Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms: Surgical Strategy and Outcome based on Proposed Newer Classification.

BACKGROUND: The ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm is the most frequent intra-cranial aneurysm treated at any neurosurgical department. These aneurysms arise from either the A1-A2-Acom artery junction or Acom artery. The surgical outcome depends on the age of the patient, time duration between ictus and surgery, and Hunt and Hess grade at admission. In this article, we intend to analyze the surgical outcome based on our proposed classification with our overall experience of Acom aneurysm. METHODS: A retrospective review of our surgical database with 250 patients of ruptured Acom was done, and the location, morphology, and direction of aneurysm, along with other clinical parameters including the demographic profile, radiological findings, and intra-operative details, were studied. We classified the Acom based on both site of origin and morphology (Type I, junctional on the dominant side; Type II, fusiform with an ill-defined neck and branching pattern; Type III, saccular true Acom A) and secondarily as described in the literature on the basis of the direction of fundus (Type A-E). The clinical parameters were compared among the above groups using Fischer-exact and one-way analysis of variance test. RESULTS: A total of 250 patients (M: F =113:137) were included (mean age 52.1 ± 11.5 standard deviation years). 55.2% patients had left A1 dominance. Type I Acom A was commonly found on the left dominant circulation (P = 0.00). The difference in aspect ratio of Type I (2.0 ± 0.8) and Type II (1.8 ± 0.52) aneurysms was insignificant (P = 0.28). However, a significant difference in post-operative vasospasm among different types of aneurysms was found (P < 0.05). The Type I Acom A were anteriorly directed, while Type II and III were posteriorly directed (P = 0.001). The mean follow-up of the study was 44.4 ± 25.7 months, with age (P = 0.007) and Hunt and Hess grade (P = 0.001) at admission correlating with surgical outcome. CONCLUSION: Classifying the Acom A pre-operatively based on site and morphology, location, and direction of fundus helps in surgical planning and prognosis. The junctional 'Type IA aneurysms' are most common and possess a high intra-operative rupture rate. The anteriorly directed aneurysms have a better prognosis, and visual complaints are usually associated with anterior-inferiorly directed aneurysms.

An Analysis of Temporal Trend of Incidence of Post-Resection Cerebrospinal Fluid Diversion in Pediatric Posterior Fossa Tumor Patients and the Predictive Factors.

Objective: We aim to find the temporal trend of incidence of post-resection cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion (ventriculoperitoneal [VP] shunt/endoscopic third ventriculostomy [ETV]) in pediatric posterior fossa tumor (pPFT) patients with no pre-resection CSF diversion and the possible clinical predictors. Methods: We reviewed 108 operated children (age ≤16 years) with PFTs, from 2012 to 2020, at a tertiary care center. Patients with preoperative CSF diversion (n = 42), lesions within cerebellopontine cistern (n = 8), and those lost to follow-up (n = 4) were excluded. Life table, Kaplan-Meier curve, univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine CSF-diversion-free survival and independent predictive factors, with significance defined as P < 0.05. Results: The median (IQR) age was 9 (7) years (M: F: 2.5:1). Mean (±SD) duration of follow-up was 32.43 ± 21.3 months. 38.9% of patients (n = 42) needed post-resection CSF diversion. Of these, 64.3% (n = 27) were done in early (≤ 30 days), 23.8% (n = 10) in intermediate (>30 days to ≤6 months), and 11.9% (n = 5) in late (≥6 months) postoperative period (P-value < 0.001). Preoperative papilledema (HR: -5.8, 95%CI: 1.7-5.8), periventricular lucency (PVL) (HR: 6.2, 95%CI: 2.3-16.6), and wound complication (HR: 3.8, 95%CI: 1.7-8.3) were found on univariate analysis as significant risk factors for early post-resection CSF diversion. On multivariate analysis, PVL on preoperative imaging (HR: -4.2, 95%CI: 1.2-14.7, P = 0.02) was identified as an independent predictor. Preoperative ventriculomegaly, raised intracranial pressure and intraoperative visualization of CSF egress from the aqueduct were not found to be significant factors. Conclusion: Significantly high incidence of post-resection CSF diversion in pPFTs occurs in early (≤30 days) postoperative period, with preoperative papilledema, PVL, and wound complication being its significant predictive factors. Postoperative inflammation, causing edema and adhesion formation can be one of the important factors for post-resection hydrocephalus in pPFTs.

Posterior Fossa Midline Epidermoid Tumors: Role of the Inferior Medullary Velum and a Proposed New Imaging Classification.

