Rapid progression of scoliosis curve in a mature patient with undiagnosed pituitary macroadenoma: A rare case report.

Growth hormone secreting pituitary tumor or gigantism has not been previously reported to be associated with rapid progression of scoliosis in the literature. However, there are some reports indicating scoliosis can be worsened by growth hormone therapy in children and adolescents. A 19-year-old boy was referred to our institution for the treatment of a right thoracolumbar scoliosis. The Cobb angle had worsened from 29° to 83° over two years' duration. He attained puberty at the age of 13. He had a previous history of slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE), which was operated in 2015, with no clinical features of gigantism. Preoperative assessment was performed. He was diagnosed with growth hormone secreting pituitary macroadenoma by magnetic resonance imaging with a high serum level of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Computed tomography (CT) of the pancreas showed a pancreatic endocrine tumor. The patient was later diagnosed with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1). He underwent endoscopic endonasal excision of the pituitary mass and distal pancreatectomy. This case indicates that growth hormone secreting pituitary macroadenoma could result in rapid progression of scoliosis.

An analysis of preoperative shoulder and neck balance and surgical outcome in 111 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients with two subtypes of Lenke 1 curves.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of postoperative shoulder imbalance following posterior spinal fusion (PSF) is still high in Lenke 1 curves despite following current treatment recommendations for upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) selection. The objective of this retrospective study was to identify differences in preoperative shoulder balance and to report the surgical outcome of two subtypes of Lenke 1 curves (flexible vs stiff) in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). METHODS: The authors grouped patients' curves as Lenke 1-ve (flexible) when their preoperative proximal thoracic side bending (PTSB) Cobb angle was < 15° and as Lenke 1+ve (stiff) when the PTSB Cobb angle was 15°-24.9°. The authors hypothesized that these two subtypes had distinct preoperative and postoperative shoulder and neck balance following PSF using pedicle screw constructs. RESULTS: Fifty patients had Lenke 1 (flexible) curves and 61 had Lenke 1 (stiff) curves. The mean preoperative T1 tilt for patients with Lenke 1 (flexible) was -4.9° ± 5.3°, and for those with Lenke 1 (stiff) curves it was -1.0° ± 5.3° (p < 0.001). Mean cervical axis (CA) was -0.1° ± 3.2° for Lenke 1 (flexible) curves and 2.3° ± 3.5° for Lenke 1 (stiff) curves (p < 0.001). Preoperative radiographic shoulder height (RSH) and clavicle angle (Cla-A) were similar between the two curve subtypes. Following surgery, there were significant differences between the subtypes in terms of T1 tilt (p < 0.001), RSH (p = 0.014), and Cla-A (p = 0.031). Interestingly, 41.0% of patients with a Lenke 1 (stiff) curve had +ve T1 tilt compared to 2.0% in Lenke 1 (flexible) group. Moreover, 26.2% of patients with the Lenke 1 (stiff) curve had +ve RSH compared to 12.0% of those with Lenke 1 (flexible) curves. And, 24.6% of patients with Lenke 1 (stiff) had +ve Cla-A compared to 10.0% of those with Lenke 1 (flexible) curves. CONCLUSIONS: Lenke 1 (flexible) and Lenke 1 (stiff) curves had distinct preoperative T1 tilt and CA measurements. Following PSF, the authors noted +ve T1 tilt in 41% of patients with Lenke 1 (stiff) curves versus 2.0% in those with Lenke 1 (flexible) curves. The authors also noted a significant difference in postoperative RSH and Cla-A measurements.

Radiological assessment of cervical lateral mass screw angulations in Asian patients.

BACKGROUND: Various lateral mass screw fixation methods have been described in the literature with various levels of safety in relation to the anterior neurovascular structures. This study was designed to radiologically determine the minimum lateral angulations of the screw to avoid penetration of the vertebral artery canalusing three of the most common techniques: Roy-Camille, An, and Magerl. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty normal cervical CT scans were reviewed. A minimum lateral angulation of a 3.5 mm lateral mass screw which was required to avoid penetration of the vertebral artery canal at each level of vertebra were measured. RESULTS: The mean lateral angulations of the lateral mass screws (with 95% confidence interval) to avoid vertebral artery canal penetration, in relation to the starting point at the midpoint (Roy-Camille), 1 mm medial (An), and 2 mm medial (Magerl) to the midpoint of lateral mass were 6.8° (range, 6.3-7.4°), 10.3° (range, 9.8-10.8°), and 14.1° (range, 13.6-14.6°) at C3 vertebrae; 6.8° (range, 6.2-7.5°), 10.7° (range, 10.0-11.5°), and 14.1° (range, 13.4-14.8°) at C4 vertebrae; 6.6° (range, 6.0-7.2°), 10.1° (range, 9.3-10.8°), and 13.5° (range, 12.8-14.3°) at C5 vertebrae and 7.6° (range, 6.9-8.3°), 10.9° (range, 10.3-11.6°), and 14.3° (range, 13.7-15.0°) at C6 vertebrae. The recommended lateral angulations for Roy-Camille, Magerl, and An are 10°, 25°,and 30°, respectively. Statistically, there is a higher risk of vertebral foramen violation with the Roy-Camille technique at C3, C4 and C6 levels, P < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Magerl and An techniques have a wide margin of safety. Caution should be practised with Roy-Camille's technique at C3, C4, and C6 levels to avoid vertebral vessels injury in Asian population.