Intermittent Manual Carotid Compression as a Treatment Option for Indirect Low Flow Carotid Cavernous Fistula.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of intermittent manual carotid compression (IMCC) in the management of low-flow carotid cavernous fistulae (CCF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with low-flow CCF and treated with IMCC over a period of 13 years were retrospectively analyzed. Data analyzed included demographic details, clinical features, type of CCF, and response to therapy. Outcomes were categorized as complete cure, partial cure, and no cure or worsening. Patients with complete and partial cure were grouped as good outcome whereas those with no cure or worsening as poor outcome. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients were advised IMCC for low-flow CCF, of whom five were lost to follow-up. Results of the remaining 39 patients were analyzed, of whom 21 (53.8%) were males. The mean age at presentation was 54.38 ± 14.54 years. The median duration between the onset of symptoms and presentation was 5.0 ± 4.10 months. The common presenting features were episcleral congestion and proptosis (89.7%), extraocular motility restriction (66.7%), and diplopia (48.7%). Most common CCF type was type D (34, 87.2%). All patients were advised to undergo IMCC. Good outcome was seen in 35 patients (89.7%, 95% CI: 80.2% to 99.2%), whereas poor outcome was seen in four (10.3%) patients. The mean duration of follow-up was 15.91 ± 21.87 months. CONCLUSION: The present study found a good outcome with IMCC in 89.7% cases of indirect low-flow CCF with no major complications. It should be considered the management of choice in patients who are systemically unfit or cannot afford endovascular embolization.

Superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis post manual carotid compression for indirect carotid-cavernous fistula.

PURPOSE: To report 5 cases of superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis (SOVT) following intermittent manual carotid compression (IMCC) for indirect carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) and to outline the management. METHODS: Retrospective observational case series of all patients who developed SOVT secondary to IMCC for indirect low flow CCF's at a tertiary care center. The demographic profile, clinical, imaging findings, treatment, and outcomes were studied. RESULTS: The mean age at presentation was 60.2 years (Range: 42-87 years). Four patients were male. All patients had a unilateral presentation. The mean time interval between starting IMCC and the development of SOVT was 1.18 months (Range: 0.25-3 months). Acute exacerbation of proptosis and chemosis associated with a decrease in vision was the presenting feature in all the patients. The mean visual acuity at presentation was 0.89 on the logMAR scale. The causes of reduced visual acuity were venous stasis retinopathy (n = 4) and compressive optic neuropathy (n = 1). Magnetic resonance imaging revealed enlarged superior ophthalmic vein with absent flow voids and post-contrast filling defects. Four patients received anticoagulation treatment with subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin 1 mg/kg twice daily for 5 days followed by oral warfarin 5 mg once daily along with oral steroids. Complete recovery of SOVT was noted in all patients at a mean duration of treatment of 0. 75 months (Range: 0-2 months). CONCLUSION: SOVT is a rare but possible complication in patients on IMCC for indirect CCF, and hence warrants close follow up. Early diagnosis and prompt management will help in preventing complications like permanent vision loss.

Transcatheter arterial embolization of an orbital lymphoma.

A 69-year-old male patient presented with painless protrusion of his left eye for 6 months. A large, anterior orbital vascular mass was seen in the superior conjunctival fornix. Neuroimaging and Doppler studies revealed a highly vascular circumscribed, enhancing mass lesion in the superior orbit. Carotid angiogram showed a feeder vessel which was embolized followed by complete excision of the lesion. Further investigations confirmed primary extra-marginal zone B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the orbit. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a primary orbital lymphoma treated by Transcatheter arterial embolization and excision.

Rare Intracranial Recurrent Meningioma with Unique Coexisting Atypical, Papillary and Lipomatous Component: Case Report and Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: Meningiomas are common central nervous system tumors with a wide range of morphologic variants, the pathogenesis being their complex embryogenesis. Intracranial meningiomas with heterogenous histopathology in the same lesion are common in low-grade meningiomas but less frequent in recurrent and high-grade variants. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 75-year-old male presented elsewhere a year ago with complaints of slurred speech. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left frontotemporal, dural-based, extraaxial, solid cystic lesion with doubtful infiltration into the adjacent brain parenchyma. A subtotal excision was done. A diagnosis of meningioma with an aggressive biological behavior was rendered on histology, but the grade was deferred, in view of a single focus of small cell formation and no adjacent brain parenchyma to comment on invasion. The patient presented here with recurrence of his original symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain with contrast revealed 2 dural-based, solid cystic enhancing lesions of sizes 29 mm × 25 mm × 24 mm and 25 mm × 16 mm seen at the left frontal region, indenting the adjacent brain parenchyma with diffuse meningeal thickening in the postoperative bed. Microscopy revealed a hypercellular meningeal neoplasm with increased mitosis and a pseudopapillary pattern with lipomatous changes. CONCLUSIONS: To date there are no case reports in current literature with such rare combinations in a recurrent meningioma. This highlights the multipotency of phenotypic transformation of primary meningothelial cells. The presence of papillary features, even if focal, should be quantified in the diagnosis. This is of importance because the most current literature suggests that meningioma harboring a papillary component has an increased risk of recurrence and progression to aggressive behavior.

Intraocular Pressure in the Eyes of Patients With Carotid-Cavernous Fistulas: Profile, Intereye Asymmetry, and Treatment Outcomes.

