Endovascular coiling in the treatment of patients with renal artery aneurysms.

Endovascular coiling is a percutaneous endovascular technique used in the management of arterial aneurysms with high success rates and minimal associated morbidity. We present a series of three patients with incidental renal artery aneurysms treated successfully with endovascular coiling, despite comorbidities. One patient had an aneurysm associated with a solitary kidney. The decision to use this technique becomes critical when the aneurysm involves a single functioning kidney. Each renal artery aneurysm was successfully coiled by combining vascular and neurointerventional techniques. The results from the present case series also highlight the challenges faced in therapeutic decision-making in complex situations with limited error margins.

Varicella zoster virus cerebral aneurysmal vasculopathy presenting in a newly-diagnosed HIV-positive patient.

We report the case of a newly-diagnosed HIV-positive patient with varicella zoster virus aneurysmal vasculopathy confirmed on intrathecal antibody testing, despite a negative Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This highlights the importance of prompt treatment with antiviral and steroid therapy in the presence of clinical or radiological suspicion whilst awaiting further confirmatory testing.

Neurogenic pulmonary oedema complicating a lateral medullary infarct.

Neurogenic pulmonary oedema (NPO) is a rare clinical syndrome of pulmonary oedema occurring secondary to an insult of the central nervous system (CNS). The exact aetiology of this disorder is unknown. NPO can be fatal and poor awareness and identification of this entity, particularly in terms of misdiagnosis as primary pulmonary or cardiac disease, can result in suboptimal management and outcomes. We describe the presentation and management of a 68-year-old woman with an acute left lateral medullary stroke complicated by pulmonary oedema. The likely aetiology is discussed, and important learning points are highlighted.

Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery/Vertebral Artery Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Comparison of Saccular vs Dissecting Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Two distinct categories of aneurysms are described in relation to the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) and vertebral artery (VA): saccular (SA) and dissecting (DA) types. This distinction is often unrecognized because abnormalities here are uncommon and most studies are small. OBJECTIVE: To determine if there are any differences in the clinical presentation, in-hospital course, or outcomes in patients with DA vs SA of the PICA or VA. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with a VA or PICA aneurysm were identified from a departmental subarachnoid hemorrhage database and categorized into DA or SA types. Prospectively collected demographic and outcome data (length of stay, discharge Glasgow Outcome Score) were supplemented by abstracting records for procedural data (extraventricular drain [EVD], ventriculoperitoneal [VP] shunt, tracheostomy, and nasogastric feeding). Univariate, binary logistic regression, and Cox regression analysis was used to compare patients with SA vs DA. RESULTS: Three aneurysms related to arteriovenous malformation were excluded. Five patients were conservatively managed. Of the 30 treated cases, more patients with a DA presented in poor grade (6/13 vs 2/17 SA; P = .035). More DA patients required an EVD (85% vs 29%; P = .003), VP shunt (54% vs 6%; P = .003), tracheostomy (46% vs 6%; P < .01), and nasogastric feeding (85% vs 35%; P = .007). The median length of stay (41 vs 17 d, P < .001) was longer, and the age and injury severity adjusted odds of discharge home were significantly lower in the DA group (P = .008). Thirty-day mortality was not significantly different (23% of DA vs 24% of SA; P = .2). CONCLUSION: The presentation, clinical course, and outcomes differ in patients with DA vs SA of the PICA and VA.

A Confirmed Case in the United Kingdom of Hirayama Disease in a Young White Male Presenting with Hand Weakness.

BACKGROUND: We present the first reported case of Hirayama disease in the United Kingdom. A literature review of Hirayama disease in the Western literature shows that this case is unique in being the first in the United Kingdom, constituting one of only a few cases in Europe with supporting magnetic resonance imaging and reported treatment outcome. CASE DESCRIPTION: Our patient was a young Caucasian male who presented with progressive bilateral hand weakness, had confirmatory magnetic resonance imaging findings of Hirayama disease, and experienced improvement of symptoms with cervical collar immobilization. CONCLUSIONS: This case lends further evidence to the flexion-induced myelopathy theory of Hirayama disease and supports the findings of other studies in which avoidance of neck flexion and cervical immobilization helped to attenuate disease progression in this patient group.

Use of intraoperative Doppler ultrasound with neuronavigation to guide arteriovenous malformation resection: a pediatric case series.

