Vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage: diagnosis with MR angiography.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The possibility of treating intracranial vasospasm has increased the significance of its diagnosis and follow-up; however, so far, no ideal method is available. The goal of this study was to assess the accuracy of MR angiography versus intraarterial angiography (IA-DSA) in detecting vasospasm. METHODS: The study included 42 patients with acute spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Serial MR angiograms (minimum, two per patient within 10 days after the event; total, 149) were obtained prospectively using a 3D time-of-flight technique covering the circle of Willis at 0.5 T. Forty-seven MR angiograms could be compared with intraarterial angiograms obtained within 24 hours of MR angiography. Vascular narrowing on both studies was rated consensually by two pairs of neuroradiologists using a scale from 0 (no narrowing) to 3 (severe narrowing). Categories 0 and 1 were considered an absence of vasospasm and categories 2 and 3 a presence of vasospasm. RESULTS: Agreement between MR angiography and IA-DSA (assessed with weighted kappa statistics) was substantial for the middle and anterior cerebral arteries (MCA and ACA) but moderate for the internal carotid artery (ICA). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values of MR angiography for detecting patients with vasospasm were 92%, 98%, 96%, 92%, and 98%, respectively. Considering each vessel separately, specificity was high for all locations (95-99%) and sensitivity was excellent for the ACA (100%) but poorer for the ICA (25%) and MCA (56%). CONCLUSION: MR angiography at 0.5 T is capable of identifying vasospasm after acute SAH but is less sensitive than IA-DSA for depicting vasospasm in the ICA and MCA.

Clinical and MRI long term evolution of intracavernous and carotid ophtalmic artery aneurysms, treated by common carotid ligation.

In four large, 15-25 mm, internal carotid artery aneurysms (3 intracavernous and 1 carotid ophthalmic), treatment by common carotid ligation was preferred. Pre- and postoperative MRI were obtained, at a delay between 5 to 9 years. Recovery of the ocular and visual symptomatology was a function of the role played by mechanical and/or ischaemic factors. No early or late consequences, ascribable to the common carotid ligation, were observed. Aneurysmal thrombosis occurred in the first postoperative week, but retraction of the thrombosed aneurysms was only obvious and maximal after several months. For this reason, rapid clinical recovery could be due, in the first instance, to the loss of aneurysmal pulsatility. Complete disappearance of the aneurysm was observed in two cases. In the other two, a small remnant of the initial lesion, without any unfavourable consequences, was revealed, respectively 6 and 9 years after the intervention, by current, modern-days, MRA.

Diagnosis of intracranial aneurysms: accuracy of MR angiography at 0.5 T.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to determine the accuracy of MR angiography at 0.5 T for the diagnosis of intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 140 patients, 70 with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage, who were either at high or low risk for intracranial aneurysm. Three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography was typically performed to cover the circle of Willis, with a volume thickness of 30 mm. Conventional spin-echo MR images and MR angiograms were reviewed together, and the results were compared with those obtained at intraarterial cerebral angiography to determine the sensitivity and specificity of MR angiography. RESULTS: Eighty-nine aneurysms (size range, 2 to 27 mm; 25 aneurysms < 5 mm) were identified at intraarterial cerebral angiography. Six aneurysms were missed by MR angiography and two were doubtful (sensitivity, 91% to 93%; specificity, 100%). Missed aneurysms were located outside the MR angiographic acquisition volume (n = 3) or on the carotid siphon (n = 3; size = 2, 3, and 5 mm). CONCLUSION: Even if MR angiography presents some restrictions in acquisition volume and spatial resolution, the detection rate of intracranial aneurysms is excellent at 0.5 T in both asymptomatic patients and in those with subarachnoid hemorrhage. A midfield system is not a restriction to the detection of intracranial aneurysms by MR examination.

The association of tranexamic acid and nimodipine in the pre-operative treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms.

