[Unilateral hydrocephalus secondary to a brain temporal abscess treated by endoscopic septotomy: a case report]. / Hydrocéphalie unilatérale secondaire à un abcès temporal traitée par septotomie endoscopique: à propos d'un cas.

Hydrocephalus is a rare complication of brain abscess, due to either the mass effect on the ventricular system or to the rupture of the abscess in the ventricles. We report here the case of 44-year-old man who was operated on for a temporal lobe abscess of pulmonary origin who presented 6 weeks later with obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to a likely choroid plexus thrombophlebitis. This patient was treated successfully with an endoscopic septotomy. In light of the pertinent literature, we discuss the pathophysiological and management aspects of this unusual entity.

[Treatment of grade 0 intracranial aneurysms: Retrospective study of 79 cases]. / Traitement des anévrismes intracrâniens grade 0 : étude rétrospective portant sur 79 patients.

AIM: Without precise international recommendations, despite the advances of the ISUAA study, the superiority of microsurgery or endovascular treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) over the natural history of this disease has not been proved. In this context, the authors evaluate their experience with the aim of assessing the results and risks of the different therapeutics and comparing them with the natural risk of this disease. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From January 1993 to July 2000, 79 patients harboring 110 UIAs were treated. These patients were divided retrospectively into two groups. Group A included 45 operated patients. Group B included 37 patients treated with endovascular coiling. The therapeutic choice was not randomized and was approved by a multidisciplinary neurovascular staff. RESULTS: The two populations were homogeneous in terms of age and sex. In group A, 12 patients presented early complications (26.6 %), with one death. In group B, 15.6 % of the patients presented an ischemic complication. After 1 year of follow-up, morbidity was 11.4 % in group A and 4.8 % for group B. Angiography found a partial recanalization in 12.5 % of the operated patients and in 33 % of the patients treated with endovascular coiling. DISCUSSION: Many factors are involved in the therapeutic decision: UIA location and size and individual risks. Progress in both surgery and interventional neuroradiology has led to good results conforming with the data reported in the literature but does not demonstrate the superiority of one technique over another.

[Surgical kyphoplasty for management of axis metastasis: technical note kyphoplastie de C2]. / Traitement par kyphoplastie ouverte d'une métastase de C2 : cas clinique et note technique.

C2 vertebral metastases are seldom encountered. They usually cause disabling pain at the upper cervical level and can also result in life-threatening spinal instability. The technique described herein may provide a valuable minimally invasive option for treating this condition. We report a case of C2 metastasis resulting from gastric adenocarcinoma in a 58-year-old male; since there was no spinal instability, open kyphoplasty was performed at C2, resulting in the healing of the body and the base of the odontoid of the C2 vertebra. The X-ray follow-up more than six months after surgery confirmed the absence of any spinal instability at the craniocervical junction. Open kyphoplasty at C2 provides a means to manage a metastasis located in the body of the C2 vertebra. This method maintains the rotatory function of the upper cervical spine, which seems to be a crucial factor, given the poor prognosis usually associated with this condition.

[Minimally invasive transmuscular approach for the treatment of lumbar far lateral disc herniation]. / Utilisation d'un écarteur musculaire tubulaire dans le traitement chirurgical des hernies discales lombaires extraforaminales.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a minimally invasive surgical technique for the treatment of lumbar far lateral disc herniation. This technique combines the tubular retractor with the operative microscope. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed the files of 26 patients: 15 men and 11 women. The average age was 56 years (range, 19-83 years). The most commonly operated level was L3-L4 (46%), then L4-L5 (30.5%) and finally L2-L3 (15.5%). All patients were operated under general anesthesia. The intraoperative radioscopic location was absolutely necessary. A 12-15 mm paramedian incision was made on the side of the herniation (30 mm from the medial line). We then inserted the tubular muscular retraction system followed by the 14 mm diameter working channel. Guided by operating microscope, the articular isthmus was reamed to expose the root and the disc. The disc herniation was then removed after opening and removing the inter-transverse ligament. RESULTS: The average duration of the surgery was 55 min. This operating time decreased as the surgeons gained experience. The radicular pain, estimated using the analogical visual scale, varied from seven before surgery to two during the postoperative period. All the patients were standing up the day after surgery. The average duration of the postoperative stay in the hospital was three days (range, 1-5 days). We noted no complications from the surgical procedure. The average duration of the follow-up was two years (range, 6-36 months). CONCLUSION: This technique combines the advantages of endoscopic surgery (less muscular and osseous damage) and microscope-guided surgery (three-dimensional vision) and provided good functional results in this series.

