Route patterns of the collateral venous pathway in patients with tumors invading the superior sagittal sinus: an angiographic study and clinical applications.

Chronic occlusion of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) by tumors in the midsagittal region causes the collateral venous pathway (CVP). Understanding common patterns of CVP is helpful in reducing surgical complications. This study aimed to investigate the CVP found in patients with SSS-invading tumors, and to provide information on the prevention of operative venous complications. From January 2015 to December 2022, this retrospective study collected patients with tumors that invaded the SSS and underwent digital subtraction angiography of intracranial vessels. Data collected included sex, age, tumor pathology, tumor location along the SSS, tumor side, degree of obstruction of the SSS, types and route patterns of the CVP, and the distance between the tumor and the diploic vein (DV). Twenty patients (6 males, 14 females) were recruited. The prevalence of CVP types was 90% for DV, 35% for end-to-end anastomosis of superficial cortical vein, 15% for meningeal vein, and 20% for other types of CVP. The pteriofrontoparietal and occipitoparietal diploic routes were found on the cerebral hemisphere contralateral to the tumor significantly more than in the cerebral hemisphere ipsilateral to the tumor. Of all patients with presence of collateral DV, 61% had a very close (less than 1 cm) distance between the nearest DV and tumor attachment in the SSS. DV in the cerebral hemisphere contralateral to the tumor was the most common type of CVP found in patients with tumor-induced SSS obstruction. Most of the collateral DV was located very close to the SSS tumor attachment. Neurosurgeons should realize these findings when planning a craniotomy.

A Comparison of Perioperative Complications and Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Cerebral Aneurysm Clipping Performed Ultra-Early (≤ 24 hours) versus Late (> 24 hours): A 7-Year Retrospective Study of 302 Patients.

Objectives The intracerebral aneurysm with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has a high morbidity and mortality rate. This study aimed to compare the incidences of perioperative complications in ultra-early surgery (within 24 hours) with those in late surgery (> 24 hours). Methods Retrospective data were reviewed for 302 patients who underwent craniotomies with aneurysm clipping between January 2014 and December 2020. Perioperative data were obtained from the medical records and reviewed by the investigators. The complications were compared between ultra-early and late operations. We were interested in major complications such as delayed ischemic neurologic deficit (DIND), intraoperative aneurysm rupture (IAR), and anesthesia-related complications. The short-term (in hospital) and long-term (1 year) outcomes in patients with or without DIND and IAR were compared. The collected data was statistically analyzed. Results Three hundred and two patients were analyzed, and 264 patients had completed follow-up. The ultra-early cases (150 patients) had a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, a lower Glasgow Coma Scale, and higher Hunt and Hess scales. The surgeons operated on more cases of the anterior cerebral artery as ultra-early operations. The incidence rates of DIND, IAR, severe hemodynamic instability, and cardiac arrest were 5.6, 8.3, 6.3, and 0.3%, respectively, which were not different between groups. However, the reintubation rate was higher in the ultra-early surgery cases (0 vs. 3.3%, p = 0.023). The DIND and IAR patients had poorer short-term (in hospital) outcomes. Conclusions There were no differences in major complications between ultra-early and late craniotomy with aneurysm clipping. However, the reintubation rate was strikingly higher in the ultra-early group. Patients with major complications had early, unfavorable outcomes.

Vertebro-Vertebral Arteriovenous Fistulae: A Case Series of Endovascular Management at a Single Center.

OBJECTIVE: Vertebro-vertebral arteriovenous fistulae (VVFs) are a rare disorder characterized by a direct shunt between the extracranial vertebral artery and the veins of the vertebral venous plexus. This study aims to comprehensively review the characteristics and outcomes of endovascular treatments for VVFs at our center. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on 14 patients diagnosed with a VVF who underwent endovascular treatment at Siriraj Hospital from January 2000 to January 2023. The study assessed patient demographics, presentation, fistula location, treatment strategies, endovascular techniques employed, and treatment outcomes. RESULTS: Among the 14 patients, 11 (78.6%) were female, with an age range from 25 to 79 years (median: 50 years). Spontaneous VVFs were observed in 64.3% of the cases, including three associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1). Iatrogenic injury accounted for two cases, and three patients had VVFs resulting from traffic accidents. A pulsatile neck mass and tinnitus, with or without neurological deficits, were common presenting symptoms. Active bleeding was observed in three cases with vascular injury, while unilateral proptosis, congestive heart failure, and incidental findings each presented in one patient. All the VVFs were successfully obliterated without major treatment complications. Parent vessel sacrifice was performed in 85.7% of the cases, while vertebral artery preservation was achieved in the remaining two patients. Embolic materials included detachable balloons, detachable coils, and n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) glue. All the presenting symptoms showed improvement, and no morbidity or mortality was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular embolization is a feasible and effective approach for achieving complete VVF obliteration with safety. Parent artery sacrifice should not be reluctantly performed, particularly when adequate collateral circulation is demonstrated.

