Aneurysmal Bone Cysts of Spine: An Enigmatic Entity.

AIMS: The study was done to review the literature about the intriguing aspects of the aneurysmal bone cyst and to describe our experience with these cases. DESIGN: Retrospective. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We reviewed the records of all patients with primary spinal tumours whom we managed over last 8 years. We selected the patients with biopsy proven aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) for our study. RESULTS: Four patients (two males and two females) were included. The age ranged from 15-18 years. Three of them had neurological deficits and one had only pain. All of them were operated and three required instrumentation for stabilization. Neurological deficits improved in all the cases. However we had to re- operate one of the cases for recurrence and that patient was administered adjuvant radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: ABC is not a tumour in real sense but due to destructive nature that are classified as tumours. The patients have an excellent outcome as the disease is benign and has very low recurrence rates if surgical excision is complete. Best treatment modality is complete excision. Aneurysmal bone cyst is one of the uncommon tumors of the spine, and many of its features continue to be unclear even today. There is ambiguity about the definition, etiopathogenesis, radiological characteristics, histopathology and treatment modalities. They are common in young age and etiology is not clear. The presentation is varied with pain being the common symptom and neurological deficit depends on extent of cord involvement. The best treatment is controversial although surgery is believed to be curative in the majority of cases. We here describe our experience with four such cases who had varied clinical presentation and outcome.

The Description of Urodynamic Study for Bladder Dysfunction in Compressive Myelo- or Radiculo-pathy: A Prospective Study in an Institutional Setup.

PURPOSE: To study the significance of filling cystometry with pressure flow studies and bladder electromyography (EMG) in assessment and management of neurogenic bladder with myelopathies and evaluated neurological recovery in the follow-up period. METHODS: The study was a 3-year prospective urodynamic study in 63 patients, with traumatic and nontraumatic myelopathy. Bladder management was advised based on the cystometric findings. Neurological recovery and mode of bladder management were evaluated during follow-up after a minimum of 6 months. RESULTS: Mean age was 44.6 years (range 10-80 years). Thoracolumbar area was most commonly involved. Cystometry revealed overactive detrusor in 46 patients, (17 had detrusor sphincter dyssynergia [DSD], 29 without DSD) and areflexic/underactive detrusor in 9 patients. Postvoid residual (>15% of voided urine) was significant in 27 patients. Neurological recovery was seen in 60.3%, whereas 22.2% showed no improvement (partial improvement in 4.8%) and 12.6% had normal bladder function both initially and at follow-up. Correlation between neurological recovery and bladder management was found to be insignificant (P > 0.05) using spearman's correlation coefficient. CONCLUSION: Filling cystometry with pressure flow studies and EMG study is valuable for the assessment and management of neurogenic bladder in patients with myelopathy. In neurogenic bladder management and follow-up, pressure flow studies help to prevent complications and upper urinary tract complications.

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in Noncommunicating Hydrocephalus: Report on a Short Series of 53 Children.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopoic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is currently considered the best alternative to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt systems in the treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus. The aim of ETV is to communicate the third ventricle with the interpendicular cistern and create CSF flow which bypasses an obstruction to the circulation of the CSF. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the indications, efficacy, safety and outcome Of ETV pediatric patients of noncommunicating hydrocephalus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study is a 3 year prospective study from June 2012 to May 2015. Records were kept for age, gender, etilogical factors, symptoms, signs, previous use of shunt or external ventricular device, imaging findings, and surgical complications (intraoperative and postoperative). Only those patients with age between 6months and 18 years with symptoms of intracranial hypertension and radiographic evidence of noncommunicating hydrocephalus were included in the study. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients were studied, out of these 29 were boys and 24 were girls. The mean age of the patients was 6.6 years. Overall a total of 50 successful ETVs were done in 53 patients. The success rate is estimated to be 94%. There was no mortality. The average postoperative hospital stay was 4 days. The followup ranged from 6 to 16 months (mean, 12 months). CONCLUSION: ETV in children is a safe, simple and effective treatment and a logical alternative to shunting procedure for patients of noncommunicating hydrocephalus.

