Pituitary macroadenoma causing symptomatic internal carotid artery compression: Surgical treatment through transsphenoidal tumor resection

Pituitary macroadenomas can invade the cavernous sinus and rarely cause occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Most patients with symptomatic obstruction of the ICA by a pituitary tumor have been reported as a result of apoplexy. The authors review the literature about this condition and report a 48-year-old man who presented with transient ischemic attacks leading to a stroke. Imaging studies demonstrated complete occlusion of the left ICA and critical narrowing of the right ICA at the level of the clinoid processes, most likely due to macroadenoma mass effect. There was no radiologic evidence of apoplexy. Surgical resection of the tumor and ICA decompression via the transsphenoidal route resulted in prevention of further symptoms. Histopathologic analysis confirmed a nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma without evidence of hemorrhage or intratumoral infarction. This patient, to the authors’ knowledge, is the first documented patient with symptomatic carotid compression by a pituitary adenoma without evidence of apoplexy.     

Massive cerebral infarction as a feature of pituitary apoplexy.

A patient with pituitary apoplexy is reported who, in addition to the clinical features of apoplexy, developed a cerebral infarct secondary to compression of the internal carotid artery. The mechanisms of a cerebral infarct associated with pituitary apoplexy are discussed.     

Multiple aneurysms associated with bilateral carotid occlusion and venous angioma: surgical management risk-case report.

A unique case of multiple aneurysms associated with bilateral carotid artery occlusion and venous angioma is described. A 42 year old female presented with subarachnoid haemorrhage. Cerebral angiograms demonstrated(1) a ruptured saccular aneurysm in the right posterior cerebral artery,(2) bilateral occlusion of internal carotid arteries,(3) a rete mirabile in the subtemporal fossa fed by left external carotid artery which connected with the internal carotid artery at the cavernous portion where a saccular aneurysm had formed, and(4) a venous angioma in the posterior fossa. The ruptured aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery was obliterated preserving the anterior choroidal arteries. However, a left hemiparesis developed and CT scan revealed a small low density area in the right posterior limb of the internal capsule postoperatively. A ruptured aneurysm associated with bilateral extracranial carotid occlusion poses a clinical dilemma and treatment of such cases is challenging and difficult. The non-surgical and surgical outcomes of ruptured cerebral aneurysms associated with internal carotid occlusion are reviewed.     

Bilateral hypoglossal nerve injury after bilateral carotid endarterectomy

A case of severe bilateral injury to the hypoglossal nerves after two-stage carotid endarterectomy is described. Injury to the hypoglossal nerve occurs in up to 20% of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy and may result in mild or unnoticed deficits. These injuries must be carefully searched for in patients who will undergo a similar procedure on the opposite side since a bilateral deficit of the hypoglossal nerve is poorly tolerated, causing potentially serious impairment of speech and risk of aspiration.     

Idiopathic granulomatous hypophysitis presenting as pituitary apoplexy

Idiopathic granulomatous hypophysitis (IGH) is an extremely rare chronic inflammatory lesion of the pituitary gland. This condition typically presents with chronic onset of headache and slow development of visual deficits. Pituitary apoplexy is a clinical syndrome characterized by sudden onset of headache, vision loss, opthalmoplegia, and signs of meningeal irritation. Although IGH has been previously described in the literature, its presentation as clinical pituitary apoplexy is novel. We report, to our knowledge, the first patient with IGH manifesting as clinical pituitary apoplexy. Physicians involved in the treatment of pituitary disease should be aware of this rare entity.     

Sudden coma from acute bilateral internal carotid artery territory infarction

Six patients with bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion who presented with sudden loss of consciousness, quadriplegia, and initially intact brainstem reflexes are described. They soon lost brainstem reflexes and died within 3 days. The presumed causes of internal carotid artery occlusion were atherothrombosis in three patients and cardiogenic embolism in the others. This catastrophic stroke syndrome mimics severe brainstem stroke and has an extremely poor prognosis.     

