Strikingly low prevalence of pituitary incidentalomas in a teaching hospital in Uruguay.

Background: Pituitary incidentalomas are an occurrence documented in 10.6% of post-mortem examinations, 4%-20% of computed tomography (CT) scans, and 10%-38% of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cases, primarily consisting of microincidentalomas (<1 cm in size). However, the prevalence of pituitary incidentalomas in Uruguay remains unexplored. This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of pituitary incidentalomas at our hospital. Methods: In this investigation, we retrospectively identified patients who underwent brain CT and MRI at our hospital over a 1-year span due to conditions other than suspected or known pituitary disorders. The time frame covered was from 1 January to 31 December 2017. Our analysis encompassed all scans, and we conducted interviews with patients discovered to have pituitary incidentalomas. Furthermore, we conducted biochemical assessments in accordance with clinical and imaging traits. Results: During the study period, a total of 3,894 patients underwent imaging procedures. Of these, 1,146 patients underwent MRI scans, and 2,748 underwent CT scans. The mean age was 53.1 ± 19 years, with a relatively even distribution between genders (50.6% women). The majority of imaging requisitions originated from the emergency department (43%), followed by outpatient clinics (29%), and inpatient wards (28%). Common reasons for imaging requests included trauma (20.4%), headaches (11.3%), and stroke (10.9%). Among these cases, two pituitary incidentalomas were detected, resulting in a prevalence of 5 cases per 10,000 individuals annually (0.051%). Both of these cases were initially identified through CT scans, with subsequent MRI scans performed for further assessment. The final diagnoses were a vascular aneurysm and a sellar meningioma, with the latter patient also exhibiting secondary hypothyroidism. Notably, no instances of pituitary adenomas were encountered. Conclusions: The prevalence of pituitary incidentalomas within our hospital was notably low. Further research is necessary to more comprehensively investigate the occurrence of pituitary incidentalomas in our country.

A new subtype of intracranial dural AVF according to the patterns of venous drainage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A well-known classification of dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) according to the patterns of venous drainage was described in 1977 by Djindjian, Merland et al. and later revised by Cognard, Merland et al. in 1995. They described 5 types of DAVFs assuming that the type of venous drainage is directly correlated with neurologic symptoms and in particular with hemorrhagic risk. We present a series of cases that combines type IV (DAVF with cortical venous drainage associated with venous ectasia) and type V (DAVF with spinal venous drainage), which we named type IV + V. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study between 2012 and 2020 in 2 Hospitals was performed on patients that met inclusion criteria for a diagnosis of this type of DAVF. Demographics, location, clinical presentation and outcomes of endovascular embolization were studied. RESULTS: Five (2,3%) patients out of 220 had a type IV + V DAVF. All cases had an aggressive presentation, either subarachnoid hemorrhage, myelopathy or both. All patients were treated with endovascular transarterial embolization achieving complete angiographic occlusion in one session and total remission of symptoms at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: This rare type of DAVF, combines two aggressive venous drainage patterns. For that reason, patients with type IV+V DAVF probably have a more aggressive natural history and worst outcome due to risk of intracranial and/or spinal hemorrhage and myelopathy, thus requiring urgent diagnostic and treatment. Larger studies are needed to better understand this type of DAVF.

Initial Diagnostic Evaluation of the Child With Suspected Arterial Ischemic Stroke.

ABSTRACT: Numerous factors make the initial diagnostic evaluation of children with suspected arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) a relatively unsettling challenge, even for the experienced stroke specialist. The low frequency of pediatric AIS, diversity of unique age-oriented stroke phenotypes, and unconventional approaches required for diagnosis and treatment all contribute difficulty to the process. This review aims to outline important features that differentiate pediatric AIS from adult AIS and provide practical strategies that will assist the stroke specialist with diagnostic decision making in the initial phase of care.

Definitive Diagnostic Evaluation of the Child With Arterial Ischemic Stroke and Approaches to Secondary Stroke Prevention.

