Resolution of white matter hyperintensity after surgical revascularization in moyamoya disease - A report of three cases.

Background: Moyamoya disease often presents white matter hyperintensity (WMH) lesions on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images, which is generally accepted as irreversible. We, herein, describe three cases of moyamoya disease with WMH lesions that regressed or disappeared after surgical revascularization. Case Description: This report included two pediatric and one young adult case that developed transient ischemic attacks or ischemic stroke due to bilateral Moyamoya disease. Before surgery, five of their six hemispheres had WMH lesions in the subcortical and/or periventricular white matter on FLAIR images. The lesions included morphologically two different patterns: "Striated" and "patchy" morphology. In all of them, combined bypass surgery was successfully performed on both sides, and no cerebrovascular events occurred during follow-up periods. On follow-up magnetic resonance examinations, the "striated" WMH lesions completely disappeared within six months, while the "patchy" WMH lesions slowly regressed over 12 months. Conclusion: Based on radiological findings and the postoperative course of the WMH lesions, the "striated" WMH lesions may represent the inflammation or edema along the neuronal axons due to cerebral ischemia, while the "patchy" WMH lesions may represent vasogenic edema in the white matter through the blood-brain barrier breakdown. Earlier surgical revascularization may resolve these WMH lesions in Moyamoya disease.

Clinical Significance of Carotid Endarterectomy and Carotid Artery Stenting in Older Patients Over 80.

As the average life expectancy increases, neurosurgeons are likely to encounter patients aged 80 years and above with carotid stenosis; however, whether old age affects clinical post-treatment outcomes of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS) remains inconclusive. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the outcomes following CEA or CAS in patients aged 80 years and above. This study included older over 80 years (n = 34) and younger patients (<80 years; n = 222) who underwent CEA or CAS between 2012 and 2022. All of them were followed up for a mean of 55 months. All-cause mortality, the incidence of vascular events, ability to perform daily activities, and nursing home admission rates were assessed. During follow-up periods, 34 patients (13.3%) died due to coronary artery disease, malignancy, and pneumonia, and the incidence was significantly higher in the elderly group than in the younger group (P = 0.03; HR, 3.01; 95% CI, 1.53-5.56). The incidence of vascular events did not differ between the older group (29.5%) and the younger group (26.9%, P = 0.58); however, the incidence was significantly higher in patients with high-intensity plaques than in those without that (P = 0.008; HR, 2.83, 95%CI, 1.27-4.87). The decline in the ability to perform daily activities and increased nursing home admission rates were high in elderly patients (P < 0.01). Although the mortality rate was higher in the elderly group, subsequent vascular events were comparable to that in the younger group. The results suggest that CEA and CAS are safe and useful treatments for carotid stenosis in older patients, especially to prevent ipsilateral ischemic stroke.

Effects of superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis on the cerebrospinal fluid gas tensions and pH in hemodynamically compromised patients.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to directly measure cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gas tensions and pH before and after STA-MCA anastomosis for occlusive carotid artery diseases to investigate its direct effects on the ischemic brain. METHODS: This study included 9 patients who underwent STA-MCA anastomosis on the basis of CBF studies. About 1 mL of CSF was collected before and after bypass procedures, and CSF pH, CSF PO2, and CSF PCO2 were measured with a blood gas analyzer. As the controls, the CSF was collected from 6 patients during surgery for unruptured cerebral aneurysm. CSF PO2 and CSF PCO2 were expressed as the ratio to PaO2 and PaCO2, respectively. RESULTS: Before bypass procedure, CSF PO2/PaO2 was 0.88 ± 0.16, being lower than the controls (1.10 ± 0.09; P = 0.005). CSF PCO2/PaCO2 was 0.93 ± 0.13, being higher than the controls (0.84 ± 0.06; P = 0.039). Ipsilateral-to-contralateral CBF ratio had a positive correlation with CSF PO2/PaO2 (P = 0.0028) but a negative correlation with the CSF PCO2/PaCO2 (P = 0.0045). STA-MCA anastomosis increased CSF pH from 7.402 ± 0.133 to 7.504 ± 0.126 (P = 0.0011) and CSF PO2/PaO2 from 0.88 ± 0.16 to 1.05 ± 0.26 (P = 0.018) but decreased CSF PCO2/PaCO2 from 0.93 ± 0.13 to 0.70 ± 0.17 (P = 0.0006). CONCLUSION: The severity of cerebral ischemia before surgery is intensely reflected in the gas tensions and pH of the CSF. STA-MCA anastomosis carries dramatic effects on CSF gas tensions and pH in hemodynamically compromised patients. CSF would be a valuable surrogate biomarker to monitor the severity of cerebral ischemia.