Regional cerebral palmitate incorporation following transient bilateral carotid occlusion in awake gerbils

[14C]Palmitate was injected intravenously in awake gerbils at various times after 5 minutes of bilateral carotid artery occlusion or a sham operation. Regional rates of incorporation of plasma palmitate into the hippocampus and other regions of the anterior circulation were determined relative to the mean rate of incorporation into regions of the posterior circulation using quantitative autoradiography and a ratio method of analysis. One day after bilateral carotid occlusion, relative palmitate incorporation was elevated significantly by 16% in the CA4 pyramidal cell layer and by 20% in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus compared with sham-operated gerbils. At 3 days, significant elevations of this magnitude were found in the CA3 and CA4 cell layers, whereas relative incorporation was reduced by 26% in the CA1 pyramidal cell layer. At 7 days, the only significant difference from control was a 15% elevated incorporation in the CA3 pyramidal cell layer. Histologic examination indicated substantial cell death in the CA1 pyramidal layer at 3 days, with extensive glial reaction and phagocytic invasion at 7 days. Our results suggest that the turnover of palmitate-containing lipids is reduced in the CA1 layer of the gerbil hippocampus but that lipid synthesis is stimulated in hippocampal regions (CA3, CA4, dentate gyrus) affected by but recovering from transient bilateral carotid occlusion.     

Circle of Willis collateral flow investigated by magnetic resonance angiography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The circle of Willis (CW) is considered an important collateral pathway in maintaining adequate cerebral blood flow in patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) obstruction. We aimed to investigate the anatomic variation of the CW in patients with severe symptomatic carotid obstructive disease and to analyze diameter changes of its components in relation to varying grades of ICA obstruction and in relation to the presence or absence of (retrograde) collateral flow. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with minor disabling neurological deficits and with ICA stenoses or occlusions were categorized into 4 groups according to the severity of ICA obstruction. This patient population reflected a relatively favorable subgroup of cerebral infarction (considering their minor neurological deficits). All subjects underwent magnetic resonance angiography, including magnetic resonance angiography sensitive to flow direction. CW morphology and the size of its components were determined and compared with those values in control subjects (n=100). RESULTS: Compared with control subjects, patients demonstrated a significantly higher percentage of entirely complete CW configurations (55% versus 36%, P=0.02), complete anterior configurations (88% versus 68%, P=0.002), and complete posterior CW configurations (63% versus 47%, P=0.04). Patients with severe ICA stenosis did not show significantly increased CW vessel diameters. Patients with ICA occlusion demonstrated a high prevalence of collateral flow through the anterior CW and significantly increased diameters of the communicating channels. Patients with bilateral ICA occlusion relied on collateral flow via the posterior CW and demonstrated a bilateral increase in posterior communicating artery diameters (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The anatomic and functional configuration of the CW reflects the degree of ICA obstruction.     

Brain metabolism following bilateral carotid occlusion in 2 different models of experimental hypertensive rats

Brain metabolites and arterial acid-base measurements were made one hr after bilateral carotid artery occlusion in 2 different models of hypertensive rats. Animals used included renovascular hypertensive rats (RHR) with an altered renin-angiotensin system and desoxycorticosterone hypertensive rats (DHR) with low plasma renin activity (PRA). The mean value for supratentorial lactate of 7.41 mM/kg in RHR was significantly higher than in DHR (3.90 MM/kg) or in control normotensive rats (3.10 - 2.56 mM/kg). Concomitantly, the lactate/pyruvate ratio tended to increase and ATP to decrease in RHR only. In these same rats (RHR) infratentorial lactate was also increased. The results suggest that bilateral carotid occlusion leads to anaerobic metabolism of the brain in RHR but not in DHR, suggesting that the renin-angiotensin system may play some role in the susceptibility to cerebral ischemia following carotid occlusion in the hypertensive rats.     

Pituitary apoplexy causing optic neuropathy and horner syndrome without ophthalmoplegia.

A 47-year-old woman presented with headache, acute monocular vision loss, and ipsilateral Horner syndrome. Apart from the optic neuropathy, all cranial nerve function was intact. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enlarged pituitary gland with compression of the orbital apex. The surgical specimen was consistent with pituitary apoplexy. The combination of headache, acute visual loss, and ipsilateral Horner syndrome without ophthalmoplegia, which may suggest carotid artery dissection, is evidently an unusual manifestation of pituitary apoplexy.     