[Prognostic implications of biologic markers in intracranial meningiomas: 120 cases]. / Implications pronostiques de différents marqueurs biologiques dans les méningiomes intracrâniens: à propos de 120 cas.

UNLABELLED: The recurrence and progression of treated intracranial meningiomas highlights the problem of the type of follow-up that should be used and whether early complementary treatment is indicated. The aim of this study was to evaluate different biochemical markers involved in cell proliferation and transformation to identify new prognostic factors in intracranial meningiomas. Between 1989 and 2003, 120 intracranial meningiomas were studied biochemically. The levels of estrogen receptors (RE), progesterone receptors (RP), cathepsin B (CB), cathepsin L (CL), stefin A (ATA), stefin B (STB), cystatin C (CYSC), urokinase (u-PA), type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI-1), cathepsin D (CD) and thymidine kinase activity (TK) were measured in tumor extracts using biochemical assays. RESULTS: Out of 120 meningiomas, 73 were grade I, 39 grade II and eight grade III according to the WHO classification. Of these patients, 17 showed recurrence. The mean follow-up was 47 months. Monofactorial analysis showed that expression of progesterone receptors (RP) had an inverse correlation with recurrence (p=0.0025 %) and that thymidine kinase activity (TK), cathepsin L (CL), the WHO grade and the degree of tumor resection correlated with recurrence (p<0.05). Principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis confirmed these results. The results of this study confirm the importance of biological parameters (PR, CL, TK) as prognostic factors for the risk of recurrence in intracranial meningiomas.

[Value of relative cerebral blood volume measurement using perfusion MRI in glioma management]. / Intérêt de la mesure du volume sanguin régional cérébral relatif par IRM de perfusion dans la prise en charge des gliomes.

INTRODUCTION: Neoangiogenesis is a critical feature that can differentiate high-grade from low-grade glioma. Conventional MR imaging does not assess this histological feature accurately. The goal of this study was to evaluate the gain in relative cerebral blood volume measurement using perfusion MRI in the management of cerebral gliomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1998 and 2001, 32 histologically proven glial tumors were assessed by perfusion MRI using echoplanar imaging (EPI) and gradient-echo techniques. Relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) was measured in all patients and compared to histological data. RESULTS: rCBV values were significantly correlated to histological grading in all 32 patients (P<0.001). Mean rCBV values were 8.74 (+/-3.79) for glioblastomas, 7.37 (+/-2.83) for anaplastic gliomas and 0.84 (+/-0.61) for low-grade gliomas. Mean rCBV values were significantly different between low- and high-grade gliomas, making it possible to determine a threshold (2.5-3) that can separate these two types of lesion. In determining the histological grading, rCBV was shown to be significantly more accurate than conventional MRI (P<0.005). CONCLUSION: Perfusion MRI using the EPI technique reliably assesses tumoral neoangiogenesis in gliomas preoperatively. The specificity and sensitivity of this technique make this radiological modality a valuable tool in the assessment of cerebral gliomas.

[Intramedullary spinal tuberculoma: report of one case]. / Tuberculose intramédullaire. A propos d'un cas.

Neurological symptoms of tuberculosis are rare, even if there this pathology has been on the rise for a number of years because of HIV. Intramedullary tuberculoma is an exceptional location. We report the case of a patient with no HIV or immunodepression symptoms with intramedullary tuberculoma, revealed by a clinical presentation of insidious onset of myelopathy. We will discuss the diagnosis, treatment and clinical functional follow-up. The optimal treatment seems to be a combination of microsurgical resection and antibiotic therapy.

[Disappearance of retro-odontoid pseudotumor after C1-C2 transarticular fixation screw]. / Disparition d'une pseudotumeur rétro-odontoïdienne sur instabilité C1-C2 par ostéosynthèse transarticulaire C1-C2.

Atlantoaxial degenerative articular cysts are described in various situations like rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis, and fractures... and in the C1-C2 subluxations of degenerative origin. The treatment of these retro-odontoid tumors does not consist in excision of the pseudotumor but in the reduction of instability by cervical fusion. The procedures are varied and comprise neurological and vascular risks. We report a case of C1-C2 subluxation associated with a pseudocyst compressing the cervical spinal cord, which was treated successfully by transarticular screwing without wiring procedure. This technique has never been used previously in this indication. However, the peroperational risks are less important and the results are similar to those of the other procedures.

