Secondary intra-arterial chemotherapy and/or intravitreal chemotherapy as salvage treatment for retinoblastoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of secondary intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) and/or intravitreal chemotherapy (IVC) as a salvage treatment for retinoblastoma (RB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 31 (20 male, 11 female) cases (with 38 eyes) who underwent secondary IAC and/or IVC between February 2010 and June 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Thirteen (41.9%) cases had unilateral and 18 (58.1%) had bilateral RB. According to the International Classification of RB, 6 (15.8%) eyes had group B, 9 (23.7%) eyes had group C, 16 (42.1%) eyes had group D, and 7 (18.4%) eyes had group E RB at diagnosis. All patients underwent six-cycle intravenous chemotherapy as primary treatment and 8 eyes received external radiotherapy before IAC/IVC. Secondary IAC was performed in 21 (55.3%) eyes, IVC in 10 (26.3%) eyes, and IAC + IVC in 7 (18.4%) eyes. External radiotherapy was applied in 2 (5.3%) eyes after IAC/IVC, one of which was later enucleated. In total, 17 (44.7%) eyes undergoing secondary IAC/IVC treatments were enucleated. Metastasis and death were not observed in any case during the mean follow-up period of 59.3 (median 61, range: 10-98) months. DISCUSSION: Although 60.5% of the eyes undergoing IAC/IVC consisted of groups D and E RB, globe salvage and survival rates were 55.3% and 100.0%, respectively. External radiotherapy was required in 5.3% of the eyes after IAC/IVC. In conclusion, IAC and IVC are safe and effective treatment methods in eyes with RB unresponsive to other eye-preserving treatments and those demonstrating recurrence.

Bilateral Temporal Bone Xanthomas in Type II Hypercholesterolemia.

We present a very rare case of intracranial xanthoma with bilateral temporal bone involvement. The lesion caused destruction and remodelling in mastoid air cells. On the right side, cerebellar compression was obvious. The patient was operated on the symptomatic side and the lesion was totally removed.

An unusual central nervous system involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: combination of pachymeningitis and cerebral vasculitis.

Severe primary central nervous system (CNS) involvement such as vasculitis and pachymeningitis can rarely occur in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) even in the absence of systemic disease activation. The authors illustrate a female patient with well-controlled RA who presented with headaches, encephalopathy, seizures and relapsing focal neurological deficits. Primary rheumatoid cerebral vasculitis and pachymeningitis were diagnosed based on suggestive brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, MR angiography, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and cerebral angiography. MR showed abnormal leptomeningeal enhancement and hyperintense FLAIR signal in the cortical subarachnoid spaces consistent with pachymeningitis. Cerebral angiography findings were consistent with vasculitis. Aggressive treatment resulted in significant clinicoradiological resolution. Cerebral vasculitis is a rare but certain manifestation of RA. This complication can be diagnosed in the presence of suggestive angiographic and CSF findings. The condition may be steroid resistant, and needs to be treated more aggressively.

Spinal cord infarction in congenital afibrinogenemia: a case report and review of the literature.

A 22-year-old woman with congenital afibrinogenemia presented with acute-onset rapidly progressive quadriparesis as a result of spinal cord infarction caused by vertebral artery dissection. Magnetic resonance imaging scans showed microhemorrhages in addition to edematous swelling suggesting acute ischemia throughout cervical and upper thoracic portions of the spinal cord. Fat-saturated T1-weighted magnetic resonance examination and digital subtraction angiography studies demonstrated cervical vertebral artery dissection on the right. This case provides an example of how a primary bleeding disorder could result in a severe ischemic complication caused by an occlusive vessel wall hematoma. Along with other reports, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this paradoxical situation were discussed in the particular setting of acute spinal cord ischemia.

WingSpan Stent System in the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms: clinical experience with midterm follow-up results.

OBJECT: The WingSpan stent is a new self-expandable neurovascular stent designed for endovascular treatment of intracranial atheromatous lesions. The authors report their experience with the use of this stent for the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with 40 wide-necked intracranial aneurysms were treated using the WingSpan stent. Twenty-two aneurysms (55%) were small and 18 (45%) were large or giant. In all but 4 aneurysms, embolization was completed by packing the aneurysm sac with platinum coils. In 4 dissecting aneurysms that were fusiform or too small and wide necked to be catheterized, the stent was used alone. In these cases, the stent bridged the aneurysm neck to allow for flow redirection and the potential stent-induced endothelization effect. RESULTS: Follow-up angiograms obtained in 3 of 4 aneurysms, treated with only stent placement, demonstrated aneurysmal thrombosis and parent artery remodeling in 2 patients and moderate decrease in size in 1. Follow-up angiography obtained at 6 months to 1 year in 31 aneurysms after stent-supported coil embolization demonstrated complete occlusion in 23 aneurysms (74.2%) with a progressive thrombosis rate of 66.7% (10 of 15 aneurysms), and a recanalization rate of 16.1%. CONCLUSIONS: In treating wide-necked intracranial aneurysms, the WingSpan Stent System is very flexible, secure, and effective. Its delivery system is very easy and exact in that it exerts higher outward radial force, thus providing an excellent conformability and a strong scaffold to hold the coils in place. It may offer an effective treatment when used alone in some fusiform or very wide-necked, small dissecting aneurysms in which other surgical or endovascular treatment strategies are not deemed feasible.