In the scope of a late intervention policy on ruptured intracranial aneurysms, on D.+12 on an average, we first used tranexamic acid, at moderate doses: 3 g orally or 1.5 g intravenously per day. We, subsequently, added nimodipine, usually 240 mg orally per day or 2 mg intravenously per hour. The medical treatment consisted of amply sufficient hydration, and in systematic and regular administration of analgesics and sedatives. Hypotension was absolutely avoided; if necessary, an antihypertensive treatment was prescribed very cautiously. Phenytoin was regularly given. In the present study, we try to answer the following questions: (1) Can we confirm that the preventive action of tranexamic acid remains as effective, when doses, markedly lower than usually recommended, are used? (2) Does nimodipine prevent the increase of pre-operative ischaemic complications, which should be expected when tranexamic acid is administered? Amongst 101 patients with SAH of proven aneurysmal origin, 84 were treated with tranexamic acid and nimodipine. In 25 patients, an aneurysm was not visualised; 21 received this treatment. For several reasons, only a retrospective study was possible, to evaluate the results of our antifibrinolytic and calcium-blocking therapies, on rebleeding and pre-operative delayed ischaemia. We compared, therefore, similar cases from the literature, with our own cases, taking into consideration the clinical grades, the days of admission and of intervention, the moment of rebleeding and of delayed pre-operative ischaemia, etc. The following impressions emerge: (1) same effectiveness of moderate doses of tranexamic acid; (2) no increase of pre-operative delayed ischaemic complications, in comparison with patients not receiving antifibrinolytics but nimodipine; (3) important role of a devastating initial bleed and of operative complications; (4) difficulty of avoiding rebleeding at D.0, whatever the therapeutic measures, medical and/or surgical.

Pathogenetic factors in chronic subdural haematoma and causes of recurrence after drainage.

The radiological aspect, pathology, treatment and results of 132 subdural haematomas observed in 100 patients, are discussed. The majority of these cases were characterized by a nonhomogenous CT scan picture, resulting from repeated bleeding in a previous subdural haematoma evolving to chronicity, or in a pre-existent subdural hygroma. Taking aspirin may have constituted a predisposing factor in 16% of our patients, whilst coagulation disturbances, including anticoagulant treatment, were observed in another 6%; ethylism was present in 11%. A traumatic origin was ascertained in 80% of the patients. The treatment consisted of burr hole evacuation and drainage in 91.5% of the haematomas, corresponding to 92% of the patients; it was eventually repeated once or twice in some cases. In 6% of the patients, a subduro-peritoneal drainage had to be placed ultimately and in 2%, a membranectomy had to be performed because the haematoma had become nearly completely fibrous. The necessity for repeated evacuation and eventual subduro-peritoneal drainage seems to depend mainly on a slow brain re-expansion in some elderly people, who are actually more frequently referred. Two patients died; one was deeply comatose and another in poor general condition. Morbidity in the 96 remaining patients, 2 being lost to follow-up, was 11%: 5% related to the haematoma or to the causal trauma, and 6% from other concomitant neurological disease. The functional result was satisfactory in 85%.

Brain tumor imaging with PET and 2-[carbon-11]thymidine.

METHODS: To assess the potential of thymidine for imaging brain tumors, 20 patients with untreated (n = 14) and recurrent (n = 6) supratentorial intracranial tumors were studied with PET by using 2-[11C]thymidine (Tdr), and the results were compared with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET data. RESULTS: Blood analysis consistently revealed a rapid clearance of the intact Tdr together with the appearance of CO2/HCO3- that, with time, accounted for approximately 70% of the total blood activity. As soon as 10 min after tracer injection, brain images showed a low and homogeneous Tdr distribution over the normal brain structures (cortex-to-blood ratio approximately 1). Visual and quantitative analysis revealed increased Tdr uptake (tumor-to-cortex ratio > or = 1.2) in 11 of 14 untreated tumors and in 5 of 6 recurrent tumors. No correlation was found between Tdr uptake and tumor grade. In 12 of the 14 untreated tumors, FDG uptake was low (tumor-to-cortex ratio: 0.83 +/- 0.79), but a FDG hot spot was visualized in 8 of 10 high-grade and in none of the 4 low-grade tumors. FDG uptake was consistently low in recurrent tumors (tumor-to-cortex ratio: 0.49 +/- 0.19), and PET-FDG was negative in 3 of the 6 cases. CONCLUSION: These data indicate the feasibility of brain tumor imaging with Tdr and suggest the potential clinical usefulness of the method in the detection of tumor recurrences. The specificity of the method remains, however, to be investigated.