Utility of Computed Tomography-guided Biopsy in Evaluation of Metastatic Spinal Lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy of spine is currently a valuable diagnostic tool and effective technique for diagnosing and planning a proper therapeutic strategy for certain spinal lesions. The reported diagnostic accuracy of core biopsy ranges from 77% to 97%. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included all patients with spinal lesions suspicious of metastasis on magnetic resonance imaging, who presented between May 2012 and April 2014 and underwent CT-guided biopsy in our study. A total of thirty patients with spinal lesions were evaluated. RESULTS: Majority presented in the seventh decade of their life (average age = 53.93; age range = 10-72 years). Male:female ratio was 1.5:1. Pain was the most common presenting symptom (100%). Lumbar spine was the most common site of lesion followed by dorsal spine. Biopsy is the gold standard in histopathological evaluation of spinal lesions. Metastatic lesion was diagnosed in 12 (40%) cases, plasmacytoma in 12 (40%) cases, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2 (6.66%) cases, small round cell tumor in 1 (3.33%) case, nonspecific chronic inflammation in two patients, and necrosis with no viable cells in one patient. The most common malignancy to metastasize to spine was adenocarcinoma. The most common primary tumor of spine was plasmacytoma - multiple myeloma. CONCLUSION: CCT-guided biopsy is a safe procedure, and no procedure-related complication was seen in any patient.

Primary Hypothalamic Lymphoma in an Adult Male: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma is a well-known entity. However, the hypothalamus is a rare location, especially in adults. Few cases of secondary lymphomas have been reported. We report a case of primary hypothalamic lymphoma in an adult male with normal pituitary functions. Lymphoma should be considered as one of the differential diagnosis of lesions involving the hypothalamic/third ventricular area.

Spinal epidural abscess: Report on 27 cases.

BACKGROUND: Spinal epidural abscess, although an uncommon disease, often correlates with a high morbidity owing to significant delay in diagnosis. METHODS: In a prospective 5-year study, the clinical and magnetic resonance (MR) findings, treatment protocols, microbiology, and neurological outcomes were analyzed for 27 patients with spinal epidural abscess. RESULTS: Patients were typically middle-aged with underlying diabetes and presented with lumbar abscesses. Those undergoing surgical intervention >36 h after the onset of symptoms had poor neurological outcomes. CONCLUSION: Early recognition and timely evacuation of spinal abscesses minimized neurological morbidity and potential mortality.

Compressive Myelopathy due to Osteochondroma of the Atlas and Review of the Literature.

We report a case of vertebral osteochondroma arising from the posterior C1 arch that presented with features of compressive myelopathy. Osteochondromas are usually found in extremities and are rarely seen in the spine. They are most commonly found in posterior elements in the spine, and intraspinal extension is uncommon. The most common presentation is incidental finding during routine imaging followed by palpation of painless swelling. Compressive myelopathy as a presentation of vertebral osteochondroma in a child is a rare entity. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Spinal osteochondromas should also be kept in mind as a cause of spinal cord or nerve root compression in children.

Genetic Variation of ApoE Gene in Ethnic Kashmiri Population and Its Association with Outcome After Traumatic Brain Injury.

The outcome from traumatic brain injury (TBI) is variable and only partly explained by known prognostic factors. Genetic factors may influence the brain's susceptibility to injury or capacity for repair and regeneration. ApoE has been implicated in modifying neurological outcome after TBI, although the mechanisms by which this occurs remain poorly defined. Apolipoprotein E is an apparently multifunctional protein involved in the response of the brain to injury and in subsequent repair processes. Several studies have shown that patients with APOE e4 have a poorer outcome after TBI. This study was aimed to analyse the genotypes of ApoE in Kashmiri population and to examine the association of APOE genotype with outcome after TBI. A total of 450 subjects (300 healthy controls and 150 TBI patients) were recruited for the study. Genotyping was done by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).Our study indicated Apoe3/e3 to be the most common genotype in this study group. The allele frequency of the Apo E gene in these study subjects was observed to be 0.07 for the e2 allele, 0.82 for the e3 allele and 0.11 for the e4 allele. However, no association between the presence of APOe4 allele and outcome after head injury was observed in this study [p = 0.92]. Thus, genotype containing the e4 allele (e4/e3 and e4/e4) was not associated with unfavourable outcome after TBI in Kashmiri population.

Is hypothyroidism and hypogonadism an issue after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage-an institutional experience?

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hypopituitarism in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage ranges from 0% to 45%. Also the screening for hypopituitarism in survivors of aneurysmal SAH is not a routine. This has led to a controversy in the management of such patients. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the endocrine profile of our patients who had presented with aneurysmal SAH. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study conducted over a period of three years in patients of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. The serum samples for levels of free T4, free T3, TSH, prolactin, FSH, LH and testosterone were analyzed at the time of admission and at a follow-up period between 9-12 months. Patients with known endocrine abnormalities, liver or kidney disease and patients with hemodynamic abnormalities were excluded from the study. Abnormalities in levels were noted and a comparative analysis of the hormone levels between the 2-time periods was done. A total of 73 patients were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Serum prolactin was raised in 17.80% (13/73) and FSH, LH and testosterone levels were reduced in 12.32% (9/73) of patients in the acute phase at admission. After 9 months follow-up, serum prolactin normalized in all except one patient and in all the males, testosterone level increased significantly. Two patients (3%) developed central hypothyroidism on follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic hypothyroidism and hypogonadism is not an issue in aneurysmal SAH patients.

