The Relationship Between Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Volume and Development of Cerebral Vasospasm

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to verify the relationship between subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) volume (not Fisher grade) and development of cerebral vasospasm prospectively. METHODS: Patients who visited our hospital with a diffuse or localized thick subarachnoid blood clot seen on computed tomography (CT), taken within 48 hours after SAH and the aneurysm was confirmed by CT Angiogram (CTA) from March 2010 to July 2011 were enrolled in this study. CTA was checked at least twice after admission. Angiographic vasospasm (AVS) on CTA was defined as irregularity or narrowing of intracranial vessels on follow up CTA compared with initial CTA. Total intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) volume (subdural, SAH, intracerebral and intraventricular) was calculated and SAH volume (all supratentorial and infratentorial cisterns) was also calculated using the MIPAV software package. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients were included in our study. Thirty six patients did not show AVS on CTA or clinical deterioration (non vasospasm group: NVS). AVS without ischemic neurologic symptoms was observed in four patients and development of symptomatic vasospasm (SVS), defined as AVS with ischemic symptoms, was observed in 15 patients. SAH volume in SVS patients was statistically larger than that in NVS patients (p < 0.05). Total ICH volume in SVS patients was larger than that in NVS patients. However, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate an association of development of vasospasm with the SAH volume, not intracranial hemorrhage.

A case of TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma with acromegaly / 대한내과학회지

Growth hormone (GH) and thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenomas are very rare and account for only 0.5% of all pituitary adenomas. We report a case of a GH/TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma in a 53-year-old male patient. He presented with symptoms of thyrotoxicosis, clinical features of acromegaly, and diabetes mellitus. The laboratory examinations showed high serum levels of free T4, TSH, and free alpha-subunit. Additionally, serum levels of GH and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) wereincreased. GH was not suppressed below 1 microgram/L by an oral 75 g glucose loading test, and TSH was not stimulated by thyrotropin- releasing hormone. A sellar MRI showed a large lobulated mass on the pituitary gland, so transcranial surgery was performed. Immunohistochemical staining showed anti-GH and anti-TSH positive tumor cells in the cytoplasm. Serum GH, IGF-1, free T4, and TSH levels normalized after surgery.

The Merits of Endovascular Coil Surgery for Patients with Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to report the morbidity, mortality, angiographic results, and merits of elective coiling of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: Ninety-six unruptured aneurysms in 92 patients were electively treated with detachable coils. Eighty-one of these aneurysms were located in the anterior circulation, and 15 were located in the posterior circulation. Thirty-six aneurysms were treated in the presence of previously ruptured aneurysms that had already undergone operation. Nine unruptured aneurysms presented with symptoms of mass effect. The remaining 51 aneurysms were incidentally discovered in patients with other cerebral diseases and in individuals undergoing routine health maintenance. Angiographic and clinical outcomes and procedure-related complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Eight procedure-related untoward events (8.3%) occurred during surgery or within procedure-related hospitalization, including thromboembolism, sac perforation, and coil migration. Permanent procedural morbidity was 2.2% ; there was no mortality. Complete occlusion was achieved in 73 (76%) aneurysms, neck remnant occlusion in 18 (18.7%) aneurysms, and incomplete occlusion in five (5.2%) aneurysms. Recanalization occurred in 8 (15.4%) of 52 coiled aneurysms that were available for follow-up conventional angiography or magnetic resonance angiography over a mean period of 13.3 months. No ruptures occurred during the follow-up period (12-79 months). CONCLUSION: Endovascular coil surgery for patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms is characterized by low procedural mortality and morbidity and has advantages in patients with poor general health, cerebral infarction, posterior circulation aneurysms, aneurysms of the proximal internal cerebral artery, and unruptured aneurysms associated with ruptured aneurysm. For the management of unruptured aneurysms, endovascular coil surgery is considered an attractive alterative option.