Secondary metopic craniosynostosis after posterior cranial decompression in cloverleaf skull deformity.

Cloverleaf skull deformity or Kleeblattschadel syndrome is a severe condition where multiple cranial sutures are absent and prematurely fused, leading to a trilobate head shape. The remaining open sutures or fontanelles compensate for rapid brain expansion, while the constricted fused calvarium restricts brain growth and results in increased intracranial pressure. Recent data show that early posterior cranial and foramen magnum decompression positively affects infants with cloverleaf skulls. However, long-term sequelae are still rarely discussed. We hereby report a child who developed secondary metopic craniosynostosis after posterior cranial decompression, which required a front-orbital advancement and cranial remodelling as a definitive procedure.

Treatment Outcomes of Mechanical Thrombectomy in Patients with Acute Posterior Circulation Stroke.

Objective The benefits of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with acute posterior circulation stroke remain unclear. Currently, there is no evidence from randomized control trials to show the safety and effectiveness of MT in patients with posterior circulation stroke. This study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of MT in posterior circulation stroke patients enrolling in our hospital during 2010 to 2020. Materials and Methods Between January 2010 and December 2020, 66 patients with acute posterior circulation stroke underwent MT. Data collected and analyzed included demographics, comorbidity, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), procedure time, site of occlusion, presence of posterior communicating artery (PCoA), endovascular technique, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Good clinical outcome was defined by mRS at 2 or less at 90 days after MT. Statistical Analysis Variables with normal distribution were reported with mean ± standard deviation, meanwhile those with nonnormal distribution were demonstrated with median and range. Fisher's exact test for categorical variables or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables was performed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with binary logistic regression method was used analyze the association between the prognosis factor and good outcome. Statistical significance was defined when p -value less than 0.05. Results The mean age of patients was 65.2 years with male predominance. The median NIHSS was 18.5. Successful recanalization (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b-3) was achieved in 61/66 cases (92.42%) and postprocedure symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in 5/66 cases (7.60%). Successful recanalization with good clinical outcome was obtained from 30 of 61 cases (49.18%); it was also associated with distal basilar artery occlusion ( p = 0.035) and PCoA patency presence ( p = 0.024). Our study showed the correlation between good treatment outcomes with initial NIHSS less than 20, intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator, pre-MT magnetic resonance imaging Q5 brain, and contact aspiration MT technique. Conclusion MT is beneficial to patients with posterior circulation stroke. A good clinical outcome was significantly associated with distal basilar artery occlusion and PCoA patency presence within a group of successful recanalization.

Solitary Neurocysticercosis Presenting with Focal Seizure and Secondary Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure.

BACKGROUND Neurocysticercosis is the most common central nervous system infection in developing countries. A wide array of clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic to severe neurological symptoms, is observed in patients diagnosed with neurocysticercosis, depending on the number of lesions, cyst location, cyst stage, parasite genotype, and host immunity. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 25-year-old Burmese man who presented with focal seizure and secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Brain imaging studies revealed a 1-cm cyst, which showed rim enhancement, an eccentric scolex, and surrounding brain edema at the left superior frontal gyrus. His serum cysticercus antibody was positive. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with solitary neurocysticercosis based on clinical manifestations, neuroimaging findings, and positive serology. The patient received anti-parasitic and anti-seizure medications before surgical excision of the cyst via computed tomography (CT) scan navigation. Stereomicroscopic examination of the cyst revealed a parasite larva in a fluid-filled cyst, containing a scolex with hooks and 4 suckers, identical to that of Taenia solium. Molecular characterization of the parasite based on T. solium cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX-1) gene identified the species as being 99.7% identical to T. solium Asia genotype previously reported from pigs in Thailand. CONCLUSIONS Although the prevalence of neurocysticercosis seems to be declining, sporadic cases have been reported throughout the world and the prevalence may be underestimated. Differential diagnosis of neurocysticercosis in patients presenting with adult-onset epilepsy should be considered in disease-endemic areas.

