Thyroid Carcinoma Presenting as a Dural and Calvarial Metastasis Mimicking a Lipoma With Difficult Diagnosis of the Primary Lesion.

Calvarial and dural metastases of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) are rarely reported in the medical literature. Most frequent calvarial metastases are seen to originate from lung, breast, and prostate cancers. Thyroid cancer metastases are generally well vascularized and cause destruction in the bone tissues. First choice of treatment in distant metastases of PTC is surgery and radioactive iodine treatment for the primary cause. Postsurgical radiotherapy is used in accepted and suitable patients.

Esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery: a review of the literature for over half a century with a demonstrative case and a proposed novel algorithm.

PURPOSE: To review relevant data for the management of esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery. METHODS: A case of delayed esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery has been presented and the relevant literature between 1958 and 2014 was reviewed. A total of 57 papers regarding esophageal perforation following anterior cervical surgery were found and utilized in this review. RESULTS: The treatment options for esophageal perforation after anterior cervical surgery were discussed and a novel management algorithm was proposed. CONCLUSION: Following anterior cervical surgery, patients should be closely followed up in the postoperative period for risk of esophageal perforation. Development of symptoms like dysphagia, pneumonia, fever, odynophagia, hoarseness, weight loss, and breathing difficulty in patients with a history of previous anterior cervical surgery should alert us for a possible esophageal injury. Review of the literature revealed that conservative treatment is advocated for early and small esophageal perforations. Surgical treatment may be considered for large esophageal defects.

The protective effect of 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (MESNA) against traumatic brain injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: The agent, 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (MESNA), is a synthetic small molecule, widely used as a systemic protective agent against chemotherapy toxicity, but is primarily used to reduce hemorrhagic cystitis induced by cyclophosphamide. Because MESNA has potential antioxidant and cytoprotective effects, so we hypothesized that MESNA may protect the brain against traumatic injury. METHOD: Thirty-two rats were randomized into four groups of eight animals each; Group 1 (sham), Group 2 (trauma), Group 3 (150 mg/kg MESNA), Group 4 (30 mg/kg methylprednisolone). Only skin incision was performed in the sham group. In all the other groups, the traumatic brain injury model was created by an object weighing 450 g falling freely from a height of 70 cm through a copper tube on to the metal disc over the skull. The drugs were administered immediately after the injury. The animals were killed 24 h later. Brain tissues were extracted for analysis, where levels of tissue malondialdehyde, caspase-3, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthetase and xanthine oxidase were analyzed. Also, histopathological evaluation of the tissues was performed. RESULTS: After head trauma, tissue malondialdehyde levels increased; these levels were significantly decreased by MESNA administration. Caspase-3 levels were increased after trauma, but no effect of MESNA was determined in caspase-3 activity. Following trauma, both glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels were decreased; MESNA increased the activity of both these antioxidant enzymes. Also, after trauma, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthetase and xanthine oxidase levels were increased; administration of MESNA significantly decreased the levels of nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthetase and xanthine oxidase, promising an antioxidant activity. Histopathological analysis showed that MESNA protected the brain tissues well from injury. CONCLUSIONS: Although further studies considering different dose regimens and time intervals are required, MESNA was shown to be at least as effective as methylprednisolone in the traumatic brain injury model.

Multifocal extradural and intradural eosinophilic granuloma.

Eosinophilic granuloma is a type of histiocytosis X that is a benign bone tumor. Multifocal extradural and intradural involvement in adults is extremely uncommon because 90% of cases occur in boys younger than 10 years. The etiology of this disease is unknown, but it occurs with the accumulation of eosinophils and histiocytes in the medullary layers of the bone. The beginning of the inflammatory process in the dural membrane after migration of Langerhans cells may result in intradural involvement and sinus invasion into the nearby tissue. For multiple bone lesions, the use of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and systematic cortisone is effective. In this study, we discuss the case of a 44-year-old man with sinus compression and multiple painful cranial swellings who was admitted to our clinic.

Solitary dural plasmacytoma mimicking meningioma and invading calvarium.

