Trigeminal neuralgia secondary to vascular compression and neurocysticercosis: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a frequent neurosurgical problem negatively influencing the quality of life of patients. The standard surgical treatment is microvascular decompression for primary cases and decompression of the mass effect, mainly tumors, for secondary cases. Neurocysticercosis (NCC) in the cerebellopontine angle is a rare etiology of TN. The authors report a case in which NCC cysts around the trigeminal nerve coexisted with a vascular loop, which compressed the exit of the trigeminal nerve from the pons. OBSERVATIONS: A 78-year-old woman presented with a 3-year history of persistent severe pain in the left side of her face, refractory to medical treatment. On gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, cystic lesions were observed around the left trigeminal nerve and a vascular loop was also present and in contact with the nerve. A retrosigmoid approach for cyst excision plus microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve was successfully performed. There were no complications. The patient was discharged without facial pain. LESSONS: Albeit rare, TN secondary to NCC cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis in NCC-endemic regions. In this case, the cause of the neuralgia was probably both problems, because when both were treated, the patient improved.

Transventricular endoscopic approach to the anterior interhemispheric fissure for neurocysticercosis: illustrative cases.

BACKGROUND: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a global public health problem. It is a complex disease to manage and a cause of great morbidity and mortality in affected patients. Conventional surgical approaches have been used for many years, but currently, minimally invasive approaches are being used with good results. The authors present a case of NCC in the anterior interhemispheric fissure that was treated with a transventricular endoscopic approach. OBSERVATIONS: A 32-year-old male patient was admitted for persistent moderate headache and dizziness. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed multiple parenchymal, ventricular, and subarachnoid cystic lesions, especially in the anterior interhemispheric space. A transventricular endoscopic approach was selected and applied. There were no complications during surgery. Pathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of NCC. Control MRI demonstrated the absence of cysts in the anterior interhemispheric space. LESSONS: Minimally invasive approaches are an excellent alternative for patients with NCC, especially if a patient requires more than one surgery.

Stereotactic surgery for neurocysticercosis of the 4th ventricle: illustrative cases.

BACKGROUND: Neurocysticercosis, caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium, affects the cerebral ventricles in 20-30% of cases and may lead to hydrocephalus and other neurological morbidity. Conventional treatment for cysts in the 4th ventricle includes open surgery (suboccipital approach) and neuroendoscopy, with the latter being the option of choice. Stereotactic surgery, minimally invasive, offers a good alternative for this type of deep lesion. OBSERVATIONS: The authors report the cases of two women, 30 and 45 years old, who presented with headache, dizziness, and ataxia and were diagnosed with 4th ventricle cysticercosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed dilated 4th ventricles (approximately 2.5 cm in both cases, with cystic images inside the ventricular cavity). Both patients were treated with stereotactic surgery via a suboccipital transcerebellar approach. Cyst material was extracted, and the diagnosis was confirmed by pathological examination. The surgeries had no complications and resulted in clinical improvement. Control MRI scans showed reduction of the volume of the ventricle without residual cysts. LESSONS: Minimally invasive stereotactic surgery provided a safe alternative for 4th ventricle neurocysticercosis cysts, with more benefits than risks in comparison with conventional techniques.

Endoscopic endonasal surgery for massive subarachnoid neurocysticercosis: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid neurocysticercosis (NCC) is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Conventional transcranial approaches and transventricular endoscopy have been previously reported for extraparenchymal NCC and ventricular NCC, respectively. By October 2019, endonasal endoscopic approaches had not been used for the treatment of NCC. OBSERVATIONS: A 54-year-old-woman with NCC was admitted with acute neurological deterioration due to severe intracranial hypertension caused by massive subarachnoid NCC cysts, as evidenced on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with great brainstem compression. The case was discussed, and an endoscopic endonasal resection of the NCC cysts was scheduled. The diagnosis was confirmed by pathological anatomy. There were no complications in the surgery, with marked neurological improvement. Control MRIs demonstrated a significant reduction of NCC cysts. LESSONS: Minimally invasive approaches are an excellent alternative for skull-base tumoral and infectious pathology. Prior knowledge of the pathophysiology and the authors' experience in the management of patients with NCC allowed them to propose this approach, with optimal results.