The syndrome of bilateral hemispheric border zone ischemia

Symptoms compatible with vertebrobasilar ischemia have been reported in patients with unilateral or bilateral carotid occlusive disease. Intracranial steal phenomena have been proposed to explain the symptoms. In a review of 54 patients with angiographically documented severe bilateral carotid stenosis (less than or equal to 2 mm residual lumen) or occlusion, eight had symptoms suggesting vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Five patients were identified retrospectively, and the other three were evaluated prospectively. Symptoms included various combinations of hemodynamically mediated, transient bilateral motor, sensory, or visual impairment. Dysarthria, dysphagia, and diplopia were generally absent. Each patient also described additional symptoms compatible with transient hemispheric or retinal ischemia. The anatomic regions subserving the bilateral vertebrobasilar-like symptoms could be correlated with angiographically estimated arterial border zones in both hemispheres and may thus represent bilateral hemispheric border zone ischemia rather than brain stem ischemia. An intracranial steal need not be invoked.     

Crow-Fukase syndrome associated with Castleman disease showing hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis and bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion]

A 51-year-old woman was diagnosed as Crow-Fukase syndrome on July 1997, presenting with lymph node swelling, polyneuropathy, hepatomegaly, hypothyroidism, renal dysfunction, edema and skin change. Lymph node swelling and polyneuropathy improved in some degree after chemotherapy. She was admitted to our hospital on march 6, 1998 because of consciousness disturbance, right hemiparesis and non-fluent aphasia after fever and hypotension. The next day of admission, consciousness disturbance, right hemiparesis and non-fluent aphasia disappeared. MR images of the brain revealed low intensity on a T1-weighted image and high intensity on a T2-weighted image in the left parietal lobe. Furthermore, MR images also revealed diffuse hypertrophic dura matter with enhancement by Gd-DTPA, which made the diagnosis of chronic cranial pachymeningitis. The cerebral angiographies showed bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion. The cerebrospinal fluid showed normal cell count, total protein level of 82 mg/dl, and IgG level of 18 mg/dl. Since there has been very few case reports describing intimate relationship between Crow-Fukase syndrome and pachymeningitis, and between carotid occlusion and pachymeningitis, we speculated that the pachymeningitis might be associated with Crow-Fukase syndrome. Furthermore, pachymeningitis might be a cause of her bilateral carotid occlusion. The number of cases of Crow-Fukase syndrome associated with cerebrovascular disease was very rare. This is the first case which had bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion probably caused by chronic cranial pachymeningitis. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to cerebrovascular disease when the patient of Crow-Fukase syndrome is associated with pachymeningitis.     

Pituitary apoplexy as a cause of internal carotid artery occlusion.

Occlusion of intracranial arteries by pituitary apoplexy with resulting infarction is a rare occurrence. A 50-year-old man who presented with a history of sudden onset of frontal headache and visual impairment was admitted to another medical centre and MRI revealed a non-enhancing sellar lesion with suprasellar and infrasellar extension. Thereafter, the patient's consciousness deteriorated progressively and he showed signs of herniation; he was then referred to our centre for further evaluation. CT scanning revealed infarction of the left internal carotid artery territory. Transcranial resection of the tumour followed by a large decompressive craniotomy restored the blood flow in the internal carotid artery. Histological examination revealed the tumour to be a pituitary adenoma that contained formed blood elements. The patient's neurological status did not improve and he died on the ninth postoperative day despite vigorous treatment for controlling intracranial pressure. This case study documents a rare presentation of pituitary apoplexy that caused signs of raised intracranial pressure due to mechanical obstruction of an internal carotid artery with resulting infarction.     

Orbital bruits and retinal artery pressure in internal carotid artery occlusion

Four patients are reported with orbital bruits. They had minor neurological deficits and all proved to have occlusion of the contralateral internal carotid artery. In three of the patients the retinal artery pressures were normal with no side to side difference, whereas pressure was slightly reduced on the occluded side in one patient. These observations give further evidence that an orbital bruit may indicate occlusion of the contralateral carotid artery with good collateral circulation.     

Brain metabolism and arterial acid-base balance following bilateral carotid occlusion in normotensive and experimental hypertensive rats.