ABSTRACT: In children with arterial ischemic stroke (AIS), the definitive diagnosis of stroke subtype and confirmation of stroke etiology is necessary to mitigate stroke morbidity and prevent recurrent stroke. The common causes of AIS in children are sharply differentiated from the common causes of adult AIS. A comprehensive, structured diagnostic approach will identify the etiology of stroke in most children. Adequate diagnostic evaluation relies on advanced brain imaging and vascular imaging studies. A variety of medical and surgical secondary stroke prevention strategies directed at the underlying cause of stroke are available. This review aims to outline strategies for definitive diagnosis and secondary stroke prevention in children with AIS, emphasizing the critical role of neuroimaging.

Reperfusion Therapies for Children With Arterial Ischemic Stroke.

ABSTRACT: Modern hyperacute reperfusion therapies including intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy have transformed the management of arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) in adults. Multiple randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that these therapies enable remarkable improvements in clinical outcome for properly selected patients with AIS. Because pediatric patients were excluded from predicate clinical trials, there is a conspicuous lack of data to guide selection of therapies and inform age-adjusted and pathology-oriented treatment modifications for children. Specifically, technical guidance concerning treatment eligibility, drug dosing, and device implementation is lacking. This review aims to outline important features that differentiate pediatric AIS from adult AIS and provide practical strategies that will assist the stroke specialist with therapeutic decision making.

"Y-stent retriever": a new rescue technique for refractory large-vessel occlusions?

Long-awaited positive trial data have shown the efficacy of endovascular treatment in patients with ischemic stroke who arrive at the hospital within the first 6 hours with large-vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation. With the introduction of stent retrievers (SRs) for mechanical thrombectomy, efficient and safe large-artery recanalization treatment can be achieved. However, sometimes there are patients who do not attain complete flow restoration following attempts with traditional maneuvers. The authors present the case of a 57-year-old man with acute ischemic stroke due to an M1 embolus that extended into both M2 trunks. This patient was successfully treated with an innovative technique in which a Solitaire SR (Covidien) and a Catch SR (Balt) were used in a "Y" configuration, for which the authors coined the term "Y-stent retriever."

Complicaciones del tratamiento endovascular y quirúrgico en las hemorragias subaracnoideas aneurismáticas en Uruguay: análisis prospectivo de una serie de 211 casos

Introducción: si bien varios estudios han abordado la comparación entre el tratamiento endovascular y el clipado quirúrgico de aneurismas rotos, no existe aún evidencia firme respecto a la utilización de una u otra técnica en términos de seguridad y mejor pronóstico. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las distintas modalidades de tratamiento de la hemorragia subaracnoidea (HSA) implementadas en Uruguay y su impacto sobre la curación del aneurisma y el pronóstico de los pacientes. Material y método: estudio prospectivo y multicéntrico que incluyó a todos los pacientes mayores de 18 años que fueron asistidos por HSA espontánea aneurismática en Uruguay entre el 1 de noviembre de 2019 y el 31 de octubre de 2020. Fueron relevadas las características clínico-epidemiológicas y comorbilidades al momento del diagnóstico, el tipo de tratamiento recibido y variables de evolución clínica durante los siguientes seis meses. Los datos fueron procesados a través del software estadístico Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) y el nivel de significación utilizado en los test fue de 5%. Debido al carácter multicéntrico y nacional del estudio, debió ser sometido a evaluación por todos los comités de ética de las instituciones de salud participantes. Resultados: se observó un total de 211 casos en el período evaluado. La media de edad fue de 57 años con predominancia del sexo femenino (75%). En el 74% de los casos fue indicado algún tipo de tratamiento específico (43% cirugía abierta y 31% terapia endovascular), mientras al resto de los pacientes no se les pudo tratar el aneurisma por su grave situación neurológica; 52 pacientes tuvieron complicaciones vinculadas al tratamiento recibido, observándose una mayor proporción de estas en el caso de la cirugía abierta respecto a la terapia endovascular (42% vs 21,5%; p=0,008). Conclusiones: se observó una mayor tasa de complicaciones en el tratamiento quirúrgico, sin impacto en la morbimortalidad. De los factores predictores independientes de mala evolución clínica encontrados, el único vinculado al tipo de tratamiento fue la presencia de isquemia extensa.