OBJECT: Over the last 20 years, several intraoperative adjuncts, including ultrasonography, neuronavigation, and angiography, have been said to aid the intraoperative localization and resection of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The authors assessed the value of intraoperative Doppler ultrasonography in conjunction with neuronavigation during surgery for cerebral AVMs in the pediatric population. METHODS: The authors reviewed all cranial AVM resections performed by a single surgeon at their institution in the period from 2007 to 2013 and here describe their experience and results in a series of 20 consecutive AVM resections in 19 pediatric patients. Intraoperative Doppler ultrasonography had been used in conjunction with preoperative CT or neuronavigational MRI. Preoperative and postoperative clinical findings, patient age, and Spetzler-Martin AVM grade were identified in all patients. RESULTS: All patients, whose ages ranged from 2 to 16 years, underwent craniotomy and excision of an AVM, which was supratentorial in 18 cases and infratentorial in 2. Patients in 11 cases underwent preoperative embolization, and all other patients underwent cerebral angiography prior to surgery, except for 2 patients who were urgently surgically treated because of low Glasgow Coma Scale scores and associated hematoma. Spetzler-Martin Grades I (3 cases), II (6), III (7), and IV (4) AVMs were represented in this series. Intraoperative Doppler ultrasound provided high-quality images in all cases and demonstrated the location, size, and flow characteristics of the AVM and any associated hematoma. Delayed postoperative cerebral angiography demonstrated successful AVM resection in all cases. An assessment of clinical outcomes revealed no new long-term neurological deficits at 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative Doppler ultrasonography is a reliable and useful tool for intraoperative localization and guidance for AVM resection in the pediatric population. When used in conjunction with neuronavigation equipment and modern microscopes, this technique has shown a very high complete resection rate with extremely low associated morbidity.

Persistent Cryptococcal Brain Infection despite Prolonged Immunorecovery in an HIV-Positive Patient.

Background. HIV-positive people starting combined antiretroviral therapy may develop immune reconstitution to latent or treated opportunistic infections. Immune reconstitution to cerebral Cryptococcus is poorly understood and can be fatal. Case Presentation. A 33-year-old Zimbabwean female presented with cryptococcal meningitis and newly diagnosed HIV with a CD4 count of 51 cells/ µ L (4%). She was treated with amphotericin and flucytosine. Combined antiretroviral therapy was started four weeks later and she showed early improvement. However, over the ensuing 18 months, her clinical course was marked by periodic worsening with symptoms resembling cryptococcal meningitis despite having achieved CD4 counts ≥400 cells/ µ L. Although initially treated for relapsing cryptococcal immune reconstitution syndrome, a brain biopsy taken 17 months after initial presentation showed budding Cryptococci. Conclusion. This unusually protracted case highlights the difficulties in differentiating relapsing cryptococcal meningitis from immune reconstitution and raises questions concerning the optimum timing of initiation of combined antiretroviral therapy in such patients.

A case of a spontaneous intraorbital arteriovenous fistula: clinico-radiological findings and treatment by transvenous embolisation via the superior ophthalmic vein.

A 72-year-old male presented with progressive right axial proptosis and red eye. Catheter angiography demonstrated an intraorbital arteriovenous fistula (IAVF) distal to the central retinal artery (CRA). Transvenous embolisation following direct surgical exposure of the superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) resulted in rapid resolution of his symptoms and signs. Transvenous embolisation via the SOV is a safe, effective alternative to transarterial embolisation for treating spontaneous IAVF where transarterial embolisation poses a risk of CRA occlusion.

Rate and clinical impact of intra-procedural complications during coil embolisation of ruptured small (3 mm or less) cerebral aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: Coiling of small (≤3 mm) cerebral aneurysms can be technically challenging and is associated with increased procedural-related morbidity and mortality. The authors report the clinical and radiological results following coiling of ruptured small cerebral aneurysms in a single-institution, and define the rates of intra-procedural rupture and thromboembolism. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on consecutive patients from 01/01/2008 to 31/12/2010 with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) from ruptured cerebral aneurysms (≤3 mm) managed in a tertiary neurosurgical institution in the United Kingdom. RESULTS: Of the 108 patients identified, 72 patients (66.7%) underwent coil embolisation. A favourable outcome, defined as a Glasgow outcome score of 4-5, was achieved in 63 (87.5%) of these patients. Intra-procedural complications were observed in 11.1% (±7.3% 95% CI) of cases, wherein the rate of intra-procedural rupture was determined to be 8.3% (±6.4% 95% CI) and intra-procedural thromboembolism to be 2.8% (±3.8% 95% CI). CONCLUSION: Although coil embolisation of small ruptured cerebral aneurysms is technically feasible and an efficacious means of treatment, it is associated with an increased rate of intra-procedural complications. This should be taken into account when embarking upon treatment of patients with ruptured small cerebral aneurysms.