Endovascular treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension: clinical and radiologic outcome of 10 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relation between venous disease and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. BACKGROUND: Optic nerve sheath fenestration and ventricular shunting are the classic methods when medical treatment has failed. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is caused by venous sinus obstruction in an unknown percentage of cases. Recently, endoluminal venous sinus stenting was proposed as an alternative treatment. METHODS: Ten consecutive patients with refractory idiopathic intracranial hypertension underwent examination with direct retrograde cerebral venography and manometry to characterize the morphologic features and venous pressures in their cerebral venous sinus. All patients demonstrated morphologic obstruction of the venous lateral sinuses. The CSF pressure was measured in all patients. The CSF pressure on lumbar puncture ranged from 27 to 45 mm Hg with normal composition. All patients had headache, and visual acuity loss was noted in eight patients. Funduscopic examination demonstrated papilledema for all patients. All patients had stenting of the venous sinuses. Intrasinus pressures were recorded before and after the procedure and correlated with clinical outcome. RESULTS: Intrasinus pressures were invariably reduced by stenting. For headache, six patients were rendered asymptomatic, two were improved, and two were unchanged after venous sinus stenting for a mean (+/- SD) follow-up of 17 +/- 10.1 months (range 6 to 36 months). Papilledema disappeared in all patients. In all cases, CSF pressure was normalized at 3-month follow-up. In all patients, direct retrograde cerebral venography or multidetector row CT angiography was performed at 6-month follow-up and demonstrated the absence of stent thrombosis. CONCLUSION: The importance of venous sinus disease in the etiology of idiopathic intracranial hypertension is probably underestimated. Patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension in whom a venous sinus stenosis is demonstrated by a noninvasive radiologic workup should be evaluated with direct retrograde cerebral venography and manometry. In patients with a lesion of the venous sinuses who experienced medical treatment failure, endovascular stent placement seems to be an interesting alternative to classic surgical approaches.

[Cranial vault chondroma: a case report and literature review]. / Chondrome de la convexité: revue de la littérature à propos d'un cas.

Intracranial chondromas are unusual tumors, which most commonly arise from cartilage rets in the synchondrosis at the base of the skull. They are most likely found in the sellar and parasellar regions, usually located extradurally. In rare instances, these tumors originate from the dura mater of the convexity. In these cases their neuroradiological features may mimic other intracranial tumors. We present the case of a 50-year-old male presenting a large parasagittal tumor originating in the frontal convexity. MRI-scans revealed a cavitated tumor strongly enhanced after gadolinium infusion mimicking a parasagittal meningioma. There was no obstruction of the superior sagittal sinus as shown by cerebral angiogram. Total excision was achieved and the postoperative course was uneventful. No complementary treatment was therefore considered. The histological examination diagnosis was chondroma. Radiological workup performed at four years follow-up did not reveal any recurrence of the lesion. Pathogenic, clinico-radiological and therapeutic issues are discussed and the literature reviewed.

[Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation and kyphoplasty for management of thoracolumbar burst fractures]. / Traitement des fractures de type burst de la charnière thoracolombaire par kyphoplastie et ostéosynthèse percutanée.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate outcome and potential advantages of a percutaneous posterior approach to burst fractures of the thoraco-lumbar junction without neurological complications by means of a technique combining balloon kyphoplasty and percutaneous pedicule screw fixation. METHODS: In this preliminary study patients who suffered traumatic of the thoraco-lumbar junction presented a Magerl type A3 fracture. The mean age of the patients was 64 years (54-78 years). All had a normal neurological examination. A combined technique using balloon kyphoplasty, that allows restoration of the vertebral height and fixation by means of cement injection with percutaneous osteosynthesis was performed as a minimal invasive alternative treatment. Mean follow-up (plain radiograph and CT scan, pain assessment) was 12 months (range 5-14 months). RESULTS: All patients experienced an early pain relief, successfully mobilized on day 1 after surgery and discharged after a mean stay of 4.5 days. Immediately postoperatively the mean vertebral height restoration was 11.5% and the reduction of the kyphotic angle was 9 degrees. Those results were maintained over the complete follow-up period. Only one patient required analgesic treatment with weak opioids (step II of the WHO pain ladder) 3 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of burst fractures of the thoraco-lumbar junction with no neurological complication by associating minimally invasive techniques results in good fracture reduction and stabilisation. The main advantage of this approach is to shorten the hospital stay.

[Open kyphoplasty for management of metastatic spine fracture]. / Traitement par kyphoplastie à foyer ouvert des métastases rachidiennes.