Introduction: While several studies have addressed the comparison between endovascular treatment and surgical clipping of ruptured aneurysms, there is still no definitive evidence regarding the use of one or the other in terms of safety and improved prognosis. The objective of this study is to analyze the various modalities of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) treatment implemented in Uruguay and their impact on aneurysm resolution and patient prognosis. Method: This is a prospective, multicenter study that includes all patients over 18 years of age who were treated for spontaneous aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in Uruguay between November 1, 2019, and October 31, 2020. We collected and examined clinical-epidemiological characteristics and comorbidities at the time of diagnosis, the type of treatment received, and clinical outcome variables over the following 6 months. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, and a significance level of 5% was applied in the tests. Due to the multicenter and national nature of the study, it had to be submitted for evaluation to all the Ethics Committees of the participating healthcare institutions. Results: A total of 211 cases were observed during the evaluated period. The mean age was 57 years with a predominance of females (75%). In 74% of the cases, some form of specific treatment was recommended (43% open surgery and 31% endovascular therapy), while the remaining patients could not undergo aneurysm treatment due to their severe neurological condition. 52 patients experienced complications related to the treatment received, with a higher proportion of these in the case of open surgery compared to endovascular therapy (42% vs. 21,5%; p=0,008). Conclusions: A higher rate of complications was observed in the surgical treatment, with no impact on morbidity and mortality. Among the independent predictors of poor clinical outcomes identified, the only one related to the type of treatment was the presence of extensive ischemia.

As campanhas de prevenção e promoção da saúde, bem como os avanços na medidas terapêuticas voltadas para pacientes neurocríticos conseguiram reduzir a incidência de pacientes com lesão cerebral aguda que evoluem para morte encefálica (ME). No entanto, na maioria dos países latino-americanos, os órgãos que podem ser perfundidos adequados para transplante (TX) vêm de doadores falecidos em ME. A doação em assistolia e em particular a doação em assistolia controlada (DAC), é uma opção aceita e válida para a obtenção de órgãos, o que contribuiria para a redução das listas de espera para transplantes. Durante o processo DAC, são aplicados conceitos com forte cunho bioético, que são fundamentais na o momento da tomada de decisão. Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar esses conceitos, com o objetivo de oferecer ferramentas válidas à equipe de saúde, para os processos em que há deliberação moral como ocorre na doação de órgãos em assistolia controlada considerada parte integrante dos cuidados de fim de vida.

Assisted coiling using LEO Baby or LVIS Jr stents: Report of six cases.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular treatment of broad-neck, complex cerebral aneurysms is a challenging issue. Placement of a stent over the aneurysm neck and secondary coil embolization prevents coil migration and allows dense packing of the coils. Another challenge is represented by distal aneurysms situated in small vessels. In these cases, the use of little stents, which we are going call ministents, could be a good decision. These low-profile intracranial ministents can be deployed into arteries with diameters between 1.5 and 3.10 mm and delivered through microcatheters with an internal diameter of 0.0165 inches, which allows easier navigation in small-sized, delicate vessels. We present six cases of wide-neck aneurysms, with small parental arteries less than 2.5 mm using a low-profile ministent system (LEO Baby and LVIS Jr) plus coil embolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients in whom LEO Baby or LVIS Jr stent was used for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Five aneurysms were treated during 2013-2014 in our service using the LEO Baby stent and one aneurysm using LVIS Jr. Stent-assisted coil embolization was performed using the jailing technique in all cases. Clinical and angiographic findings, procedural data, and follow-up are reported. RESULTS: Six consecutive patients were included in this study. Four patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage in the subacute-chronic phase and two patients had unruptured aneurysms. Two of the six aneurysms were located at branches of the sylvian artery, one at the basilar artery, two at the anterior communicating artery, and one at the P1-P2 artery. The procedures were successful. Six-month control digital subtraction angiograms were obtained in all cases; they demonstrated complete occlusion of the aneurysms in all instances. All patients had good clinical outcomes on follow-up, as measured with the Glasgow Outcome Scale and Modified Rankin Scale. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this small study show that the LEO Baby and LVIS Jr ministents could be safe and efficient for endovascular treatment of intracranial broad-neck aneurysms situated in small arteries.