Interest and necessity of combined neuroradiological and neurosurgical treatment in some cases of dural arterio-venous fistulae.

The authors report 3 observations of dural arterio-venous fistula cured by combined neuroradiological and neurosurgical intervention. In the first case, the shunt affected the left lateral sinus. Repeated embolizations failed whilst intracranial hypertension developed, as a consequence of flux in the opposite lateral sinus and in the sagittal sinus. Surgical intervention, consisting in isolation of the transverse sinus, led to complete cure, after a one month delay. In the second case, the shunt was adjacent to the sagittal sinus, right parietal, and had led to an intracerebral haematoma, by rupture of an arterialized cortical vein. Embolizations alone could not cure the fistula which therefore had to be excised. In the third case, the shunt was located in the falx, at the parieto-occipital junction, and was responsible for arterialization of cerebral veins in the right parieto-occipital region. For this reason, after failure of endovascular treatment, the fistula was coagulated, with subsequent complete cure. These three cases illustrate the different types of drainage of such arterio-venous fistula, and their corresponding neurological symptoms and signs, complications and risks, that required a radical-not only clinical, but also anatomical-cure. This aim was achieved when embolizations were accompanied by direct surgical attack.

[Juxtabulbar neurinoma of the spinal accessory nerve]. / Neurinome juxtabulbaire du nerf spinal.

A 27-year-old woman presented with right spinal accessory juxtabulbar schwannoma, associated with hydrocephalus. The only specific clinical symptom was long-standing weakness of the right trapezius. C.T. scan evoked a cerebellar tumor, whilst the jugular foramen appeared normal. Vertebral angiography was not decisive. M.R.I. suggested an extra-axial tumor. Post-operative evolution was entirely favourable. Schwannomas of the 9th, 10th and 11th cranial nerves are generally located at the level of the jugular foramen but can also be observed along the extracranial path of these nerves. An intracranial paramedial, or so-called "intracisternal" localization is rare and is best diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Highly sensitive detection of beta-2 transferrin in rhinorrhea and otorrhea as a marker for cerebrospinal fluid (C.S.F.) leakage.

As beta-2 transferrin is almost specific to the cerebrospinal fluid, its detection in rhinorrhea or otorrhea fluids demonstrates the occurrence of CSF fistula. We describe a highly sensitive method based on immunoaffinity-mediated capillary blotting for the detection of this cathodic isoform of transferrin in minute amounts (3 microliters) of rhinorrhea or otorrhea fluids. Application of this method in a series of 10 patients with CSF fistula is reported.

Intraneural ganglionic cyst of the common peroneal nerve: case report and review of the literature.

The authors report a case of compression of the peroneal nerve by an intraneural ganglionic cyst. The chief complaint is generally a lateral upper leg pain occasionally associated with foot drop and swelling of the upper tibiofibular joint. In our case, the disease was revealed by a tentative intraarticular injection of betamethasone. Early microsurgical treatment remains the only way to avoid permanent motor sequellae.

Paraganglioma of the cauda equina. Report of 2 cases and review of 59 cases from the literature.

Paragangliomas of the cauda equina are not so rare as said in the literature. Two additional cases are presented with a global analysis of the 59 cases from the literature. The diagnosis of this pathology greatly benefit of the use of immunostainings as the cells are often neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament protein and somatostatin positive so that electron microscopy is thus no longer mandatory for establishing the diagnosis. In addition, we report the first magnetic resonance images of this tumor at this location.

[Spontaneous hematoma of the cerebellum]. / L'hématome spontané du cervelet.

