator of nutritional status. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasonography were used to measure TMT. CONCLUSIONS: TMT is gradually being used as a prognostic factor for stroke or a surrogate marker for skeletal muscle mass and nutritional status. The establishment of standard methods to measure TMT and large prospective studies to further investigate the relationship between TMT and diseases are needed.

Postsurgical functional outcome prediction model using deep learning framework (Prediction One, Sony Network Communications Inc.) for hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Reliable prediction models of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) outcomes are needed for decision-making of the treatment. Statistically making such prediction models needs a large number of samples and time-consuming statistical analysis. Deep learning (DL), one of the artificial intelligence, is attractive, but there were no reports on DL-based functional outcome prediction models for ICH outcomes after surgery. We herein made a functional outcome prediction model using DLframework, Prediction One (Sony Network Communications Inc., Tokyo, Japan), and compared it to original ICH score, ICH Grading Scale, and FUNC score. METHODS: We used 140 consecutive hypertensive ICH patients' data in our hospital between 2012 and 2019. All patients were surgically treated. Modified Rankin Scale 0-3 at 6 months was defined as a favorable outcome. We randomly divided them into 100 patients training dataset and 40 patients validation dataset. Prediction One made the prediction model using the training dataset with 5-fold cross-validation. We calculated area under the curves (AUCs) regarding the outcome using the DL-based model, ICH score, ICH Grading Scale, and FUNC score. The AUCs were compared. RESULTS: The model made by Prediction One using 64 variables had AUC of 0.997 in the training dataset and that of 0.884 in the validation dataset. These AUCs were superior to those derived from ICH score, ICH Grading Scale, and FUNC score. CONCLUSION: We easily and quickly made prediction models using Prediction One, even with a small single-center dataset. The accuracy of the DL-based model was superior to those of previous statistically calculated models.

Temporal muscle thickness and area are an independent prognostic factors in patients aged 75 or younger with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage treated by clipping.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle mass is an important factor for various diseases' outcomes. As for its indicators, temporal muscle thickness (TMT) and temporal muscle area (TMA) on the head computed tomography are useful, and TMT and TMA were reported as potential prognostic factors for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We examined the clinical characteristics, including TMT and TMA, of SAH patients aged 75 or younger. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 127 SAH patients with all World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grades and treated by clipping between 2009 and 2019. Clinical outcome was measured with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 6 months, with favorable outcome defined as mRS 0-2. The associations between the clinical variables and the outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age was 60.6 (32-74) years, and 65% were women. The mean ± standard deviation of WFNS grade was 2.8 ± 1.4. TMT and TMA were larger in the favorable outcome group than the poor one. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, smoking, WFNS grade, and TMT or TMA were associated with favorable outcome. Receiver operating characteristic analysis found that the threshold of TMT was 4.9 mm in female and 6.7 mm in male, and that of TMA was 193 mm2 in female and 333 mm2 in male. CONCLUSION: The odds ratios for TMT and TMA related to clinical outcome were lower than for smoking and WFNS grade; however, on multivariate analysis they remained independent prognostic factors in SAH patients aged 75 or younger treated by clipping. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

The dataset on the clipped cerebral aneurysm and their radiological findings in three-dimensional computed tomography, time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA), and Pointwise Encoding Time Reduction with Radial Acquisition (PETRA)-MRA.

These data present the 141 intracranial arterial branches' visibilities near the 72 cerebral aneurysms in postoperative 58 patients treated with titanium or cobalt-chromium-nickel-molybdenum (CCNM) alloy clips. The visibilities were evaluated using time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA), pointwise encoding time reduction with radial acquisition (PETRA)-MRA, which uses MRA with ultrashort echo time (UTE-MRA) and subtraction technique between saturated and non-saturated images, and three-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3DCTA). We retrospectively acquired the data from the medical records of Suwa Red Cross Hospital. Each method's appearance was compared, and associations between visibility on PETRA-MRA, arterial diameter, clip numbers, clip shapes, clip materials, and amounts of hematoma were summarized. Our article on PETRA-MRA's usefulness for proximal and branched arteries evaluation after cerebral aneurysm clipping [1] was based on these data. This dataset would be useful for reference value for other neurosurgeons or radiologists for further analysis on PETRA-MRA and another UTE-MRA like SILENT-MRA after cerebral aneurysm clipping.

