Intracranial Aneurysm in Pediatric Population: A Single-Center Experience.

PURPOSE: Pediatric intracranial aneurysms (PIA) are rarer and more complex when compared to adult aneurysms. In general, the clinical presentation of PIA is due to a mass effect, but the presenting symptoms can be also related to ischemia, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), or in a combination of different symptoms. This paper aimed to report a single-center experience with clinical and angiographic aspects of brain aneurysm in children. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our prospectively maintained database for patients with intracranial aneurysms in our institution from July 2015 to February 2021. Among these, all patients under 18 years of age submitted to a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure for an intracranial aneurysm were included. RESULTS: Twelve patients were submitted to diagnostic or therapeutic procedures in our department. Three of them had multiple aneurysms, and in total, 17 intracranial aneurysms were assessed in this study. The most frequent location was in the middle cerebral artery (7 cases/41%). Five out of twelve children (42%) presented SAH due to ruptured aneurysm. Three patients (25%) had symptoms due to the mass effect from large aneurysms, with compression of cranial nerves or brainstem. Aneurysms diameters ranged from 1.5 mm to 34 mm (mean 14.2 mm), with six aneurysms being giant and eight being nonsaccular/fusiform. Twelve aneurysms were submitted to endovascular treatment, with one treatment-related clinical complication and later death. CONCLUSION: PIAs are rare diseases that can arise from a variety of different underlying pathological mechanisms. The management of these conditions requires a detailed understanding of the pathology and a multidisciplinary approach. Despite the availability of new technologies, parent vessel occlusion remains a valid option for aneurysms in the pediatric population.

Extending the stroke treatment window beyond DAWN in patients with very slow progressor type collaterals: How far can we go?

Five trials published in 2015 showed the benefit of endovascular thrombectomy (ET) in patients with stroke and large vessel occlusion, extending the treatment window has become an obsession of all physicians. In 2018, the DAWN and DEFUSE-3 trials showed that, with careful selection of patients, the procedure could be carried out up to 24 hours after symptom onset with good outcomes. In addition, there have been cases where the DAWN criteria were met, and treatment occurred >24 hours after symptom onset. We present the case of a 68-year-old female whose groin puncture occurred 52 hours after the time last known well (TLKW), after neurological worsening of the initial situation, with a large mismatch ratio observed on magnetic resonance imaging, achieving TICI (the Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scale) grade 3 recanalization. Five days after the procedure, the patient was discharged with NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) score of 3. Some types of collateral circulation (slow progressors and "turtle" progressors, our term for very slow progressors) can extend the treatment window beyond 24 hours of the TLKW but can lead to a hyperperfusion-like syndrome immediately after the ET. Further studies are needed to evaluate the reproducibility of this hypothetical syndrome.

Periodontoid pseudotumoral lesions.

BACKGROUND: Periodontoid pseudotumoral lesions (PPL) are an uncommon cause of cervical pain and myelopathy. In addition, they may be associated with atlantoaxial instability (AAI). CASE DESCRIPTION: Two patients over 60 years of age presented with neck pain alone. Their MR scans showed expansive lesions involving the odontoid process. One patient with AAI required an occipitocervical arthrodesis, while the other patient without instability was managed with an external orthosis (Philadelphia collar). Both of them experienced full resolution of pain and remained neurologically intact an average 36 months later (range 24-48). CONCLUSION: Here, we discussed the clinical, MR, and non-surgical (without AAI) versus surgical management (with AAI) for different types of PPL.

Spontaneous Bone Flap Resorption Following Cranioplasty Using Autologous Bone.

ABSTRACT: Cranioplasty is a common neurosurgical procedure. The main reasons for performing cranioplasty are, in addition to aesthetic correction and protection of the brain, the reestablishment of the adequate flow of cerebrospinal fluid and the prevention of complications inherent to the perpetuation of bone failure. In our institution the patient's autologous bone remains the best method for performing cranioplasty, despite the existence of other heterologous grafts and bone substitutes. Despite representing for us, the best material for cranioplasty, the use of autologous grafting is subject to complications. In this paper, the authors present the case of a patient who underwent cranioplasty with autologous bone that progressed with spontaneous resorption of the bone flap. The authors herein briefly discuss the case and review the literature on the subject, with an emphasis on the factors that can lead to such an outcome.