Safety of inferior vena cava filter retrieval in anticoagulated patients.

PURPOSES: To evaluate the safety of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter retrieval in therapeutically anticoagulated patients in comparison to prophylactically or not therapeutically anticoagulated patients with respect to retrieval-related hemorrhagic complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 115 consecutive attempted IVC filter retrievals in 110 patients. Filter retrievals were stratified as performed in patients who were therapeutically anticoagulated (group 1), prophylactically anticoagulated (group 2), or not therapeutically anticoagulated (group 3). The collected data included anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications (type, form and duration of administration, dosage) at the time of retrieval. Phone interviews and chart review was performed for the international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time, platelet count, infusion of blood products, and retrieval-related hemorrhagic complications. RESULTS: Group 1 included 65 attempted filter retrievals in 61 therapeutically anticoagulated patients by measured INR or dosing when receiving low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). Four retrievals were not successful. In patients receiving oral anticoagulation, the median INR was 2.35 (range, 2 to 8). Group 2 comprised 23 successful filter retrievals in 22 patients receiving a prophylactic dose of LMWH. Group 3 included 27 attempted filter retrievals in 27 patients not receiving therapeutic anticoagulation. Six retrievals were not successful. Five patients were receiving oral anticoagulation with a subtherapeutic INR (median, 1.49; range, 1.16 to 1.69). No anticoagulation medication was administered in 22 patients. In none of the groups were hemorrhagic complications related to the retrieval procedures identified. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that retrieval of vena cava filters in anticoagulated patients is safe. Interruption or reversal of anticoagulation for the retrieval of vena cava filters is not indicated.

Immediate and midterm follow-up results of using an electrodetachable, fully retrievable SOLO stent system in the endovascular coil occlusion of wide-necked cerebral aneurysms.

OBJECT: Stent-assisted embolization is an alternative endovascular treatment method for wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. Currently available stents have the limitations of poor radial force, difficult delivery systems, and lack of full retrievability. The authors report on their preliminary experience with the use of a new, fully retrievable, self-expanding neurovascular stent, which has a high radial force and easy delivery system, combined with coil or Onyx embolization for the treatment of wide-necked aneurysms, including 6-month follow-up data. METHODS: Fifteen patients with 18 wide-necked intracranial aneurysms were treated using the SOLO stent system and detachable platinum coils. Aneurysms were located at the posterior communicating artery (seven lesions), midbasilar artery (one lesion), internal carotid artery (ICA) bifurcation (one lesion), ICA-ophthalmic artery segment (eight lesions), and posterior cerebral artery (one lesion). Eleven aneurysms were small, six were large, and one was giant. Only one of these aneurysms was in the acute stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage; balloon remodeling alone failed to keep the coils in the aneurysm sac. RESULTS: Only one stent required retrieving and repositioning after it had been fully deployed, and retrieval was easy and successful. No thromboembolic complication, dissection/rupture, or vasospasm occured during stent placement. Follow-up angiograms obtained at 6 months posttreatment in the 18 aneurysms demonstrated that all stents were patent with no evidence of intimal hyperplasia or stenosis. In all cases but one, 100% lesion occlusion was observed at the 6-month control angiography examination. Only one aneurysm had recanalized. CONCLUSIONS: The fully retrievable self-expandible SOLO stent is a feasible, secure, and effective system with a high radial force and ease of delivery in treating wide-necked intracranial aneurysms in combination with coil embolization.

Existence of cotton granuloma after removal of a parasagittal meningioma: clinical and radiological evaluation -a case report-.

Hemostatic agents, routinely used in neurosurgery to achieve intraoperative hemostasis may cause foreign body reaction. These may produce clinically symptomatic and radiologically apparent mass lesions. It should be kept in mind that retained cotton or rayon materials may mimic the appearance of a tumor or an abscess on MRI scan, especially at sides of previous craniotomies. Here we report a case of intracranial foreign body granuloma which occurred due to remained cottonoid after removal of a parasagittal meningioma. This entity was also documented by MR imaging technics included diffusion weighted, flair and ADC mapping.

