Moyamoya-Like Vasculopathy and Orbital Trauma: An Association.

An Asian man in his 20s developed asymptomatic ipsilateral moyamoya-like vascular changes following orbital and head trauma. An ipsilateral traumatic optic neuropathy with extensive optic cupping ensued. The complex embryology of the ocular vascular development is reviewed as having a potential causative role in the intracranial carotid vasculopathy.

Introducing an orthopaedic trauma list to a regional hospital: Improved efficiencies and patient outcomes.

PROBLEM: The lack of dedicated theatre time for orthopaedic surgeries at a small rural hospital meant that operations were regularly performed after hours as well as on weekends. DESIGN: Retrospective observational audit. SETTING: Data were collected for 317 patients admitted for trauma surgery between August 2019 and March 2020 at Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital, which has an orthopaedic service and acts as a referral hospital for a 4561-km2 catchment on the South Coast of New South Wales. KEY MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT: Decreased time to surgery, length of stay and proportion of after-hours operating. STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE: To quantify patient outcomes demonstrating effectiveness of the trauma list in theatre operations at the hospital, providing evidence for adequate provision of care at the rural location A reduction in out-of-hours operations results in a significant financial saving to the hospital, as well as increased safety to patients. EFFECTS OF CHANGE: Significantly more operations were performed before 16:00 hours as well as on a weekday. Trauma list patients have a shorter length of stay (4.82 vs 7.8 days). Patients prior to the trauma list waited on average 89 hours for surgery, whereas patients on the trauma list waited only 43 hours. LESSONS LEARNT: A dedicated, twice-weekly orthopaedic trauma list is able to significantly reduce after hours and weekend surgeries. Patients placed on the trauma list had a significantly shorter length of stay and time to surgery. We therefore recommend the usage of dedicated trauma lists at small, regional sites not just to achieve cost savings but also to improve the patient journey and keep patients closer and returning to the home sooner.

Reproducibility of semi-automated measurement of carotid stenosis on CTA.

PURPOSE: To compare the reproducibility of semi-automated vessel analysis software to manual measurement of carotid artery stenosis on computed tomography angiography (CTA). METHODS: Two observers separately analyzed 81 carotid artery CTAs using semi-automated vessel analysis software according to a blinded protocol. The software measured the narrowest stenosis in millimeters (mm), distal internal carotid artery (ICA) in mm, and calculated percent stenosis based on NASCET criteria. One observer performed this task twice on each carotid, the second analysis delayed two months in order to mitigate recall bias. Two other observers manually measured the narrowest stenosis in mm, distal ICA in mm, and calculated NASCET percent stenosis in a blinded fashion. Correlation coefficients were calculated for each group comparing the narrowest stenosis in mm, distal ICA in mm, and NASCET percent stenosis. RESULTS: The semi-automated vessel analysis software provided excellent intraobserver correlation for narrowest stenosis in mm, distal ICA in mm, and NACSET percent stenosis (Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.985, 0.954, and 0.977 respectively). The semi-automated vessel analysis software provided excellent interobserver correlation (0.925, 0.881, and 0.892 respectively). The interobserver correlation for manual measurement was good (0.595, 0.625, and 0.555 respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in the interobserver correlation between the semi-automated vessel analysis software observers and the manual measurement observers (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Semi-automated vessel analysis software is a highly reproducible method of quantifying carotid artery stenosis on CTA. In this study, semi-automated vessel analysis software determination of carotid stenosis was shown to be more reproducible than manual measurement.

Comparison of computed tomography angiography with digital subtraction angiography in the assessment of clipped intracranial aneurysms.

PURPOSE: To examine whether computed tomography angiography (CTA) is comparable to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in assessing clipped intracranial aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective collection of clipped aneurysms that had both CTA and DSA within 2 months of one another. Computed tomography angiograms were independently reviewed by 2 blinded neuroradiologists; rereviewed by one at least 4 months later. Each was classified as complete obliteration, neck remnant, or residual aneurysm. Parent vessel was classified as patent or occluded. Digital subtraction angiograms were reviewed in a similar manner by a third blinded neuroradiologist. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients with 53 clipped aneurysms were collected. On DSA, 35 were completely obliterated, 10 neck remnants, and 8 residual aneurysms. The ability of CTA to detect residual aneurysms versus complete obliterations or neck remnants was excellent (mean sensitivity, 88%; specificity, 100%; positive predictive value [PPV], 100%; negative predictive value [NPV], 98%). The ability of CTA to detect neck remnants versus complete obliterations was poor (mean sensitivity, 20%; specificity, 99%; PPV, 83%; NPV, 81%). The CTAs were good at detecting parent vessel occlusion (mean sensitivity, 88%; specificity, 97%; PPV, 75%; NPV, 99%). Interrater and intrarater agreement was good to excellent for aneurysm and parent vessel assessment, with kappa values ranging from 0.6 to 1.0. CONCLUSIONS: Computed tomography angiography has high sensitivity and specificity for residual aneurysm detection and parent vessel occlusion. It is not accurate in neck remnant detection, although these were small and of uncertain clinical significance. This suggests that CTA is useful for follow-up of clipped aneurysms. However, given the potential to miss neck remnants or small residual aneurysms, it is recommended to perform initial DSA and CTA to select cases in which CTA follow-up is appropriate.

Aspergillosis of the Petrous Apex and Meckel's Cave.