Expression of Cancer-Testis Genes in Brain Tumors

OBJECTIVE: Cancer-testis (CT) genes are considered promising candidates for immunotherapeutic approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate which CT genes should be targeted in immunotherapy for brain tumors. METHODS: We investigated the expression of 6 CT genes (MAGE-E1, SOX-6, SCP-1, SSX-2, SSX-4, and HOMTES-85) using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in 26 meningiomas and 32 other various brain tumor specimens, obtained from the patients during tumor surgery from 2000 to 2005. RESULTS: The most frequently expressed CT genes of meningiomas were MAGE-E1, which were found in 22/26 (85%) meningioma samples, followed by SOX-6 (9/26 or 35%). Glioblastomas were most frequently expressed SOX-6 (6/7 or 86%), MAGE-E1 (5/7 or 71%), followed by SSX-2 (2/7 or 29%) and SCP-1 (1/7 or 14%). However, 4 astrocytomas, 3 anaplastic astrocytomas, and 3 oligodendroglial tumors only expressed MAGE-E1 and SOX-6. Schwannomas also expressed SOX-6 (5/6 or 83%), MAGE-E1 (4/6 or 67%), and SCP-1 (2/6 or 33%). CONCLUSION: The data presented here suggest that MAGE-E1 and SOX-6 genes are expressed in a high percentage of human central nervous system tumors, which implies the CT genes could be the potential targets of immunotherapy for human central nervous system tumors.

Intracranial Fusiform Aneurysms: It's Pathogenesis, Clinical Characteristics and Managements

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate clinical characteristics, management methods and possible causes of intracranial fusiform aneurysm. METHODS: Out of a series of 2,458 intracranial aneurysms treated surgically or endovascularly, 22 patients were identified who had discrete fusiform aneurysms. Clinical presentations, locations, treatment methods and possible causes of these aneurysms were analyzed. RESULTS: Ten patients of fusiform aneurysm were presented with hemorrhage, 5 patients with dizziness with/without headache, 4 with ischemic neurologic deficit, and 1 with 6th nerve palsy from mass effect of aneurysm. Two aneurysms were discovered incidentally. Seventeen aneurysms were located in the anterior circulation, other five in the posterior circulation. The most frequent site of fusiform aneurysm was a middle cerebral artery. The aneurysms were treated with clip, and/or wrapping in 7, resection with/without extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass in 6, proximal occlusion with coils with/without EC-IC bypass in 5, EC-IC bypass only in 1 and conservative treatment in 3 patient. We obtained good outcome in 20 out of 22 patients. The possible causes of fusiform aneurysms were regard as dissection in 16, atherosclerosis in 4 and collagen disease or uncertain in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: There is a subset of cerebral aneurysms with discrete fusiform morphology. Although the dissection or injury of internal elastic lamina of the cerebral vessel is proposed as the underlying cause for most of fusiform aneurysm, more study about pathogenesis of these lesions is required.

A Rare Case of Male Lymphocytic Hypophysitis

Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LH) is characterized by lymphocytic pituitary infiltration, which occurs mostly during or after pregnancy. Its involvement in male is very rare. The authors report herein a LH mimicking pituitary macroadenoma clinically and radiologically in male patient who presented with visual disturbance and hypogonadism.

Clinical Features and Surgical Treatment of Bacterial Brain Abscess

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to review the clinical characteristics and operative results of brain abscess in order to define the therapeutic strategy for this disease. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records and radiology images of brain abscess patients treated in our hospital during the last 16 years. A total of 35 cases included 23 males and 12 females, with the mean age of 48 years old. We excluded cases of postoperative, post traumatic, and fungal abscess. All patient underwent at least one surgical treatment such as stereotactic aspiration or craniotomy with excision. RESULTS: Twenty seven (77.1%) patients presented with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. The frontal lobe was the most common anatomical place, and streptococcal species were the most frequently encountered pathogens. The chronic pulmonary diseases and chronic otitis media are common underlying condition. Eighteen patients underwent stereotactic aspiration and 17 patients had excision of their abscess as an initial treatment. Seven patients had a repeated surgery, 6 of them had been treated with aspiration initially. At discharge, 60.0% patients showed a favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: The stereotactic drainage would be more suitable for the brain abscess located in deep and eloquent area. A large, solitary, and well-encapsulated lesion of superficial location could be best treated with complete excision, and this procedure was more definite because it is associated with less repeated surgery and showed more favorable outcome compared to aspiration surgery.