An unusual complication of carotid stenting: spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma and its endovascular management.

Carotid stenting has recently emerged as a potential alternative to surgical treatment. We report a case of a spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma in a patient who underwent anticoagulation therapy following carotid stenting. Computed tomography findings were consistent with active bleeding within the hematoma, and this was confirmed with selective angiography via right deep circumflex iliac artery injection. Transcatheter embolization of the right deep circumflex iliac artery with n-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate was successfully performed. To the best of our knowledge, spontaneous anterior abdominal wall hemorrhaging following carotid stenting has not been previously reported in the English language literature.

Intrasaccular combination of metallic coils and onyx liquid embolic agent for the endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms.

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to report on a novel technique in which metallic embolization coils were combined with the Onyx liquid embolic agent in the aneurysm sac to achieve a more durable result after endovascular treatment. This therapeutic procedure was performed in selected cases in which, based on the authors' experiences, either coil embolization or Onyx alone would likely have failed. The authors report long-term clinical and angiographic follow-up results in 20 consecutive intracranial aneurysms treated using this combination for defined indications. METHODS: Twenty aneurysms in 20 patients were treated with a combination of embolic coils and Onyx. Four aneurysms were giant; 13, large; and three, small. This new technique was used when standard Onyx or coil treatment with balloon assistance was determined to involve a higher possibility of recanalization, because either an adjunctive stent insertion could not be performed or the Onyx technique could not be used due to an unsuccessful seal test or intraaneurysm balloon prolapse. In one case, an adjunctive stent was placed before coil placement and Onyx deposition to control the material in the sac of the aneurysm, which had a fusiform neck. All aneurysms were completely occluded after using this technique. No clinical or technical adverse events occurred in any of the cases. Follow-up angiography was performed in all patients: 3-year studies in six patients, 2-year studies in five, and 1-year studies in nine. None of these studies demonstrated aneurysm regrowth or parent artery occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of the embolic coils and the Onyx liquid embolic agent provides very durable aneurysm occlusion for defined indications.

Chemotherapy in Retinoblastoma: Current Approaches.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common childhood malignant intraocular tumor. Although enucleation and external beam radiotherapy have been historically used, today the most commonly used eye-sparing approach is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can be used in both intraocular and extraocular RB cases. Chemotherapeutic agents may be applied in different ways, including systemic, subconjunctival, intra-arterial and intravitreal routes. The main purposes of application of systemic therapy are to reduce the tumor size for local treatment (chemoreduction), or to reduce the risk of metastasis after enucleation surgery (adjuvant therapy). Intra-arterial chemotherapy with the current name "super-selective intra-arterial infusion therapy" could be applied as primary therapy in tumors confined to the retina or as a secondary method in tumor recurrence. The most important advantage of intra-arterial therapy is the prevention of systemic chemotherapy complications. Intravitreal chemotherapy is administered in the presence of persistent or recurrent vitreous seeding. The term "extraocular RB" includes orbital invasion and metastatic disease. Current treatment for orbital invasion is neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgical enucleation and adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery. In metastatic disease, regional lymph node involvement, distant metastases, and/or central nervous system (CNS) involvement may occur. Among them, CNS involvement has the worst prognosis, remaining at almost 100% mortality. In metastatic disease, high-dose salvage chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell rescue therapy are the possible treatment options; radiotherapy could also be added to the protocol according to the side of involvement.

Granulocytic sarcoma. Cranial and breast involvement.

The term granulocytic sarcoma designates an infrequent solid tumor composed of aggregates of immature granulocytic precursors in extramedullary sites. The lesion generally occurs either during the natural course of acute myelogenous leukemia or after a remission has been achieved; however, it may rarely represent the initial manifestation of the disease. We present radiologic features of cranial and breast involvement of granulocytic sarcoma in a 13-year-old female with acute myelogenous leukemia. The cranial lesion appeared nearly isointense with cortical gray matter on T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, and enhanced homogeneously after the injection of gadolinium. MRI showed a well-delineated lobulated mass in the left breast, which had a heterogeneous hyperintense signal and remarkable contrast enhancement.

Does ventricular opening promote remote cerebellar haemorrhage?