INTRODUCTION: Metastatic spine fractures are very frequent, often occurring in patients with severe medical conditions. Open kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are part of the classic management of this of fracture. In certain conditions such as spinal cord compression caused by epidural metastatic cancer or collapse of the vertebral body implying a local kyphosis, surgery should allow decompression of the spinal cord and stabilisation of the spine in a simple act. The purpose of this study is to assess a surgical technique combining surgical decompression by laminectomy frequently associated with posterior transpedicular instrumentation and at the same time, an open kyphoplasty to stabilize the anterior part of the spine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The same procedure was performed in 14 patients during an 18-month period. The average age of the patients was 54 years. All patients suffered severe pain before the surgical procedure (VSA mean: 7). Neurological deficiency was noted in 10 of the 14 patients with this spinal cord compression. Nineteen vertebrae were treated; a short posterior instrumentation was necessary in 11 patients. The average operative time was 90 minutes. Of the patients with neurological deficiency, the clinical status improved after surgery in all. The average VSA of this series 3 days after surgery was 2. The mean quantity of PMMA injected was 7 cc. Two PMMA leaks, one in the intervertebral disc and one forward, were identified on the postoperative CT scan. The average hospital stay was 7 days. CONCLUSION: This procedure enables surgical decompression, vertebral body consolidation and consequently spinal stabilization of the spine. We did not have any complications related to this procedure which, particularly for the elderly population, is an attractive alternative to major surgery such as vertebrectomy.

Spinal Langerhans' cell histiocytosis in a young adult: case report and therapeutic considerations.

We report an unusual case of spinal Langerhans' cell histiocytosis of the cervicothoracic junction in a young adult man. A 17-year-old male was referred to our institution with a 3-week history of cervicothoracic pain associated to a weakness of his right upper limb. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a collapsed T1 vertebral body with epidural soft tissue showing mass effect on spinal cord. The patient underwent a classic anterior cervicotomy. Complete removal of the lesion could be achieved, but the soft consistency of C7 and T2 body precluded a solid anterior fixation and an extended resection of C7 and T2 body had to be performed. Then a C6 - T3 stabilisation using an anterior plate fixation and cyanomethylacrylate graft was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful. At 2 years follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic and radiological workup showed a perfect stability of anterior fixation system. Aggressive surgical management of eosinophilic granuloma should be considered in some selected cases particularly when spinal instability or neurological deficit occurs. In this young patient a modified anterior cervicotomy allowed a comfortable approach to the anterior aspect of T3 vertebra for spinal fixation.

[Endovascular treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Analysis of eight consecutive patients]. / Traitement endovasculaire de l'hypertension intracrânienne bénigne étiquetée "idiopathique". Analyse de huit cas consécutifs.

INTRODUCTION: Optic nerve sheath fenestration or ventricular shunting are classically proposed after failure of medical treatment. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is caused by venous sinus obstruction in an unknown percentage of cases. Recently, endoluminal venous sinus stenting was proposed as an alternative treatment. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between September 2003 and December 2004, eight consecutive patients with a diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension underwent MRI venography and direct retrograde cerebral angiography. RESULTS: There were five females and three males aged 22 to 55 years. All patients had vision disorders. The cerebrospinal fluid pressure ranged from 27 to 45 mmHg with normal composition. All patients presented at least one sinus stenosis. Endovascular stenting of the stenotic venous sinus was performed under intravenous heparin administration. Anti-platelet therapy was administered for 3 months post treatment. Intra-sinus pressures were invariably reduced by stenting. Mean follow-up was 18 months. All patients improved clinically. The cerebrospinal fluid pressure had normalized at 3-month follow-up in all patients. In all patients, multidetector row CT-angiography or MRI venography was performed at 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up and demonstrated the patency of the stent. DISCUSSION: The importance of venous sinus disease as a cause of idiopathic intracranial hypertension is probably underestimated. Patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension should be evaluated with direct retrograde cerebral venography and manometry. In patients with venous sinus lesions, treatment by an endoluminal venous sinus stent is a safe and effective alternative for amenable lesions.

[Operative treatment of complex lombosacral fracture dislocation: L5 chance fracture with trans S1-S2 dislocation]. / Traitement chirurgical d'une fracture complexe de la charnière lombo-sacrée: luxation S1-S2 et fracture de type chance de L5.