Factors Influencing Decision-making and Outcome in the Surgical Management of Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Objectives The aim was to optimize the algorithm of operative intervention for trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Design A multivariate analysis was undertaken to determine factors that had influenced both the initial choice of surgical intervention and the subsequent outcomes. Setting The study was undertaken with patients who underwent microvascular decompression (MVD) or percutaneous glycerol injection (PGI) for TN between 2007 and 2009. Participants Seventy-one consecutive patients (43 female) were selected. Main Outcome Measures Data were prospectively recorded and included demographics, etiology, and presentation of TN, duration of symptoms, neurovascular contact, and the outcomes of surgery. Results The response rates for MVD and PGI were 96.2% and 87.5%, respectively. The recurrence rates were 9.8% following MVD and 33.3% following PGI. Multivariate analyses confirmed multiple sclerosis and the identification of neurovascular contact as the only factors predictive of the choice of surgical intervention and the risk of recurrence following MVD. Conclusions Our approach to choosing an operative intervention has been validated. The presence of neurovascular contact and the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis influenced the choice of surgery and were predictive of subsequent outcome. Both MVD and PGI offer effective treatment options for TN. Surgery should be offered early when medical management fails.

Haemorrhagic synovial cyst presenting as thoracic cord compression: a case report and review of the literature.

Synovial cysts are often incidental findings on spinal imaging. They can present with back pain and radicular symptoms; rarely, they can rupture causing an epidural haematoma and thecal sac compression. We present the first reported case of a haemorrhagic synovial cyst causing thoracic cord compression, and review the pertinent literature.

Pituitary adenoma and incidental superior hypophyseal aneurysm.

In patients with pituitary adenomas, intra-cranial aneurysms can be an incidental finding, and are usually located outside the pituitary region. The authors describe the multi-modal management of a rare case of an aneurysm of the supraclinoid carotid that encroached into a pituitary macroadenoma.

Tumefactive demyelination-an unusual neurological presentation of HIV.

We describe 3 individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus with unusual focal brain syndromes; magnetic resonance imaging revealed "open-ring" pattern space occupying lesions. After deterioration while the patients were receiving anti-Toxoplasma therapy, brain biopsy was performed, which revealed aggressive demyelination consistent with tumefactive demyelination. Treatment with high-dose steroids resulted in complete recovery in all cases.

Isolated extradural Rosai-Dorfman disease of the thoracic spine: a rare cause of spinal cord compression: case report.

OBJECTIVE: Rosai-Dorfman disease is a rare benign histiocytic disease of unknown origin that arises predominantly in lymph nodes with generalized fever and malaise but can affect a variety of organs. We describe a case of isolated Rosai-Dorfman disease causing thoracic cord compression. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 24-year-old man presented with progressive spastic paraparesis. A magnetic resonance scan revealed an anteriorly placed extradural lesion of the T4-T7 thoracic spine causing cord compression. He was systemically well with no other disease. INTERVENTION: The patient made a complete recovery after a limited T4-T7 laminectomy and biopsy of the lesion. Repeat magnetic resonance scan at 6 months revealed a further posteriorly placed lesion at the T8/9 level. More extensive posterior surgery was carried out with subtotal resection of the lesion with pedicle screw fixation. Histologically, all specimens revealed fibrous connective tissue infiltrated by histiocytic cells with CD68 and S100 positivity, confirming a diagnosis of Rosai-Dorfman disease. CONCLUSIONS: This is a rare case of isolated Rosai-Dorfman disease causing thoracic cord compression. It should be considered among the differential diagnoses of extradural cord compression. Radiological features and treatment options are discussed.

Incidental finding of fenestration of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery with appearances on magnetic resonance angiography.

A case of incidentally diagnosed fenestration of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) with an associated aneurysm is presented. We present appearances on magnetic resonance angiography, which have not been previously described. Careful interrogation of the data in volume-rendered and multiplanar reformats was required to make the diagnosis. The relationship between fenestrations and aneurysms in the anterior circulation is discussed both in general terms and with specific regard to the supraclinoid ICA. We also review the embryology of the distal ICA, which may help explain the adult anatomy of this rare lesion as a failure of caudal separation of the rostral and caudal divisions of the primitive distal ICA.