"Whiplash" cervical trauma with fracture and migration of carotid stent fragments.

BACKGROUND: Angioplasty using a carotid stent is a treatment modality for carotid stenosis, with results similar to those obtained with endarterectomy, as demonstrated by important studies. The increasing use of this procedure has also led to a larger number of reports of complications, stent fractures among those. Stent fracture is a rare manifestation and hence needs further studying so that its actual prevalence can be determined, as well as its associated risk factors and proper clinical management. The current study reports the case of a patient who had previously undergone angioplasty with a carotid stent and, after an automobile accident, presented with a stent fracture and distal embolization of fragments thereof with neurological manifestation. CASE DESCRIPTION: A male patient, 40 years old, presented with a history of previously stent carotid angioplasty. He had been involved in an automobile accident and suffered a stent fracture with distal fragment migration. As he was an asymptomatic patient (NIHSS 0, Rankin zero), we opted for a conservative treatment with oral anticoagulant. CONCLUSION: Angioplasty is an effective treatment for extracranial atherosclerosis and, albeit rare, stent fractures can result in the migration of fragments thereof. This occurrence should be suspected in patients who have sustained severe neck injuries due to sudden deceleration and may be associated with thromboembolism.

Report of intradural aneurysm in the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage and oculomotor palsy.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysms of the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) do not usually cause subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We report a patient who presented with this condition due to a ruptured aneurysm located on the posterior genu of the cavernous segment, raising the question of what factors could have led to such evolution. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 55-year-old male patient presented with sudden, intense thunderstorm headache, associated with complete palsy of the left oculomotor nerve and neck stiffness. Cranial computed tomography (CT) showed no SAH, but showed an expansive process in the sella turcica, consistent with a pituitary macroadenoma. After that, SAH was confirmed by lumbar puncture (Fisher I). Cranial angio-CT revealed an intradural saccular aneurysm in the cavernous segment of the left ICA. The patient underwent cranial microsurgery for cerebral aneurysm clipping. Unlike the normal anatomic pattern, the cavernous segment of the carotid artery in this patient was located in the intradural compartment. CONCLUSION: Intradural rupture of proximal cavernous segment carotid aneurysms is rare. We review the literate for such cases and discuss the possible causes.

Isolated neuroparacoccidioidomycosis as a pseudotumoral lesion in the absence of systemic disease.

BACKGROUND: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic, progressive, noncontagious, and often chronic disease caused by the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis that rarely affects the central nervous system (CNS). The condition is usually treated using antifungal drugs, and some cases may require surgery. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 55-year-old man, a smoker, without known comorbidities, was referred to the neurosurgery team with a history of a single epileptic seizure a week before hospital admission followed by progressive right- sided hemiparesis. Head computed tomography and brain magnetic resonance imaging showed an intra-axial expansive lesion affecting the left parietal lobe, associated with extensive edema and a regional compressive effect producing slight subfalcine herniation that was initially managed as an abscess. After the failure of antibiotic treatment, the patient underwent a neurosurgical procedure for excision of the lesion. Histopathological analysis revealed that it was PCM and there was no evidence of impairment of other systems due to the disease. CONCLUSION: PCM can be a serious, debilitating disease and is potentially fatal. Although isolated CNS involvement is rare, it must be considered, especially in endemic areas, as late diagnosis and treatment severely decreases good outcome rates.

Retroclival Pneumocephalus Associated with Bilateral Abducens Palsy in a Child.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is less common in children than in adults. Posterior fossa lesions are even more uncommon, but, when present, are usually epidural hematomas. These lesions, even when small, may have a bad outcome because of the possibility of compression of the important structures that the infratentorial compartment contains, such as the brainstem and cranial nerves, and the constriction of the fourth ventricle, causing acute hydrocephalus. Although unusual, posterior fossa lesions are increasingly being diagnosed because of the better quality of and easier access to cranial tomography. In this paper, we report a case of a 12-year-old male patient who had suffered a TBI and presented with several pneumocephali, one of them in the retroclival region, causing a mass effect and then compression of the sixth cranial nerve which is the most susceptible to these injuries. We discuss these traumatic posterior fossa lesions, with an emphasis on retroclival pneumocephalus, not yet described in the literature in association with bilateral abducens palsy. In addition, we discuss associated lesions and the trauma mechanism.