The effects of bilateral common carotid artery occlusion on brain metabolism and arterial acid-base balance were studied in normotensive and experimental renovascular hypertensive rats. One hour after carotid occlusion in hypertensive rats, supratentorial lactate increased to 383% and lactate-pyruvate ratio to 280% of the controls, while adenosine triphosphate (ATP) decreased to 69%. These metabolic changes were thought to be due to cerebral ischemia. Arterial pCO2 was lowered and the pH was raised in the hypertensive animals due to cerebral ischemia induced hyperventilation. In the normotensive rats, carotid occlusion had minimal effects on cerebral metabolism and arterial acid-base balance. These results suggest that hypertensive rats are more susceptible to cerebral ischemia caused by carotid occlusion than normotensive rats. Increased cerebrovascular resistance in hypertension is discussed as a causal factor in cerebral ischemia.     

Dementia associated with bilateral carotid occlusions: neuropsychological and haemodynamic course after extracranial to intracranial bypass surgery.

A 55 year old man with bilateral internal carotid and unilateral vertebral artery occlusions presented subacutely with profound behavioural and cognitive changes featuring frontal lobe deficits. Neuropsychological testing showed severe cognitive impairment compatible with dementia. Anatomical imaging showed only a small right superior frontal infarction. Cerebral blood flow was severely reduced, with profound hypofrontality and limited hypercapnic reactivity, and cerebral metabolism was reduced primarily in the medial frontal lobes. After right sided extracranial to intracranial cerebral bypass surgery, both flow and metabolism improved, as did behavioural and neuropsychological deficits. Perfusion insufficiency from bilateral carotid occlusions, with secondarily reduced metabolism in the frontal zones bilaterally, may be an unusual cause of a reversible frontal dementia syndrome.     

鼠脑缺血后软脑膜微循环及脑血流自动调节功能的实验研究

本文利用闭合式颅骨开窗的方法制成脑微循环小室,以显微镜摄像系统连续观察双侧颈总动脉阻塞前后软脑膜微循环的变化,发现双侧颈总动脉阻塞后,软脑膜动脉管径和平均动脉压分别增加了40％和58％;静脉内血球流速减少至原值的70％;软脑膜动脉对动脉血二氧化碳浓度升高及低血压所引起的扩张反应受到明显抑制。实验结果提示:双侧颈总动脉阻塞后,虽然脑动脉明显扩张、血压上升。仍不足以代偿由于脑局部灌注压的下降所造成的脑血流量减少。提示双侧颈总动脉阻塞时,脑血流的自动调节功能受到严重损害。     

Spontaneous bilateral anterior cerebral artery occlusion resulting in akinetic mutism. A case report

An unusual case concerning a patient with akinetic mutism (AM) due to spontaneous bilateral anterior cerebral artery occlusion is reported. Brain CT scan revealed the presence of mild low density foci presenting an irregular enhancement, which followed the distribution of mesial frontal gyri and paracentral lobulus, bilaterally. Right and left carotid angiographies showed bilateral occlusion of the anterior cerebral artery. Our case is characterized by an exclusive localization of the infarction in the frontal cortex. This finding suggests that a limited damage involving the anterior cerebral arteries territory could be, on its own, responsible for the AM syndrome.     

Cognitive and physical performance in patients with asymptomatic carotid artery disease

The purpose of this study was to determine if patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and occlusion demonstrate deficits in cognitive and physical performance. The relationship between cognitive measures and performance of instrumental activities of daily living was examined. Seventy-nine patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis of moderate and severe degrees or occlusion were tested. Cognition was assessed via the repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status (RBANS) and the executive interview (EXIT). Physical performance was assessed via the physical performance test (PPT) and the Lawton instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Deficits in the RBANS visuospatial/constructional, attention, language and delayed memory domains were found for patients with occlusion. Deficits in all RBANS domains were found for the moderate stenosis subgroup, and deficits in all domains except language were found in the severe subgroup. No deficit was found in executive function in any group. Additionally, deficits were related to sidedness of involvement with visuospatial/constructional deficits related to right sided disease, and deficits in all cognitive domains except language were found in left sided and bilateral disease. Decreased performance on the PPT was identified in all three subgroups with the lowest scores in the moderate stenosis subgroup and the highest scores in the severe stenosis subgroup. The Lawton IADL did not identify any decrease in performance. Deficits in cognitive and physical function were found in this observational study of patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and occlusion, indicating that asymptomatic patients may not be truly asymptomatic. These areas of function and the potential change in their status need to be considered when patients are being evaluated for interventions to manage their carotid artery disease.