Coil embolization for post-bypass aneurysm of middle meningeal artery for moyamoya disease - preservation of transdural anastomosis.

Background: Middle meningeal artery (MMA) pseudoaneurysm following revascularization surgery for moyamoya disease (MMD) is rare. Case Description: Here, a 29-year-old man presented with an MMA pseudoaneurysm after he underwent revascularization surgery (superficial temporal artery-to-middle cerebral artery bypass and encephalo-duro-myoarterio-pericranial synangiosis) for hemorrhagic MMD. At 3 months post-surgery, digital subtraction angiography showed a pseudoaneurysm in the right MMA. Transdural anastomosis to the parietal and occipital lobes was opacified at the distal MMA of the pseudoaneurysm. Intra-aneurysmal coil embolization was performed for preservation of transdural anastomosis. The postoperative course was uneventful. At 1 month post-embolization, angiography revealed an entirely occluded pseudoaneurysm. Conclusion: An increase in blood flow in the MMA due to bypass surgery may accelerate aneurysm development by increasing the hemodynamic stress. This case suggested that intra-aneurysmal embolization may be a potential treatment.

Late-onset, first-ever involuntary movement after successful surgical revascularization for pediatric moyamoya disease - Report of two cases.

Background: A small number of children with Moyamoya disease develop involuntary movements as an initial presentation at the onset, which usually resolves after effective surgical revascularization. However, involuntary movements that did not occur at the onset first occur after surgery in very rare cases. In this report, we describe two pediatric cases that developed involuntary movements during the stable postoperative period after successful surgical revascularization. Case Description: A 10-year-old boy developed an ischemic stroke and successfully underwent combined bypass surgery. However, he developed chorea six months later. Another 8-year-old boy developed a transient ischemic attack and successfully underwent combined bypass surgery. However, he developed chorea three years later. In both cases, temporary use of haloperidol was quite effective in resolving the symptoms, and involuntary movements did not recur without any medication during follow-up periods of up to 10 years. Conclusion: Postoperative first-ever involuntary movement is very rare in pediatric moyamoya disease, and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear, but a temporary, reversible imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory circuits in the basal ganglia may trigger the occurrence of these rare symptoms. Careful follow-up would be mandatory.

Differentiation of Fibroblasts Into Myofibroblasts in the Arachnoid Membrane of Moyamoya Disease.

BACKGROUND: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a very specific disorder in terms of spontaneous development of extracranial-to-intracranial collateral circulation through the dura mater, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of the arachnoid membrane in this unique angiogenesis in MMD. METHODS: A piece of arachnoid membrane and 1- to 2-mL cerebrospinal fluid were simultaneously harvested during surgery from 26 patients with MMD. The specimens were also collected during surgery as the controls from 6 patients with atherosclerotic carotid artery diseases. The arachnoid membrane was subjected to immunohistochemistry and the cerebrospinal fluid was used to measure the concentration of cytokines using ELISA. RESULTS: The number of cells positive for PDGFR (platelet-derived growth factor receptor) α was significantly higher in MMD than in the controls (5.4±3.1 versus 2.3±2.1 cells/field; P=0.02). The results were same in PDGFRß-positive cells (10.1±4.6 versus 4.8±2.8; P=0.01) and α-SMA (alpha-smooth muscle actin)-positive cells (8.8±3.1 versus 2.0±2.5; P<0.01). On multicolor immunofluorescence, 80.5±15.6% of cells positive for PDGFRα in MMD also expressed α-SMA, being significantly higher than 14.6±7.2% in the controls (P<0.01). The density of collagen in the arachnoid membrane was significantly higher in MMD than in the controls (60.3±15.0% versus 40.1±15.3%; P<0.01). In MMD, advanced disease stage was significantly associated with a larger number of α-SMA-positive cells in the arachnoid membrane (P=0.04). On ELISA, the cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor), HGF (hepatocyte growth factor), and TGF (transforming growth factor)-ß1 were significantly higher in MMD than in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these findings, MMD may elevate the concentrations of angiogenic factors in the cerebrospinal fluid and then promote the proliferation of fibroblasts in the arachnoid membrane and their differentiation into myofibroblasts, which may, in turn, enhance the production of collagen essential for spontaneous collateral formation across the arachnoid membrane.