Cerebral aneurysms associated with human immunodeficiency virus in adults: literature review and new perspectives.

INTRODUCTION: the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been decreasing patient morbidity and mortality by opportunistic infections and, thus, survival has increased. This new reality has been changing the spectrum of diseases affecting such patients. OBJECTIVE: to discuss the association between HIV and the emergence of aneurysmal brain injuries. METHOD: it was performed a literature review using medical database. The following descriptors were searched: "Intracranial Aneurysms and HIV", "Intracranial Aneurysms and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome," "aneurysm and brain and HIV". RESULTS: after performed a literature review, it was observed that the relationship between HIV infection and the formation of aneurysms appears to be real, however, it still lacks data to confirm the pathophysiology of this condition and its best treatment. CONCLUSION: there are new signs and symptoms that should be studied and researched relating HIV with other changes not previously known.

Advances in the endovascular treatment of direct carotid-cavernous fistulas.

Carotid cavernous fistulas (CCFs) are abnormal connections between the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. They are considered direct when there is a direct connection between the internal carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. These cases are generally traumatic. Direct CCFs are high-flow lesions, possibly related to intracranial bleeding, visual loss, corneal exposure or even fatal epistaxis. Treatment of such lesions is, thus, always recommended. The ideal treatment for direct CCF is to exclude the fistula from circulation, preserving the carotid flow. This can be attained using diverse endovascular techniques. The objective of the present article is to review the current techniques for treatment of direct CCFs, with special attention to the currently available endovascular treatment options.

Spontaneous thrombosis of giant intracranial aneurysm and posterior cerebral artery followed by also spontaneous recanalization.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous complete thrombosis of a giant aneurysm and its parent artery is a rare event. Their spontaneous recanalization is even rarer, with few reports. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 17-year-old male patient presenting blurred vision and headache, with a history of seizures, was referred to our service. After further investigation with cranial computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cerebral angiography (CAG), it was diagnosed a thrombosed aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and also complete thrombosis of the PCA. Three years later, he experienced visual worsening. A new MRI scan indicated flow both through the aneurysm and the left PCA, which was further confirmed by CAG. We decided for a noninterventional treatment combined with strict clinical follow-up. The patient continues to present with the previous neurological deficit, without recurrence of headaches. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombosis is not the final event in the natural history of giant aneurysms, and partial thrombosis does not preclude the risk of rupture. Thrombosed aneurysms may display additional growth brought about by wall dissections or intramural hemorrhages. Their treatment may be either surgical or involve endovascular procedures such as embolization. Thrombosed giant aneurysms are dynamic and unstable lesions. A noninterventional treatment is feasible, but aneurysmal growth or recanalization may suggest the need for a more active intervention.

Spontaneous acute subdural hematoma: A rare presentation of a dural intracranial fistula.

Dural arteriovenous fistulas are acquired lesions between the meningeal arteries and their associated draining veins. They may have highly variable clinical presentations and evolution, from severe neurological deficit to no or trivial symptoms. Intracranial hemorrhage occurs in less than 24% of all dural fistulas, and the bleeding is usually subarachnoid, more infrequently intracerebral, and rarely in the subdural space. Here, we present a rare case of a patient who presented with a subdural spontaneous hemorrhage. After investigation by cerebral angiography, the diagnosis of a dural arteriovenous fistula was made. The patient underwent uneventful endovascular treatment. As there are with only a few reports in the literature of such a presentation, we present this patient and perform a brief review of the literature.

Cerebral Metastasis from Breast Cancer in a Male Patient with HIV.

