Risk Factors for Intracranial Aneurysm Rupture: A Clinical Case Series and Systematic Review of the Literature.

AIM: To evaluate the patients who underwent surgery for an anterior communicating artery (AcomA) aneurysm at our institution. We analyzed our case series and systematically reviewed the literature to identify factors that could predict the rupture of an intracranial aneurysm in patients with AcomA aneurysms or any intracranial aneurysm. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of prospectively collected data from patients who underwent surgery for AcomA aneurysms at a single institution between January 2014 and May 2023. Predictors for the rupture of intracranial aneurysm were systematically reviewed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and the Pubmed and MEDLINE databases. RESULTS: Younger age (odds ratio (OR): 0.957, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.920-0.995, p = 0.028), presence of a daughter sac (OR: 3.209, 95% CI: 1.095-9.408, p = 0.034), and ever-smoking (OR: 0.357, 95% CI: 0.137-0.930, p = 0.035) were significant predictors of increased risk of rupture in patients with AcomA aneurysms. Several aneurysm- and patient-related risk factors for rupture of intracranial aneurysms were retrieved via the literature analysis. CONCLUSION: Younger age, ever-smoking, and presence of a daughter sac increased the risk of AcomA aneurysm rupture. A systematic literature review revealed several more aneurysm- and patient-related risk factors for rupture of the intracranial aneurysms. Our results could aid neurosurgeons during their decision-making process when treating patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Accessory Hand Muscles Over the Transverse Carpal Ligament: An Obstacle in Carpal Tunnel Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is an entrapment neuropathy caused by compression of the median nerve throughout the carpal tunnel. It is the most common entrapment neuropathy, with an estimated prevalence of 4%-7%. Surgical management is more effective in moderate to severe and severe CTS. CTS recurs in approximately 20% of patients, and up to 12% of these patients require reoperation. Knowledge of normal anatomy and variations would improve the success rate of the index surgery. Atypical causes of CTS were reported, including ganglion cysts, synovial hypertrophy, lipomas, bone fracture, bone fragments, tumor of soft tissues or bones, neurofibromas, neuromas, vascular malformations, and accessory muscles. Accessory muscles are commonly detected in upper limbs. However, their concomitant presentation with CTS has rarely been reported. We aimed to present different accessory muscles diagnosed during CTS surgery through a systematic review of the literature with our exemplary case. METHODS: A systematic review/meta-analysis was performed concomitant with a case presentation. RESULTS: Accessory muscles associated with CTS were as follows: palmaris longus, 28.6%; lumbrical muscles, 19.3%; palmaris profundus, 17.8%; flexor digitorum superficialis, 16.1%; transverse carpal muscle, 5%; flexor digitorum indicis, 4.2%; flexor superficialis indicis, 4.2%; flexor sublimis, 0.8%; accessory superficialis longus, 0.8%; flexor pollicis longus, 0.8%; abductor digiti minimi, 0.8%; abductor digiti quinti, 0.8%; and flexor digitorum superficialis brevis, 0.8%. Accessory muscles were mostly noticed during CTS surgery (88.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of possible variations within the carpal tunnel would improve the surgeon's capability during CTS surgery.

Cingulate sulcus morphology and paracingulate sulcus variations: Anatomical and radiological studies.

The sulci and gyri found across the cerebrum differ in morphology between individuals. The cingulate sulcus is an important landmark for deciding the surgical approach for neighboring pathological lesions. Identifying the anatomical variations of anterior cingulate cortex morphology would help to determine the safe-entry route through neighboring lesions. In this study, magnetic resonance imaging data acquired from 149 healthy volunteers were investigated retrospectively for anatomical variations of the paracingulate sulcus. Also, human cadaveric brain hemispheres were investigated for cingulate and paracingulate sulcus anatomy. All participants had cingulate sulci in both hemispheres (n = 149, 100%). Three types of paracingulate sulcus patterns were identified: "prominent," "present," and "absent." Hemispheric comparisons indicated that the paracingulate sulcus is commonly "prominent" in the left hemisphere (n = 48, 32.21%) and more commonly "absent" in the right hemisphere (n = 73, 48.99%). Ten (6.71%) people had a prominent paracingulate sulcus in both the right and left hemispheres. Seven (4.70%) of them were male, and 3 (2.01%) of them were female. Paracingulate sulci were present in both hemispheres in 19 people (12.75%), of which 9 (6.04%) were male and 10 (6.71%) were female. There were 35 (23.49%) participants without paracingulate sulci in both hemispheres. Eleven (7.38%) were male and 24 (16.11%) were female. There were 73 (48.99%) participants without right paracingulate sulcus and 57 (38.26%) participants without left paracingulate sulcus (p = 0.019). In the examinations of the cadaver hemispheres, the paracingulate sulcus was present and prominent in 25%, and the intralimbic sulcus was present in 15%. It has been observed that the paracingulate sulcus is more prominent in the normal male brain compared to females. In females, there were more participants without paracingulate sulcus. This study shows that there are both hemispheric and sex differences in the anatomy of the paracingulate sulcus. Understanding the cingulate sulcus anatomy and considering the variations in the anterior cingulate cortex morphology during surgery will help surgeons to orient this elegant and complex area.

Primary Hydatid Cyst of Lumbar Paravertebral Muscle.

Hydatid cyst disease as a zoonosis usually infests the liver and lungs, and it rarely affects muscles. Here, we presented a 36-year-old female patient with low back pain. Radiological evaluation revealed a soft tissue lesion located at the left paravertebral region without vertebral invasion. Surgical exploration and removal of the cyst were performed. The pathological diagnosis was hydatid cyst. After the surgery, the patient was treated with albendazole which is used to decrease the consequences of spillage and the possibility of recurrence. Hydatid cyst disease is rarely seen in paravertebral muscle tissue and needs to be correctly managed. Primary muscle involvement of hydatid cyst must be kept in mind for differential diagnosis of paravertebral cystic mass lesions.