Sacral fractures are uncommon injuries that are often diagnosed late, the transverse fracture dislocation of the sacrum at the S1-S2 level associated with a L5 Chance fracture has never been reported. The purpose of this report is to describe operative treatment of transverse fracture dislocation of the sacrum at the S1-S2 level associated with a L5 Chance fracture. A 17-year-old woman sustained multiple injuries in a road accident and presented with hypovolumic shock. Radiological assessment demonstrated transverse fracture dislocation of the sacrum at the S1-S2 level associated with a L5 Chance-fracture. Neurologic examination demonstrated L5 root deficit and perineal hypoesthesia. Operative treatment was undertaken. The procedure consisted of laminectomy of L5, S1, and S2 and osteosynthesis of L3-L4 - S3-S4 (in sacral alae). Attempts to reduce dislocation failed. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. One year after operative treatment the patient presented no neurologic deficit and had resumed normal activity. Follow-up radiological imaging demonstrated consolidation of fracture zones. Management for uncommon lumbrosacral junction injuries must take into account various parameters including hemodynamic condition, neurologic status, and stability of the spinal lesions. Decompression of neural impingement and stabilization of fractures by osteosynthesis appear to be a useful alternative that allows patients to stand again and begin rehabilitation quickly.

[Idiopathic acute obstructive hydrocephalus. Case report]. / Hydrocephalie aigue obstructive idiopathique. à propos d'un cas.

Acute hydrocephalus is rarely encountered in adults without venticuloperitoneal or venticuloatrial shunts. The purpose of this report is to describe a case of acute hydrocephalus due to no identifiable cause. A 40-year-old man developed a typical clinical picture of intracranial hypertension within a 24-hours period. On the morning of hospitalization, the patient consulted his physician for severe headache followed quickly by nausea and vomiting. After cerebral CT-scan, the patient was referred to our department. His condition rapidly worsened, with confusion, then drowsiness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated quadri-ventricular hydrocephalus with a Chiari I malformation. In view of his rapidly deteriorating clinical condition, emergency endoscopic third ventriculostormy was performed. The patient recovered rapidly and was discharged 8 days after the procedure. Diagnostic work-up included lumbar puncture showing normal cerebrospinal fluid (thereby eliminating multiple sclerosis, low-grade intracranial hemorrhage, and meningitis (bacterial, viral, fungal)), spinal MRI depicting no medullary lesions, and brain angiography revealing no vascular abnormalities. Follow-up brain MRI carried out at six months after hospitalization demonstrated normal ventricles and complete disappearance of the Chiari I malformation. No conclusion can be drawn as to whether the Chiari I malformation was the consequence or cause of hydrocephalus. The explanation of this acute hydrocephalus is the acute decompensation without identifiable cause of idiopathic stenosis of the foramen of Magendie and Luschka. Treatment with endoscopic third ventriculostomy is effective.

Retrospective study of 77 patients harbouring lumbar synovial cysts: functional and neurological outcome.

BACKGROUND: Synovial cysts represent an uncommon and probably underestimated pathological entity of the degenerative lumbar spine. The authors report a retrospective analysis of the clinical presentation, radiological studies and operative findings in 77 patients surgically treated for symptomatic lumbar synovial cysts at their institution. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Between January 1992 and June 1998, a total of 77 patients presenting with symptomatic lumbar synovial cysts were operated on in the author's department. Operative procedure, complications, results and pathological findings were correlated with preoperative assessment. There were 41 men and 36 women with an average age of 63 years (range 44-90 years). RESULTS: On the basis of their symptom complex on presentation, two populations were identified: patients who presented with a single radicular pain (group I = 51 patients), and patients who presented with bilateral neurogenic claudication (group II = 26 patients). Neurological examination on presentation demonstrated motor deficit (12%), sensory loss (26%) and reflex changes (35%). Degenerative disc disease and facet joint osteoarthritis was a frequent finding in patients with pre-operative MRI. Facet joint orientation was >45 degrees in 76.6% of patients. Preoperative spondylolisthesis was found in 48% on radiological studies. All the patients were treated surgically with resection of the cyst. No fusion was performed as a first line procedure. However subsequent fusion was necessary in one patient who developed symptomatic spondylolisthesis. Mean follow-up period was of 45 months ranging from 18 to 105 months. Only one recurrence occurred during the follow-up period. An excellent or good functional outcome was seen in 97.4% of cases, and 89% of the patients with motor deficit recovered. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection of lumbar synovial cysts is an effective treatment associated with very low morbidity. Synovial cysts are associated with increased grade and frequency of facet joint asteoarthritis but not with increased grade or frequency of degenerative disc disease compared with patients without cysts. In the author's opinion, at the present time, there is no reliable criterion which allows the development of a symptomatic spinal instability to be predicted in patients with a preoperative spondylolisthesis and therefore fusion as a first line procedure is still debatable.