Solitary plasmacytoma comprises 2%-10% of all plasma cell diseases. Cranial localization of plasmacytoma is quite rare. They may emerge after years without systemic involvement and symptoms. They may be confused with other tumors as they are not remembered primarily in radiological diagnosis. The definite diagnosis is made upon histopathological examination. Surgical resection followed by radiotherapy is the first choice of therapy. Chemotherapy may be administered for secretory tumors. In this paper, we discussed a patient who underwent surgery with the prediagnosis of meningioma and histopathologically diagnosed with plasmacytoma.

Giant intradiploic epidermoid cyst presenting as solitary skull mass with intracranial extension.

Epidermoid cysts are rare benign tumors that constitute 0.3% to 1.8% of all intracranial tumors. They are inclusion tumors that include epidermoid elements and are most commonly located in the cerebellopontine angle cistern and the parasellar region, and their location in the diploic space is very rare. These lesions slowly grow and usually do not involve the intracranial compartment. In this article, a case of giant epidermoid cyst located in the left frontal intradiploic space is presented with clinical, radiologic features and surgical treatment.

Neuroprotective effects of propofol, thiopental, etomidate, and midazolam in fetal rat brain in ischemia-reperfusion model.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of propofol, thiopental, etomidate, and midazolam as anesthetic drugs in fetal rat brain in the ischemia-reperfusion (IR) model. METHODS: Pregnant rats of day 19 were randomly allocated into eight groups. Fetal brain ischemia was induced by clamping the utero-ovarian artery bilaterally for 30 min and reperfusion was achieved by removing the clamps for 60 min. In the control group, fetal rat brains were obtained immediately after laparotomy. In the sham group, fetal rat brains were obtained 90 min after laparotomy. In the IR group, IR procedure was performed. No treatment was given in the IR group. One milliliter intralipid solution, 40 mg/kg propofol, 3 mg/kg thiopental, 0.1 mg/kg etomidate, and 3 mg/kg midazolam was administered intraperitoneally in the vehicle group, propofol group, thiopental group, etomidate group, and midazolam group, respectively, 20 min before IR procedure. At the end of the reperfusion period, the whole brains of the fetal rats were removed for evaluation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and for examination by electron microscopy. RESULTS: According to lipid peroxidation data, all the anesthetic drugs provide neuroprotection; however, ultrastructural findings and mitochondrial scoring confirms that only propofol and midazolam provides a strong neuroprotective effect. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol and midazolam may be used to protect fetal brain in case of acute fetal distress and hypoxic injury as a first choice anesthetic drug in cesarean delivery.

Spinal gout tophus: a very rare cause of radiculopathy.

Gout is a common metabolic disease characterized by the development of arthritis and nephropathy related to the deposition of monosodium urate crystals within the joints, periarticular tissues, skin and kidneys. Tophus formation seen around the spinal column is very rare, while occurrences of spinal gout tophus without systemic gout disease are much more unique. In our study, we report a spinal gout case that presented with right sciatica without previous history of systemic gout disease.

Surgical management of recurrent malignant schwannoma of the scalp.

Localization of malignant schwannoma in the head and neck region is rare. Malignant schwannoma is a highly aggressive, slowly growing, encapsulated tumor of nerve sheath origin. The most common presentation of this tumor is a subcutaneous progressively enlarging mass with or without neurologic symptoms. These tumors arise from neurofibromas with or without von Recklinghausen disease, and most of the remains develop from peripheral nerve trunks. We report a case with recurrent malignant schwannoma of the scalp that is an uncommon presentation and discuss the clinicopathologic properties of this tumor.

Schwannoma of the conus medullaris: a rare case.

Intradural schwannoma of the conus medullaris is a rare form of spinal neoplasm, which commonly occurs in the lumbar region. Conus medullaris level is unusual for schwannomas. A 49-year-old woman presented with chronic sciatica, mild bladder dysfunction, and paresthesia in the buttocks. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine showed a mass lesion in the conus medullaris region with nerve compression. The tumor was completely resected and diagnosed histologically as schwannoma. The patient recovered after surgery. Clinical and radiologic features of this rare tumor are reviewed and are accompanied by literature findings.

