Management of a ruptured posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysm with end-to-end in situ bypass: Case report.

Dissecting posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms are uncommon lesions. Their anatomy and the location of the dissection are variable, however, they usually occurs at the origin of the PICA. Dissecting PICA aneurysms generally have non-vascular morphology involving an entire segment of the artery and cannot be cut. Nevertheless, the detection of these vascular lesions has increased latterly, so it is necessary to recognize it and take the appropriate management modalities for these injuries. In this report, we describe a case of a 73-year-old male patient, who presented a history of severe headache, associated with neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, hypoactivity, mental confusion, and walking difficulty. Radiographic investigation with brain computed tomography (CT) showed mild bleeding in a pre-medullary and pre-pontine cistern, and cerebral angiogram showed a dissecting PICA aneurysm. Despite being a challenging treatment, microsurgery management was the chosen modality. It was performed an end-to-end anastomosis between the p2/p3 segments, showing to be effective with good clinical and radiographic outcomes. We discussed an unusual case, reviewing the current literature on clinical presentations, the angiographic characteristics of the dissecting aneurysms of PICA, and evaluating the clinical and angiographic results of patients undergoing microsurgical treatment.

Supratentorial meningeal melanocytoma mimicking meningioma: case report and literature review.

Introduction: Primary melanocytic tumors originating from CNS melanocytes are rare, with a low incidence of 0.7 cases per 10 million annually. This study focuses on primary leptomeningeal melanocytomas, emphasizing their epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and diagnostic challenges. Despite their infrequency, these tumors warrant attention due to their unique features and potential for local recurrence. Case Report: A 32-year-old female presented with syncope and seizures, leading to the discovery of two left-sided supratentorial lesions initially misidentified as convexity meningiomas. Detailed imaging suggested meningioma-like features, but intraoperative findings revealed unexpected hyperpigmented lesions. Histopathological examination, supported by immunohistochemistry, confirmed primary leptomeningeal melanocytoma. The surgical approach and subsequent management are discussed. Discussion: The discussion emphasizes challenges in diagnosing primary leptomeningeal melanocytomas. Treatment debates, especially regarding adjuvant radiotherapy, are explored. Recurrence risks stress the importance of vigilant follow-up, advocating for complete surgical resection as the primary approach. The rarity of supratentorial cases adds complexity to diagnosis, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach. Insights from this case contribute to understanding and managing primary leptomeningeal melanocytomas, addressing challenges in differentiation from more common tumors and prompting ongoing research for refined diagnostics and optimized treatments. Conclusion: This study contributes insights into primary leptomeningeal melanocytomas, highlighting their rarity in supratentorial regions. The case underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating clinical, radiological, and histopathological expertise for accurate diagnosis and tailored management. Ongoing research is crucial to refine treatment strategies, enhance prognostic precision, and improve outcomes for individuals with this uncommon CNS neoplasm.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the treatment of hydrocephalus: A 20-year retrospective analysis of 209 consecutive cases.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has been shown to be a sufficient alternative to shunts in surgical treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus. Long-term failure, age limitations, and outcome by cause are some of the issues debated in literature. The objective of this article is to analyze the clinical success and failure of ETV and its main complications. METHODS: A total of 209 patients with hydrocephalus were submitted to ETV, including a mixed population of children and adults (from 0 to 59 years). Patients were divided into five groups: A - tumors, B - aqueductal stenosis, C - myelomeningocele, D - infection and hemorrhage, and E - arachnoid cyst. Variables were analyzed: age, ETV success rate, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula, mortality, and complications. RESULTS: The two main causes of hydrocephalus were tumors (44.9%) and aqueductal stenosis (25.3%). The overall success rate was of 82.8%, and patients in Group E had the highest rate 90.9%. Group A had a success rate of 89.3%, and Group B had a rate of 88.6%. The ETV success rate was significantly higher in patients older than 1 year (P < 0.001); the former also had a lower risk of CSF fistula (P < 0.0001). The overall mortality rate was 2.8%. CONCLUSION: Better results were observed in the groups of patients with tumors, aqueductal stenosis, and arachnoid cysts, while those whose primary causes of hydrocephalus were myelomeningocele, infections, or bleeding had higher rates of failure after the procedure. This study demonstrated that age under 1 year and hydrocephalus caused by myelomeningocele, bleeding, and infection were considered independent risk factors of poor prognosis in ETV.

Microsurgical Resection of Glioblastoma in a Patient Infected with Covid-19: A Case Report

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected a large number of patients in all countries, overwhelming healthcare systems worldwide. In this scenario, surgical procedures became restricted, causing unacceptable delays in the treatment of certain pathologies, such as glioblastoma. Regarding this tumor with high morbidity and mortality, early surgical treatment is essential to increase the survival and quality of life of these patients. Association between COVID-19 and neurosurgical procedures is quite scarce in the literature, with a few reported cases. In the present study, we present a rare case of a patient undergoing surgical resection of glioblastoma with COVID-19.

Pediatric Gunshot Head Injury: Prevalence of Prognostic Factors in Surgical Patients: An Institutional Experience in Ten Years.