Efficiency of Endovascular Therapy for Bilateral Cavernous Sinus Dural Arteriovenous Fistula.

BACKGROUND: The principles of endovascular treatment of bilateral cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (CS-dAVF) are not well established because of the complexity in the number of fistula tracts and their behavior, which seems to be more aggressive. We aimed to determine an efficient technique for endovascular treatment of bilateral CS-dAVF and the associated factors to achieve good clinical and angiographic outcomes. METHODS: The data were analyzed from 165 consecutive patients diagnosed with CS-dAVF from January 2005 to September 2018. The demographic data included approaching route, embolization times, embolization material, sequence of embolization, number of embolization sessions, and angiographic and clinical outcomes. Interrater agreement of bilateral CS-dAVF diagnosis was performed using the κ coefficient. The factors associated with treatment outcome were analyzed using a Pearson χ2 test. RESULTS: Bilateral CS-dAVF was detected in 43 patients (26%). Angiographic presentations that showed evidence of sinus thrombosis, dangerous venous drainage, and higher Satomi classification were more commonly found in bilateral CS-dAVF than in unilateral CS-dAVF. Good clinical outcome and cure from angiography were obtained in 90% and 74%, respectively. Ipsilateral inferior petrosal sinus-intercavernous sinus-contralateral cavernous sinus catheterization was the major approach route of treatment. The factors associated with improved clinical outcome were transvenous approach, shunt closure, coil embolization, and sequencing the embolization (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Dangerous venous drainage tends to increase in bilateral CS-dAVF. Retrograde ipsilateral inferior petrosal sinus catheterization using coil embolization and sequencing the embolization are the major concerns for treatment.

Success Rate of Simple Coil Embolization in Wide-Neck Aneurysm with Aneurysmal Shoulder.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Wide-necked intracranial aneurysm (WIA) is one of the challenging diseases for neuro-interventionist to treat by simple coiling technique. The purpose of this study is to identify the morphology associated with successful simple coil embolization in wide neck aneurysm patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2002 and August 2018, 102 patients with total 115 ruptured or unruptured WIA which received endovascular treatment were retrospective reviewed. Data were analyzed including demographics, aneurysm morphology, endovascular technique, angiographic outcome, complication, regrowth, and retreatment rate. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 61.6 years with female predominant (72.5%). Ruptured WIA was diagnosed in 71 patients (61.7%). Majority of aneurysms were located in an anterior circulation which were 74 cases (64.3%), mainly paraclinoid aneurysm (30/115). Endovascular treatment was successful in 113 cases (98.3%) which can be mainly divided into simple coil embolization 50 cases (43.5%), balloon-assisted coil embolization 26 cases (22.6%), and stent-assisted coil embolization 32 cases (27.8%). Complete, subtotal, and incomplete occlusion of WIA was achieved in 32 cases (27.8%), 62 cases (53.9%), and 18 cases (15.7%), respectively. There was 9.6% complication occurred. Regrowth and retreatment were found 20% and 15.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: WIA with two-sided aneurysmal shoulder or neck width <3.6 mm. are significantly associated with successful coil embolization using simple coiling technique.

Favorable Outcome of Endovascular Treatment for Intracranial Aneurysms: A Single-Center Study in Thailand.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to collect the information on patients with intracranial aneurysm (IA) receiving endovascular management in Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from patients with IA who underwent endovascular treatment from January 1997 through July 2013. We collected patients' demographic data including age, sex, clinical presentations, and aneurysmal profiles, as well as endovascular treatment technique, complications, angiographic results, and regrowth rate. Treatment results included success rate, clinical findings during follow-up, and regrowth rate. RESULTS: We reviewed data from 497 patients with 636 aneurysms (female:male ratio, 1.9:1; age range, 15-90 years; mean age, 59.18 years) and 69% presented with rupture. One hundred and twenty patients with 127 aneurysms received endovascular treatment. The most common location for endovascular treatment was the posterior communicating artery (15.8%), and endovascular techniques were used most often for posterior circulation and paraclinoid aneurysms. The success rate was approximately 99.2% with a 16.5% regrowth rate and no rebleeding. Regrowth rate did not correlate with immediate postoperative angiographic findings. We encountered 23 complications (18.1%); most commonly, intra-procedural rupture (7/23). Good outcomes occurred in approximately 95.9% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The success rate for endovascular treatment was >90%. Regrowth rate and clinical outcomes were within standard limits. Posterior circulation and paraclinoid aneurysms were our main targets. We tended to use fewer devices and simpler techniques to secure ruptured IA; however, the regrowth rate was similar to that using device-assisted techniques in other studies. We found no significant factors affecting regrowth rate, including immediate posttreatment angiographic results.