Acute low back pain: clinical course and prognostic factors.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical course of patients with acute low back pain (LBP) throughout 12 weeks and to identify the prognostic factors for non-recovery in the short term. METHOD: A total of 91 patients with acute LBP (<3 weeks) were included in this study. Baseline assessments including demographic variables, clinical characteristics of pain, lost work time and results of clinical examination were noted. Pain intensity, disability, general health perception and depression were assessed according to visual analogue scale, Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and Beck Depression Inventory, respectively. Patients were assessed for pain intensity and disability at baseline, and at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of follow-up. Recovery was considered if patients scored <4 on the RMDQ and pain had resolved. At the 2nd week of follow-up, patients were divided into two groups according to recovery (Group 1) or non-recovery (Group 2) to identify the prognostic factors, which were analysed by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: At 2 weeks, 52 (57.1%) of the patients had recovered and only eight (8.7%) developed chronic LBP. Mean pain intensity and mean disability scores dropped 96.7 and 96.4%, respectively, of initial levels during the 12 weeks. Sixty per cent of 63 employed patients reported lost time from work. A comparison between groups revealed that finger-floor distance, RMDQ and NHP (pain, physical mobility, emotional reactions, sleep, energy level, and distress subgroups) were statistically significantly lower in Group 1, and NHP-pain was strongly associated with non-recovery in the short term. CONCLUSIONS: Acute LBP patients with disability generally recover in the first weeks. General health perception (NHP) - pain subgroup score was identified in particular as the best prognostic factor for non-recovery in the short term. Hence, pain should be given particular consideration in baseline assessments of acute LBP patients.

Etanercept Prevents Histopathological Damage after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study is to assess the neuroprotective effects of the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor etanercept (ETA) on histopathological and biochemical changes following spinal cord injury (SCI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-four male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned into three main groups: The sham, trauma, and ETA group (n = 18 per group). Each of these groups was further divided into three subgroups (n = 6 per subgroup) based on the different tissue sampling times postinjury: 1 h, 6 h, and 24 h. Clip compression model was used for SCI. Rats in the ETA group were treated with 5 mg/kg of ETA immediately after the clip was removed. After 1, 6, and 24 h, the spinal cord was totally removed between the levels T8-T10. Sample tissue was immediately harvested and fixed for histopathological and electron microscopic examination and were analyzed for TNF-α, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), superoxide dismutase (SOD), adenosine deaminase, catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde levels in both the tissue and serum. RESULTS: The serum and tissue levels of cytokines and enzymes were seen to change after SCI between hyperacute, acute, and subacute stages. Treatment with ETA selectively inhibited TNF-α, and IL-1ß expression together with increased levels of antioxidative enzymes (SOD, CAT). CONCLUSION: Early administration of ETA after SCI may remarkably attenuate neuronal injury by decreasing tissue and serum TNF-α and IL-1ß levels, while increasing antioxidative enzymes such as SOD and CAT in subacute and acute stages, respectively.

Therapeutic Evaluation of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Antagonist Etanercept against Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats: Ultrastructural, Pathological, and Biochemical Analyses.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of etanercept (ETA) on histopathological and biochemical changes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were distributed into three groups (n = 12 each). Control group rats were not subjected to trauma. Trauma group rats were subjected to TBI only. ETA group rats were subjected to TBI plus ETA (5 mg/kg intraperitoneal [i.p.]). The groups were further subdivided into those sacrificed in the hyperacute stage (1 h after TBI) (control-1, trauma-1, and ETA-1 groups) and the acute stage (6 h after TBI) (control-6, trauma-6, and ETA-6 groups). Tissue levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, malondialdehyde, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase were analyzed. Histopathological and ultrastructural evaluations were also performed. RESULTS: i.p. administration of ETA at 1 and 6 h significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine expression, attenuated oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, prevented apoptosis, and increased antioxidant defense mechanism activity in comparison to trauma group. Histopathological and ultrastructural abnormalities were significantly reduced in ETA-treated rats compared to closed head injury trauma groups. CONCLUSIONS: ETA significantly improves neural function and prevents post-TBI histopathological damage in rats.

Stereologic and ultrastructural comparison of human and rat amniotic membrane wrapping for rat sciatic nerve repair.