Thin calcification (< 2 mm) can highly predict intraplaque hemorrhage in carotid plaque: the clinical significance of calcification types.

PURPOSE: Calcification pathogenesis and the relationship between calcification and plaque composition remain unclear. This study explored the calcification characteristics of vulnerable plaques, especially focusing on calcification thickness, using computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance plaque imaging. METHODS: Demographic, computed tomography angiography, and magnetic resonance plaque imaging data were acquired from 178 patients with 229 lesions diagnosed with carotid stenosis. The calcification types were categorized by calcification thickness. We evaluated their features, including the anatomical location and the plaque composition compared with MR plaque imaging, and clarify the clinical characteristics. Furthermore, an immunohistochemical subgroup analysis was performed on 84 lesions treated with carotid endarterectomy. RESULTS: The result of the ROC analysis suggested the threshold between symptomatic and asymptomatic calcification was 2.04 mm (AUC;0.841, 95%CI; 0.771-0.894). Calcification with ≥ 2 mm thickness was classified as thick calcification and < 2 mm thickness as thin calcification. Multivariate analysis suggested the prevalence of symptomatic patients in the thin calcification group was significantly higher than others (P = 0.01; odds ratio, 4.1; 95% confidence interval 2.8-7.2). Plaques with thin calcification were associated with plaque with intraplaque hemorrhage (P < 0.01). The interobserver reliability (κ) of calcification type was 0.962 (95% confidence interval, 0.941-0.988). Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the numbers of CD68-positive cells and CD31-positive microvessels in shoulder lesions were significantly higher in the thin calcification group than in the non-thin group (both P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Thin calcification was associated with plaques with intraplaque hemorrhage and had different clinical implications than thick calcification.

A case of intestinal perforation with a residual shunt tube placed during childhood: should we remove the non-functioning tube?

We report a 22-year-old man who had abdominal shunt tube migration into colon. He was diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma at optic-chiasm to hypothalamus at age of 7, and treated by resection, chemotherapy, and irradiation. He developed hydrocephalus and had multiple ventriculo-peritoneal shunt surgery. At age of 19, he fell in coma due to the subarachnoid and intra-ventricular hemorrhage due to the aneurysm rupture. The ventricle tube was removed, leaving the shunt valve and abdominal tube. The new shunt system was reconstructed at the contralateral side. He was at bed rest after this episode. At age of 20, he had high fever unable to control with antibiotics. The abdominal computed tomogram showed the shunt tube migration in the descending colon. The tube was removed under laparoscopy, and the inflammation was cured. The abandoned peritoneal shunt tube should be removed in patients with high tube migration risks.

Ameliorative Effects of Combined Revascularization Surgery on Abnormal Collateral Channels in Moyamoya Disease.

OBJECT: Abnormal collateral channels, so-called moyamoya vessels, play a critical role to compensate cerebral ischemia, but carry the risk for hemorrhagic stroke in moyamoya disease (MMD). The present study was aimed to clarify if superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis and encephalo-myo-duro-arterio-pericranial synangiosis (EDMAPS) can efficiently regress the abnormal collateral channels in MMD patients. METHODS: This study included 92 hemispheres of 61 MMD patients who underwent STA-MCA anastomosis combined with EDMAPS between 2013 and 2019. There were 17 children and 44 adults. We retrospectively analyzed the findings on cerebral angiography before and 3 to 6 months after surgery, including Suzuki's angiographical stage, the development of surgical collaterals, and the extent of abnormal collateral channels such as lenticulostriate, thalamic, and choroidal channels. RESULTS: Following surgery, no pediatric and adult patients experienced any stroke during follow-up periods (40.2±25.5 and 54.9±19.7 months, respectively). Suzuki's stage significantly advanced in both adult and pediatric patients after surgery (P=0.042 and P<0.001). In adult patients, all of the lenticulostriate, thalamic, and choroidal channels significantly regressed after surgery (P<0.001, P=0.012, and P=0.004, respectively). In pediatric patients, however, lenticulostriate and choroidal channels significantly regressed (P=0.005 and P=0.034, respectively). Correlation analysis revealed that the development of surgical collaterals determined the postoperative regression of choroidal channels (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: STA-MCA anastomosis and EDMAPS may be one of the most effective procedures to widely provide surgical collaterals to the operated hemispheres and prevent not only ischemic but also hemorrhagic stroke by regressing the hemorrhage-prone abnormal collateral channels in MMD.