[The value of dynamic cervical MRI in management of selected patients presenting traumatic cervical cord injury]. / Intérêt de l'IRM cervicale dynamique dans la prise en charge de certains patients victimes de traumatismes vertébraux médullaires.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this report is to describe our experience with dynamic cervical MRI for detection of cervical spinal cord instability in patients presenting spinal cord trauma without fracture or dislocation of the spinal column. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since January 2000 a total of 95 patients presenting spinal cord trauma have been treated in our department. All patients underwent MRI for diagnostic work-up. Dynamic MRI was performed if spinal cord instability was suspected. Whenever possible, high-quality plain radiography dynamic views were obtained (coma, severe deficit, study of the cervicothoracic junction). RESULTS: Dynamic MRI allowed diagnosis of spinal cord instability in 6 patients with a mean age of 65 years (range, 45 to 75). Instability occurred during extension in 4 patients and during flexion and extension in one case. In the remaining case instability was associated with herniation of a cervical disc due to a severe cervical sprain. All 6 patients underwent early surgical stabilization that allowed improvement in-hospital patient care and quick transfer to rehabilitation centers. CONCLUSION: Dynamic MRI can be a useful tool to detect unstable spinal cord instability in some patients presenting noncompressive spinal cord injuries.

[Endovascular treatment of benign intracranial hypertension by stent placement in the transverse sinus. Therapeutic and pathophysiological considerations illustrated by a case report]. / Traitement endovasculaire d'un syndrome d'hypertension intracrânienne bénigne par mise en place d'un stent dans le sinus lateral. Considerations thérapeutiques et physiopathologiques à propos d'un cas.

We report a case of benign intracranial hypertension in a 31-year-old man treated by endovascular stent placement in the right transverse sinus. The patient presented with a typical benign intracranial hypertension syndrome. Ophthalmologic findings showed bilateral papilledema with a 7/10 loss visual acuity loss in the right eye and 2/10 in the left eye. At lumbar puncture, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure was 40 mmHg. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed slit ventricles and dilatation of optic nerve sheaths. optiques. After failure of medical treatment, the patient was referred to our neurosurgical department for therapeutic decision. Direct retrograde cerebral venography showed predominant cerebral venous drainage via the right transverse sinus which exhibited stenosis in its proximal third. Mamometry revealed a 25 mmHg pressure gradient across the point of stenosis. Due to possible venogenic benign intracranial hypertension, endovascular stent placement was proposed and accepted by the patient. At 3 months follow-up, the patient was symptoms free, papilledema had disappeared and visual acuity was 10/10 on both eyes. CSF pressure on lumbar puncture was 11 mmHg. The pathophysiological aspects and therapeutic management of this pathology illustrated by this are discussed along with a careful and exhaustive review of the literature.

Temozolomide in combination with BCNU before and after radiotherapy in patients with inoperable newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of carmustine (BCNU) in combination with temozolomide as first-line chemotherapy before and after radiotherapy (RT) in patients with inoperable, newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients were treated with BCNU (150 mg/m2) on day 1 and temozolomide (110 mg/m2/day) on days 1 through 5 of each 42-day cycle for up to four cycles prior to conventional RT (2 Gy fractions to a total of 60 Gy). After RT, BCNU + temozolomide was administered for four additional cycles or until progression. The primary end point was response rate; secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS); overall survival (OS) and safety. RESULTS: Sixty per cent of patients completed four cycles of neo-adjuvant BCNU + temozolomide. Objective response rate (intention-to-treat) was 42.5% (95% confidence interval 27% to 58%), including two (5%) complete and 15 (37.5%) partial responses. In the eligible population (n=37) the objective response rate was 46%. Nine (24%) patients had stable disease and 14 (35%) had progressive disease. Median PFS and OS were 7.4 and 12.7 months, respectively. Age was the only significant prognostic factor and tumor location (lobar versus multifocal versus corpus callosum) showed a trend. Grade 3-4 toxicities included thrombocytopenia (n=11) and neutropenia (n=7) for both pre- and post-RT chemotherapy. Four patients required platelet transfusions. No patient discontinued treatment because of toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of BCNU plus temozolomide as neo-adjuvant therapy in inoperable GBM exhibited promising activity with a good safety profile and warrants further evaluation.