Microvascular decompression using autologous muscle graft for trigeminal neuralgia: a case series and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: We aimed to describe a case series of patients diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) who were submitted to microvascular decompression (MVD) using autologous muscle graft (AMG) and perform a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Forty-four adult patients who underwent MVD using AMG between 2012 and 2022 were studied retrospectively. Demographic, clinical, and surgical factors were assessed. We systematically reviewed PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception to May 2023. We used random-effects model for all outcomes. Heterogeneity was assessed with I2. We used R software 4.3.1 for all statistical analyses. RESULTS: Among patients in the case series, the mean age was 52 ± 12.9 years, and the proportion of females was 65.9%. Forty-one patients (93.2%) presented complete pain relief after a mean follow-up of 7.7 years. The pooled analysis of immediate pain relief was 91.3% (95% CI 82-96%; I2=78%). The good pain relief during follow-up was 88.2% (95% CI 78-94%; I2=80%) at follow-up. The recurrence rates at 6, 12, 36 months, and during follow-up were 6.2%, 10.5%, 10.3%, and 11%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this case series and meta-analysis of over 440 patients, our findings suggest that the practice of MVD using AMG may be an efficient option in the short term as surgical treatment for TN. Further trials should compare AMG with other materials and its effectiveness in a long-term follow-up.

Rete Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report and Systematic Review.

Background Middle cerebral artery (MCA) anomalies are a rare finding and may be associated with vascular changes, such as intracranial aneurysms. Among them, the rete MCA aneurysm is very rare, with only 22 cases reported to date. Case Description A 50-year-old woman presented with subarachnoid, intraventricular, and intracerebral hemorrhage secondary to a ruptured aneurysm of rete MCA from an anomalous collateral artery of the anterior cerebral artery, treated successfully by microsurgical clipping. She presented a good recovery after a 2-year follow-up. Conclusion A systematic review of rete MCA aneurysms is presented, comparing aneurysms originating from twig-like MCA, with 16 reports, and twig-like networks of an anomalous collateral artery, with 6 reports including ours. Several factors influence the treatment decision-making, though microsurgical clipping is the main procedure. A wider use of coiling is requested for a better comparison of the treatment approaches.

Eight-and-a-Half Syndrome Secondary to Neurotoxoplasmosis: A Rare Case Report.

Eight-and-a-half syndrome (EHS) is a neuro-ophthalmological condition characterised by horizontal gaze palsy, internuclear ophthalmoplegia, and ipsilateral facial palsy. Albeit rare, EHS is a well reported condition in the literature, with several reports presenting multiple aetiologies. Infarcts are the cause in more than half the cases. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related cases are rare, and are probably underreported in low- and middle-income countries. In this report, we describe EHS secondary to neurotoxoplasmosis in a 40-year-old HIV-positive Brazilian man. EHS secondary to neurotoxoplasmosis is a challenging diagnosis, with important differential diagnoses, notably for HIV patients.

Cerebral venous thrombosis in Latin America: A critical review of risk factors, clinical and radiological characteristics.

Background: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare disease that frequently occurs in young women of childbearing age, with variable clinical presentation in regions with limited access to diagnostic imaging or specialized neurological care. In the last decade, there has been an increase in the number of studies on CVT in Latin America, which may contribute to a better epidemiological description of the disease in this region and, consequently, its early diagnosis. Objectives: Our study aims to review the risk factors, clinical and radiological characteristics of CVT in Latin America, being critically compared with data from world literature. Methods: PubMed, ScienceDirect, BVS, and Scopus were searched to identify studies reporting CVT in Latin American countries published up to July 2022. We excluded case reports and case series reporting <5 patients later in the final analysis. Results: We identified a total of 3714 studies and 26 qualified for the quantitative analysis, which described 1486 cases of CVT. Headache was the most frequent symptom (82.1%) and the use of oral contraceptives in women was the main risk factor (46.7%). The transverse sinus was the most frequent location of the thrombus (52%). The treatment used most in the acute phase was heparin (88.5%) and oral anticoagulation was widely used at hospital discharge (67.8%). The mortality was low (6.5%), and most patients achieved complete recovery (75.3%). Conclusion: Despite considerable dissimilarities in studies between countries, particularities were identified in the risk factors of CVT in Latin America compared to other regions of the world.

Intraparenchymal pericatheter cyst as an indicator of ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction: A case-based update.

Background: Intraparenchymal pericatheter cysts (IPCs) are a rare ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) complication, with only a few cases recorded in the literature. Case Description: We report a 22-year-old woman admitted with headache, papilledema, vision loss, and a history of leukemia. Lumbar puncture revealed idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Three months after VPS implantation, she was readmitted with headache and worsening of visual impairment. CT evidenced a IPC with perilesional edema. Intraoperatively, a shunt revision and cyst drainage were opted for. We present a discussion and literature review on this unique complication of VPS, with emphasis on management. Conclusion: It is important to understand and consider IPCs as complications of VPS surgery, including in adult patients and IIH cases.

Corrigendum: Cerebral venous thrombosis in Latin America: A critical review of risk factors, clinical and radiological characteristics.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1017565.].

Multiple extradural spinal arachnoid cysts: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Extradural spinal arachnoid cysts (SACs) rarely cause neural compression and disability. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 38-year-old female presented with a history of two episodes of falling due to transient weakness in the lower limbs. The neurological examination showed normal motor and sensory function, but hyperreflexia. The thoracic magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple extradural SACs between the T3-L1 levels. Following complete surgical resection of the most symptomatic cyst, she did well. The histopathological examination confirmed a Type I extradural SAC. CONCLUSION: Here, we discussed one case and reviewed the literature on the diagnosis and treatment of multiple extradural SACs.