Specific clinical features and one-stage revascularization surgery for moyamoya disease with severe cerebral ischemia in the territory of posterior cerebral artery.

BACKGROUND: There are no reports describing the surgical procedure for moyamoya disease (MMD) patients with severe cerebral ischemia in the territory of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) at initial presentation. In this study, therefore, we describe their clinical and radiological features and clinical results of one-stage revascularization surgery for both anterior and posterior circulation. METHODS: This study included 6 MMD patients who had severe cerebral ischemia in the PCA territory and underwent one-stage revascularization surgery for both anterior and posterior circulation. Of these, one patient underwent it on both sides. Their clinical and radiological data were precisely analyzed. Compared with usual procedure, craniotomy was extended towards the temporo-parietal area more widely. The parietal branch of superficial temporal artery (STA) was anastomosed to the angular or posterior temporal artery, while the frontal branch was anastomosed to the frontal branch of MCA. Ultimate indirect bypass was added. Their clinical and radiological outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Their neurological symptoms included visual and speech disturbance as well as numbness of the extremities. Cerebral infarct was distributed in the posterior temporal, parietal, and/or occipital lobe. Cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism were also impaired in the same regions. These findings were completely different from those in MMD patients without PCA lesion. Postoperative course was uneventful, and none of them recurred stroke during a mean follow-up period of 10.5 years. Surgical collaterals widely provided blood flow to the entire hemispheres, including the occipital lobe. Cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism markedly improved after surgery. CONCLUSION: One-stage revascularization surgery for both anterior and posterior circulation is feasible and effective to prevent future stroke in MMD patients with severe cerebral ischemia in the PCA territory at initial presentation.

Late (5-20 years) outcomes after STA-MCA anastomosis and encephalo-duro-myo-arterio-pericranial synangiosis in patients with moyamoya disease.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical revascularization is known to reduce the incidence of further ischemic and hemorrhagic events in patients with moyamoya disease, but the majority of previous studies report only short-term (< 5 years) outcomes. Therefore, in this study the authors aimed to evaluate late (5-20 years) outcomes of moyamoya patients after superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis and indirect bypass (encephalo-duro-myo-arterio-pericranial synangiosis [EDMAPS]). METHODS: Cumulative incidences of late morbidity/mortality and disease progression were evaluated among 93 patients who underwent STA-MCA anastomosis and EDMAPS. All of the patients were prospectively followed up for longer than 5 years postsurgery (10.5 ± 4.4 years). There were 35 pediatric and 58 adult patients. Initial presentation included transient ischemic attack/ischemic stroke in 80 patients and hemorrhagic stroke in 10 patients, and 3 patients were asymptomatic. Surgery was performed in a total of 141 hemispheres. Follow-up MRI/MRA was performed within a 6- or 12-month interval during the follow-up periods. RESULTS: During the follow-up periods, 92/93 patients were free from any stroke or death, but 1 patient had a recurrence of hemorrhagic stroke (0.10% per patient-year). Disease progression occurred in the territory of the contralateral carotid or posterior cerebral artery (PCA) in 19 hemispheres of 15 patients (1.5% per patient-year). The interval between initial surgery and disease progression varied widely, from 0.5 to 15 years. Repeat bypass surgery for the anterior and posterior circulation resolved ischemic attacks in all 10 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study results indicate that STA-MCA anastomosis and EDMAPS would be the best choice to prevent further ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke for longer than 10 years on the basis of the demonstrated widespread improvement in cerebral hemodynamics in both the MCA and ACA territories in the study patients. However, after 10 years postsurgery regular follow-up is essential to detect disease progression in the territory of the contralateral carotid artery and PCA and prevent late cerebrovascular events.