Context. Breast cancer (BC) in men is a rare condition, corresponding to 1% of all neoplasms in this gender. Some studies show that up to 93% of BC cases in men are advanced disease. If its occurrence constitutes an uncommon fact, the appearance of a metastasis to the central nervous system (CNS) is extremely rare. The objective of the present study is to present the case of a male patient, bearer of HIV infection, who presented with BC and later metastasis to the CNS. We also include a brief review of the literature. Case Report. We describe a case of a male patient, 59 years old, with HIV infection and a history of BC treated 4 years earlier, which progressed into headache and vertigo. Neuroimaging exams showed lesions suggestive of cerebral metastasis and a stereotaxic biopsy confirmed BC metastasis. Conclusion. Breast cancer in men with metastasis to the CNS is a rare condition and similar reports were not found in the available databases. It should be pointed out that even though rare, it should be considered among the differential diagnoses for SNC metastases in men, although HIV infection favors the appearance of some types of cancer.

The pathophysiology, classification, treatment, and prognosis of a spontaneous thoracic spinal cord herniation: A case study with literature review.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord herniation was first described in 1974. It generally occurs in middle-aged adults in the thoracic spine. Symptoms typically include back pain and progressive paraparesis characterized by Brown-Séquard syndrome. Surgical reduction of the hernia improves the attendant symptoms and signs, even in patients with longstanding deficits. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 66-year-old female with back pain for 7 years, accompanied by paresthesias and a progressive paraparesis, underwent a thoracic MRI which documented a ventral spinal cord herniation at the T4 level. Following a laminectomy, with reduction of the hernia and ventral dural repair, the patient improved. CONCLUSION: Herniation of the thoracic cord, documented on MR, may produce symptomatic paraparesis which may resolve following laminectomy with ventral dural repair.

Traumatic brain injury by a firearm projectile: a 16 years experience of the neurosurgery service of Santa Casa de São Paulo.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiology and prognostic factors associated with traumatic brain injury by a firearm projectile (FAP). METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 181 patients in the Department of Neurosurgery of Santa Casa de São Paulo (São Paulo Holy House) diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from FAP from January 1991 to December 2005. Were evaluated: age, sex, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on admission, brain region affected by the FAP, type of injury (penetrating or tangential), type of treatment and outcome, based on GCS. The relationship between therapeutic strategy and outcome was analyzed using the Chi-square test with Yates correction. The Fisher test was used to verify the same correlation individually for each group stratified by GCS on admission. RESULTS: Of the 181 patients, 85% were male (n = 154) and 15% female (n = 27). Mean age was 31.04 years (± 10.98). The mostly affected brain region was the frontal lobe (27.6%), followed by temporal (24.86%) and occipital (16.57%) ones. Of the TBIs evaluated, 16% were tangential and 84%, penetrating. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing surgical treatment had better outcome than those submitted to conservative treatment, and patients who were more severe at admission (GCS 3-8) have better results with the neurosurgical procedure.

Bilateral mini-open decompression in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome caused by persistent median artery: case report.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common peripheral entrapment neuropathy that is caused by increased pressure within the carpal tunnel resulting in a chronic process of median nerve ischemia and segmental demyelination. We report on a patient with bilateral patent persistent median artery (PMA) affected by typical symptomatic CTS who was treated by bilateral mini-open decompression with complete improvement. For PMA-associated CTS, standard decompression is considered the treatment of choice, whereas resection should be reserved for pathological PMA. Mini-open decompression can be an alternative, as we have verified in this first description.

Congenital giant craniopharyngioma.

PURPOSE: Congenital intracranial tumors are extremely rare and the most common is teratoma. Craniopharyngioma is a rare neonatal tumor with only eight cases reported. The management of this tumor in the neonatal period is still controversial, with the best results obtained when radical resection is performed. We present the case of a patient who received the diagnosis of a suprasellar tumor during the prenatal period and reviewed literature regarding the management. METHODS: We report a case of neonatal craniopharyngioma treated surgically. RESULTS: The routine ultrasound at 29 weeks of gestation showed a suprasellar echogenic image measuring 44 mm in diameter with polyhydramnios and macrocephaly. The patient was born at 38 weeks of gestation and underwent a surgical treatment on its 32nd day of life and the excision of almost 80 % of the lesion was achieved. He developed a subdural hygroma and on the 51st day of life, a subduroperitoneal shunt was installed to treat it. This patient died at 8 months of life due to complications of a shunt infection. CONCLUSION: The present case is the ninth diagnosed during the prenatal period and the literature is controversial on the management of this rare tumor. The complete excision of the lesion using the microsurgical technique is the gold standard treatment for these patients; however, there are many factors that limit this approach in neonates. Usually, the resected tumors were smaller than 6 cm. Tumors larger than 8 cm have a worse prognosis, with a short survival time.

