Malignant transformation of meningeal melanocytoma: a case report.

Intracranial meningeal melanocytoma is an uncommon tumor that is considered benign. We formerly reported an intracranial meningeal melanocytoma. Here we report a extremely rare case of malignant transformation of this tumor. A 49-year-old man complained of a headache. Magnetic resonance scanning revealed a mass in the left frontal region. The patient underwent gross total removal of the tomor in 1994. The histological findings showed a meningeal melanocytoma. In 1998, he underwent gamma-knife surgery for local recurrence. An additional operation was performed in 1999 became tumor growth was not stopped. The tumor was partially excised by left frontal craniotomy. Histopathological examination revealed a malignant melanoma originating from a melanocytoma. The tumor was composed of a proliferation of severely atypical melanocytoid cells with slightly irregular nuclei and prominent nucleoli, associated with necrosis and hemorrhage. Mitotic figures were encountered occasionally. After six months, he died from cerebrospinal fluid dissemination of this tumor. To our knowledge, this is the first report of malignant transformation of an intracranial meningeal melanocytoma.

Successful surgical treatment for an aortoesophageal fistula due to a descending aortic aneurysm.

The patient was a 68-year-old man who consulted another hospital with a chief complaint of dysphagia, and was referred to our hospital based on a suspicion of esophageal submucosal tumor. However, the patient was emergently admitted due to hematemesis and hypotension, which occurred immediately after the acquisition of computed tomographic (CT) images for further examinations at the outpatient clinic. Contrast-enhanced chest CT demonstrated a thoracic aortic aneurysm measuring 45 mm in maximal diameter, in addition to pneumatization adhering to mural thrombus, which appeared to be the esophagus. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy also demonstrated ulcerative lesions accompanied by coagulations in the middle thoracic esophagus. Therefore, emergency surgery was performed based on a diagnosis of an aortoesophageal fistula due to a descending aortic aneurysm. Graft replacement was performed under partial extracorporeal circulation, followed by total thoracic esophagectomy, esophagostomy, and gastrostomy after weaning from extracorporeal circulation. This study reports the course of a patient with an aortoesophageal fistula due to a thoracic aortic aneurysm whose life was successfully saved by emergency surgery, together with literature.

[A case of bleeding dural arteriovenous fistula of the transverse-sigmoid sinus with pure leptomeningeal drainage, varix: case report].

We reported a case of bleeding from the varix of a transverse-sigmoid sinus dural arteriovenous fistula with pure leptomeningeal drainage. A 55-year-old man presented with visual disturbance. neurological examination revealed left homonymous hemianopsia. CT scans demonstrated a subcortical hemorrhage in the right occipital lobe. Right external carotid angiograms showed a dural arteriovenous fistula of the transverse-sigmoid sinus fed by middle meningeal arteries and the occipital artery. The draining vein was the cortical vein with a varix. Transverse and sigmoid sinuses were patent. We concluded that the cause of the subcortical hemorrhage was a varix of the dural arteriovenous fistula. Initially, we embolized the dural arteriovenous fistula using a transarterial approach with GDC. Additionally, we interrupted the draining vein of the dural arteriovenous malformation. Angiographic cure was obtained and the postoperative course was uneventful. We discussed the clinical features, and the management of this case.

Traumatic lesions of the bilateral middle meningeal arteries--case report.

A 44-year-old man presented with traumatic injuries of the bilateral middle meningeal arteries after a traffic accident. Neurological examination found left visual impairment due to left optic nerve injury. Computed tomography demonstrated a small amount of left epidural hemorrhage and bilateral skull fractures. Left external carotid angiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the left middle meningeal artery at the sphenoid ridge. Right external carotid angiography demonstrated a dural arteriovenous fistula fed by the right middle meningeal artery colocated with the right frontal convexity fracture. Transarterial embolization of the left middle meningeal artery pseudoaneurysm with four fibered platinum coils and transarterial embolization of the right dural arteriovenous fistula with poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) were performed, resulting in complete obliteration of both lesions. Angiographic cure was obtained and the postoperative course was uneventful.