In this study we aimed to examine the effects on wound healing and nerve regeneration of human and rat amniotic membrane wraps around primary epineural anastomosis areas after a peripheral nerve transection injury in rats. We randomized 25 male adult rats with induced peripheral transection injuries into 5 groups (control, transection injury, primary epineural anastomosis [PEA] after injury, PEA with a human amniotic membrane [hAM] wrap, and PEA with a rat amniotic membrane [rAM] wrap groups and treated their injuries accordingly. We took tissue samples from the anastomosis regions, 12 weeks after the experiment, and analyzed them stereologically and ultrastructurally. We performed a statistical analysis with the recovered stereological counts and the measurement data. Our results showed that the use of amniotic membranes for allografts (between same species) instead of xenografts (between different species), along with microsurgery, provides a suitable microenvironment during the healing process with less immunological reaction on the injured site and supports axonal regeneration.

A very rare spinal cord tumor primary spinal oligodendroglioma: A review of sixty cases in the literature.

LITERATURE REVIEW: In this study, we evaluated a case of primary spinal oligodendroglioma (PSO) with a rare localization between L3 and S2, and also examined sixty cases in the literature in terms of demographic characteristics, clinical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics, and treatment planning. A case of PSO has been presented, and the relevant literature between 1931 and 2016 was reviewed. A total of 57 papers regarding PSO were found and utilized in this review. The main treatment options include radical surgical excision with neuromonitoring, followed by radiotherapy. Despite these treatment protocols, the relapse rate is high, and treatment does not significantly prolong survival. Oligodendrogliomas are rare among the primary spinal cord tumors. Oligodendrogliomas are predominantly found in the cervical spinal cord, thoracic spinal cord, or junctions during childhood and adulthood. Extension to the sacral region, inferior to the Conus, is very rare. Furthermore, of the sixty cases in the literature, the case we present here is the first to be reported in this particular age group. These localizations usually occur in the pediatric age group and after relapses. While for a limited number of cases the oligodendroglioma initiates in the thoracic region and reaches as far as L2, we encountered a case of an oligodendroglioma within the range of L3 to S2. Clinical findings are observed in accordance with location, and magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard for diagnosis.

The Surgical Outcome of Traumatic Extraaxial Hematomas Causing Brain Herniation.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the surgical outcome and the prognostic importance of clinical and radiological data of patients operated emergently for an extraaxial hematoma causing brain herniation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study comprised 108 adult patients who were operated due to herniated traumatic extraaxial hematomas from January 2000 to January 2013. RESULTS: Of 108 patients, 63 patients (58.3%) were diagnosed as subdural hematoma (SDH), and 45 patients (41.7%) as epidural hematoma (EDH). An unfavorable outcome was significantly increased for patients who were diagnosed as SDH (90.4%) compared with EDH patients (33.3%). Mortality rate for herniated SDH patients was 65.1%, and 26.6% for herniated EDH patients. High mortality and unfavorable outcome ratios were associated with Glasgow Coma Scale scores at admission, mean postoperative intracranial pressure (ICP) values, type of the brain herniation, interval from the time of trauma to the time of hematoma decompression, the duration of the brain herniation, intraoperative acute brain swelling, hematoma volume and thickness, degree of the midline shift and the obliteration of the basal cisterns. CONCLUSION: Our data showed that, postoperative ICP values were one most important predictor of the mortality. We recommended postoperative ICP monitoring for all patients presenting with the brain herniation due to traumatic extraaxial hematoma.

Comparative evaluation of the electrophysiological, functional and ultrastructural effects of alpha lipoic acid and cyanocobalamin administration in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin B12 and alpha lipoic acid (ALA) are known to promote functional and morphological recovery after peripheral nerve injury. OBJECTIVE: To compare the regenerative and neuroprotective effects of vitamin B12 and ALA treatment after sciatic nerve injury. METHODS: A total of 40 rats were randomly assigned to control (sciatic nerve exposure without injury or anastomosis), sham (sciatic nerve injury and epineural anastomosis were performed but no treatment was administered), PS (isotonic saline was administered for 12 weeks after surgery), ALA (2 mg/kg ALA was administered for 12 weeks after surgery), and vitamin B12 groups (2 mg/kg cyanocobalamin was administered for 12 weeks after surgery). Functional recovery was determined by footprint analysis, in vivo neurophysiology, and ex vivo histopathological examination. RESULTS: ALA treatment produced significant improvements in sciatic functional index values and non-significant improvements on electroneuromyography compared to vitamin B12 treatment. Upon histopathological examination, the regenerative effects of ALA were relevant to axonal structural recovery whereas vitamin B12 produced greater improvements in edema and myelination. CONCLUSIONS: While both vitamin B12 and ALA produced improvements after sciatic nerve injury, ALA was more functionally effective. The unique ultrastructural effects of vitamin B12 and ALA treatment should be considered in future studies.

