Spontaneous thrombosis with a conservative approach to posterior spinal artery pseudoaneurysm management: A case series.

In this study, we address the rarity and management challenges associated with ruptured spinal artery pseudoaneurysms, which comprise < 1% of subarachnoid hemorrhage cases. With our limited understanding of their natural history, the prevailing consensus leans towards surgical clipping, contrasting with the typically benign symptoms of sudden back pain and lower extremity weakness. Despite reported low morbidity and mortality, fatal re-ruptures underscore the need for effective management strategies. In this context, we present the largest case series to date, featuring five patients with spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage from isolated posterior spinal artery pseudoaneurysms. All cases achieved spontaneous thrombosis and resolution through conservative management, challenging the prevailing surgical emphasis. The patients, aged 58-81, exhibited varied symptoms, including back pain, paresthesia, confusion, and seizures, with hypertension as a common comorbidity. The results of these cases lead us to tender a "hybrid" management strategy, combining conservative measures with short-term follow-up angiograms, fostering a paradigm shift and warranting further investigation into individualized patient care within larger clinical cohorts.

Intracranial Meningioma in Patients Age <35 Years: Evolution of the Disease in the Era of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial meningiomas are most common among patients in their fifth to seventh decade of life and rare in children and young adults. They constitute 1.5% of all neoplasms in patients age <20 years, but account for 13.5% of all neoplasms in patients age 20-34 years. They are often associated with hereditary or familial syndromes in children and young adults, and tend to be of high grade. Here we describe the histopathological subtypes of intracranial meningioma between human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive patients and the general population with intracranial meningiomas 35 years old and younger. METHODS: Data were collected from all consecutive patients age ≤35 years diagnosed with intracranial meningioma between May 2003 and May 2015. Age was categorized as <20 years, 21-30 years, and >30 years. Histopathological grade was classified according to the 2000 World Health Organization (WHO) grading system as grade I, II, or III. Patients were grouped into an HIV-1-seropositive group and the general population, presumed seronegative. WHO grade II/III meningioma represented high-grade meningioma. RESULTS: HIV-1-seropositive status was associated with increased risk of the development of high-grade (WHO grade II/III) meningioma (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-8.09; P = 0.04) compared with the general population of patients with meningiomas. No significant associations were found between WHO grade and age, sex, ethnicity/race, or location. CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial meningiomas in young HIV-1-positive patients tend to be of high grade; therefore, conservative or noninvasive therapies should be offered with caution and only after tissue diagnosis has confirmed benign WHO grade.

Ophthalmic artery occlusion after Pipeline Embolization Device placement with reconstitution of flow via an endoleak: a report of two cases.

The Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) is a flow diverting stent used in the treatment of a wide variety of intracranial aneurysms. The device differs from traditional stents used in stent-assisted coil embolization in that it has a tighter lattice structure with smaller cell sizes designed specifically to disrupt blood flow into aneurysms rather than only to retain coils within aneurysms. While the PED has been shown to be safe and effective, it has a unique risk profile that includes side branch and perforator vessel occlusion. Side branch occlusion in particular has been noted in several articles to occur at a relatively high rate with coverage of the ophthalmic artery origin by the PED. In this series, we present two cases of ophthalmic artery occlusion after PED placement with reconstitution of flow via an endoleak.

A single burr hole approach for direct transverse sinus cannulation for the treatment of a dural arteriovenous fistula.

A 55-year-old woman with a symptomatic Borden II/Cognard IIa+b transverse sinus dural arteriovenous fistula underwent an attempted percutaneous transvenous embolization which was ultimately not possible given the fistula anatomy. She then underwent a partial percutaneous transarterial embolization but the fistula recurred. Given the failed percutaneous interventions, the patient underwent a combined open surgical/transvenous embolization using neuronavigation and a single burr hole craniectomy. She has remained symptom free for 3 months. This case report illustrates the feasibility of combining minimally invasive open surgical access to allow for direct venous cannulation for endovascular embolization of a dural arteriovenous fistula when traditional percutaneous methods are not an option.

A single burr hole approach for direct transverse sinus cannulation for the treatment of a dural arteriovenous fistula.

A 55-year-old woman with a symptomatic Borden II/Cognard IIa+b transverse sinus dural arteriovenous fistula underwent an attempted percutaneous transvenous embolization which was ultimately not possible given the fistula anatomy. She then underwent a partial percutaneous transarterial embolization but the fistula recurred. Given the failed percutaneous interventions, the patient underwent a combined open surgical/transvenous embolization using neuronavigation and a single burr hole craniectomy. She has remained symptom free for 3 months. This case report illustrates the feasibility of combining minimally invasive open surgical access to allow for direct venous cannulation for endovascular embolization of a dural arteriovenous fistula when traditional percutaneous methods are not an option.

Transoral C2 biopsy and vertebroplasty.

Pathologic fractures involving the C2 vertebral body and odontoid process pose a unique dilemma, as the surgical approach for direct odontoid process screw fixation has several limitations. There have been a small number of transoral approach C2 vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty reported in the literature. Previous attempts were performed utilizing fluoroscopy or CT guidance. We report a case of a fluoroscopically guided transor-al approach vertebroplasty in a patient with a lytic lesion involving the C2 vertebral body, extending into the odontoid process with an underlying pathologic fracture. This case is unique as two separate punctures were required in order to adequately stabilize the pathologic fracture, CTA was performed preoperatively to better evaluate regional vasculature, and a post-procedure rotational flat panel CT was performed to assess cement placement.