BACKGROUND: Posterior fossa midline epidermoid tumors (PFMETs) include the epidermoid tumors of the cisterna magna (CM) and fourth ventricle (FV). OBJECTIVE: To report tumor epicenter-based classification of PFMETs and its clinical and surgical implications with outcome. METHODS: On retrospective analysis of operated cases of intracranial epidermoid tumors, 19 (N = 19) patients having tumor epicenter within FV, CM, or both were included. Cerebellopontine and prepontine cistern epidermoid were excluded. Tumor location was decided based on preoperative MRI and intraoperative findings. Major complication was defined as new onset or worsening of cranial nerve (CN) deficit, sensory motor impairment, or tracheostomy. RESULTS: The mean (±SD) age of the patients was 42.0 ± 11.6 years (range 25-61 years), with no sex predilection (male:female: 1:0.9). The most common symptoms were cerebellar dysfunction, headache, vomiting, and diplopia. Common CNs affected were VII, V, lower cranial nerve, and VI. The PFMETs were classified based on tumor epicenter as type 1 (tumor epicenter in CM, n = 4/21.1%), type 2 (FV, n = 5/26.3%), and type 3 (involved CM and FV, n = 10/52.6%). Type 2 tumors had a higher incidence of raised intracranial pressure and only facial nerve palsy as preoperative CN deficit. Type 1 tumors had the least incidence of postoperative major complications. Type 3 tumors were the largest and had a greater incidence of brainstem adhesion and postoperative complications. The tumor size, duration of symptoms, and patient age were higher in patients with brainstem adhesion (5.3 ± 1.0 cm, 21 ± 16 months, 44.1 ± 9.2 years) as against its absence (4.8 ± 1.3 cm, 11.2 ± 7.3 months, 38.2 ± 11.7 years). Inferior medullary velum and tela choroidea have a critical role in tumorogenesis, tumor extension, and brainstem adhesion. CONCLUSION: PFMETs can be classified into 3 subtypes based on tumor epicenter having clinical and surgical implications. Less aggressive dissection and near total excision in the presence of brainstem adhesion yield favorable outcomes.

Calvarial tuberculosis of the parietal bone: A rare complication after dental extraction.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a well-known endemic in developing countries. However calvarial TB is quiet rare even in such endemic areas. The most common sites affected are the frontal and parietal bones with destruction of both the inner and outer table. We hereby report a young male presenting to us with scalp swelling in the right temporal region with pus discharging sinus after an episode of tooth extraction for dental infection. Radiology revealed a loculated swelling within the right temporalis muscle and an associated bony defect in the right parietal bone. The patient was operated upon and the biopsy was suggestive of tubercular pathology. The patient improved on antitubercular therapy. The rare presentation of calvarial TB occurring secondary to dental infection along with relevant literature is discussed here.

Outcome of dorsolumbar vertebral hemangiomas presenting with neuraxial compression.

BACKGROUND: Hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors associated with proliferation of blood vessels in bone or soft tissue and they are usually incidental findings in vertebrae. When symptomatic, they present with features of radiculopathy, myelopathy, or vertebral fractures. Treatment options are varied, include sole embolization, embolization combined with surgical excision, surgical excision alone, percutaneous ablation, and radiotherapy. We hereby describe a series of seven cases of symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas operated from 2006 to 2009. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Their clinical and radiological profile and outcome have been described. All patients were subjected to surgical excision followed by instrumentation. Outcome was assessed at a followup of 2 years following surgery with Frankel grading system. RESULTS: Seven patients (five females and two males) were included in the study. The mean age was 33.85 years with the mean duration of symptoms of 12 months. All seven cases were symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas with cord compression and underwent surgical excision. Preoperatively, patients with poor Frankel grade such as A and B improved postoperatively to C, D, or E. CONCLUSION: Surgical excision of these lesions is difficult due to the tremendous amount of intraoperative bleeding. During surgery, brisk bleeding is usually encountered, but can be brought under control with adequate preoperative preparation and expertize. Preoperative embolization may help to reduce the bleeding, but at times it may be difficult to do if vertebrae are replaced by a solid hard mass. In spite of the risks associated with surgery, it still is the treatment of choice as a single intervention, especially in aggressive vertebral hemangiomas.

A case series of 12 patients with incidental asymptomatic Dandy-Walker syndrome and management.

PURPOSE: Incidentally detected asymptomatic Dandy-Walker syndrome (DWS) is sparsely reported in literature at extremes of age (from 1 to 75 years) in association with different diseases. Precipitating factors causing DWS in these cases to manifest in late adulthood are still unidentified. We tried to hypothesize the aetiology and the natural course of disease based on review of literature MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve cases of asymptomatic DWS were selected retrospectively in this study while being treated for some unrelated disease over a period of 15 years. RESULTS: All the cases had vermian hypoplasia with sizeable fourth ventricular cyst (more than 3 cm), large posterior fossa and with no or borderline ventriculomegaly on CT/MRI. The age ranged from 1 to 65 years. Five cases presented with head injury and four cases presented with enlarged head size with suboccipital protuberance (noticed in children more than 5 years). Remaining cases presented with either occipital encephalocele or right trigeminal neuralgia or fixed atlantoaxial dislocation. They were asymptomatic for DWS following treatment of the presenting complaints on follow-up of average duration of 4.5 years. CONCLUSION: Presentation at extremes of age signifies that slow degenerative changes in communicating channels between fourth ventricular cyst and surrounding basal cisterns may cause asymptomatic DWS to manifest, but cases having good communication between these structures can remain asymptomatic throughout their life.

Multiple neural tube defects in the same patient with no neurological deficit.

Congenital deformities involving the coverings of the nervous system are called neural tube defects (NTDs). NTD can be classified as neurulation defects, which occur by stage 12, and postneurulation defects. Cervical meningocele and myelomeningocele are rare spinal dysraphic lesions. Unlike lumbosacral dysraphic lesions, there is often no neurologic deficits and thus the subtle features of cervical cord tethering may be overlooked on imaging. The presence of meningomyelocele and/or encephaloceles at multiple (two or more) sites along the vertebral axis is a very rare event occurring in <1% of cases. Less than 10 cases have been described in the published literature. We are reporting a case of multiple NTD in same patient with no neurological deficit.