The Effectiveness of Dural Venous Sinus Sacrifice as a Treatment of Aggressive Type Cranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of dural venous sinus sacrifice as a treatment of aggressive type cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) in terms of both clinical outcome and angiographic outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight patients with 163 aggressive type cranial dAVFs who were treated with dural sinus sacrifice were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and angiographic outcomes were analyzed. Procedural complications were also recorded. Only 103 patients (80.5%) who had been following up for at least 90 days were analyzed for clinical outcome. RESULTS: There were 53 males and 75 females with age ranging from 20 years to 93 years (mean age 55.44 years). The overall angiographic cure rate of dural venous sinus sacrifice as a part of the treatment of aggressive dAVFs was 81.6%. Considering clinical outcome (average duration of follow-up was 2 years and 6 months), 75 patients (72.8%) had clinical improvement and 21 (20.4%) were clinically stable. Worsening of the presenting symptoms was observed in 7 patients (6.8%). Procedural complications were found in 5 patients (3.9%). CONCLUSION: Dural venous sinus sacrifice is a safe and effective treatment strategy with high angiographic cure rate, good clinical outcome, and low incidence of procedural-related complication.

Treatment outcomes in cerebral artery dissection and literature review.

Methods Patients with cerebral artery dissections were reviewed in a hospital setting from 2008 to 2015. Clinical presentations, lesion locations, treatment modalities, functional outcomes, and mortality were reviewed. Parent artery occlusion was the first choice for surgery or endovascular treatment of a hemorrhagic dissecting cerebral artery. Endovascular or surgical reconstructive treatment was indicated in patients whose parent artery could not be occluded. Favorable functional outcomes were determined using modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores of 0-2. Results In total, 61 patients with cerebral artery dissections were admitted to the hospital. Seven (11.5%) had traumatic dissections. All traumatic dissections were located in the internal carotid arteries. Overall favorable outcome rate was about 57% (4/7). Spontaneous cerebral artery dissections were found in 54 patients. No difference in favorable outcomes was observed between parent vessel occlusion and selective occlusion with parent vessel preservation (or vessel reconstruction) (70% and 63%, respectively, p = 1.000). Patients who presented with spontaneous dissection without intracranial hemorrhage had more favorable outcomes than those with intracranial hemorrhage (79% and 52%, respectively, p = 0.045). The mortality rate of patients with spontaneous dissection was 7.4%. Conclusions Most of the traumatic dissections were located on the internal carotid arteries and spontaneous dissections were commonly located on vertebral arteries. Nonhemorrhagic spontaneous cerebral dissections had better functional outcomes after treatment. Endovascular and surgical management were effective treatments by parent vessel occlusion or reconstructions.

Bulbar dysfunction in normal pressure hydrocephalus: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is clinically characterized by gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, and urinary incontinence, as well as enlargement of the ventricles. To the best of the authors' knowledge, there have been no previous publications regarding the correlation between bulbar dysfunction and NPH. The primary objective of this study was to compare preoperative and postoperative prevalence of bulbar dysfunction in patients with NPH. Secondary objectives included assessing the results of surgery for swallowing, speech, gait, cognition, and urination, and evaluating the correlation between bulbar dysfunction and triad symptoms. METHODS Fifty-three patients with NPH who underwent shunt placement surgery at Siriraj Hospital were included in the study. Patients were evaluated for gait, cognition, urination, swallowing, and speech before and 6 months after shunt placement. Triad symptoms were assessed using standard methods. Bulbar dysfunctions were assessed using the Swallowing Problem Questionnaire, Thai Articulation Test, Resonation Screening Test (RST), and Thai Nasality Test. The Thai Speech Assessment Program and nasometer were used for objective speech measurement. RESULTS Preoperatively, 86% (43/50) of patients had swallowing problems and 75% (37/49) had speech problems, as measured by the RST. Postoperatively, there was significant improvement in swallowing (p < 0.001), speech problems by RST (p = 0.008), and voice volume (p = 0.009), but no significant change in the nasometer test. All triad symptoms were improved. There were significant correlations between swallowing impairment and gait disturbance (r = 0.358, p = 0.009), and RST and cognitive impairment (r = -0.502, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This is the first study of bulbar dysfunction in patients with NPH. The results showed that the prevalence of bulbar dysfunction is very high. The correlation between bulbar dysfunction and the classic NPH triad has been documented and published. These bulbar symptoms also significantly improved after surgery. As such, bulbar dysfunction should be regarded as a core symptom that should be considered along with the classic triad in the clinical diagnosis and management of NPH.