Histomorphometric and Ultrastructural Evaluation of Long-Term Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin B12 Use After Experimental Sciatic Nerve Injury in Rats.

AIM: To analyze the therapeutic effects of long-term alpha lipoic acid (A-LA) and vitamin B12 use via histomorphometric methods and electron microscopy in the transected sciatic nerves of rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty rats were randomized into five groups (n=8/group). In group I, 1 cm segment of sciatic nerve was resected without any other intervention. In group II (sham), following right sciatic nerve transection, primary epineurial anastomosis was performed by placing the edges of the nerve end-to-end. In group III (saline), after right sciatic nerve transection, the ends of the nerves were brought together and closed after application of intraperitoneal physiologic saline. In group IV, 2 mg/kg of alpha lipoic acid and in group V, 2 mg/kg of vitamin B12 was administered intraperitoneally before surgical intervention. RESULTS: Histomorphometric and electron microscopic analyses revealed that vitamin B12 did not prevent structural changes, abnormal myelination and g-ratio deviations regarding the functional aspects of the sciatic nerve. Alpha lipoic acid was more effective in restructuring the histomorphometric and structural aspects of the nerve with more myelinated fibers with optimal values (0.55-0.68) than vitamin B12 groups, in which the number of myelinated nerve fibers significantly decreased at optimal intervals (0.55-0.68). CONCLUSION: A-LA administration following peripheral nerve transection injury is more effective in promoting nerve healing regarding the structural aspects of the sciatic nerve compared to vitamin B12 and also myelination of nerve fibers by increasing g-values.

Management of Sacral Tumors Requiring Spino-Pelvic Reconstruction with Different Histopathologic Diagnosis: Evaluation with Four Cases.

In this retrospective study, surgical results of four patients with sacral tumors having disparate pathologic diagnoses, who were treated with partial or total sacrectomy and lumbopelvic stabilization were abstracted. Two patients were treated with partial sacral resection and two patients were treated with total sacrectomy and spinopelvic fixation. Fixation methods included spinopelvic fixation with rods and screws in two cases, reconstruction plate in one case, and fresh frozen allografts in two cases. Fibular allografts used for reconstruction accelerated bony union and enhanced the stability in two cases. Addition of polymethyl methacrylate in the cavity in the case of a giant cell tumor had a positive stabilizing effect on fixation. As a result, we can conclude that mechanical instability after sacral resection can be stabilized securely with lumbopelvic fixation and polymethyl methacrylate application or addition of fresh frozen allografts between the rods can augment the stability of the reconstruction.

Antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of darbepoetin-α against traumatic brain injury in rats.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we tried to determine whether darbepoetin-α would protect the brain from oxidative stress and apoptosis in a rat traumatic brain injury model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The animals were randomized into four groups; group 1 (sham), group 2 (trauma), group 3 (darbepoetin α), group 4 (methylprednisolone). In the sham group only the skin incision was performed. In all the other groups, a moderate traumatic brain injury modelwas applied. RESULTS: Following trauma both glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase levels decreased (p < 0.001 for both); darbepoetin-α increased the activity of both antioxidant enzymes (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001 respectively). Trauma caused significant elevation in the nitric oxide synthetase and xanthine oxidase levels (p < 0.001 for both). Administration of darbepoetin-α significantly decreased the levels of nitric oxide synthetase and xanthine oxidase (p < 0.001 for both). Also, trauma caused significant elevation in the nitric oxide levels (p < 0.001); darbepoetin-α administration caused statistically significant reduction in the nitric oxide levels (p < 0.001). On the other hand, malondialdehyde levels were increased following trauma (p < 0.001), and darbepoetin α significantly reduced the malondialdehyde levels (p < 0.001). Due to the elevated apoptotic activity following the injury, caspase-3 activity increased significantly. Darbepoetin-α treatment significantly inhibited apoptosis by lowering the caspase-3 activity (p < 0.001). In the darbepoetin group, histopathological score was lower than the trauma group (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, darbepoetin-α was shown to be at least as effective as methylprednisolone in protecting brain from oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and apoptosis.