Forty spontaneous cerebellar hematomas have been observed in 39 patients whose age ranged from 13 to 82 years, 26 being older than 60. Arterial hypertension is the most frequent aetiological factor. Amongst the other causes, vascular malformations, which may also be present in older people, anticoagulant therapy, metastatic tumor, sepsis were found; one case remained unsolved. Diagnosis is no longer a challenge since the introduction of C.T. scan, whilst M.R.I. may give most valuable informations concerning aetiology, especially when a vascular malformation is present. In this study, the influence of the hematoma size and of hydrocephalus on consciousness was demonstrated; development of hydrocephalus is favoured by the size and by a rather median location of the hematoma. In the future, M.R.I. should give better precisions concerning an eventual extension of the hemorrhage to the brainstem. The purpose of surgical treatment is twofold: alleviating brainstem compression and correcting hydrocephalus; yet, divergent opinions have been put forward in retrospective studies, concerning evacuation of the hematoma and drainage of hydrocephalus. In this series, direct attack doesn't seem to be indicated in hematomas less than 3.5 cm diameter, unless a causal lesion has to be removed. The ideal moment for hematoma evacuation is, finally, dictated by the clinical status and its evolution; however, the authors prefer, if possible, to delay it for at least 48 hours. Amongst the 39 patients, 14 deceased; of the 25 survivors, 19 were autonomous, 7 being nearly asymptomatic, 6 patients remained handicapped. Consciousness is a main prognostic factor, whilst coma in the first hours has a clearly unfavourable significance.

Unusual complication of peritoneal drainage: migration of a shunt in the subdural space.

Quite a number of cases of upward shunt migration have already been reported in the literature. The authors report the case of a newborn boy who presented a sequential alternate change of pressure gradients based, according to their opinion, on fields of pressures exerted by fluids in different compartments of the patient's body. The authors propose a physicoanatomical explanation on the basis of the surgical findings.

[Papilloma of the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle without generalized hydrocephalus]. / Papillome du plexus choroïde du ventricule latéral sans hydrocéphalie généralisée.

A benign papilloma of the choroid plexus of the left lateral ventricle is found in a five-month old infant. An important dilatation of the isolated occipital horn is observed, without generalized enlargement of the ventricles. The clinical signs are limited to a moderate macrocephaly with deviation of head and eyes to the left. The absence of global hydrocephalus is rather exceptional in such cases, where overproduction of cerebrospinal fluid, in an amount proportional to the tumoral mass, is generally admitted. Nevertheless, the literature offers no absolute proof of the role of oversecretion alone in the origin of hydrocephalus, whilst an eventual obstruction of the circulatory pathways and resorption areas of the C.S.F. must be kept in mind. The absence of hydrocephalus, in the present case, suggests that the subarachnoid spaces and arachnoid villi remained patent.

Treatment by aspiration of brain abscesses.

Sixteen patients, with a total of 18 abscesses, were treated by aspiration and systemic antibiotic therapy, to which antiepileptic prophylaxis and corticosteroids were added. Diagnosis of the abscesses and monitoring of their evolution relied principally upon computed tomography; this technique was also used per-operatively when aspirating small abscesses. Bacteriological examinations were positive in all our cases and a polymicrobial flora was found in half of these. One or, eventually, two aspirations within the same week were sufficient, in most cases, to promote healing. Nevertheless, in three patients, the abscesses, however sterilized, did not show any volume reduction, probably because of adhesions to the dura mater, of a large part of the abscess surface area. One patient died from concomitant cardiac disease and one patient remained seriously disabled. Epilepsy was observed as a sequela, in six patients. This study emphasizes the role of neuroradiological and bacteriological examinations, whilst surgery may be restricted, in most cases, to a simple aspiration.

[Long-term results of the surgical treatment of myelopathy in cervical arthrosis]. / Résultats à long terme du traitement chirurgical des myélopathies cervicarthrosiques.