Cranial cerebral aspergillosis is a rare entity in immunocompetent patients. Invasive disease involving the petrous apex and Meckel's cave has rarely been described. We present a case of localized invasive petrous apical and Meckel's cave disease in an immunocompetent patient who presented with hemicranial neuralgic pain.

Vascularized mastoid bone flap cranioplasty after translabyrinthine vestibular schwannoma surgery.

OBJECTIVE: We describe a novel technique of cranioplasty using a vascularized mastoid bone flap in patients after translabyrinthine excision of vestibular schwannomas (VS). Postoperative outcomes in terms of pinna and postauricular deformity are evaluated. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. RESULTS: Seventeen patients underwent cranioplasty with bone flap after translabyrinthine VS excision. At minimum follow-up of 12 months, none had a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. The measured pinna projections between the operated and non-operated sides had a mean difference of 0.80 mm (+/-1.70), which is not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The mean depth of the postauricular depressions was 1.38 mm (+/-0.93). Over the same period, 10 patients underwent translabyrinthine VS surgery without cranioplasty. In this group, there was a significant difference of 4.71 mm (+/-1.53) in mean pinna underprojections on the operated sides compared with the non-operated sides. Compared with patients who have undergone cranioplasty, the retroauricular depressions were significantly deeper (p < 0.05) with a mean depth of 2.92 mm (+/-1.21). CONCLUSIONS: Vascularized mastoid cortical bone flap cranioplasty is a simple and effective technique to ameliorate the pinna and retroauricular deformities after translabyrinthine VS excision without increased surgical cost or the use of alloplastic materials.

Magnetic resonance imaging of facial nerve schwannoma.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: This study characterizes the magnetic resonance (MR) appearances of facial nerve schwannoma (FNS). We hypothesize that the extent of FNS demonstrated on MR will be greater compared to prior computed tomography studies, that geniculate involvement will be most common, and that cerebellar pontine angle (CPA) and internal auditory canal (IAC) involvement will more frequently result in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: Clinical, pathologic, and enhanced MR imaging records of 30 patients with FNS were analyzed. Morphologic characteristics and extent of segmental facial nerve involvement were documented. RESULTS: Median age at initial imaging was 51 years (range, 28-76 years). Pathologic confirmation was obtained in 14 patients (47%), and the diagnosis reached in the remainder by identification of a mass, thickening, and enhancement along the course of the facial nerve. All 30 lesions involved two or more contiguous segments of the facial nerve, with 28 (93%) involving three or more segments. The median segments involved per lesion was 4, mean of 3.83. Geniculate involvement was most common, in 29 patients (97%). CPA (P = .001) and IAC (P = .02) involvement was significantly related to SNHL. Seventeen patients (57%) presented with facial nerve dysfunction, manifesting in 12 patients as facial nerve weakness or paralysis, and/or in eight with involuntary movements of the facial musculature. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the morphologic heterogeneity and typical multisegment involvement of FNS. Enhanced MR is the imaging modality of choice for FNS. The neuroradiologist must accurately diagnose and characterize this lesion, and thus facilitate optimal preoperative planning and counseling.

Defining the CT angiography 'spot sign' in primary intracerebral hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: The computed tomogram angiography (CTA) 'spot sign' describes foci of intralesional enhancement associated with hematoma expansion in primary intracerebral hemorrhage patients. A consistent radiological definition is required for two proposed recombinant Factor VIIa trials planning patient dichotomization according to 'spot sign' presence or absence. We propose radiological criteria for diagnosis of the CTA 'spot sign' and describe different morphological patterns. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective cohort of 36 consecutive patients presenting with primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) were enrolled in a multicenter collaborative study, and have been included for the present analysis. Three reviewers analyzed the CTA studies in a blinded protocol. Analysis of specific ICH and 'spot sign' features was performed including prevalence, number, size, location, morphology and Hounsfield unit density. RESULTS: Twelve of thirty-six patients (33%) demonstrated a total of 19 enhancing foci consistent with the CTA 'spot sign'. Mean maximal axial 'spot sign' dimension was 3.7 +/- 2.2 mm and mean density was 216 +/- 57.7 HU. No significant differences in age or blood pressure (p = 0.7), glucose (p = 0.9), INR/PTT (p = 0.3 and 0.4) or hematoma location (p = 0.3) were demonstrated between patients with or without the 'spot sign'. Consensus definition and classification criteria for the CTA 'spot sign' are proposed. CONCLUSION: The 'spot sign' is defined as spot-like and/or serpiginous foci of enhancement, within the margin of a parenchymal hematoma without connection to outside vessels. The 'spot sign' is greater than 1.5 mm in maximal dimension and has a Hounsfield unit density at least double that of background hematoma density.

Chondromyxoid fibroma of the mastoid facial nerve canal mimicking a facial nerve schwannoma.

Chondromyxoid fibroma of the skull base is a rare entity. Involvement of the temporal bone is particularly rare. We present an unusual case of progressive facial nerve paralysis with imaging and clinical findings most suggestive of a facial nerve schwannoma. The lesion was tubular in appearance, expanded the mastoid facial nerve canal, protruded out of the stylomastoid foramen, and enhanced homogeneously. The only unusual imaging feature was minor calcification within the tumor. Surgery revealed an irregular, cystic lesion. Pathology diagnosed a chondromyxoid fibroma involving the mastoid portion of the facial nerve canal, destroying the facial nerve.