Microbleeds in Patients with Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhages

OBJECTIVE: We investigate risk factors of cerebral microbleeds(MBs) and their relation to concomitant magnetic resonance (MR) findings in intracerebral hemorrhages(ICHs) patients. METHODS: We studied 100 consecutive patients with primary ICH over a 1-year period. These patients underwent brain MR images using 3.0-T scanners within the first week of the hemorrhage. MBs and old hematomas were located and counted by using T2*-weighted gradient-echo MR imaging. We also counted lacunes and graded white matter and periventricular hyperintensity on T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo sequences. The association between MBs and vascular risk factors and MR abnormalities were analyzed. RESULTS: MBs were seen in 77 of ICH patients, and their number ranged from 1 to 65 lesions (mean 11, median 6). The locations of MBs were subcortex-cortex (40.6%), basal ganglia (26.7%), thalamus (14.1%), brain stem (12.5%), and cerebellum (9.1%). Analysis of clinical data revealed that age, hypertension, history of stroke, and duration of hypertension were frequently associated with MBs. The incidence of lacunes, old hematomas, and advanced leukoaraiosis was significantly higher in the MBs group, compared with the patients without MBs. CONCLUSION: MBs are frequently observed in ICH patients with advancing age, chronic hypertension, and previous hemorrhagic stroke, and are also closely related with morphological signs of occlusive type microangiopathy, such as lacunar infarct and severe leukoaraiosis.

Analysis of Corticospinal Tract Injury by Using the Diffusion Tensor Imaging of 3.0 T Magnetic Resonance in Patients with Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify correlations between diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) and motor improvement by quantifying and visualizing the corticospinal tract on DTI to predict motor impairment in patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH). METHODS: Fifteen normal subjects and 7 patients with hypertensive ICH were examined and the latter were treated surgically. DTI was performed with a 3.0 T MRI. The region of interest(ROI) from the posterior limbs of both internal capsules was measured on a fractional anisotropy(FA) map, and the ratios of ROIs were calculated. Tractography, 3-dimensional DTI was then constructed. Motor impairment was assessed on admission and 2weeks after stroke by the Motricity Index(MI). The FA ratio, tractography and score on MI were analyzed for correlations. RESULTS: The FA ratio from the initial DTI did not show a linear correlation with motor impairment. However, after 2weeks, patients with high FA ratios showed high degrees of motor recovery, regardless of the initial severity, and patients with low FA ratios showed low recovery rates. Otherwise, a relationship between the amount of hematoma and the degree of motor recovery could not be determined. On tractography, injury of the corticospinal tract could be visualized and estimated 3-dimensionally. CONCLUSION: FA ratio analysis and tractography constructed from DTI may be useful in understanding corticospinal tract injury and in predicting the recovery from motor impairment in patients.

Six-year Experience of Endovascular Embolization for Intracranial Aneurysms: Commentary

No abstract available.

