[An unusual case of carotid arrosion bleeding]. / Ein ungewöhnlicher Fall einer Karotisarrosionsblutung.

Carotid bleeding is one of the most severe complications in ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery. It is a rare complication in patients with cancer of the head and neck after radiochemotherapy. We report the case of a 65-year-old man who suffered from cancer of the tonsils (pT2pN1M0) and was treated in 1987 with surgery and local chemotherapy. Since then he reported recurrent bleeding in the left cervical region especially during physical exertion. The patient was re-operated and during surgery the tip of a catheter was found in the external carotid artery, obviously a remnant from a catheter for intra-arterial chemotherapy. The tip was removed, the defect closed and covered with a pectoralis major muscle flap.

Noncontrast CT in deep cerebral venous thrombosis and sinus thrombosis: comparison of its diagnostic value for both entities.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: With its highly variable clinical presentation, the diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (SVT), and especially of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), as rare but important causes of stroke is challenging. Because noncontrast cranial CT (NCCT) is still the imaging technique of choice in most emergency departments, we aimed to investigate its value in the diagnosis of SVT and DVT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Screening our patient data base, we identified 8 patients with DVT and 25 patients with SVT. We also included a control group of 36 patients who had presented with clinical signs of DVT or SVT but in whom thrombosis was subsequently excluded. MR imaging, multidetector row CT angiography (MDCTA), and/or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were used as the reference standard. Three independent readers assessed the NCCTs for the presence of direct and indirect signs of DVT or SVT. Direct signs included the presence of hyperattenuated sinuses (ie, cord sign) or veins (ie, attenuated vein sign), whereas parenchymal edema and hemorrhage were indirect signs. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the attenuated vein sign for the diagnosis of DVT were 100%, and 99.4%, respectively, whereas the sensitivity and specificity of the cord sign for SVT were 64.6% and 97.2%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity values of NCCT were 93.7% and 98% for intracerebral edema and 94.8% and 98.7% for intracerebral hemorrhages, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although NCCT is insufficient to exclude a SVT, its value in the emergency diagnosis of DVT seems to be very high.

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome: a complicated clinical course treated with intra-arterial application of nimodipine.

Thunderclap headache (TCH) is a neurological emergency that warrants immediate and comprehensive diagnostic determination. When no pathology can be identified the condition is classified as primary TCH, which is considered benign and self-limiting. TCH has also been reported as the initial symptom of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), which subsumes a variety of conditions, inconsistently coined Call-Flemming syndrome, benign angiopathy of the central nervous system, drug-induced arteritis, or migrainous vasospasm. Serious complications such as borderline ischaemic stroke have been reported. Although no standardized treatment regime exists, one commonly described but unproven therapy is parenteral or oral application of the calcium channel blocker nimodipine. Here, we report on a case of RCVS, where a progressive course prompted intra-arterial application of nimodipine, which resolved vasoconstriction immediately. We discuss the use of intra-arterial nimodipine application as a potential emergency treatment for a complicated or treatment-refractory course of RCVS.

Monitoring of clopidogrel-related platelet inhibition: correlation of nonresponse with clinical outcome in supra-aortic stenting.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Clopidogrel and aspirin are antiplatelet medications used in patients intended for endovascular stent placement. Although various studies have investigated individual responsiveness to clopidogrel in patients undergoing coronary interventions, there are no studies regarding patients undergoing stent placement of supra-aortic arteries supplying the brain. We analyzed platelet function in a near-patient setting to determine the effects of antiplatelet treatment in neurologic patients and correlated the results with clinical outcome after stent placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The platelet function of 50 consecutive patients scheduled for neuro-interventional stent placement procedures was assessed by using point-of-care testing. All of the patients had symptomatic arteriosclerotic lesions. Clopidogrel effects were tested by impedance aggregometry. Fifty healthy blood donors without clopidogrel medication served as the control group. RESULTS: Reference values for responders and nonresponders were established from the results of the healthy control group. Fourteen (28%) of 50 neurologic patients were stratified as clopidogrel nonresponders. Adverse events were registered in 5 (10%) of 50 patients, 1 of them with a permanent neurologic deficit (1 of 50 [2%]). All 5 of the patients with adverse events were nonresponders. There was a statistically significant correlation between adverse events and clopidogrel nonresponse (Fisher exact test, P = .001). CONCLUSION: A significant rate of clopidogrel nonresponders could be identified in the treated patients. Our data strongly suggest a correlation of insufficient clopidogrel-related platelet inhibition with an increased risk of thromboembolic events in supra-aortic stent placement.

Special indications in gamma knife surgery.

Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) represent a rare indication for Gamma Knife Surgery. Mostly small remnants after surgical debulking are treated. The prognosis depends on specific variants of biological and clinical criteria. In this regard we differentiated two groups of tumors; the so-called 'typical' tumors with a histological grading of WHO Grade I, no prior fractionated radiotherapy and no cystic component and the so called 'atypical' tumors with either a malignant transformation, previous fractionated radiotherapy and/or cystic components. The outcome after GKS was much more favourable for typical PA than for atypical. In typical cases a high tumor control with a very low risk of side effects can be achieved.

Combined cerebellar and bilateral cervical posterior spinal artery stroke demonstrated on MRI.

Combined cerebellar and spinal ischemic stroke is a rare, critical condition. We report a patient with combined cerebellar and bilateral posterolateral cervical spinal cord infarction due to bilateral stenosis of the vertebral arteries. MRI is the method of choice for imaging this condition; diffusion-weighted imaging of the spinal cord gives reliable results.

[TIPS in patients with therapy refractory ascites and kidney dysfunction]. / TIPS bei Patienten mit therapierefraktärem Aszites und Nierenfunktionsstörungen.

BACKGROUND: A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is increasingly being used for treatment of patients with refractory ascites and renal failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TIPS in patients with refractory ascites and organic or functional renal impairment. METHODS: A TIPS was placed for refractory or intractable ascites in 10 consecutive patients with liver cirrhosis and impaired renal function (serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/100 ml). Four of them had organic kidney disorders. The other six patients had functional renal impairment due to the underlying liver disease. RESULTS: TIPS was effective in reducing ascites in 8 of 10 patients, including all patients with organic renal disease. Furthermore, after TIPS the renal function improved in all patients. Serum creatinine and serum urea levels decreased significantly from 1.8 to 1.5 mg/100 ml (p < 0.05) and from 107 to 78 mg/100 ml respectively. CONCLUSION: TIPS may be useful in patients with functional and in patients with organic renal disease, resulting in improvement of ascites and renal function.

Central retinal artery occlusion in association with an aneurysm of the internal carotid artery.

PURPOSE: To report an unusual case of central retinal artery occlusion in a 41-year-old woman. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: A 41-year-old woman presented with sudden and painless decrease of visual acuity of the left eye. Indirect ophthalmoscopy revealed the typical fundus findings of a central retinal artery occlusion. The fovea was spared by a cilioretinal arteriole. RESULTS: Cerebral angiography showed an aneurysm of the left internal carotid artery, measuring approximately 1.7 x 1.5 x 1.7 cm. The aneurysm was located in close proximity to the ophthalmic branch. CONCLUSION: Aneurysm of the intracranial arteries should be included in the differential diagnosis of central retinal artery occlusion in young patients.