PRECIS: Secondary ocular hypertension (OHT) is common in carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs). Management of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is possible with a multidisciplinary approach. The ipsilateral normal eyes may have higher IOP than the contralateral eyes. PURPOSE: To study the IOP profile of the eyes of patients with a CCF, treatment outcomes for elevated IOP, and intereye IOP asymmetry in the eyes with normal IOP. METHODS: This was a retrospective case series. A total of 64 eyes of 60 patients with digital subtraction angiography-proven CCF diagnosed from the year 2000 to 2016 were included. The demographics, clinical features, management, and outcomes were recorded. The primary outcome included understanding of the cause of elevated IOP. The secondary outcomes included comparison of the IOP between contralateral eyes and ipsilateral normal eyes (IOP <21 mm Hg) and management outcomes for elevated IOP. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 45.6±18.2 years. In the study population, 70% of the patients were males. Indirect CCF was present in 55% of the eyes. It was found that 64.06% (n=41) of the eyes had elevated IOP, glaucoma, or were glaucoma suspects. Among all the eyes, 40.62% (n=26) of the eyes had secondary OHT due to elevated episcleral venous pressure, whereas 7.81% (n=5) of the eyes had secondary open-angle glaucoma. The mean IOP was higher in the ipsilateral eyes than in the other eyes (22.95±7.1vs. 15.11±2.99 mm Hg; P<0.001). The mean IOP in the ipsilateral normal eyes was higher than that in the contralateral eyes, with a mean difference of 2.92±2.29 mm Hg (confidence interval of the mean difference: 1.90-3.94 mm Hg; P<0.0001). IOP reduction (<21 mm Hg) was achieved in 70.7% of the patients following CCF management with intermittent carotid massage, endovascular treatment, IOP-lowering medications, or a combination among these. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary OHT due to elevated episcleral venous pressure was more common than secondary open-angle glaucoma. Ipsilateral normal eyes had higher IOP than contralateral eyes. IOP-lowering agents and management of CCF resulted in IOP control in most patients.

Visual impairment in high flow and low flow carotid cavernous fistula.

Our aim is to study the varied posterior segment manifestations, level of visual impairment (VI) and its causes in carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) patients. A retrospective study was done, wherein data was obtained from 48 digital subtraction angiogram (DSA) proven CCF patients. CCF was classified according to Barrow et al., based on DSA into type A (high flow) and types B, C and D (low flow). High flow CCF was present in 8 (16.7%) and low flow CCF was present in 42 (83.3%). Compared to low flow group, patients in high flow group were younger and had a history of trauma (p < 0.05). Posterior segment findings ranged from familiar stasis retinopathy and optic neuropathy (both, glaucomatous and ischemic) to uncommon findings of central retinal artery occlusion, Terson syndrome and combined retinal and choroidal detachment. Retinal vein dilatation was the most common finding in both groups. The high flow CCF group had 6 (75%) patients that had VI. This was acute in 4 (50%) patients and delayed in 2 (25%). In the low flow group 10 (23.8%) of patients had delayed VI. The identification of "3 point sign" is a novel finding of this study, not described before. While none of three findings (disc hyperaemia, retinal vein dilatation and intra-retinal haemorrhage) in isolation were predictive of visual loss, but when present together results in visual loss. Posterior segment changes were varied, some are uncommon and can occur in various combinations. "3 point sign" must be identified at the earliest to prevent visual impairment. The incidence of VI in CCF patients is high.

A Time Bomb Defused, In Time! A Traumatic Optic Neuropathy To Be Wary Of.

Authors describe a case of traumatic pseudoaneurysm of cavernous internal carotid artery in a young male who presented with complaints of progressive decrease in vision, inability to move the eye, and delayed epistaxis 8 months after the head injury sustained during a motor vehicle accident. The presence of optic atrophy and epistaxis in the setting of head trauma alerted the authors to look for this potentially life-threatening condition. Timely intervention in the form of endovascular coil occlusion of the internal carotid artery was performed and the epistaxis stopped without any ischaemic or thromboembolic sequaelae.

Combined approach to management of periocular arteriovenous malformation by interventional radiology and surgical excision.

Periorbital arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital lesions that may cause significant morbidity such as amblyopia, cosmetic disfigurement, or chronic pain. Due to the rarity of these lesions, they are frequently misdiagnosed and treated inappropriately. We managed a 6-year-old girl with preseptal AVM by endovascular embolization followed by complete surgical excision after 2 days. She was previously diagnosed as capillary hemangioma and was being treated with intralesional steroid injections and oral propranolol. Neuroimaging revealed an AVM fed by the branches of both external and internal carotid arteries and drained by the superior ophthalmic vein. Endovascular embolization with glue followed by complete surgical excision of the lesion was done. The resultant cosmetic and functional outcome was gratifying. Diagnosis and management of periorbital AVM remain a challenge requiring a multidisciplinary approach involving interventional radiologist and trained oculoplastic surgeons. Combined endovascular embolization followed by surgical excision proved safe and effective.

Obliteration of giant corpus callosum AVM with linac based stereotactic radiosurgery.

Successful management of large AVMs is difficult. Traditionally they are considered less responsive and even unsuitable for radiosurgery. This case report demonstrates total angiographic obliteration in a complex, large corpus callosum AVM (volume 36.52 cc) in a 39-year-old male. Stereotactic radiation was delivered with a Linear Accelerator using ultra conformal treatment planning. Large volume AVMs can be subjected to stereotactic radiosurgery if the shape and location makes it possible to deliver an adequate radiation dose.