Laminectomy versus open-door laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: A clinical outcome analysis

Mauro Dobran, Fabrizio Mancini, Riccardo Paracino, Simona Lattanzi, Lucia di Somma, Davide Nasi, Gianluca Bizzocchi, Denis Aiudi, Maurizio Iacoangeli

Date of publication: 18-Apr-2020

Background: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is one of the most common diseases in the geriatric population. Decompressive laminectomy or laminoplasty is the predominant surgical procedure of choice, but there remains debate as to which procedure is optimal for managing CSM.

Cost analysis of cordotomy and intrathecal pain pump placement for refractory cancer pain

Zaid Aljuboori, William Burke, Kimberly Meyer, Brian Williams

Date of publication: 18-Apr-2020

Background: Cancer pain can be debilitating and 10–20% of patients will have refractory pain despite optimal medical management. Here, we present a cost comparison of treating terminal cancer patients with intravenous (IV) narcotics, anterolateral cordotomy, or intrathecal pain pump (ITPP) placement.

Malignant clinical course of mycotic intracranial aneurysms in children: A review

Yahya H Khormi, Ronette Goodluck Tyndall, Mandeep Tamber

Date of publication: 18-Apr-2020

Background: Mycotic aneurysms are a rare in the pediatric population. The natural history of these lesions and their appropriate management strategies is controversial.

Incidence of Major Vascular Injuries with Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)

Nancy E Epstein

Date of publication: 18-Apr-2020

Background: Extreme lateral interbody fusions (XLIF) and minimally invasive (MI) XLIF theoretically offer wide access to the lumbar disc space. The theoretical advantages of XLIF include; minimally disturbing surrounding structures (e.g. neural, vascular, soft-tissue), while offering stability. In addition to the well-known increased frequency of neurological deficits attributed to XLIF, here we explored how often major vascular injures occur with XLIF/MI XLIF procedures.

Progressive dysphagia and dysphonia secondary to DISH-related anterior cervical osteophytes: A case report

Manoj Kumar, Prem Bahadur Shahi, Nitin Adsul, Shankar Acharya, K. L. Kalra, R. S. Chahal

Date of publication: 18-Apr-2020

Background: Dysphagia due to diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)-related anterior cervical osteophytes is not uncommon. However, this rarely leads to dysphonia and/or dysphagia along with life- threatening airway obstruction requiring emergency tracheotomy.

Surgical treatment of a rare rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor in the pineal region

Sajjad Muhammad, Ahmad Hafez, Atte Karppinen, Mika Niemelä

Date of publication: 18-Apr-2020

Background: Rosette-forming glioneuronal tumors (RGNTs) in the pineal region are rare. RGNTs have been described in the fourth ventricle, but rarely reported in other brain regions. Here, we report the radiological findings, surgical treatment, and short-term outcome of an RGNT found in the pineal region.

Intradural lumbar disc herniations at the L1–L2 level: A case study and literature review

Giancarlo Ponzo, Massimo Furnari, Giuseppe Emmanuele Umana, Massimiliano Giuffrida, Giovanni Federico Nicoletti, Gianluca Scalia

Date of publication: 11-Apr-2020

Background: Intradural disc herniations (IDHs) are rare occurrences (0.26–0.30%), and most frequently involve the lumbar spine at the L4–L5 level. Here, we present a patient with an L1–L2 IDH and reviewed the current literature.

Rare dorsal thoracic arachnoid web mimics spinal cord herniation on imaging

Zaid Aljuboori, Maxwell Boakye

Date of publication: 11-Apr-2020

Background: Dorsal arachnoid webs (DAWs) are rare clinical entities that can mimic other conditions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, we present a case of DAW that was misdiagnosed on MR as a ventral cord herniation.

Magnetic resonance angiography with ultrashort echo time evaluates cerebral aneurysm with clip

Masahito Katsuki, Yukinari Kakizawa, Yasunaga Yamamoto, Akihiro Nishikawa, Naomichi Wada, Toshiya Uchiyama

Date of publication: 11-Apr-2020

Abstract

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography is usually valuable for the evaluation of clipped cerebral aneurysm, but it has side effects of contrast medium. Time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is a non-invasive and fast method. However, clip-induced artifact limits assessment of the artery in the vicinity of a clip. MRA with ultrashort echo time (TE) reduces metal artifact. We use MAGNETOM Aera 1.5T (SIEMENS, München, Germany) and perform pointwise encoding time reduction with radial acquisition (PETRA)-MRA using ultrashort TE for the assessment of the cerebral aneurysm after clipping. We, herein, presented two representative cases with a clipped aneurysm which could be evaluated by PETRA- MRA. Especially in one of them, the neck remnant was revealed by PETRA-MRA. PETRA-MRA can reduce the time and the invasiveness and may be helpful for the usual follow-up of the clipped aneurysm with the development of MRA technology in the future.

A biphasic tumor in posterior cranial fossa and the pineal region in young adult

Fadi Almahariq, Marina Raguz, Dominik Romic, Domagoj Dlaka, Darko Oreskovic, Patricija Sesar, Darko Chudy

Date of publication: 11-Apr-2020

Background: Biphasic tumors of the central nervous system are rarely described and mainly consisted out of the glial and mesenchymal component. The tumor originated out of both astrocytes and pinealocytes, best to our knowledge, has not been described. We present a case of a brain tumor consisted out of pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) and pineocytoma as components situated in the pineal region and posterior cranial fossa in young adult.