Cerebellar haemorrhage after supratentorial craniotomy is a rare complication Because of its significant morbidity and mortality rates, being aware of this complication is important for early diagnosis. In a 30-year-old male with multiple intracranial cavernomas, remote cerebellar haemorrhage (RCH) was observed after removal of symptomatic left temporal lesion. The lateral wall of the temporal horn that was tightly attached to the cavernoma was also opened and excessive drainage of the CSF occurred. The haemorrhage is attributed to opening of the ventricle wall and excessive drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during the procedure.

HyperForm balloon remodeling in the endovascular treatment of anterior cerebral, middle cerebral, and anterior communicating artery aneurysms: clinical and angiographic follow-up results in 800 consecutive patients.

OBJECT: The purpose of this paper was to present the safety, efficacy, and clinical/angiographic follow-up results of HyperForm balloon-assisted endosaccular coil occlusion of distal anterior circulation bifurcation aneurysms. METHODS: Over a 7-year period, the authors treated 864 middle cerebral artery, distal anterior cerebral artery bifurcation, and anterior communicating artery aneurysms by means of coil embolization with HyperForm balloon assistance in 800 patients. In 37 aneurysms, 2 HyperForm balloons were used simultaneously for remodeling. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate was 7.1%, including 1.4% procedural mortality. Various neurological deficits were present at discharge in 8.9% of the patients, and 4.4% had permanent disabling morbidity 6 months posttreatment (modified Rankin Scale score ≥ 2). Thromboembolic complications developed during the treatment of 15 aneurysms (1.7%) causing morbidity or mortality in 10 cases (1.3%). There were 14 intraoperative perforations (1.6%). In all 14 cases, the HyperForm balloon saved patients from severe bleeding. The perforation led to morbidity or mortality in 3 cases (0.4%); there were no negative consequences in 11. There were 726 patients with 757 aneurysms (87.6%) available for follow-up. Control angiograms were obtained at 6 months in 386 patients, at 1 year in 267, and at 2 years in 104, revealing an 82% complete obliteration rate according to the most recent follow-up angiograms. CONCLUSIONS: The satisfactory results obtained in this experience demonstrate that HyperForm balloon remodeling provides strong benefits for the endovascular management of middle cerebral, anterior cerebral, and anterior communicating artery aneurysms without increasing the risk of treatment. Not only does this technique allow for the safe treatment of these aneurysms, but it also expands the indications of endovascular treatment to include aneurysms that otherwise cannot be treated with simple coil embolization.

Endovascular treatment of brain arteriovenous malformations with prolonged intranidal Onyx injection technique: long-term results in 350 consecutive patients with completed endovascular treatment course.

OBJECT: The purpose of this study was to present the authors' clinical experience and long-term angiographic and clinical follow-up results in 350 patients with brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) treated using prolonged intranidal Onyx injection with a very slow "staged" reflux technique described by the authors. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty consecutive patients with brain AVMs treated using Onyx between 1999 and 2008 and in whom definitive status for endovascular treatment was reached are presented. There were 206 (59%) male and 144 (41%) female patients, with a mean age of 34 years. There were 607 endovascular sessions performed. Onyx was the only agent used for intranidal injections in all patients, but in 42 patients high-concentration N-butyl cyanoacrylate glue was used adjunctively to close high-flow direct arteriovenous intra- or perinidal fistulas, or when a feeding vessel or nidus perforation and/or dissection occurred. RESULTS: Angiographically confirmed obliteration was achieved in 179 patients (51%) with only endovascular treatment; 1 patient died due to intracranial hemorrhage after the treatment. Twenty-two patients underwent resection, and 136 patients were sent to radiosurgery after endovascular treatment. In 4 patients embolization therapy was discontinued, and 5 additional patients refused the suggested complementary surgery. In all 178 surviving patients who had angiographically confirmed AVM obliteration by embolization alone, 1-8 years of control angiography (mean 47 months) confirmed stable obliteration, except for 2 patients in whom a very small recruitment was noted in the 1st year on control angiography studies, despite initial apparent total obliteration (recanalization rate 1.1%). In the entire series, 5 patients died; the mortality rate was 1.4%. The permanent morbidity rate was 7.1%. CONCLUSIONS: With the prolonged intranidal injection technique described herein, Onyx allows the practitioner to achieve higher rates of anatomical cures compared with the cure rates obtained previously with other embolic agents. More importantly, due to this technique's much more effective intranidal penetration, it allows high-grade AVMs to be made radiosurgically treatable in a group of patients for whom there has been no treatment alternative.

Comparison of bioactive coils and bare platinum coils for treatment of intracranial aneurysms: a matched-pair analysis.