Resultados de la cirugia minimamente invasiva y la cirugia abierta tipo scarf para la correccion del hallux valgus moderado y severo: Estudio observacional retrospectivo / Results of minimally invasive surgery versus scarf osteotomy for correcting moderate and severe hallux valgus. Retrospective observational study

Introducción: Cuando el dolor asociado a deformidad en hallux valgus es el principal sintoma y el tratamiento conservador no es eficaz, esta indicada la cirugia. El objetivo de este articulo fue evaluar nuestra experiencia con la tecnica minimamente invasiva y la osteotomia tipo scarf, mediante la escala AOFAS, radiografias con la correccion del angulo intermetatarsiano, el angulo metatarsofalangico, la escala Regnauld y los criterios de Reynolds. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio observacional descriptivo de tipo cohorte retrospectiva. Se incluyeron los pies operados mediante las tecnicas minimamente invasiva y tipo scarf. Se revisaron los datos clinicos preoperatorios, y a los 3 y 6 meses de la cirugia, sobre funcionalidad, hallazgos imagenologicos de tres angulos, y las clasificaciones de Reynolds y Regnauld. Resultados: Se incluyeron 123 pacientes en quienes se realizaron 150 procedimientos: cirugia minimamente invasiva (44,7%) y tipo scarf (55,3%). La mediana de edad era de 56 anos (RIC 42-61), el 88,6% eran mujeres. No hubo diferencias entre el preoperatorio inmediato, y a los 3 y 6 meses para el angulo intermetatarsiano entre las dos tecnicas; sin embargo, el angulo metatarsofalangico se corrigio (p <0,001) y el puntaje AOFAS fue mejor a los 3 meses con la cirugia minimamente invasiva (p <0,001). Conclusiones: Ambas tecnicas corrigen la deformidad a valores normales. Con la tecnica minimamente invasiva, la correccion fue mayor y el puntaje AOFAS resulto mejor. La incidencia de complicaciones agudas fue similar. Se necesitan ensayos clinicos sobre este tema para confirmar los hallazgos de este estudio. Nivel de Evidencia: III

Introduction: When pain associated with hallux valgus deformity is the main symptom and traditional treatment is not effective, then surgery is indicated. The aim of the study was to evaluate our experience with minimally invasive technique and scarf osteotomy using AOFAS scale and radiologically intermetatarsal angle correction, metatarsophalangeal angle, Regnauld scale and Reynolds criteria. Methods: Retrospective cohort observational study. Feet treated with minimally invasive technique and scarf osteotomy were included. Preoperative clinical data and those obtained at 3 and 6 months after surgery were reviewed to evaluate functionality, image findings on three angles, and Reynolds and Regnauld classifications. Results: A total of 123 patients were included, and 150 procedures were performed: minimally invasive surgery (44.7%) and scarf osteotomy (55.3%). Average age was 56 years (IQR 42-61), and 88.6% were women. No differences were observed at the immediate preoperative period, 3 months and 6 months for intermetatarsal angle between both techniques; however metatarsophalangeal angle was corrected (p<0.001) and AOFAS score (p<0.001) was better 3 months after the minimally invasive surgery. Conclusions: Both techniques provide correction to normal values. Minimally invasive technique achieved higher correction levels and a better AOFAS score. Incidence of acute complications was similar. Clinical studies on this issue are necessary to confirm these findings. Level of Evidence: III

Presentación atípica de adenomiosis / An unusual case of adenomyosis

El diagnóstico por imágenes de adenomiosis uterina ha sido ampliamente descrita, en especial los diferentes hallazgos de esta entidad en imágenes por resonancia magnética (I.R.M.). Presentamos un caso inusual de adenomiosis uterina en un leiomioma que en I.R.M simula la presencia de malformacion uterina congénita del tipo Bicornios Unicolis.