The cavernous sinus meningiomas' dilemma: Surgery or stereotactic radiosurgery?

Despite the advances in techniques and technologies, the management of cavernous sinus (CS) meningiomas still remains a challenge for both neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists. On the other hand, the improvement of the anatomical knowledge and the microsurgical techniques together with diffusion of radiosurgery are currently changing the treatment strategy, opening new perspectives to the patients which are suffering from such lesions. The authors reviewed here the literature data. A multidisciplinary treatment algorithm is also proposed.

STA-MCA Bypass as a "Bridge" to Pituitary Surgery in a Patient with an Adenoma Occluding the Internal Carotid Artery: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) by a pituitary adenoma with resulting cerebral ischemia is a very rare but devastating occurrence. The authors present a case in which a condition of symptomatic ICA occlusion due to a giant pituitary adenoma was successfully treated using a preliminary extraintracranial bypass as a "bridge" to the tumor removal. A 52-year-old patient presented with a minor stroke followed by pressure-dependent transient ischemic attacks consistent with a condition of hypoperfusion. MR imaging and a digital subtraction angiography revealed a pituitary adenoma occluding the ICA on the right side. He underwent a superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass with the aim of revascularizing the ischemic hemisphere and reducing the risk of perioperative stroke or stroke evolution. The patient was subsequently operated on to remove the adenoma through a transsphenoidal approach. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient has suffered no further ischemic events. When there are no emergency indications to decompress the optical pathways but the patient is at risk of impending stroke because of ICA occlusion, a two-step strategy consisting of a bypass and subsequent removal of the pituitary adenoma may be a valuable option.

The use of a stand-alone interbody fusion cage in subaxial cervical spine trauma: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Anterior spinal surgery has a predominant role in the treatment of traumatic lesions of the subaxial cervical spine. Plating is considered indispensable to achieve stability but may cause dysphagia, dysphonia, and adjacent-level ossification. Zero-P (Synthes GmbH, Oberdorf, Switzerland), an anchored interdisc spacer, can be used without an associated plate. The present study aimed to test if this new implant would be associated with a low rate of dysphagia and other short-term complications compared with the standard for anterior spinal fusion surgery and would be able to achieve a solid fusion and maintain correct metamere alignment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a preliminary presentation of a clinical case series of patients with subaxial cervical injuries who underwent anterior interbody fusion. From July 2009 until September 2011, 12 patients were treated with a Zero-P cage. The data for analysis included operating time compared with the standard for spinal fusion surgery with a cage plus plate construct, intraoperative blood loss, clinical and radiographic results, and complications. RESULTS: In the postoperative period no patient had neurologic worsening. One patient experienced transient dysphonia and moderate dysphagia. All the patients were followed up for a minimum of 6 months (mean: 13 months; range: 6-27 months). Stability and fusion were obtained in all patients together with correct metamere alignment. CONCLUSION: We presented the preliminary results of a clinical case series. Our results support the initiation of prospective randomized trials with more patients and longer follow-up.

Spontaneous regression after extensive recurrence of a pediatric cervical spine aneurysmal bone cyst.

Aneurysmal bone cyst is a pseudotumoral lesion. Complete resection prior to selective arterial embolization seems to be the treatment of choice for the more extensive and destructive lesions. In these cases maintaining stability of the cervical spine is critical. This can be very challenging in children and adolescents in whom the axial skeleton is still growing. In this case a young girl presented with a voluminous cervical aneurysmal bone cyst encaging both vertebral arteries and spinal cord. The lesion was treated with aggressive surgical resection, followed by cervical vertebral fusion with instrumentation. After nine months the patient referred no pain and no neurological deficit. MRI scans showed an extensive local recurrence. The family of the young girl refused any other therapy and any other followup. The patients returned to our attention after five years with no pain and neurological deficit. Cervical spine radiographs and MRI scans showed a complete regression of the extensive local recurrence. In the literature, the possibility of spontaneous regression of residual part or local recurrence is reported. The case of this young girl provided the chance to attend a spontaneous regression in an extensive recurrence of aneurismal bone cyst.

Hypocortisolism in noncomatose patients during the acute phase of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Hypopituitarism represents a common long-term complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The incidence of hypocortisolism may be higher during the acute phase of SAH. Although hypocortisolism may be harmful in critically ill SAH patients, data are still lacking. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the incidence of hypocortisolism during the acute phase of SAH (15 days). Secondary objectives included an analysis of the relationship between hypocortisolism and outcome and the computation of the cortisol-time secretion curve. METHODS: Clinical data of a consecutive series of 26 noncomatose patients with aneurysmal SAH were collected prospectively. The sample size was calculated considering an expected proportion of hypocortisolism of 30%, a confidence level of 95%, and a total width of confidence interval of 0.35. The definition of hypocortisolism (as taken from a statement from the critical care medicine task forces) includes random total cortisol <10 µg/dL or a Δtotal serum cortisol <9 µg/dL after 1 µg of corticotrophin hormone. RESULTS: Hypocortisolism was diagnosed in 11 patients (42.3%). Cortisol increment after stimulation test was always >9 µg/dl, suggesting a hypothalamic-pituitary impairment. Hypocortisolism was independently associated with a higher risk of poor outcome (P = .046) even after adjusting for age and Hunt and Hess grade. The cortisol-time secretion curve showed a peak at day 5 and a minimum at day 8. The peak at day 5 correlated with the risk of delayed cerebral ischemia (P = .001), and the cortisol concentration slope between days 1 and 8 correlated with the risk of poor outcome (P = .033). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SAH are at high risk of secondary hypocortisolism during the first 15 days after bleeding. Hypocortisolism independently increases the risk of poor outcome. The acute phase of hypothalamo-pituitary dysfunction, as reflected by an abnormal day-by-day cortisol secretion pattern, may affect the risk of delayed cerebral ischemia.