After a lapse of not less than two years the authors study the functional and clinical evolution of 62 patients presenting myelopathy in cervical arthrosis treated by surgery. A scoring system for evaluating the functional deficit of the patients is used for quantitative assessment of the disorders. Surgery brought a frank improvement in 38 patients: it left the sensorimotor deficits of 19 patients unchanged. The handicap continued to deteriorate in three patients. Two patients died from non-neurological disorders. The data are compared with those in the literature which indicate an improvement rate of the same order of magnitude. Within certain limits, age and the degree of initial handicap do not seem to influence the long-term result of surgery. However, the time lapse between the appearance of the first signs of deficiency and surgery seem to constitute an important prognostic factor. The shorter the time lapse, the better the result.

[External and internal hydrocephalus caused by an arteriovenous malformation in an infant]. / Hydrocéphalie externe et interne par malformation artério-veineuse chez un nourrisson.

In a 9 month-old infant, who displayed an epileptic seizure, the Brain CT-Scan shows a ventricular enlargement and a bilateral pericerebral effusion, associated with a left parieto-temporal arterio-venous malformation. Angiogram reveals a small angioma shunting the blood flow from the left middle cerebral artery into the lateral sinus. Intracranial pressure, recorded with a fontanellar transducer, is borderline. The angioma is excised and the operation, during which the subarachnoid location of the pericerebral effusion is confirmed, is followed by gradual subsiding of the internal and external hydrocephalus, that was caused by enhancement of the pressure in the venous sinuses. This case belongs to an infantile form of Benign Intracranial Hypertension, in which CT-Scan has to be interpreted cautiously, to avoid the pitfall of a wrong diagnosis of brain atrophy.

[Postmeningitic pericerebral effusion in infants]. / Les épanchements péricérébraux postméningitiques du nourrisson.

Agar-gel electrophoresis of the pericerebral fluid and more recent data obtained from CT-Scan examination suggest the presumably important role of external subarachnoid hydrocephalus in postmeningitic pericerebral effusions of infancy. Postmeningitic subarachnoid hydrocephalus results very likely from an impeded resorption at the level of the arachnoid villi and venous sinuses; in some cases, however, there could be a coincidental occurrence of meningitis and pericerebral effusion from a distinct origin. The presence of a pericerebral effusion correlates badly with the seriousness of the clinical condition, whilst its spontaneous tendency to resorption is obvious in many cases, leading to a more conservative attitude. Fontanometry seems helpful when discussing the indication to operate. If surgery is required, it will usually be limited to a minor procedure; we perform, in such cases, an external drainage that can be transformed, if necessary, into an internal shunt.

[Subdural or sub-arachnoid pericerebral effusions in the infant with subdural or subarachnoid localisation (author's transl)]. / Les épanchements péricérébraux du nourrisson à localisation sous-durale ou sous-arachnoïdienne.

Twenty-seven "subdural" effusions in infants were treated, according to our previously suggested method: a simple external drainage, followed ater one week by an internal peritoneal shunt, if the effusion did not dry up by this time. Daily electrophoresis of the fluid obtained by external drainage has been performed in 20 cases, either until the disappearance of the effusion or until the peritoneal shunting after 7 days. In 8 persistent and in 5 rapidly disappearing effusions, cerebro-spinal fluid was immediately present or appeared during the first week, simultaneously with a lowering of the total protein content. In the other 7 rapidly disappearing effusions, the protein content remained high and a conspicuous plasmatic transsudation was disclosed; the possibility that cerebro-spinal fluid could be present even in some of those last cases is discussed. The fact that some effusions display, from the onset, the characteristics of cerebro-spinal fluid, leads to the question of their subarachnoid rather than subdural localisation. For this reason, we prefer to use the less committed denomination of pericerebral effusions, in which we may distinguish subdural effusions, with or without cerebro-spinal fluid, and subarachnoid effusions. Nevertheless, it is not always easy to establish the pathogenic character of an effusion revealed by CT-scan. Pressure measurements by fontanometry appear to be a useful examination for that purpose.