Using postoperative remodeling of donor arteries on MR angiography to predict the development of surgical collaterals in moyamoya disease.

OBJECTIVE: The calibers of donor arteries can change dynamically after bypass surgery in patients with moyamoya disease (MMD). The present study aimed to evaluate the cutoffs of caliber changes in donor arteries associated with good surgical revascularization and to assess the impact of clinical factors potentially related to bypass development. METHODS: The authors studied 71 hemispheres of 30 adults and 16 children with MMD who underwent combined direct and indirect revascularization. They quantitatively measured the calibers of the superficial temporal artery (STA), deep temporal artery (DTA), and middle meningeal artery (MMA) with MR angiography (MRA) source images and calculated the postoperative caliber change ratios (CCRs) to assess direct and indirect bypass development. These values were compared with the findings of digital subtraction angiography, in which revascularization areas were categorized into 3 groups (poor, good, and excellent). RESULTS: In both adult and pediatric hemispheres, the median STA and DTA CCRs were higher in better-revascularization groups (p < 0.05), while MMA CCRs were not significantly different among the groups. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the cutoff STA CCRs of > 1.1 and > 1.3 were associated with good direct revascularization in adult and pediatric hemispheres, respectively. Cutoff DTA CCRs of > 1.6 and > 1.2 were associated with good indirect revascularization in adult and pediatric hemispheres, respectively. Considering these cutoff values, STA and DTA CCRs showed high median values, irrespective of age, severity of cerebrovascular reserve, disease stage, and disease-onset type. CONCLUSIONS: Caliber changes in STAs and DTAs can be easily measured using MRA, and they could be indicators of direct and indirect bypass development. The dual development of a direct and indirect bypass was most frequently observed in the context of a combined bypass procedure in both adults and children with MMD.

Long-term effect of surgical revascularization on silent microbleeds in adult moyamoya disease: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Recent development of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has shown that silent microbleeds can be observed in a certain subgroup of adult patients with moyamoya disease. The patients with microbleeds are at higher risk for hemorrhagic stroke. However, the beneficial effects of surgical revascularization have not been established in asymptomatic patients with moyamoya disease. The authors present a case that underwent surgical revascularization for asymptomatic moyamoya disease because the number of silent microbleeds increases on serial MR examinations. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 61-year-old female was referred to our hospital because of nonspecific headache. T2-weighted MR imaging revealed silent microbleeds in the corpus callosum. She was diagnosed as moyamoya disease on cerebral angiography. She was conservatively followed up, however, de novo microbleeds developed in the right temporal and frontal lobes on follow-up MR imaging 6 months later. Superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis and indirect bypass were performed on the right side to prevent hemorrhagic stroke. Postoperative course was uneventful. Follow-up cerebral angiography performed 10 months after surgery showed a marked development of surgical collateral through both direct and indirect bypass and the diminishment of moyamoya vessels. For the last 7 years after surgery, she is free from any cerebrovascular events, and serial MR examinations revealed no further development of de novo microbleeds. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical revascularization may be useful to reduce the moyamoya vessels and prevent cerebrovascular events in a certain subgroup of patients with asymptomatic moyamoya disease, although its universal benefits on asymptomatic moyamoya disease have not been established yet.

Surgical and Endovascular Treatments of Extracranial Carotid Artery Aneurysms-Report of Six Cases.

