Minimally Invasive Technique (Nummular Craniotomy) for Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: A Comparison of 2 Approaches.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our series of a minimally invasive technique using a small scalp incision and keyhole craniotomy for the removal of mesial temporal lobe structures through a transcortical approach in patients with medically intractable mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Studies that directly compare the clinical outcomes between minimally invasive and conventional techniques are scarce, and this information is lacking in the literature. METHODS: The study enrolled 73 consecutive patients with refractory MTLE and unilateral hippocampal sclerosis; 30 patients were operated on with standard frontotemporal craniotomy between 2010 and 2013 and 43 patients were operated with a minimally invasive craniotomy (nummular craniotomy) between 2014 and 2016. The preoperative evaluation included clinical history, physical examination, video-electroencephalography, neuropsychologic assessment, and magnetic resonance imaging including thin-section coronal sequences. RESULTS: There were no deaths in either group. Postoperative complications in the standard frontotemporal craniotomy group included temporal muscle atrophy (n = 4; 13.3%), cerebrospinal fluid leakage (n = 1; 3.3%), and wound infection (n = 1; 3.3%). No complications were observed in the keyhole craniotomy group. There was no between-group difference in postoperative seizure control. The mean Engel class I seizure-free outcome was 90.4% in the standard frontotemporal craniotomy group and 90.7% in the nummular craniotomy group (P > 0.05). Lengths of hospitalization (2.81 vs. 4.37 days, P < 0.001) and operative time (85.79 vs. 142.73 minutes, P < 0.001) were lower in the keyhole than in the standard frontotemporal craniotomy group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The nummular technique was associated with faster recovery, early hospital discharge, and fewer complications than the standard technique. No differences were observed in postoperative seizure control. Keyhole craniotomy is a safe, easy, and effective treatment option for medically intractable MTLE.

Strategies for resection of lesions in the motor area: preliminary results in 42 surgical patients.

In recent years considerable technological advances have been made with the purpose of improving the surgical results in the treatment of eloquent lesions. The overall aim of this study is to evaluate the postoperative surgical outcome in 42 patients who underwent surgery to remove lesions around the motor cortex, in which preoperative planning by using neuroimaging exams, anatomical study, appropriate microsurgery technique and auxiliary methods such as cortical stimulation were performed. Twenty-two patients (52.3%) presented a normal motor function in the preoperative period. Of these, six developed transitory deficit. Twenty patients (47.6%) had a motor deficit preoperatively, nevertheless 90% of these improved postoperatively. Surgery in the motor area becomes safer and more effective with preoperative localization exams, anatomical knowledge and appropriate microsurgery technique. Cortical stimulation is important because it made possible to maximize the resection reducing the risk of a motor deficit. Stereotaxy method was useful in the location of subcortical lesions.

[Capillary hemangioma of the spinal cord: case report]. / Hemangioma capilar da medula: relato de caso.

We report a rare case of spinal cord capillary hemangioma in a 79-year-old woman, presented with paraparesia that had progressed within 8 months. Radiologically, the lesion resemble other vascular spinal cord tumors. The patient underwent surgery and the outcome was good. Histologically, the lesion resembled capillary hemangioma of skin or soft tissue, composed of lobules of small capillaries with associated feeding vessels, all enveloped by a delicate fibrous capsule. A review of the published cases in the literature is provided as well as a discussion of the clinical, radiological and histological aspects of the lesion and the differential diagnosis. Knowledge of its existence may avoid misdiagnosis of this benign lesion.

Intermuscular gluteal lipoma mimicking sciatic pain. Case report

Sciatic pain is a disabling pathology that can have various etiologies, but is rarely described as caused by an intermuscular gluteal lipoma. The authors describe a patient with a progressively worsening right sciatic pain for 6 months and with walking difficulty for 3 months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an expansive process compatible with lipoma between the gluteus maximus and medius, which was completely removed without sciatic nerve injury. After surgery, the patient is asymptomatic. This is an unusual case and represents an important differential diagnosis that should be considered in sciatic pain patients

El dolor ciático es una patología inhabilitante que puede tener diversas etiologías, pero rara vez se describe como causada por un lipoma glúteo intermuscular. Los autores describen a un paciente con un dolor ciática derecha que empeora progresivamente durante 6 meses y con dificultad para caminar durante 3 meses. La resonancia magnética (RM) mostró un proceso expansivo compatible con lipoma entre el gluteo máximo, y el glúteo medio. El lipoma fue retirado por completo y sin lesión del nervio ciático. Después de la cirugía, el paciente está asintomático. Este es un caso inusual y representa un importante diagnóstico diferencial que debe ser considerado en los pacientes con ciática

Relationship between the coronal suture and the central lobe: how important is it and how can we use it in surgical planning?