Development of Integrated 3-Dimensional Computer Graphics Human Head Model.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the complex anatomy of neurostructures is very important in various stages of medical education, from medical students to experienced neurosurgeons, and, ultimately, for the knowledge of human beings. OBJECTIVE: To develop an interactive computer graphics (CG) anatomic head model and present the current progress. METHODS: Based on the prior head 3-dimensional CG (3DCG) polygon model, 23 additional published papers and textbooks were consulted, and 2 neurosurgeons and 1 CG technician performed revision and additional polygon modeling. Three independent neurosurgeons scored the clear visibility of anatomic structures relevant to neurosurgical procedures (anterior petrosal and supracerebellar infratentorial approaches) in the integrated 3DCG model (i model) and patients' radiological images (PRIs) such as those obtained from computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography. RESULTS: The i model consisted of 1155 parts (.stl format), with a total of 313 763 375 polygons, including 10 times more information than the foundation model. The i model was able to illustrate complex and minute neuroanatomic structures that PRIs could not as well as extracranial structures such as paranasal sinuses. Our subjective analysis showed that the i model had better clear visibility scores than PRIs, particularly in minute nerves, vasculatures, and dural structures. CONCLUSION: The i model more clearly illustrates minute anatomic structures than PRIs and uniquely illustrates nuclei and fibers that radiological images do not. The i model complements cadaveric dissection by increasing accessibility according to spatial, financial, ethical, and social aspects and can contribute to future medical education.

Usefulness of Pointwise Encoding Time Reduction with Radial Acquisition and Subtraction-Based Magnetic Resonance Angiography after Cerebral Aneurysm Clipping.

OBJECTIVE: Time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is limited by clip-induced artifacts after cerebral aneurysmal clipping. Recently, ultrashort echo time was shown to reduce metal artifacts. We assessed the pointwise encoding time reduction with radial acquisition (PETRA) sequence in subtraction-based MRA as an ultrashort echo time method during follow-up for clipping surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 114 branches of 63 aneurysms in 56 patients treated with titanium clips using MRA and 3-dimensional computed tomography angiography. The appearance using each method was compared, and the associations between visibility on PETRA-MRA, clip number and shape, and amount of hematoma were examined. Furthermore, the visibility of the aneurysm remnants and 2 clipping cases with cobalt-chromium-nickel-molybdenum clips were evaluated. RESULTS: No branches were visible using time-of-flight-MRA, but 79 of 114 branches (69.3%) were visible on PETRA-MRA. PETRA-MRA was effective for follow-up imaging in 33 of 63 aneurysms (52.4%). The median vessel diameters were 1.67 mm (interquartile range, 1.24-2.62 mm) and 0.96 mm (interquartile range, 0.59-1.53 mm) in the visible and invisible groups, respectively. Only the vessel diameter correlated significantly (P < 0.001) with the visibility on PETRA-MRA. A receiver operating characteristic curve for the association between the vessel diameter and visibility on PETRA-MRA showed a cutoff value of 1.26 mm for vessel diameter. Cobalt-chromium-nickel-molybdenum clips produced a strong artifact, even on PETRA-MRA. All 4 residual aneurysms were visible on PETRA-MRA. CONCLUSIONS: PETRA-MRA can be useful for follow-up aneurysm imaging when the diameter of vessels adjacent to the clip exceeds 1.26 mm. However, its usefulness is limited to titanium clips.

The dataset on the characteristics of the intracerebral hemorrhage patients treated by endoscopic hematoma removal or craniotomy.

These data present the characteristics of 148 intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients surgically treated. We retrospectively collected data from the medical records of Suwa Red Cross Hospital, including neurological and physiological symptoms, laboratory data, radiological data on admission, complication rate, Glasgow Coma Scale scores on admission or postoperative day 7, and modified Rankin Scale scores at 6 months. Our two articles on the endoscopic hematoma removal and craniotomy for ICH were based on these data [1,2]. This dataset includes detailed laboratory data and radiological features, and it would be useful for reference value for other neurosurgeons or further analysis.

Fifteen Cases of Endoscopic Treatment of Acute Subdural Hematoma with Small Craniotomy under Local Anesthesia: Endoscopic Hematoma Removal Reduces the Intraoperative Bleeding Amount and the Operative Time Compared with Craniotomy in Patients Aged 70 or Older.