Treatment of Scalp Arteriovenous Malformation

OBJECTIVE: The object of this study is to present the treatment experience of the 6cases of scalp arteriovenous malformations(AVMs) focus on treatment strategy. METHODS: Six patients with scalp AVM were treated during past 12years. We analysis the clinical characteristics of the lesions, treatment methods and management outcomes. RESULTS: The lesions were located on temporal in 2 patients, parietal in 2 patients, frontal and occipital area in each one. Four of six patients had a trauma history on scalp. The presenting symptoms were progressive enlarged pulsating mass with or without bruit. Four of the six lesions had the large fistula in the lesion. Two patients were treated with surgical resection alone, three patients with proximal feeding artery balloon(s) occlusion followed by surgical resection, and one patient with coil embolization through trans-venous route alone. We obtained good results in all patients. CONCLUSION: Most of scalp AVM can be completely cured by judicious selection and a combination of treatment modalities, i.e., surgery only, or embolization only, or embolization plus surgical therapy. Although embolization became a primary therapy for this sort of scalp AVM recently, the selection of treatment modality should be chose based on the size, angioarchitecture, and clinical presentations of the lesion.

Treatment of Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors (PNETs) in Children

OBJECTIVE: Strategies for managing supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors(PNETs) in children include surgical resection, craniospinal irradiation and chemotherapy. This study is performed in order to compare the efficacy of various methods of treatment and to describe its optimal management. METHODS: We have reviewed all medical records and pathology slides of six children(four males and two females) with supratentorial PNET from November, 1987 to May, 2003. The extent of resection was confirmed by computed tomography and magnetic resonance studies. RESULTS: The patients were aged 1 to 13 years and treated postoperatively with/without adjuvant therapy. Tumor location included was four cortical, one gangliobasal, and one pineal region. The presenting symptoms and signs consisted of increased intracranial pressure and focal neurological deficits such as seizure and hemiparesis. The treatment consisted of surgical resection alone in one patient, postoperative radiotherapy in one patient, postoperative chemotherapy in one, and postoperative radiotherapy with chemotherapy in three. Five patients lived more than 12 months after diagnosis and one patient among them has been living more than 5 years after diagnosis. CONCLUSION: We can improve the survival and prognosis of supratentorial PNET patients by radical gross total resection of tumor followed by craniospinal irradiation and aggressive chemotherapy. First of all, gross total resection of tumor is the most important among many factors.

The Effect of Delayed Administration of Green Tea Polyphenol, (-)-pigallocatechin-3-gallate, on the Change of Putrescine Level and Hippocampal Neuronal Cell Damage after Transient Global Ischemia in Gerbil

OBJECTIVE: T(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG) `a green tea polyphenol' is a potent antioxidant and known to reduce the free radical-induced lipid peroxidation. In our previous study, systemic administration of EGCG immediately after ischemia has been shown to inhibit the hippocampal neuronal damage in the gerbil model of global ischemia. Polyamines, especially putrescine(PU) is thought to be important in the generation of brain edema and neuronal cell damage associated with various types of excitotoxic neuronal injury. We investigate the effects of delayed administration of EGCG on the changes in polyamine levels and neuronal damage after transient global ischemia in gerbils. METHODS: To produce transient global ischemia, both common carotid arteries were occluded for 3 min with micro-clips. The gerbils were treated with EGCG(50mg/kg, i.p.) immediately or 2hr after ischemia. Putrescine levels were examined in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus 24 hours after ischemia using high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: PU levels in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were increased significantly after the ischemia. The administrations of EGCG immediately after the ischemia attenuated the ischemia-induced increase of PU level, however, 2 hr delayed EGCG administration did not reduce the increase of PU level. EGCG administered immediately or 2 hr after ischemia significantly reduced neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1 region, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that EGCG may has a promise in the management of stroke.

Enhanced Focus in Hypertensive Intracerebral Hematoma on CT Scan and Hematoma Enlargement / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