The surgical treatment of the lesions located in the central lobe is a very difficult task for the neurosurgeon. The overall aim of this study is to verify the correlation of the coronal suture and the structures of the central lobe in 32 cadaver hemisphere brains and the importance of this information in surgical planning. The measurement of the nasion to the coronal suture ranged from 11.5 to 13.5 cm. The distance between the coronal suture in the midline to the central, precentral and paracentral sulcus ranged from 5.0 to 6.6, 2.5 to 4.5 and 1.3 to 4.0 cm respectively. Particularly in the normal cortex these measurements can be used to guide the surgical access. However, the identification of the central sulcus is not easy when the anatomical pattern is distorted or displaced by a lesion or edema. In cases such as these the use of other tools becomes crucial for good surgical planning and cortical mapping or awake craniotomy for a safer resection of the lesion as well.

Relationship between the coronal suture and the central lobe: how important is it and how can we use it in surgical planning? / Relação entre a sutura coronária e o lobo central: qual a sua importância e como podemos usá-la no planejamento cirurgico?

The surgical treatment of the lesions located in the central lobe is a very difficult task for the neurosurgeon. The overall aim of this study is to verify the correlation of the coronal suture and the structures of the central lobe in 32 cadaver hemisphere brains and the importance of this information in surgical planning. The measurement of the nasion to the coronal suture ranged from 11.5 to 13.5 cm. The distance between the coronal suture in the midline to the central, precentral and paracentral sulcus ranged from 5.0 to 6.6, 2.5 to 4.5 and 1.3 to 4.0 cm respectively. Particularly in the normal cortex these measurements can be used to guide the surgical access. However, the identification of the central sulcus is not easy when the anatomical pattern is distorted or displaced by a lesion or edema. In cases such as these the use of other tools becomes crucial for good surgical planning and cortical mapping or awake craniotomy for a safer resection of the lesion as well.

O tratamento cirúrgico de lesões localizadas no lobo central é difícil para o neurocirurgião. O objetivo deste estudo é verificar a relação da sutura coronária com as estruturas do lobo central utilizando-se de dissecção realizada em 32 hemisférios cerebrais de 16 cadáveres, assim como, a importância desta informação no planejamento cirúrgico. A medida da distância entre o nasion e a sutura coronária variou entre 11,5 e 13,5 cm. A distância da sutura coronária na linha média para os sulcos central, pré-central e paracentral variou de 5,0 a 6,6 cm, 2,5 a 4,5 cm e 1,3 a 4,0 cm respectivamente. O conhecimento destas medidas pode ser usado no planejamento cirúrgico principalmente num córtex normal. Porém, a identificação do sulco central é difícil quando as estruturas anatômicas estão deslocadas pela lesão ou quando há edema. Nestes casos a utilização de outros meios diagnósticos para o planejamento cirúrgico torna-se necessária, como também a estimulação cortical ou a craniotomia com o paciente acordado pode proporcionar uma ressecção mais segura da lesão.

Strategies for resection of lesions in the motor area: preliminary results in 42 surgical patients / Estratégias para ressecção de lesões em área motora: resultados preliminares em 42 pacientes operados

In recent years considerable technological advances have been made with the purpose of improving the surgical results in the treatment of eloquent lesions. The overall aim of this study is to evaluate the postoperative surgical outcome in 42 patients who underwent surgery to remove lesions around the motor cortex, in which preoperative planning by using neuroimaging exams, anatomical study, appropriate microsurgery technique and auxiliary methods such as cortical stimulation were performed. Twenty-two patients (52.3 percent) presented a normal motor function in the preoperative period. Of these, six developed transitory deficit. Twenty patients (47.6 percent) had a motor deficit preoperatively, nevertheless 90 percent of these improved postoperatively. Surgery in the motor area becomes safer and more effective with preoperative localization exams, anatomical knowledge and appropriate microsurgery technique. Cortical stimulation is important because it made possible to maximize the resection reducing the risk of a motor deficit. Stereotaxy method was useful in the location of subcortical lesions.