Pain after Major Craniotomy in a University Hospital: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Pain after major craniotomy has been believed to be less severe than the other operations. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and risk factors of moderate to severe pain after major craniotomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This is a prospective observational study in a neurosurgical intensive care unit and wards of a university, tertiary hospital. After institutional IRB approval, patients undergoing major craniotomy during May 2011-August 2012 were interviewed preoperatively and 24 and 48 hours postoperatively. Demographic data, preoperative anxiety scores, operative data and postoperative pain characteristics were recorded. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty patients completed the study. The incidence of moderate to severe pain was 75%. Mean pain score during 24 and 48 hours were 5.5 ± 2.7 and 3.5 ± 2.6, respectively. Univariate analysis identified age under 45 years and perioperative steroid therapy as predictors of moderate to severe postoperative pain. Using multivariate analysis, only age under 45 years was a significant risk factor. Patients' satisfaction scores were good in both mild and moderate to severe pain groups (9.49 ± 1.08 and 8.37 ± 1.76). During postoperative period, almost all of the patients received intravenous opioid and oral acetaminophen for pain treatment. No respiratory depression occurred, but postoperative nausea and vomiting occurred in 51.7% and pruritus in 23.6%. CONCLUSION: Incidence of pain after craniotomy was high especially in younger age group, which is not in accordance with all similar reports. However we believe pain management after major craniotomy in our hospital requires improvement.

Feasibility Study of Language Lateralization using Thai Version of Language Paradigm for Functional MRI in Clinical Service.

Objective: To evaluate the concordance of language lateralization between functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using Thai version of language paradigm and Wada test or awake surgery with direct cortical brain stimulation (DCS). Material and Method: Retrospective study of thirteen patients (3 males and 10 females with mean age of 33.9 years old) with epilepsy (7 cases) or brain tumor (6 cases) was performed. Every patient underwent both fMRI (word generation, verb generation, naming picture, and sentence completion tasks) and Wada test or awake surgery with DCS (defined as the gold standard). The lateralization index (LI) of fMRI was automatically calculated by using the LI-toolbox on SPM8. The hemispheric lateralization was also evaluated visually. The concordance between fMRI and gold standard were analyzed. Results: The concordance between the lateralization of fMRI by visual assessment and gold standard was 92.3%. Concordance between the calculated LI by fMRI and gold standard was varied along with the task and regional calculation method. The concordance was good in all tasks (except for naming picture task) when using calculated LI from frontal or whole brain excluded cerebellum and occipital lobe (range 76.92 to 88.98% and 76.92 to 92.31%, respectively). Conclusion: There was good concordance between fMRI and gold standard. Regional calculation from frontal lobes and whole brain excluded cerebellum and occipital lobes gave the best results. The results supported feasibility to use the fMRI with Thai language paradigm as an alternative way to determine the language dominant hemisphere in Thai patients. In case of language dominant hemisphere is unclear, further invasive investigation of language mapping such as Wada test or DCS is crucial.

Computerized Tomographic Angiography for Detection of Cerebral Vasospasm after Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the gold standard to diagnose cerebral vasospasm but it is usually not available due to lack of expertise and proper equipment. The present study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of brain computerized tomographic angiography (CTA) in detecting cerebral vasospasm after intracranial aneurysmal rupture. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 2011 and October 2014, 20 patients who were suspected of cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent brain CTA andDSA within 24 hours after clinical onset ofvasospasm. Separate reviewers independently reviewed the CTA and DSA. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled, including 7 males and 13 females. The patient characteristics did not have any relationship to the incidence of cerebral vasospasm. The CTA finding of vasospasm was well correlated to the DSA finding (Kappa 0.793). Diagnostic accuracy and false negative of the CTA were 90% and 5%, respectively. Sensitivity of the CTA was 94% and specificity was 100%. Positive predictive value ofthe CTA was 100% and negative predictive value was 66%. The vessels that showed the most correlation between the CTA and DSA findings were left A1 (Kappa 0.684) and left A2 (Kappa 0.663) segments of anterior cerebral artery, and left M1 (Kappa 0.503) segment of middle cerebral artery. Both CTA and DSA can detect mild vasospasm (< 50% luminal stenosis) located proximal to the circle of Willis. CONCLUSION: Compared to the DSA, the CTA can be used for detecting cerebral vasospasm in patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms with high sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy.