We report cases of acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) treated by endoscopic hematoma removal with a small craniotomy under local anesthesia. From 2015 to 2019, we retrospectively analyzed 15 ASDH patients who were 70 years or older and met our criteria for endoscopic treatment: (1) comorbidities indicated risks associated with a large craniotomy under general anesthesia; (2) decompressive craniectomy was unlikely; and (3) an enlarging hematoma was absent. We also performed a case-control study using the inverse probability weighting method to compare the 15 patients to 20 ASDH patients who were 70 years or older, met criteria (2) and (3), and were treated by craniotomy between 2012 and 2019. Among the 15 ASDH patients, the median age was 86 (range, 70-101) years, and fall was the common cause. The median Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission, operative time, stay time in the operation room, and bleeding amount were 8 (6-15), 91 (48-156) min, 120 (80-205) min, and 20 (5-400) mL, respectively. The extraction rates of all the hematomas exceeded 90%. No patients required conversion to craniotomy under general anesthesia. Three patients had favorable outcomes, and five died. The comparison with craniotomy revealed that the endoscopic procedure reduced the intraoperative bleeding amount, operative time, and stay time in the operation room (p <0.001, p = 0.02, and p <0.001, respectively). In summary, endoscopic hematoma removal for selected ASDH patients aged 70 years or older did not improve functional outcomes but reduced the bleeding amount and the operative time compared with craniotomy.

Lower total protein and absence of neuronavigation are novel poor prognostic factors of endoscopic hematoma removal for intracerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic hematoma removal is widely performed for the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage. We investigated the factors related to the prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage after endoscopic hematoma removal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2013 to 2019, we retrospectively analyzed 75 consecutive patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent endoscopic hematoma removal. Their characteristics, including neurological symptoms, laboratory data, and radiological findings were investigated using univariate and multivariate analysis. Complications during hospitalization, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on day 7, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 6 months were considered as treatment outcomes. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients (33 women, 42 men) was 71.8 (36-95) years. Mean GCS scores at admission and on day 7 were 10.3 ± 3.2 and 11.7 ± 3.8, respectively. The mean mRS score at 6 months was 3.8 ± 1.6, and poor outcome (mRS score ranging from 3 to 6 at 6 months) in 53 patients. Rebleeding occurred in 4 patients, and other complications in 15 patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that older age, hematoma in the basal ganglia, lower total protein level, higher glucose level, and absence of neuronavigation were associated with poor outcomes. Of the 75 patients, 9 had cerebellar hemorrhages, and they had relatively favorable outcomes compared to those with supratentorial hemorrhages. CONCLUSION: Several factors were related to the prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage after endoscopic hematoma removal. Lower total protein level at admission and absence of neuronavigation were novel factors related to poor outcomes of endoscopic hematoma removal for intracerebral hemorrhage.

An anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma with periventricular extension: An autopsy case report and review of the literature.

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas (PXAs) are rare low-grade astrocytic tumors that typically present as superficial nodular cystic tumors of the cerebrum attached to the leptomeninx. Histologically, they are pleomorphic, hypercellular glial neoplasms. Despite the presence of microscopic pleomorphism, patients' postoperative prognosis is generally good. Anaplastic PXAs (APXAs) have a high mitotic index and patients with APXAs have a worse prognosis than patients with PXAs. Here, we report an autopsy case of APXA initially diagnosed as PXA. After gross total resection, the tumor recurred and was diagnosed as an APXA; thereafter, the patient died. An autopsy revealed that the tumor had relapsed at the primary site and had spread to the leptomeningeal space while concurrently invading the cerebrum including the periventricular area forming multifocal lesions. The histological findings of the autopsy were similar to those for epithelioid glioblastoma (EGBM) and small cell glioblastoma (SCGBM). In particular, the periventricular area with multifocal lesions was composed of SCGBM-like cells. It has been shown that multifocal lesions are frequently identified in patients with SCGBM. This is the first histopathologically confirmed case of APXA-related tumor presenting with periventricular extension and multifocal lesion formation. The periventricular extension might be a feature of PXAs and APXAs. However, suspected periventricular spread on imaging in past cases of PXAs and APXAs might instead represent the malignant transformation of these tumors to glioblastoma-like high-grade tumors, which often show SCGBM-like histological patterns.

Endoscopic hematoma removal of supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage under local anesthesia reduces operative time compared to craniotomy.

The surgical efficacy for supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains unknown. We compared the advantages of the widely practiced endoscopic hematoma removal under local anesthesia with that of craniotomy under general anesthesia for ICH. We also focused on our novel operative concept of intentional hematoma leaving technique to avoid further damage to the brain. We retrospectively analyzed 134 consecutive patients (66 endoscopies and 68 craniotomies) who were surgically treated for supratentorial ICH. The characteristics of the 134 patients were as follows: The median (interquartile range) age was 73 (61-82) years. The median Glasgow Coma Scale scores at admission, on day 7, and the median modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 6 months were 10 (7-13), 13 (10-14), and 4 (3-5) respectively. The statistical comparison revealed there were no differences in GCS score on day seven between the endoscopy 13 (12-14) and craniotomy group 12 (9-14). No differences were observed in mRS scores at 6 months between the endoscopy 4 (2-5) and craniotomy group 4 (3-5). However, the patients treated with our technique tended to have favorable outcomes. Multivariate analysis revealed the operative time was significantly decreased in the endoscopy group compared to the craniotomy group (p < 0.001).