Clinicopathological characteristics of chordoma: an institutional experience and a review of the literature.

AIM: To study the clinicopathologic characteristics of chordomas from a single institution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of 18 cases of chordomas diagnosed over a period of 5-years at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, from 2006 to 2010. RESULTS: The overall mean age of the patients was 46.72 years. Males outnumbered females. Sacrum was the commonest site involved. Histopathologically, the majority of cases were conventional chordoma with four cases of chondroid variety. There was a single case of dedifferentiated chordoma that presented with bone metastasis. Most patients did well after surgery and radiotherapy. One patient had a local recurrence and one patient with dedifferentiated variant died on follow-up. CONCLUSION: Though locally aggressive, chordomas are effectively treated with resection and postoperative radiotherapy.

Post-traumatic sagittal sinus thrombosis: case report.

Post-traumatic superior sagittal sinus thrombosis is rare. The usual presentation is raised intracranial pressure symptoms. We report a case of post-traumatic superior sagittal sinus thrombosis in which the computed tomography (CT) scan revealed depressed fracture of the vertex with parasagittal contusions. Despite surgical elevation of the fracture and repair of the superior sagittal sinus, the patient developed thrombosis of the anterior half of the superior sagittal sinus with bilateral hemorrhagic infarcts in the motor strip. This case is reported for its rarity and to highlight the importance of careful postoperative observation of such patients. In such settings, timely diagnosis and anticoagulant therapy are rewarding.

Bear maul craniocerebral trauma in Kashmir Valley.

Craniocerebral injuries constitute the bulk of the trauma patients in all the tertiary-care hospitals. Bear attacks as a cause of trauma to the brain and its protective covering are rare. This was a hospital-based retrospective (January 1990 to July 2005) and prospective study (August 2005 to December 2010). Craniocerebral trauma was seen in 49 patients of bear maul injuries. Loss of scalp tissue was seen in 17 patients, 13 of whom had exposed pericranium and needed split-thickness skin grafting, while 4 patients with exposed skull bones required scalp transposition flaps as an initial procedure. Skull bone fractures without associated brain injury were observed in 24 cases. Frontal bone was the site of fracture in the majority of cases (95%). Surgical intervention was needed in 18 patients for significantly depressed fractures. Three of these patients had depressed frontal bone fractures with underlying contusions and needed brain debridement and duraplasty. Injury to the brain was observed in 8 patients. Trauma to the brain and its protective coverings as a result of bear attacks is rarely known. Brain injury occurs less commonly as compared to soft tissue and bony injury. Craniocerebral trauma as a result of bear assaults has been a hitherto neglected area of trauma as the past reported incidence has been very low. Of late, the incidence and severity of such attacks has assumed grave proportions in areas adjacent to known bear habitats. An innocuous-looking surface wound might be the only presentation of an underlying severe brain trauma. Public awareness has to be generated to protect the people living in hilly areas.

Spinal epidural hematomas in fast bowlers: report of two unusual cases.

We report 2 cases of spinal epidural hematomas (SEDH) after a spell of fast bowling in 2 young boys. Both patients presented with spinal pain followed by weakness in both lower limbs. MRI of the spine revealed cervical SEDH in 1 patient and thoracic SEDH in the other. The authors want to highlight this peculiar mode of sports-related spinal injury. This type of injury has not been reported before.

Congenital intraosseous cavernous hemangioma of the skull: an unusual case.

Intraosseous hemangiomas are benign vascular malformations mostly seen in the spine. They rarely occur in the skull. The usual age-group involved is the 2nd to 4th decades, and females outnumber males. We hereby report a rare case of congenital intraosseous cavernous hemangioma of the skull bone in a male infant. The patient underwent total excision of the lesion.

Posterior fossa dermoid with Klippel-Feil syndrome in a child.

Intracranial dermoid tumors constitute a rare entity. Their association with Klippel-Feil anomaly is all the more rare. These lesions, if associated with dermal sinuses, receive attention when a patient presents with features of central nervous system infection. We describe a 5-year-old girl who presented with purulent discharge from an occipital dermal sinus with an infected posterior fossa dermoid associated with cerebellar abscesses and characteristic Klippel-Feil anomaly.