De novo aneurysm on the posterior cerebral artery: a case report and literature review.

De novo aneurysm formation is a rare entity of cerebral aneurysms. The authors describe a 19-year-old man presenting with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage of unknown etiology. The initial cerebral angiography revealed no identifiable vascular lesion. A few weeks following a surgical evacuation of the hematoma, a tiny saccular aneurysm was incidentally found on the distal posterior cerebral artery (PCA) remote from the site of the primary ictus. Several rationales indicated that it was compatible with a cerebral aneurysm of infective etiology. The aneurysm was successfully treated by antibiotic therapy alone. To the authors' knowledge, de novo aneurysm on the PCA has rarely been reported.

Cosmetic and functional outcomes following paramedian and anterolateral retroperitoneal access in anterior lumbar spine surgery.

OBJECT: In this paper, the authors review the functional and cosmetic outcomes and complications in 300 patients who underwent treatment for lumbar spine disease via either an anterior paramedian or conventional anterolateral retroperitoneal approach. METHODS: Seven surgeons performed anterior lumbar surgeries in 300 patients between August 2004 and December 2006. One hundred and eighty patients were treated with an anterior paramedian approach, and 120 patients with an anterolateral retroperitoneal approach. An access surgeon was used in 220 cases (74%). Postoperative evaluation in all patients consisted of clinic visits, assessment with the modified Scoliosis Research Society-30 instrument, as well as a specific questionnaire relating to wound appearance and patient satisfaction with the wound. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 31 months (range 12-47 months), the mean Scoliosis Research Society-30 score (out of 25) was 21.2 in the patients who had undergone the anterior paramedian approach and 19.4 in those who had undergone the anterolateral retroperitoneal approach (p = 0.005). The largest differences in quality of life measures were observed in the areas of pain control (p = 0.001), self-image (p = 0.004), and functional activity (p = 0.003), with the anterior paramedian group having higher scores in all 3 categories. Abdominal bulging in the vicinity of the surgical site was the most common wound complication observed and was reported by 22 patients in the anterolateral retroperitoneal group (18%), and 2 patients (1.1%) in the anterior paramedian group. Exposures of >or= 3 levels with the anterolateral approach were associated with abdominal bulging (p = 0.04), while 1- or 2-level exposures were not (p > 0.05). Overall satisfaction with incisional appearance was higher in patients with an anterior paramedian incision (p = 0.001) and with approaches performed by an access surgeon (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who undergo an anterior paramedian approach to the lumbar spine have a higher quality of life and better cosmetic outcomes than patients undergoing an anterolateral retroperitoneal approach.

Primary extraskeletal osteosarcoma in the pineal region. Case report.

Primary extraskeletal osteosarcoma occurring in the brain parenchyma is distinctly uncommon, with only five cases having been reported. The authors describe the case of a 45-year-old man who presented with progressive headache and diplopia. Computerized tomography scanning and magnetic resonance imaging results revealed a pineal region tumor with obstructive hydrocephalus. The patient underwent partial resection of the tumor. The histological examination showed large pleomorphic tumor cells embedded in osteoid matrix. Immunohistochemical analysis was negative for various antibodies and thus excluded a glial, germ cell, epithelial, and lymphoid tumor origin. Only vimentin showed strong positivity in most of the tumor cells. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells were rich in dilated rough endoplasmic reticula. Clear zones between tumor cells and osteoid matrix were observed. The osteoid matrix was made up of small collagen fibrils and hydroxyapatite deposits. The tumor was not attached to the bone structure of the skull. These findings are consistent with the features of extraskeletal osteosarcoma. Data from complete medical and radiological studies excluded a metastatic origin for this tumor. Partial resection and postoperative radiotherapy had provided tumor control at 11 months after the onset of symptoms. This is the first reported case of a primary extraskeletal osteosarcoma occurring in the pineal region.