Surgical management in spinal sarcoidosis: case report.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report of a patient with transient paraplegia and spine instability because of sarcoidosis of 2 vertebral bodies. OBJECTIVES: To report a rare case of vertebral sarcoidosis accompanied by transient neurologic symptoms and spine instability, and to discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic management. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Vertebral sarcoidosis is a rare condition, and only a few case reports exist in the literature. In most cases, treatment with steroids improves associated neurologic symptoms. Operative intervention is necessary in cases with spinal instability because of progressive vertebral destruction and impending or progressive neurologic deterioration. METHODS: After steroids therapy and subsequent neurologic improvement, operative treatment by a 2-stage posterior stabilization followed by anterior vertebrectomy and fusion was given to a patient with 2-level vertebral sarcoidosis and residual spine instability. RESULTS: After steroids therapy, the patient had a complete neurologic recovery; satisfactory spinal stability was achieved after surgery. CONCLUSION: In the absence of any spinal instability, neurologic symptoms associated with vertebral sarcoidosis respond satisfactorily to nonoperative treatment with steroids. Progressive neurologic deterioration or spinal instability caused by bone destruction requires operative intervention. Steroids therapy provided neurologic improvement, posterior stabilization combined with anterior vertebrectomy and fusion provided spine stability for the patient in this report.

Novel equine collagen-only dural substitute.

OBJECTIVE: A watertight and meticulous dural closure is an essential step after intradural neurosurgical procedures. When such a task cannot be performed, dural replacement materials and other adjunctive measures can provide an effective barrier between the subarachnoid compartment and the extradural space. METHODS: We present our experience with a novel collagen-derived dural substitute in a series of 114 patients undergoing a variety of neurosurgical procedures. The patients were clinically or neuroradiologically observed, for immediate and delayed local or systemic complications related to the implant. In three patients who underwent reoperation after decompressive duraplasty and craniectomy for bone flap repositioning, we performed biopsy of the dural implant for histopathological studies. RESULTS: None of the patients experienced local or systemic complications or toxicity related to the dural patch. None of the patients experienced a postoperative cerebrospinal fluid fistula, except one patient who underwent an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal marsupialization of a large intrasuprasellar arachnoid cyst; the fistula required reoperation for cerebrospinal fluid fistula repair and intravenous antibiotic therapy for bacterial meningitis. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans showed signs of severe inflammatory response in only one patient who did not present any postoperative clinical symptom or neurological deficits. Three patients underwent reoperation for bone flap repositioning after decompressive craniectomy; in all patients, the dural substitute appeared to have promoted satisfactory dural regeneration, as confirmed by the histological studies. Furthermore, in such patients, no or minimal adherence with the other tissues and the brain cortex was observed. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the new collagen-only biomatrix is a safe and effective dural substitute for routine neurosurgical procedures. The absence of local and systemic toxicity or complications and the scarce promotion of adherences and inflammation make this material appealing for its use as a dural substitute, even in cases in which the necessity of reoperation is foreseen.

Collagen-only biomatrix as a novel dural substitute. Examination of the efficacy, safety and outcome: clinical experience on a series of 208 patients.

OBJECTIVES: Dural replacement materials and other measures can provide an effective barrier between the subarachnoid compartment and the extradural space when a watertight closure of the patient's own dura is not possible. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of a novel collagen-derived dural substitute on a series of 208 patients undergoing a variety of neurosurgical procedures. RESULTS: No patients experienced any local or systemic complications nor toxicity related to the dural patch. No patients experienced post-operative CSF fistula except for one. Post-operative MRIs showed signs of moderate inflammatory response in only one patient, who did not present any post-operative clinical symptom nor neurological deficits. Three patients underwent reoperation for bone flap repositioning after decompressive craniectomy: in these cases, the dural substitute appeared to have promoted a satisfactory dural regeneration, as confirmed by the histological studies. Furthermore, in such cases no or minimal adherences with the other tissues and the brain cortex was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The new collagen-only biomatrix is a safe and effective dural substitute for routine neurosurgical procedures. The absence of local and systemic toxicity or complications, and the scarce promotion of adherences and inflammation, make this material appealing for its use as dural substitute even in cases when a needed re-operation is anticipated.