OBJECTIVE: Although most of hypertensive intracerebral hematoma (HICH) are static after ictus, a minority of them can enlarge in the acute phase after onset. This study performs to find the predicting factors and signs of hematoma enlargement in patients with HICH. METHODS: Among 140 cases of HICH treated during 1.5 years, the authors selected 107 cases who underwent contrast enhanced and nonenhanced initial CT scanning within 12 hours after symptom onset and a follow-up CT scan in order to investigate the enlargement of hematoma. Those cases were divided into two groups:hematoma enlargement (group I) and non-enlargement group (group II). The comparison of predicting factors (bleeding tendency, abnormal liver function and blood pressure) and signs (enhanced focus in hematoma on CT) of hematoma enlargement between group I and II was performed. RESULTS: There were 8 cases in group I and 99 cases in group II. The incidence of an enhanced focus in hematoma on CT scan was higher in group I than group II (87.5% vs. 9.1%, p<0.05). The systolic blood pressure (BP) at 6 hours after symptom onset and at the time of the first CT scan was higher in group I than group II (172.5 vs. 152.0 mm Hg, and 182.5 vs. 158.6 mm Hg, respectively, p<0.05). There was no difference in the incidence of bleeding tendency and abnormal liver function between group I and II. CONCLUSION: Contrast enhanced brain CT scan to detect the enhanced focus in the hematoma is one of useful methods to predict the early enlargement of hematoma in patients with HICH. The continuance of a high BP in spite of medication of antihypertensive drugs during the acute period after the onset of symptoms is another predictive sign of hematoma enlargement in patients with HICH.

Management of Asymptomatic Vascular Malformation / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

Appropriate clinical decision making for the management of any asymptomatic vascular malformations requires an accurate assessment of the natural history of the lesions and the risks inherent in the treatment of the condition. To obtain the more information about decision making for the management of asymptomatic vascular malformation, this article discusses about guideline of the management of those lesions based on the author's experiences and review of the literatures.

Treatment for Recurrent Cerebral Aneurysm

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to make a management strategy for the patients with recurrent cerebral aneurysm after surgery. METHODS: Over a 19-year period, 1, 546 patients were treated for a ruptured intracranial aneurysm surgically. Twenty-six of these patients(1.7%) were subsequently treated for regrowing aneurysm(8) or de novo aneurysm formation(26). Among them, twenty-three individuals who presented with recurrent subarachnoid hemorrhage underwent conventional angiography to detect the aneurysm recurrence. Three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography was performed in the remaining three patients who complained chronic headache. The mean age at the first surgery was 48.6 years. An interval ranging from 1 to 192 months(mean, 76.1 months) since the original treatment. RESULTS: Total 34 recurrent aneurysms in 26 patients were treated by microsurgical clipping(29 cases), wrapping(1 case), and endovascular coiling(4 cases) as a second procedure. A satisfactory outcomes were achieved in twenty-one patients(80.8%) during a mean 69.5 months follow-up period. The most common site of the recurrence was the internal carotid-posterior communicating artery. Patients with de novo aneurysms are frequently hypertensive(61.1%) and younger in age(55.6%). CONCLUSION: The treatment of recurrent cerebral aneurysm could be performed effectively using direct operations and/or endovascular procedures.

Treatment of Epilepsies Associated with Cerebral Infarction in Childhood

OBJECTIVE: The authors present experience of treatment on the patients who suffered from epileptic seizures with ischemic stroke in their childhood. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical characteristics, neuroimaging findings, and electroencephalographic records of thirteen patients who suffered from seizures with stroke in childhood. Ten patients were improved to be seizure-free or to fall into only rare seizures with appropriate anticonvulsant medication. Three of these patients showed medical intractability in spite of appropriate multi-drug therapy, so they were carefully evaluated to consider the candidate for epilepsy surgery based on our sophisticated presurgical studies. Surgical intervention was performed in these selected 3 cases according to intracranial recordings with subdural grids, who had focal electroencephalographic abnormalities in diffuse cortical lesions. RESULTS: The series included 8 women and 5 men with ages at seizure onset ranging from 3 to 38 years (mean 14.3 years). Cerebral ischemia was caused by various life threatening early insults including febrile convulsion, difficult delivery, viral meningoencephalitis, near drowning, and severe dehydration. Simple partial seizure with or without secondary generalization was most commonly noted. Magnetic resonance image revealed a wide variation in size, shape, and location of the infarcted areas. Major vascular territory and watershed area infarction involving diffuse cerebral cortex was a powerful cause of post-stroke seizure. Excellent clinical result was achieved even in the patients who underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: Control of late onset seizures related to childhood cerebral infarction is not a trivial one, because of its wide, sometimes multilobar territories. However, enthusiastic medical trial as well as comprehensive surgical consideration is essential for better seizure control related to quality of life.