Magnetic resonance angiography with ultrashort echo time evaluates cerebral aneurysm with clip.

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography is usually valuable for the evaluation of clipped cerebral aneurysm, but it has side effects of contrast medium. Time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is a non-invasive and fast method. However, clip-induced artifact limits assessment of the artery in the vicinity of a clip. MRA with ultrashort echo time (TE) reduces metal artifact. We use MAGNETOM Aera 1.5T (SIEMENS, München, Germany) and perform pointwise encoding time reduction with radial acquisition (PETRA)-MRA using ultrashort TE for the assessment of the cerebral aneurysm after clipping. We, herein, presented two representative cases with a clipped aneurysm which could be evaluated by PETRA- MRA. Especially in one of them, the neck remnant was revealed by PETRA-MRA. PETRA-MRA can reduce the time and the invasiveness and may be helpful for the usual follow-up of the clipped aneurysm with the development of MRA technology in the future.

Mechanical Thrombectomy for Postoperative Stroke in a Patient with Acute Aortic Dissection Type A.

Mechanical thrombectomy has been proposed to expand the treatment time window and enhance revascularization. However, it is unclear whether its use can be extended to patients with occlusions in acute aortic dissection, especially the thoracic aorta. A 55-year-old man underwent graft replacement for acute aortic dissection type A. On postoperative day 2, he developed stroke and computed tomography showed occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Mechanical thrombectomy was performed by transbrachial approach. Although successful recanalization was achieved, he suffered hemorrhagic stroke. Since there is no other effective treatment and the neurologic outcome with conservative management is poor, we consider mechanical thrombectomy to be a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of postoperative stroke in patients with acute aortic dissection type A. However, further study is warranted regarding the safety of this technique.

Endoscopically Observed Outer Membrane Color of Chronic Subdural Hematoma and Histopathological Staging: White as a Risk Factor for Recurrence.

Endoscopic treatment for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) has been reported, but endoscopic findings of CSDH have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between endoscopic findings and CSDH recurrence. Furthermore, it examined the association between Nagahori's histopathological staging of CSDH and outer membrane color. Here, we retrospectively analyzed the operative videos of 70 patients with CSDH. The endoscopic findings were investigated, and their correlations with CSDH recurrence, the reduction ratio of the midline shift, and hematoma thickness on day 30 after the operation were analyzed. The outer membrane was white in 21 cases, yellow in 25 cases, and red in 24 cases. CSDH recurred in three (4.2%) patients, all of whom had a white outer membrane (adjusted odds ratio, 18; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-20.6; P = 0.007). The other endoscopic findings were not significantly related to CSDH recurrence, extent of the reduction ratio of the midline shift, or hematoma thickness. The outer membrane colors of white, red, yellow, and white almost corresponded to the histopathological staging from type I to IV in order. Our findings suggest that a white outer membrane is a risk factor for recurrence; these colors may represent the extent of inflammation related to the evolution of CSDH estimated from the histopathological findings.

Easily created prediction model using deep learning software (Prediction One, Sony Network Communications Inc.) for subarachnoid hemorrhage outcomes from small dataset at admission.

BACKGROUND: Reliable prediction models of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) outcomes are needed for decision-making of the treatment. SAFIRE score using only four variables is a good prediction scoring system. However, making such prediction models needs a large number of samples and time-consuming statistical analysis. Deep learning (DL), one of the artificial intelligence, is attractive, but there were no reports on prediction models for SAH outcomes using DL. We herein made a prediction model using DL software, Prediction One (Sony Network Communications Inc., Tokyo, Japan) and compared it to SAFIRE score. METHODS: We used 153 consecutive aneurysmal SAH patients data in our hospital between 2012 and 2019. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-3 at 6 months was defined as a favorable outcome. We randomly divided them into 102 patients training dataset and 51 patients external validation dataset. Prediction one made the prediction model using the training dataset with internal cross-validation. We used both the created model and SAFIRE score to predict the outcomes using the external validation set. The areas under the curve (AUCs) were compared. RESULTS: The model made by Prediction One using 28 variables had AUC of 0.848, and its AUC for the validation dataset was 0.953 (95%CI 0.900-1.000). AUCs calculated using SAFIRE score were 0.875 for the training dataset and 0.960 for the validation dataset, respectively. CONCLUSION: We easily and quickly made prediction models using Prediction One, even with a small single-center dataset. The accuracy of the model was not so inferior to those of previous statistically calculated prediction models.