OBJECT: The primary goal of this matched-pair analysis was to evaluate the durability of the treatment results with Cerecyte coils in comparison with that of bare platinum coils in terms of angiographic occlusion rates at follow-up. METHODS: Eighty aneurysms treated with Cerecyte coils were included in this study to carry out a matched-pair analysis. Every aneurysm treated with Cerecyte coils was matched with an aneurysm treated with bare platinum coils. Matching of the aneurysms was done according to the aneurysm size, location, neck size, initial occlusion grade, and clinical presentation. RESULTS: The initial treatment results were similar in both groups as part of a matching protocol. Subgroup analysis revealed a significant difference in the durability of occlusion in aneurysms that showed Raymond Class I obliteration on follow-up angiograms (69 [86.2%] in the Cerecyte group vs 51 [63.8%] in the control group, p = 0.002). Further thrombosis to Raymond Class I occlusions was higher in the Cerecyte group (17 [77.3%] of 22 vs 8 [36.4%] of 22 aneurysms). CONCLUSIONS: Cerecyte coils provide further thrombosis and more durable results than bare platinum coils following coil embolization of cerebral aneurysms.

Ruptured aneurysm at the perforating artery supplying the insula: case report.

OBJECTIVE: Aneurysms originating from perforating branches of the middle cerebral artery are quite rare. Most of them arise from the lenticulostriate arteries, frequently located within the basal ganglia. We report a perforating artery aneurysm that was entirely embedded within the limen insulae. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 41-year-old man presented with an insular hematoma without subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by rupture of a small aneurysm on a perforating artery of the proximal middle cerebral artery supplying the insula. INTERVENTION: This rare aneurysm was resected via the transsylvian-insular approach. CONCLUSION: Although very rare, perforating artery aneurysms should be considered in young or middle-aged patients with an atypical intracerebral hematoma. This report discusses radiological and surgical characteristics of this unusual aneurysm.

Venous thromboembolism after retrieval of inferior vena cava filters.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after removal of retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study was conducted of 67 patients who underwent 72 consecutive filter retrievals at a single institution. Data collected included VTE status at the time of filter placement, anticoagulant medications at the time of filter retrieval and afterward, new or recurrent VTE after filter removal, and insertion of subsequent filters. Patient questionnaires were completed in 50 cases, chart review in all patients. RESULTS: At the time of filter placement, 30 patients had documented VTE, 19 had a history of treated VTE, and 23 were at risk for but had neither previous nor present VTE. Mean duration of follow-up after filter removal was 20.6 months +/- 10.9. A total of 52 patients (57 filters) received anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet medications after filter removal. There were two documented episodes of recurrent deep vein thrombosis (2.8% of filters removed), both in patients who had VTE at the time of filter placement and underwent therapeutic anticoagulation at the time of filter removal. One of these patients (1.4% of filters removed) also experienced pulmonary embolism. Of the 23 patients without VTE when the filter was placed, none developed VTE after filter removal. Four patients (5.5% of filters removed) required subsequent permanent filters, three for complications of anticoagulation, one for failure of anticoagulation. CONCLUSIONS: VTE was rare after removal of IVC filters, but was most likely to occur in patients who had VTE at the time of filter placement.

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with bioactive Cerecyte coils: effects on treatment stability.

INTRODUCTION: The Cerecyte coils were developed to improve long-term stability of embolized cerebral aneurysms by producing an increased fibrous reaction over the neck of the aneurysms. We report our preliminary clinical experience with mid-term follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight consecutive patients with 84 intracranial aneurysms treated exclusively with Cerecyte coils were included in this study. Forty-eight aneurysms were ruptured and 36 were incidental. Twenty-two aneurysms were small with (<10 mm) small neck (<4 mm) (SASN); 55 were small with wide neck (>or=4 mm) (SAWN); six were large (10-25 mm) (L); and one was giant (G) (>25 mm). The embolization technique was the same with that in standard bare coiling. RESULTS: Immediate post-procedure angiography demonstrated complete aneurysm occlusion in 69%, neck remnant in 29.8% and incomplete occlusion in 1.2%. Follow-up angiography was obtained in 80 aneurysms in a period of time ranging from 6 months to 2 years. The overall recanalization rate was 11.3%, and the re-treatment rate was 6.3%; in the subgroup analysis, recanalization rates were 4.5% in S/S; 9.8% in S/W; and 33.3% in large aneurysms. The only giant aneurysm also showed recanalization. Procedure-related morbidity and mortality rates were 2.6% and 1.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our midterm results showed a relatively low rate of recurrence compared to those reported for platinum coils with morbidity and mortality rates comparable to those with standard bare platinum coils. The efficacy of Cerecyte coils in the long term will be specifically addressed by the ongoing randomized Cerecyte coil trial.