Consistency of Radiological Grading of Cervical Foraminal Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The degree of cervical foraminal stenosis on MRI scans may be measured and categorised using the Kim or modified Kim methods. These grading scales have not previously been validated in a cohort of patients awaiting surgery. OBJECTIVES: To establish the normal foraminal and root diameters as well as the consistency of inter and intra-rater grading using the Kim and modified Kim grading systems in pre-operative surgical patients. METHODS: Asymptomatic cervical nerve roots and foramina demonstrated on the pre-operative MRI scans of adult surgical patients with cervical radiculopathy were measured and categorised by six raters using the Kim and modified Kim grading methods. Repeat "second pass" measurements were made by the same assessors on the same images a minimum of one month later. RESULTS: Foraminal diameters (mm) in asymptomatic foramina were C2/C3 (mean±SD): 4.18±1.44, C3/C4 2.96±1.23, C4/C5 3.02±1.19, C5/C6 3.15±1.33, C6/C7 3.53±1.36, C7/T1 3.93±1.34. Nerve root diameters were C3 3.11±0.87, C4 2.95±0.77, C5 2.56±0.73, C6 2.26±0.76, C7 2.56±0.82, C8 3.83±0.86. Inter-rater consistency was kappa [95% CI]: Kim 0.01 [0.00, 0.03], modified Kim 0.08 [0.05, 0.10]. Intra-rater consistency was kappa [95% CI]: Kim 0.81 [0.77, 0.86], modified Kim 0.69 [0.62, 0.76]. CONCLUSION: There was poor inter-rater consistency but good intra-rater consistency when assessing the severity of foraminal stenosis on axial T2 MRI scans. Foraminal diameter was narrowest at C3/C4 and C4/C5, whereas the smallest root diameter was C5/C6. Volumetric or oblique MR may improve consistency.

Ruptured intra-cranial arachnoid cysts: a case series from a single UK institution.

INTRODUCTION: Intracranial arachnoid cysts are a common incidental finding; however presentation with cyst rupture is a recognised complication. Patients are advised to avoid contact sports to reduce the risk of cyst rupture but the risk of rupture is not currently known. The aim of this study is to describe a single institution's experience of managing ruptured intra-cranial arachnoid cysts. METHOD: A retrospective case note review of all patients admitted to a single institution with a ruptured intra-cranial arachnoid cyst between 2005 and 2016 (inclusive). Medical records were reviewed for demographics, history of trauma, surgical treatment and radiological evidence of cyst rupture. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were identified for inclusion with an average age of 23.4 years (range 7-57) and 10 (71%) were male. Nine patients (64%) had a documented history of head trauma. Eleven patients (78.6%) required neurosurgical intervention which included hygroma/haematoma evacuation only (n = 5), haematoma evacuation with cyst fenestration (n = 4) and cyst fenestration/shunting only (n = 2). Twelve patients (85%) experienced full recovery and the remaining two had persisting headaches or neurological symptoms. DISCUSSION: Cyst rupture remains an uncommon cause for presentation with arachnoid cysts. However the majority are associated with head trauma and thus current advice to avoid contact sports seems justified.

Prenatal diagnosis of arachnoid cysts: a case series and systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Primary cysts are believed to arise from the splitting of the arachnoid membrane during prenatal development and can be diagnosed in utero. Prenatal diagnosis is uncommon; therefore, the evidence base for counselling expectant mothers is limited. The purpose of this article is to present a case series and review the current literature on prenatally diagnosed arachnoid cysts. METHOD: A keyword search of hospital electronic records was performed for all patients with a prenatally diagnosed arachnoid cyst at a tertiary neurosurgical centre. Case notes were reviewed for all patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2017. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to structure a systematic review of all English language articles published up to May 2018. RESULTS: A total of eight eligible patients were identified from our own records and 123 from the literature. Sixty-eight per cent of patients had a normal outcome. Sixty-three per cent of patients underwent surgical intervention which was not associated with abnormal outcome. The diagnosis of syndromic/genetic diagnosis (p < 0.001) and the presence of other intra-cranial anatomical abnormalities (p = 0.05) were significant predictors of abnormal outcome. CONCLUSION: The pathogenesis and prognosis of a prenatal arachnoid cyst diagnosis remain unclear. These results suggest favourable outcomes from simple cysts without associated abnormalities and expectant mothers should be counselled accordingly. A wider prospective review is required to better established evidence-based practice.