Temporal muscle thickness and area with various characteristics data of the elderly patients over 75 with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage whose World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grade were I to III.

This data informs about the characteristics of elderly patients over 75 with subarachnoid hemorrhage whose World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade were I to III. We retrospectively collected data from medical records in our hospital regarding physiological symptoms, laboratory data, radiological data on admission, and outcomes at discharge. Our article entitled "Clinical characteristics of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in the elderly over 75; would temporal muscle be a potential prognostic factor as an indicator of sarcopenia? [1]" was based on this data. Remarkably, this is the first dataset on temporal muscle thickness/area and other characteristics of elderly patients over 75 with subarachnoid hemorrhage whose WFNS grade were I to III. Temporal muscle thickness and area were large in the elderly patients with SAH whose outcome were favorable.

Clinical characteristics of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in the elderly over 75; would temporal muscle be a potential prognostic factor as an indicator of sarcopenia?

OBJECTIVES: Age of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is increasing. It is challenging to decide whether to perform aneurysm treatment and to predict their prognosis. We assumed that elderly patients with SAH who do not suffer from sarcopenia tend to have good outcomes. Temporal muscle thickness (TMT) and area (TMA) are useful indicators of sarcopenia. We investigated the clinical characteristics, including temporal muscle, in SAH patients over 75 years old. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 49 SAH patients over 75 years old from 2014 to 2018, who accounted for 37% of the patients in all age group. The correlations between the clinical variables and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the all 49 SAH patients over 75 years old, premorbid mRS, WFNS grade, lymphocyte, aneurysm size, TMT, TMA, showed significant correlations with mRS at discharge. Men and the absence of hydrocephalus were correlated with favorable outcomes. Thirteen of the 24 patients over 75 years old whose WFNS grade were I to III but also who underwent aneurysm treatment had favorable outcomes (mRS 0-2), and their standardized TMT divided by height, by weight, and TMA divided by weight were significantly larger than that with poor outcomes. CONCLUSION: Aneurysm intervention should be considered when patients over 75 years old do not suffer from sarcopenia. Temporal muscle would indicate premorbid mRS and be potentially useful to decide surgical indication and to predict outcome after aneurysm treatment in the elderly.

Numerical Analysis of Bifurcation Angles and Branch Patterns in Intracranial Aneurysm Formation.

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic factors, especially wall shear stress (WSS), are generally thought to play an important role in intracranial aneurysm (IA) formation. IAs frequently occur at bifurcation apices, where the vessels are exposed to the impact of WSS. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the relationship between bifurcation geometry and WSS for IA formation. METHODS: Twenty-one bifurcation models varying in branch angles and branch diameters were made with 3-dimensional computer-aided design software. In all models, the value of maximum WSS (WSSMAX), the area of high WSS (AREA), and the magnitude of wall shear force over AREA ($| {{{\vec{F}}_w}} |$) were investigated by the steady-flow simulation of computational fluid dynamics. RESULTS: On the basis of statistical analysis, WSSMAX tended to be high when the bifurcation angle and/or branch diameter was small. AREA and $| {{{\vec{F}}_w}} |$ significantly increase as the bifurcation and/or the branch angle became larger. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of WSS strongly correlated with bifurcation geometry. In addition to high WSS, AREA and $| {{{\vec{F}}_w}} |$ were thought to affect IA formation. Observed bifurcation geometry may predict IA formation. Large branch angles and small branch may increase the risk of IA formation.

Calcified ectopic TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma mimicking craniopharyngioma: a rare case report and literature review.

Among pituitary adenomas, which are relatively common brain tumors, elements of ectopic, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secretion, and intratumoral calcification are unusual. Here, we present an extremely rare case of a calcified ectopic TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma arising from the pars tuberalis mimicking craniopharyngioma based on neuroimaging findings. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of calcified ectopic TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma without symptoms of excessive thyroid hormone secretion.

Occipital artery to extracranial vertebral artery anastomosis for bilateral vertebral artery stenosis at the origin: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Revascularization of posterior circulation is essential in patients with severe bilateral vertebral artery (VA) stenosis despite administering maximal medical treatment, due to the high mortality of posterior circulation stroke. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present a 69-year-old man with bilateral severe VA stenosis at the origins, treated with occipital artery (OA)-distal VA anastomosis. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment and other surgical treatments, such as bypass grafting, are effective, but OA-VA anastomosis is a safe and effective procedure for revascularization of the posterior circulation.