Hypomagnesemia in Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Magnesium (Mg) is an essential element for the body's normal physiological functioning. It has a major role in modulating vascular smooth muscle tone and peripheral arterial resistance. A low serum Mg level on admission (HMg0) has been associated with more severe presentation in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, data on HMg0 specifically in relation to intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are scarce. We sought to determine the incidence and clinical significance of HMg0 in patients with ICH. METHODS: We reviewed the records of consecutive patients with ICH over a 2-year period. Data collected included initial Mg levels (Mg0), clinical and radiologic characteristics on presentation, and discharge outcomes. Regression analysis was performed to look for any association of low Mg0 with admission blood pressure (BP) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores. We also examined the correlation of HMg0 with clinical/radiologic features, admission severity (based on the ICH score), and poor outcome on discharge. RESULTS: In all, 33.6% presented with HMg0. Mg0 levels were negatively associated with systolic BP presentation (P < 0.0001) and positively associated with the initial GCS scores (P = 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression showed an association between HMg0 and severity at presentation (P = 0.03), but not with poor outcome on discharge (P = 0.26). CONCLUSIONS: HMg0 occurs in one third of patients with ICH and is associated with more severe presentation and intraventricular hemorrhage. Mg levels on admission correlate inversely with systolic BP and directly with GCS scores at presentation. HMg0 does not influence outcomes at discharge.

Ossification in an extra-intradural spinal meningioma-pathologic and surgical vistas.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Intradural and intratumorous ossification in spinal meningiomas are rare compared to their cranial counterparts. Extradural extension of the spinal meningioma is not uncommon. To the best of our knowledge, the ossification in an extra-intradural spinal meningioma is not yet reported in the literature. PURPOSE: The authors report a rare case of an extra-intradural spinal meningioma with ossification and calcification. The review of literature including the surgical challenges and the histologic variations as well as histogenesis of the ossified spinal meningioma is discussed. STUDY DESIGN: Case report and review of the literature. METHODS: A 61-year-old woman presented with complaints of numbness and weakness for 3 years, and gait disturbances for 6 months. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass compressing the spinal cord at the T4 level. RESULTS: Complete resection of the tumor was achieved with coagulation and partial resection of the dura. Histopathological examination demonstrated a psammomatous spinal meningioma with intratumorous and intradural mature lamellar bone formation, complete with marrow and hematopoietic cells. The patient is asymptomatic at 3-year postoperative follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Despite adherence of the ossified mass to the dura, arachnoid, and spinal cord, complete atraumatic resection of the mass was possible with favorable surgical outcome. In addition to calcification as a likely forerunner of ossification in the psammomatous subtype of meningioma, metaplastic differentiation of neoplastic cells to osseous and hematopoietic component might play a crucial role.