Nos últimos anos, consideráveis avanços tecnológicos, principalmente métodos de localização funcional do córtex cerebral, têm surgido no sentido de melhorar os resultados cirúrgicos no tratamento de lesões em áreas eloqüentes. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar os resultados pós-operatórios em 42 pacientes submetidos à ressecção de lesões em área motora, utilizando-se de planejamento com exames de neuroimagem, conhecimento anatômico, técnica microcirúrgica adequada e métodos auxiliares a exemplo do estimulador cortical. Vinte e dois pacientes (52,3 por cento) apresentavam força muscular normal no pré-operatório. Destes, seis apresentaram déficit motor transitório. Vinte pacientes (47,6 por cento) tinham déficit motor no pré-operatório, mas 90 por cento destes apresentaram melhora no pós-operatório. A cirurgia em área motora se torna mais segura e eficaz com a utilização de planejamento pré-operatório baseado nos exames de imagem, conhecimento anatômico e técnica microcirúrgica adequada. A utilização de estimulador cortical é importante para maximizar a ressecção minimizando o risco de déficit motor. A estereotaxia foi útil na localização de lesões subcorticais.

Hemangioma capilar da medula: relato de caso / Capillary hemangioma of the spinal cord: case report

Descrevemos um caso raro de hemangioma capilar da medula em mulher de 79 anos, que se apresentou com paraparesia progressiva, no período de 8 meses. Radiologicamente, esta lesão lembra outros tumores vasculares da medula espinhal. A paciente foi submetida a tratamento cirúrgico com boa recuperação. Em relação à histopatologia, a lesão assemelhou-se ao hemangioma capilar da pele e tecidos moles, composto de lóbulos de pequenos capilares associados a vasos nutridores, envolvidos por uma cápsula fibrosa. É realizada uma revisão dos casos publicados na literatura, assim como uma discussão dos aspectos clínicos, radiológicos, histológicos e do diagnóstico diferencial da lesão. O conhecimento da sua existência pode evitar erros de diagnóstico desta lesão benigna.

Acidente vascular de tronco encefálico: estudo de 21 casos / Vascular stroke of the brain steam: study of 21 cases

Através de estudo prospectivo foram acompanhados 21 casos de acidente vascular de tronco encefálico, durante 12 meses, entre 1991 e 1992. O objetivo foi observar a relaçäo entre o tipo de lesäo, a apresentaçäo clínica e a evoluçäo. Com o exame neurológico, a tomografia computadorizada (CT) e, em alguns casos, angiografia e ressonancia magnética (MRI) demonstrou-se a topografia da lesäo. A hemorragia pontomesencefálica foi o achado mais freqüente. A hipertensäo arterial sistêmica estava presente em 67 por cento dos casos e a sexta década de vida foi a mais atingida. Todos os pacientes receberam tratamento clínico visando as doenças associadas. utilizou-se o Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) para evoluçäo: 28 por cento tiveram GOS 5, 24 por cento GOS 4,5 por cento GOS 3,28 por cento GOS 2 e 14 por cento GOS 1. Notou-se, por esta experiência, tratar-se de uma patologia grave e com várias formas de apresentaçäo. quando o paciente foi admitido em coma e com lesäo mista, a evoluçäo foi desfavorável (p < 0,01). Muitas vezes foi difícil correlacionar os casos com as descriçöes clássicas da literatura, por isto chamanos a atençäo para o fato de que se deva observar individualmente as características de cada caso

Ruptura de cisto aracnóideo intracraniano causando higroma e hemiplegia súbita / Subdural higroma and acute hemiplegia due to non traumatic rupture of arachnoid cyst

Os autores relatam dois casos de ruptura de cisto aracnóideo, sem história de trauma craniano, com formação de higroma, manifestando-se com quadro clínico de síndrome de hipertensão intracraniana e evoluindo com hemiplegia súbita. São discutidos a etiologia, as manifestações clínicas, o mecanismo de ruptura do cisto e as imagens radiológicas que traduziram a evolução do evento.