Intramedullary Cavernous Hemangioma as a Cause of Paraplegia: Two cases report

Cavernous hemangiomas occur throughout the central nervous system. Although they are most commonly found in the brain, the intraspinal lesion accounts for approximately 5% of all adult intramedullary lesions. Widespread use of MR imaging have led to an increase in the reported cases of intramedullary cavernous hamangiomas. Spinal intramedullary cavernomas are positioned in a particularly precarious location, and are more likely to cause clinically significant findings than cranial cavernomas. It is important to recognize cavernomas as a surgically manageable cause of myelopathy. Generally, surgery cannot cure the chronic myelopathy from cavernoma but can halt it's progression. These facts emphasize the need for early diagnosis. In our two cases, they developed initially low back pain and sensory changes of both legs and subsequently paraplegia. We report two cases of intramedullary cavernous hemangioma with the review of literatures.

Transnasal Repair of Traumatic Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to evaluate the efficacy of transnasal repair of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) rhinorrhea. METHODS: Thirteen patients with traumatic noniatrogenic CSF fistulas were included in the retrospective analysis. High-resolution thin-section computed tomographic cisternography was helpful in localization of the CSF leakage site. The most frequent leakage site was the sphenoid sinus. The transnasal approach(TNA), comprised of endonasal endoscopic surgery(EES) or transseptosphenoidal surgery(TSS), was mainly used for smaller fistulas. Total or selected ethmoidectomy depended on the localization of the leakage. Wide sphenoidotomy enabled detection and repair of CSF leaks from the sphenoid cavity. Three patients also underwent transcranial approach(TCA) because of the large or multi-fragmented bony defect and the need for further exposure for repair. Five patients developed ascending meningitis in the preoperative period with antibiotic prophylaxis. RESULTS: Twenty-five leaks were initially repaired using one of three techniques:EES alone in eight patients, EES plus TCA in three, and TSS alone in two. Ten patients who solely underwent the TNA did not experience the complications of the traditional TCA. One recurrent sphenoid fistula was successfully treated by TSS. After a follow-up from 12 to 88 months(mean 32.7), the overall success rate for 25 CSF fistulas was 100%. CONCLUSION: The transnasal repair is a safe, successful, and alternative approach for the surgical repair of traumatic CSF rhinorrhea, and also could be combined to TCA.

The Outcome of Transsphenoidal Microsurgery for Acromegaly

OBJECTIVE: The authors present a retrospective clinical analysis of transsphenoidal surgery for acromegaly including preoperative factors determining the therapeutic outcome. METHODS: Forty-three patients(24 females, mean age 45.3 years) harboring growth hormone(GH)-secreting adenomas(13 microadenomas and 30 macroadenomas) were treated between the years 1987 and 2001. The mean duration of follow-up was 69 months. RESULTS: The average estimated duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis was 8 years. The control rate following surgery was 51%(22 out of 43 cases). Of the patients with postoperative persistent disease, 11 patients had had additional bromocriptine therapy with or without irradiation, and consequently 7 patients achieved biochemical remission. The overall remission rate of multimodality treatment was 67%. The preoperative GH value, tumor size, extrasellar extension of tumor, the number of surgeons, and the extent of the surgical removal were significant univariative predictors of outcome(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that surgical outcome for acromegaly could be achieved by a experienced neurosurgeon. In the group of the patients of large or invasive adenomas, with the less probability of surgical control, adjunctive medical or radiation therapy to control GH hypersecretion should be considered.