Factors Affecting Resorption Following Cranioplasty with an Autologous Bone Graft.

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between the surgical techniques, the waiting time for surgery, postoperative distance between the graft-bone margin and the percentage of bone resorption, we analyzed patients who underwent cranioplasty. Cranioplasty is a necessary surgery to preserve brain tissue and provide an appropriate microenvironment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, patients who underwent autologous bone grafting after decompressive craniectomy by the Neurosurgery Clinic of University of Health Sciences Ankara Training and Research Hospital between 2018 and 2021 were examined. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients who underwent autologous cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy were included in the study. The average expected time for cranioplasty surgery following decompressive craniectomy was 16.97±13.478 weeks (min:2 max:62 weeks). The expected time between decompressive craniectomy and cranioplasty surgeries and resorption rates were compared. The resorption rate was above 30% in 7 of 10 patients with 24 weeks or more between craniectomy and cranioplasty, and less than 30% in 17 of 25 patients in surgeries less than 24 weeks (p=0.04). Following cranioplasty surgery, the distance between the graft-bone margin and the resorption rates were also compared. In this analysis, statistically significant differences were detected between the distance between the graft-bone border and the resorption rates. Resorption rates increased in 15 of 19 patients with a postcranioplasty distance of 1 mm or more (p < 0.00001). CONCLUSION: Early cranioplasty surgery is important in order to reduce complications that may occur after craniectomy. In addition, it is important to keep the defect area small in size during craniectomy surgery and to keep the cutting edge thinner when the bone graft is taken, in order to reduce the development of bone graft resorption.

Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma With Lymphomeningothelial Lesion of the Dura.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) was first described as low-grade lymphoma associated with the stomach mucosa. Although the stomach and ocular adnexa are the most common localizations of MALT lymphoma, it has also been described in many other organs, including the head and neck, lungs, thyroid, breast, bladder, saliva glands, conjunctiva, and tear glands. MALT lymphoma originating from the dura is rare. The case is here presented of an 83-year-old female operated on with an initial diagnosis of acute subdural hematoma. In the histopathological examination, there was seen to be lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the dura and a lymphomeningothelial lesion. Immunohistochemically, low-grade MALT lymphoma showing B-cell phenotype was considered. This is the first reported case of lymphomeningothelial lesion in MALT lymphoma originating from the dura.

The relationship between pain and herniation radiology in giant lumbar disc herniation causing severe sciatica: 15 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate conservative treatment of giant lumbar disc herniation in patients with extreme pain and to assess temporal changes in pain levels and radiological findings with short-term follow-up. METHODS: A total of 15 patients with severe pain (as measured by visual analog scale [VAS]) due to giant lumbar disc herniation and without neurological deficits were included. All patients received conservative treatment and were followed weekly for pain and medication assessment. MRI was performed at baseline, second month and fourth month to calculate disc herniation volume. The changes in disc herniation and pain were evaluated. RESULTS: There was no relationship between pain and the regression of disc herniation in these five females and ten males with a mean age of 41.4 years. MRI results showed an average of 20.3% and 20.4% regression of disc herniation from baseline to second month, and second month to fourth month, respectively. Whereas, pain levels had reduced from an average of 90.8-13.53 by the second month, and to 3.13 by the fourth month, indicating significant success with conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the size of the herniation and the severity of the pain, patients with giant lumbar disc herniation should be encouraged to undergo conservative treatment, given that the patient does not have urinary-fecal incontinence, foot drop or progressive neurodeficit.

The diagnostic value of cranial MRI findings in idiopathic intracranial hypertension: evaluating radiological parameters associated with intracranial pressure.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disease that can result in blindness if there is a delay in diagnosis. Although it is stated that cranial imaging should be normal among the diagnostic criteria, we know that some radiological parameters can be used for the pre-diagnosis of IIH. PURPOSE: To determine the predictive value of radiological parameters for the diagnosis of IIH with cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included a group of 19 patients with IIH ("IIH Group"), a group of 34 patients with hyperintensity around the optic nerve in cranial MRI ("Radiological Increased Intracranial Pressure Group"), and a "Control Group" consisting of 45 healthy individuals. All patients were evaluated using cranial MRI with respect to the presence/absence of empty sella, flattening of the posterior globe, hyperintensity around the optic nerve, optic nerve tortuosity, and optic nerve protrusion. In addition, optic nerve sheath diameter measurement was performed in all patients using cranial axial T2 sequence. RESULTS: It was found that optic nerve tortuosity (P = 0.002), flattening of the posterior globe (P = 0.013), and optic nerve protrusion (P = 0.033) were the best parameters to distinguish patients with IIH and those with optic nerve subarachnoid space enlargement. A scoring system was developed according to these data. CONCLUSION: In the presence of hyperintensity around the optic nerve, it may be possible to evaluate optic nerve tortuosity, flattening of the posterior globe, and optic nerve protrusion using cranial MRI in order to come upon a preliminary diagnosis of IIH.

Decompressive Hemicraniectomy for Malignant Middle Cerebral Artery Infarct.

AIM: Decompressive hemicraniectomy for a malignant middle cerebral artery infarct can be a life-saving surgical treatment. We aimed to investigate the surgical treatment results in cases that underwent decompressive hemicraniectomy for a malignant middle cerebral artery infarct in this study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical condition, radiological findings and surgical treatment results of 42 cases that underwent decompressive hemicraniectomy for a malignant middle cerebral artery infarct were retrospectively evaluated in this study. RESULTS: There were 19 males and 23 females. The age range was 27 to 78 years with a mean age of 57.6 years. The infarct area was the non-dominant hemisphere in 20 cases and the dominant hemisphere in 22 cases. Preoperative Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores were 5 to 12. The 42 cases with a malignant middle cerebral artery infarct were divided into 2 groups according to the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) as the unfavorable outcome group (Group 1) with a score of 1 to 3 and the favorable outcome group with a score of 4 to 5 (Group 2). There were 27 cases in Group 1 and 15 in Group 2. There was a statistically significant association between a good result and age, Glasgow coma scale at the time of surgery, duration until surgery, and non-dominant hemisphere involvement. All cases with a Glasgow coma scale score of 7 or below had a poor outcome. CONCLUSION: Decompressive hemicraniectomy in malignant middle cerebral artery infarct can be a life-saving procedure but is not useful in cases with a Glasgow coma scale score of 7 and below.