Fístula carótido- cavernosa indirecta en niño de 1 año, embolización trans-arterial con N-ButylCyanocrilato (NBCA): reporte de caso / Indirect carotid cavernous fistula in 1 year old child, trans-arterial embolization with N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate (NBCA): case report / Fístula carotídea - cavernosa indireta em criança de 1 ano de idade, embolização trans-arterial comCianocrilato de N-Butilo (NBCA): relato de caso

Resumen: Las fístulas carótido- cavernosas (FCC) son derivaciones vasculares que permiten el flujo de sangre desde la arteria carótida al seno cavernoso; pueden producir síntomas en ambos sexos a cualquier edad. Algunas fístulas se caracterizan por una conexión directa entre el segmento cavernoso de la arteria carótida interna y el seno cavernoso. Otras FCCs son durales, y consisten en una comunicación entre el seno cavernoso y una o más ramas meníngeas de la arteria carótidainterna, la arteria carótida externa , o ambas. La terapia endovascular es la modalidad de elección en estos casos.Se presenta el uso de N-butilcianoacrilato (NBCA) en una exitosaembolización transarterial de una FCC dural alimentada por ramas de las arterias carótida interna y principalmente carótida externa (Barrow tipo D) en un niño de 1 año.

Abstract:Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) are vascular shunts that allow blood to flow from the carotid artery into the cavernous sinus; they can produce symptoms in both sexes at any age. Some fistulas are characterized by a directconnection between the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery and the cavernous sinus, other CCFs are dural, consisting of a communicationbetween the cavernous sinus and 1 or more meningeal branches of the internal carotid artery, the external carotid artery, or both. Endovascular management is the treatment modality of choice in these cases.We report the use of n-butilcianoacrilate (NBCA) in the successful transarterial embolization of a dural CCF fed by arterial branches of the internal but principally external carotid arteries (Barrow type D)in a 1 year old child.

Resumo: As fístulas carotídeas-cavernosas (FCC) são pistas vasculares que permitem o fluxo sanguíneo da artéria carótida para o seio cavernoso; pode produzirsintomas em ambos os sexos em qualqueridade. Algumas fístulas são caracterizadas por umaconexãodireta entre o segmento cavernoso da artéria carótida interna e o seio cavernoso. OutrosFCCssãodural, consistindo em umacomunicação entre o seio cavernoso e umoumais ramos meníngeos da artéria carótida, a artéria carótida externa ou ambos. A terapia endovascular é o modo de escolhanesses casos. É apresentado o uso de n-butilcianoacrilato (NBCA) em umaembolizaçãotransarterialbem sucedida de uma FCC dural alimentada por ramos das artérias carótidas internas e principalmente artéria carótida externa (tipo Barrow D) em um menino de 1 ano de idade.

Sinus pericranii. reporte de caso en Uruguay / Sinus pericranii. case report in Uruguay

Sinus pericranii es una anomalía vascular poco frecuente que consiste en conexiones anómalas congénitas o adquiridas entresistemas venosos extracraneales e intracraneales. Los lagos venosos extracraneales se conectan a los senos durales intracranealesa través de venas dilatadas diploicas y emisarias.Este trastorno es hallado generalmente en la población pediátrica y la mayoría de las veces involucra el seno sagital superiory ocasionalmente el seno transverso. Son procesos generalmente estables habiéndose publicado inclusive casos de regresiónespontánea.