This article aims to evaluate the predictive factors of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients who suffered gunshot wounds to the head. We reviewed a series of 43 patients who were admitted to a referential neurosurgical hospital between 2010 and 2019. Data from 43 patients who underwent a surgical treatment in our institution were collected, and the following parameters were considered in the analysis: the initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), age, sex, bullet entry site, and bullet trajectory. Computed tomography (CT) scans at admission, complications, midline crossing, and Glasgow score scale at the time of discharge (Glasgow Outcome Scale; GOS) were also factored in. Male sex corresponded to 90.7% of cases (N = 39), and 16-17 years of age was the most common age (60.5%). The frontal region was the most common entry site (41.9%), followed by the parietal wall and occipital entry. Penetrating trajectory was shown in 48.8% of cases, perforation/transfixing in 39.5%, and tangential in 11.6%. CT showed that sinking is the most common alteration (74.4%), followed by cerebral contusion (44.2%). According to the GOS, 23.3% died, 23.3% were classified by an unfavorable outcome (GOS, 2-3), and 53.5% a favorable outcome (GOS, 4 and 5). In our study, there was a significant association between the low GCS scores on admission and low GOS (1-3; p = 0.001) at time of discharge. Patients with wounds that crossed the midline also had a significant association with low GOS (p = 0.014) in our clinical experience. We concluded that low GCS scores at admission and children with a wound that crosses the midline are predictive factors of high mortality and morbidity, in our clinical experience.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage and COVID-19: Association or coincidence?

ABSTRACT: Some evidences suggest the involvement of the central nervous system in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. We aim to analyze possible associations between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), in a comprehensive neurological center.We conducted a retrospective case series of 4 patients infected by COVID-19, who developed spontaneous SAH. Clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records.Between March 24, 2020, and May 22, 2020, 4 cases (3 females; 1 male) of SAH were identified in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, in a comprehensive neurological center in Brazil. The median age was 55.25 years (range 36 -71). COVID-19-related pneumonia was severe in 3 out of 4 cases, and all patients required critical care support during hospitalization. The patients developed Fisher grade III and IV SAH. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed in 3 of the 4 patients. However, in only 1 case, an aneurysm was identified. Inflammatory blood tests were elevated in all cases, with an average D-dimer of 2336 µg/L and mean C-reactive protein (CRP) of 3835 mg/dl The outcome was poor in the majority of the patients, with 1 death (25%); 2 (50%) remained severely neurologically affected (mRS:4); and 1 (25%) had slight disability (mRS:2).This study shows a series of 4 rare cases of SHA associated with COVID-19. The possible mechanisms underlying the involvement of SARSCoV-2 and SHA is yet to be fully understood. Therefore, SHA should be included in severe neurological manifestations in patients infected by this virus.

Limited dorsal myeloschisis with a contiguous stalk to human tail-like cutaneous appendage, associated with a lipoma of conus medullaris: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Limited dorsal myeloschisis (LDM) is a recently described pathological entity, characterized by a defect of the closed focal neural tube and a fibroneural pedicle connecting the cutaneous lesion to the spinal cord. PRESENTATION OF THE CASE: This case describes a 9-month-old child with a human tail and an underlying spinal dysraphism. This was represented by LDM stalk associated with a medullary lipoma, in connection with the dorsal cutaneous appendage. We also report the therapeutic proposal for this case and its clinical outcome. DISCUSSION: LDM is a distinctive clinicopathological presentation of a spinal dysraphism, associated with numerous anomalies, such as lipomyelomeningocele, tethered cord, lipoma, congenital heart disease and teratoma. In this case, surgical treatment for LDM consists of surgical resection of the appendage, untethering of the spinal cord and resection of conus medullaris lipoma in the same procedure. CONCLUSION: In this case report, we share the experience of a referral service in pediatric neurosurgery regarding clinical and radiological diagnosis, and the successful treatment of this rare type of congenital malformation. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of possible morphological variations of the skin lesion associated with LDM.

Blister aneurysms of the internal carotid artery: Surgical treatment and management outcome from a single center experience.

OBJECTIVE: Blood-blister aneurysms (BBAs) of the internal carotid artery (ICA) are rare entities, but clinically important cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Several surgical and endovascular strategies have been attempted for these heterogeneous lesions. In this study, the authors analyzed the treatment strategy and outcomes in a series of cases of ICA blister aneurysms treated microsurgically. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 15 consecutive cases of patients harboring ruptured BBAs, microsurgically treated at our institution between 2014 and 2018. We performed an analysis of the clinical and surgical aspects, as well as post-operative angiograms and outcomes. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were identified; 9 (60%) were female. The mean age of presentation was 43,8 years. Most patients presented in good clinical conditions (Hunt-Hess 1-3 = 86%). The most common Fisher grade at presentation was 3 (60% of cases). All patients underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA), revealing broad-based aneurysms at non-branching sites on the dorsal wall of the ICA. Intraoperatively, BBAs were confirmed in all cases. The lesions were approached through pterional (11-73%) or lateral supraorbital (4-27%) craniotomy. Direct clipping was performed in all but one lesion, in which case the clip-wrapping technique was used. Final angiographic control revealed complete occlusion in 14 cases. One patient required reoperation due to residual aneurysm filling. At discharge, a good outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS] 4 or 5) was observed in 12 (80%) patients. Three patients were discharged with a GOS of 3. CONCLUSION: Blood-blister-type aneurysms are rare and challenging lesions. Preoperative knowledge and careful surgical planning can prevent poor clinical outcomes. Surgical treatment remains an effective and safe option in this context.

Cervical intramedullary schwannoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Intramedullary schwannomas unrelated with neurofibromatosis are uncommon tumors, but if correctly diagnosed and properly treated they may have a good prognosis.They have a wide range of clinical presentations, commonly presenting as a slowly progressive motor or sensory syndrome. We present a case report of a patient without neurofibromatosis with a surgically treated cervical intramedullary schwannoma.