Intracranial meningioma causing acute spontaneous subdural hematoma / Meningioma intracraneal causante de hematoma subdural agudo espontáneo

The spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage associated with cerebral tumors constitutes a rare event. The isolated spontaneous subdural hematoma related to a cerebral tumor represents an even more striking condition. Some hypotheses have been formulated to attempt to explain the occurrence of the spontaneous hemorrhages associated with intracranial meningiomas, but there is no consensus on its formation. We report on a case of a male patient presenting intense headache, without traumatic brain injury history, in which investigation showed an intracranial meningioma associated to a spontaneous subdural hematoma. He was submitted to a cranial surgery, presenting good recovery. We also perform a brief review on the theme.

La hemorragia intracraneal espontánea asociado con tumores cerebrales constituye un evento raro. El hematoma subdural espontáneo aislado relacionada con un tumor cerebral representa una condición aún más sorprendente. Algunas hipótesis han sido formuladas para intentar explicar la aparición de las hemorragias espontáneas asociadas con meningiomas intracraneales, pero no hay consenso sobre su formación. Se presenta un caso de un paciente de sexo masculino que presentó dolor de cabeza intenso, sin historia de lesión cerebral traumática, en el que la investigación mostró un meningioma intracraneal asociado a un hematoma subdural espontáneo. Se le sometió a una neurocirugía, presentando una buena recuperación. También realizamos una breve revisión sobre el tema.

Traumatic atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation in adults: report of two cases and literature review / Subluxación atlantoaxial rotatoria traumática en adultos: reporte de dos casos y revisión de la literatura

Atlantoaxial subluxation is defined as an instability of the atlas (C1) over the axis (C2), due to failure or rupture of the ligament complex in the C1-C2 joint. It occurs most frequently in childhood, due to atlantoaxial ligament laxity, a common condition at this age group and may have traumatic or nontraumatic causes. The clinical features of this entity are the presence of upper cervical pain, limitation of neck mobility, torticollis and muscle spasm. The treatment of rotatory subluxation should be individualized because there is no evidence in the literature showing the superiority of a particular therapeutic proposal. In this study we describe two cases of atlantoaxial subluxation of traumatic origin in adults and review the literature regarding the main aspects of this entity.

Subluxación atlantoaxial se define a una inestabilidad del atlas (C1) sobre el axis (C2), debido a un fallo o rotura del complejo del ligamento de la articulación C1-C2. Es más frecuente en la infancia, debido a la laxitud del ligamento atlantoaxial, una condición común en este grupo de edad y puede tener causas traumáticas o no traumáticas. Las características clínicas de esta entidad son la presencia de dolor cervical superior, limitación de la movilidad del cuello, tortícolis y los espasmos musculares. El tratamiento de la subluxación rotatoria debe ser individualizado en porque no hay una evidencia en la literatura que muestra la superioridad de una propuesta terapéutica en particular. En este estudio se describen dos casos de subluxación atlantoaxial de origen traumático en adultos y se hace una revisión de la literatura respecto a los principales aspectos de esta entidad.

Malignant chondroid syringoma with central nervous system involvement.

Malignant chondroid syringoma is a mixed cutaneous tumor, with epithelial and mesenchymal components, which compromises principally the trunk and extremities. This lesion is quite rare, with few cases related in the literature and no publications demonstrating its involvement of the central nervous system. Histologically, owing to its mixed origin, it represents a lesion that is difficult to recognize, often being confused with basocellular carcinoma. We report the case of a female patient, carrier of malignant chondroid syringoma in the occipital region, with invasion of the central nervous system, who was submitted to surgical excision of the lesion at our service. We also made a brief revision of the literature on the theme.