BACKGROUND: Although the natural course of extracranial carotid artery aneurysms (ECAAs) is still unknown, they may cause stroke or cranial nerve dysfunction unless they are treated. In this report, we reviewed the clinical results of 6 patients who underwent endovascular and surgical treatments for ECAAs. METHODS: A total of 6 patients underwent endovascular and surgical treatments for ECAAs for 9 years. The primary causes of ECAAs included Marfan syndrome (1 patient), infection (1 patient), trauma (2 patients), and unknown (2 patients). All 6 ECAAs were symptomatic. RESULTS: One patient underwent surgical resection of the ECAA followed by end-to-end anastomosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Another patient underwent proximal ICA ligation combined with high-flow external carotid artery-to-middle cerebral artery bypass using a radial artery graft, because the patient also had a giant thrombosed aneurysm in the cavernous portion of the ipsilateral ICA. Endovascular treatment was selected in the other 4 patients using a covered stent or a bare metal stent combined with coil embolization. Of these patients, one required proximal ICA ligation followed by superficial temporal artery-to-middle cerebral artery anastomosis due to an anatomical problem for stent placement. There was no neurological deterioration at the discharge in all but 1 patient who suffered ischemic stroke during surgery. CONCLUSION: Surgical or endovascular treatment yielded a relatively satisfactory outcome in patients with ECAAs.

Indocyanine green visualization of middle meningeal artery before craniotomy during surgical revascularization for moyamoya disease.

BACKGROUND: The middle meningeal artery (MMA) is well known to function as an important collateral channel to the territory of the anterior cerebral artery in moyamoya disease. This study was aimed to evaluate whether indocyanine green (ICG) videoangiography could visualize the anterior branch of the MMA before craniotomy during surgical revascularization for moyamoya disease. METHODS: This study included 19 patients who developed TIA, ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke due to moyamoya disease. Plain CT scan and three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography were performed in all patients before surgery. All of them underwent superficial temporal artery to middle temporal artery anastomosis and indirect bypass on 27 sides in total. RESULTS: ICG videoangiography could clearly visualize the anterior branch of the MMA in 10 (37%) of 27 sides. The patients with a "visible" MMA are significantly younger than those without. Radiological analysis revealed that ICG videoangiography could visualize it through the cranium when the diameter of the MMA is >1.3 mm and the sphenoid bone thickness over the MMA is <3.0 mm. The MMA could be preserved during craniotomy in all "visible" MMAs, but not in 4 (23.5%) of 17 "invisible" MMAs. The results strongly suggest that ICG videoangiography can visualize the anterior branch of the MMA before craniotomy in about one-third of patients with a large-diameter MMA (>1.3 mm) and thin sphenoid bone (<3.0 mm). CONCLUSION: ICG videoangiography is a safe and valuable technique to preserve the anterior branch of the MMA during craniotomy for moyamoya disease.

[A Case of Suprasellar Germinoma that Spontaneously Regressed before Endoscopic Biopsy].

We present a very rare case of suprasellar germinoma that spontaneously regressed before endoscopic biopsy. An 8-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital due to headache, polydipsia, and polyuria. Neurological examination performed on admission revealed bitemporal hemianopia. Enhanced MRI demonstrated a homogeneously enhanced tumor mass in the suprasellar region obstructing the foramen of Monro. Tests for all serum tumor markers were negative. Plain X-ray and CT scan were performed once and twice, respectively, for seven days between admission and endoscopic biopsy. The total dose of diagnostic radiation exposure before surgery was 110 mGy. Endoscopic observation during surgery revealed that the tumor had markedly decreased in size and the foramen of Monro had reopened. A very small piece of the tumor was harvested during surgery. Plain CT scan just after surgery showed a marked decrease in the tumor size, compared with the preoperative CT scan. The pathological diagnosis of the tumor was pure germinoma. The patient then underwent chemotherapy(four courses of CARE regimen)followed by radiation therapy with a dose of 24 Gy/15 fr. The tumor completely disappeared after treatment, and no recurrence was observed in the past four years.

[Usefulness of Tablet-Type Device Usage during Neurosurgical Practice].

This study aimed to validate the usefulness of intraoperative use of a tablet-type device in neurosurgical field. This study included 80 patients who underwent direct surgery for complex brain and spinal disorders in our hospital between April 2013 and March 2015. The operated disorders included cerebral aneurysm, intracranial and spinal dural arteriovenous fistula, meningioma, and vestibular schwannoma. By using the OsiriX HD software, the DICOM data were directly transferred to a tablet-type device (Apple iPad). Alternatively, by using the OsiriX HD or Amira software, the DICOM data were loaded to create interactive three-dimensional computer graphics on a personal computer and then transferred to a tablet-type device. The device was covered with sterile, translucent packaging bag. As a result, the surgeons could use the touch screen to browse and access radiological data of the patient undergoing surgery, without needing to leave the operation field or requiring external assistance for image browsing. The incidence of postoperative infection did not increase. In conclusion, intraoperative usage of the tablet-type device was easy and useful for surgeons performing surgeries for complex brain and spinal disorders.

