Iatrogenic dural arteriovenous fistula after radical neck dissection for metastatic malignant disease: A case report.

BACKGROUND: A case of dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) developed after radical neck dissection for lymph node metastasis 2 years after oral surgery for tongue cancer. METHODS: The patient was asymptomatic during follow-up visits with no evidence of metastasis on follow-up CT scan of the neck. However, diagnostic angiography showed left internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and dAVF involving the posterior meningeal artery and transverse sinus at the left posterior fossa with cortical venous reflux (Cognard type III). They were treated with carotid stenting and surgery, respectively. RESULTS: The postoperative course was uneventful. Follow-up angiography revealed obliteration of the dAVF. CONCLUSION: This was a rare case of iatrogenic dAVF after surgical ligation of venous outflow during radical neck dissection. The surgical plan is presented along with a literature review regarding the development of iatrogenic dAVFs induced by direct surgical trauma.

Posterior Laminoplastic Laminotomy Combined with a Paraspinal Transmuscular Approach for Removing a Lumbar Dumbbell-shaped Schwannoma: A Technical Note.

The surgical strategies and methods used to treat dumbbell-shaped tumors located in the lumbar-foraminal region are controversial. Although a total facetectomy and combined intra- and extraspinal canal approach provide a wide operative field, facet fusion is required, which can be rather invasive. Here, we report a successful removal of a lumbar dumbbell-shaped schwannoma using a combined laminoplastic laminotomy with Wiltse's paraspinal surgical approach. This was performed under an operating microscope without a complete facetectomy, fusion, and posterior fixation. Briefly, we treated two patients with lumbar foraminal tumors, both dumbbell-shaped schwannomas located in the intra- and extradural portion. After a laminoplastic laminotomy, the intradural tumor was removed. The tumor located at the extracanalicular site was removed after drilling the pars interarticularis of the lamina, which was performed to enlarge the intervertebral foramen via Wiltse's paraspinal surgical approach. During surgery, facetectomy with posterior fixation was not needed to remove the intraforaminal component. There was no lumbar instability or complication after surgery. Our results suggest that a combined posterior laminoplastic laminotomy and Wiltse's paraspinal surgical approach is useful and less invasive for treating patients with lumbar foraminal tumors.