Clinical and radiological outcomes following surgical treatment for intra-cranial arachnoid cysts.

OBJECTIVES: Intra-cranial arachnoid cysts are benign lesions which are usually incidental, however can produce neurological symptoms due to mass effect as they enlarge. Controversy still exists regarding the optimal option for the surgical management of these cysts. These options are neuroendoscopic fenestrations, microsurgical fenestrations +/- marsupialisation and insertion of a cysto-peritoneal shunt. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case note review of all patients with intra-cranial arachnoid cysts treated surgically at a single UK neurosurgical centre over a 15 year period. Data on clinical presentations and outcomes was collected from the patient notes and the pre- and post-operative cyst volumes were calculated by creating 3-dimensional volumetric models. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were identified of which 45 were treated endoscopically, 34 microscopically and 3 underwent cysto-peritoneal shunting. The most common cyst location was the middle fossa (n = 25). Amongst the symptomatic patients, improvement or resolution of symptoms was seen in 35 out of 40 cysts treated endoscopically (88%), 28 out of 32 treated microsurgically (88%) and 3 out of 3 treated by shunting (100%, p = 0.79). The reoperation rate was not significantly different between the endoscopic and microsurgical groups (24.4% vs 14.7%, p = 0.49). The endoscopic and shunted groups had a shorter length of stay than the microsurgical group (3.0 vs 3.0 vs 4.5 days, p = 0.04). All three treatment modalities had a similar percentage reduction in cyst volume after surgery (30.0 vs 41.7 vs 30.9%, p = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: This cohort series shows that endoscopic and microsurgical approaches to treat intracranial arachnoid cysts produce comparable clinical and radiological outcomes. Endoscopic fenestration is associated with a shorter length of stay as would be expected from a minimally invasive procedure.

Intraparenchymal intracranial pressure monitoring for hydrocephalus and cerebrospinal fluid disorders.

BACKGROUND: Elective intraparenchymal intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is useful for the diagnosis and treatment of hydrocephalus and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) disorders. This retrospective study analyzes median ICP and pulse amplitude (PA) recordings in neurosurgically naïve patients undergoing elective ICP monitoring for suspected CSF disorders. METHODS: Retrospective review of prospectively collated database of neurosurgically naïve patients undergoing elective ICP monitoring for suspected hydrocephalus and CSF disorders. Following extraction of the median ICP and PA values (separated into all, day and night time recordings), principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to identify the principal factors determining the spread of the data. Exploratory comparisons and correlations of ICP and PA values were explored, including by post hoc diagnostic groupings and age. RESULTS: A total of 198 patients were identified in six distinct diagnostic groups (n = 21-47 in each). The PCA suggested that there were two main factors accounting for the spread in the data, with 61.4% of the variance determined largely by the PA and 33.0% by the ICP recordings. Exploratory comparisons of PA and ICP between the diagnostic groups showed significant differences between the groups. Specifically, significant differences were observed in PA between a group managed conservatively and the Chiari/syrinx, IIH, and NPH/LOVA groups and in the ICP between the conservatively managed group and high-pressure, IIH, and low-pressure groups. Correlations between ICP and PA revealed some interesting trends in the different diagnostic groups and correlations between ICP, PA, and age revealed a decreasing ICP and increasing PA with age. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insights into hydrodynamic disturbances in different diagnostic groups of patients with CSF hydrodynamic disorders. It highlights the utility of analyzing both median PA and ICP recordings, stratified into day and night time recordings.

Sir FMR Walshe (1885-1973): what a neurologist can teach us about the neurosurgeon.

Sir Francis Martin Rouse Walshe (1885-1973) was a decorated neurologist, but he also commented widely on neurosurgery. Many of his comments and his overall approach to medicine remain highly relevant to the practicing neurosurgeon. His focus on the paramount importance of the core principles of clinical medicine, as well as his passion for basic clinical research are values which remain key to neurosurgery to this day. Furthermore his advocacy for those in generalist medical training to find their passion and vocation is highly relevant for a specialty as highly specialised as neurosurgery.