Moyamoya Disease Emerged with Corpus Callosum Hemorrhage: A 3D Computer Graphic Analysis.

The authors present a rare case of moyamoya disease emerged with corpus callosum hemorrhage. A 31-year-old woman suddenly complained of severe headache followed by consciousness disturbance. Radiological examinations revealed the bleeding in the splenium of corpus callosum, which was associated with intraventricular hemorrhage. On cerebral angiography, the carotid fork was severely stenotic on both sides, and a marked dilatation was observed in the anterior/posterior choroidal arteries and posterior pericallosal artery as well as the lenticulostriate arteries. Therefore, she was diagnosed as moyamoya disease. She successfully underwent superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis and indirect bypass on both sides. Postoperative course was uneventful. Follow-up cerebral angiography performed 4 months after surgery showed well-developed surgical collaterals via the external carotid system and a marked decrease of the dilated moyamoya vessels. She has been free from any cerebrovascular events for 36 months after surgery. Radiological findings strongly suggest that splenial bleeding occurred due to the rupture of the dilated abnormal collateral vessels that originate from the medial posterior choroidal artery and penetrate the corpus callosum in this case. Three-dimensional computer graphic analysis was useful to determine the complex collateral circulation in moyamoya disease.

Superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery anastomosis for neovascular glaucoma due to common carotid artery occlusion.

BACKGROUND: Common carotid artery (CCA) occlusion sometimes requires surgical revascularization to resolve persistent cerebral/ocular ischemia. High-flow bypass is often indicated in these cases, using the interposed graft such as saphenous vein and radial artery. However, high-flow bypass surgery is invasive and may provide excessive blood flow to ischemic brain. In this report, we present a case that developed neovascular glaucoma due to CCA occlusion and was successfully treated with superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 61-year-old male complained of left visual disturbance and was admitted to our hospital. He underwent carotid endarterectomy for left internal carotid artery stenosis in previous hospital 1-year before, but he experienced left visual disturbance after surgery. Postoperative examinations revealed that the CCA was occluded. His visual disturbance gradually progressed, and he was diagnosed as neovascular glaucoma. None of ophthalmological therapy could improve his symptoms. Blood flow measurement showed an impaired reactivity to acetazolamide in the left cerebral hemisphere. Cerebral angiography demonstrated that the left STA was opacified through the muscular branches from the left deep cervical artery. Therefore, he successfully underwent left STA-MCA double anastomosis. His visual acuity improved and new blood vessels around the iris markedly decreased 3 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Precise radiological examination may enable standard STA-MCA anastomosis even in patients with CCA occlusion.

Chronic subdural hematoma infected by propionibacterium acnes: a case report.

We present a very rare case of a patient with an infected subdural hematoma due to Propionibacterium acnes. A 63-year-old male complained of dizziness and was admitted to our hospital. He had a history of left chronic subdural hematoma due to a traffic accident, which had been conservatively treated. Physical, neurological and laboratory examinations revealed no definite abnormality. Plain CT scan demonstrated a hypodense crescentic fluid collection over the surface of the left cerebral hemisphere. The patient was diagnosed with chronic subdural hematoma and underwent burr hole surgery three times and selective embolization of the middle meningeal artery, but the lesion easily recurred. Repeated culture examinations of white sedimentation detected P. acnes. Therefore, he underwent craniotomy surgery followed by intravenous administration of antibiotics. The infected subdural hematoma was covered with a thick, yellowish outer membrane, and the large volume of pus and hematoma was removed. However, the lesion recurred again and a low-density area developed in the left frontal lobe. Craniotomy surgery was performed a second time, and two Penrose drainages were put in both the epidural and subdural spaces. Subsequently, the lesions completely resolved and he was discharged without any neurological deficits. Infected subdural hematoma may be refractory to burr hole surgery or craniotomy alone, in which case aggressive treatment with craniotomy and continuous drainage should be indicated before the brain parenchyma suffers irreversible damage.