Cervical intradural ventral arachnoid cyst resected via anterior corpectomy with reconstruction: a case report

Intradural arachnoid cysts are rare lesions that frequently arise posterior to the spinal cord in the thoracic spine region. Those located at the cervical spine level, anterior to the spinal cord are even rarer. The usual treatment of symptomatic intradural spinal cysts involves surgical removal through a posterior approach using a laminectomy or laminotomy. However, ventrally located intradural cysts are frequently not amenable to complete resection without undue manipulation of the cord and aggressive removal through a posterior approach may result in spinal cord injury. The authors present a 29-year-old male harbouring an intradural ventral cervical arachnoid cyst which was successfully resected via an anterior approach with corpectomy and reconstruction. CONCLUSION: For purely ventral cervical intradural arachnoid cysts, which compress the spinal cord dorsally, an anterior approach can allow access to the lesion without any need for intraoperative manipulation of the spinal cord. For such cases, the anterior approach prevents the consequent risk of neurological injury due to posterior approaches.     

Cervical intradural lipoma with associated hemivertebra formation at C6 level: a case report

INTRODUCTION AND CASE DESCRIPTION: Intramedullary lipomas are rare tumours of the spinal cord and account for about 1% of all spinal neoplasms. These lesions can occur anywhere along the length of spinal cord, but are frequently localized to the lower thoracic and lumbosacral levels. The authors present a 18-year-old female with intractable shoulder and neck pain and progressive weakness in the upper extremities, harbouring a cervical intradural lipoma with intramedullary extension, along with concomitant scoliosis. CONCLUSION: Despite its benign nature, surgical treatment of these lesions in symptomatic patients generally provides satisfactory relief of symptoms. Radical removal of spinal intradural lipomas is not recommended since attempts at complete excision carry an unacceptable risk of postoperative morbidity and sufficient decompression with or without duraplasty generally provides a successful clinical outcome.     

Intermittent pneumatic sequential compression of the lower extremities restores the cerebral oxygen saturation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background Pneumoperitoneum causes intracranial pressure elevation and blood stasis at lower extremities. This study investigates cerebral oxygen saturation changes during laparoscopy and the effects of intermittent sequential compression (ISC) of the lower extremities in patients during elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients and method Sixty patients were randomly divided into two groups according to the application of ISC to the lower extremities. Group I served as control group whereas ISC was applied to group II. Cerebral oxygen saturation, peripheral blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, mean blood pressure, and associated changes have been recorded during the operation. Results Peripheral blood oxygen saturation and mean blood pressure values did not change significantly after pneumoperitoneum. Cerebral oxygen saturation levels of the group II patients were higher in than the group I patients and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p = 0.0001). The difference became more prominent following the 35^th minute of the operation. Mean heart rate of the patients in group II was lower than the patients in group I and the difference was also statistically significant (p = 0.0001). Conclusion In this study, it was found that the decrease in cerebral oxygen saturation was recovered with ISC application. This simple and reliable technique helps to restore cerebral oxygen saturation levels while increasing blood return from the lower extremities.     

Rare and unusual histological variants of prostatic carcinoma: clinical significance

We review the clinicopathological features of the following unusual histological variants of prostatic carcinoma: small cell carcinoma, ductal adenocarcinoma, sarcomatoid (carcinosarcoma), basal cell, squamous cell and adenosquamous, and urothelial carcinoma. These variants are rare and account for 5-10% of carcinomas that originate in the prostate. Some develop from acinar adenocarcinoma after hormonal or radiation therapy. They are usually aggressive tumours that often present with secondary deposits. The outcome is generally poor. Only basal cell carcinoma is seen as a low-grade carcinoma.     

Surgical management of primary and metastatic sarcoma of the mobile spine

OBJECT: Sarcomas of the spine are a challenging problem due to their frequent and extensive involvement of multiple spinal segments and high recurrence rates. Gross-total resection to negative margins, with preservation of neurological function and palliation of pain, is the surgical goal and may be achieved using either intralesional resection or en bloc excision. The authors report outcomes of surgery for primary and metastatic sarcomas of the mobile spine in a large patient series. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients undergoing resection for sarcomas of the mobile spine between 1993 and 2005 was undertaken. Sarcomas were classified by histology study results and as either primary or metastatic. Details of the surgical approach, levels of involvement, and operative complications were recorded. Outcome measures included neurological function, palliation of pain, local recurrence, and overall survival. RESULTS: Eighty patients underwent 110 resections of either primary or metastatic sarcomas of the mobile spine. Twenty-nine lesions were primary sarcomas (36%) and 51 were metastatic sarcomas (64%). Intralesional resections were performed in 98 surgeries (89%) and en bloc resections were performed in 12 (11%). Median survival from surgery for all patients was 20.6 months. Median survival for patients with a primary sarcoma of the spine was 40.2 months and was 17.3 months for patients with a metastatic sarcoma. Predictors of improved survival included a chondrosarcoma histological type and a better preoperative functional status, whereas osteosarcoma and a high-grade tumor were negative influences on survival. Multivariate analysis showed that only a high-grade tumor was an independent predictor of shorter overall survival. American Spinal Injury Association scale grades were maintained or improved in 97% of patients postoperatively, and there was a significant decrease in pain scores postoperatively. No significant differences in survival or local recurrence rates between intralesional or en bloc resections for either primary or metastatic spine sarcomas were found. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for primary or metastatic sarcoma of the spine is associated with an improvement in neurological function and palliation of pain. The results of this study show a significant difference in patient survival for primary versus metastatic spine sarcomas. The results do not show a statistically significant benefit in survival or local recurrence rates for en bloc versus intralesional resections for either metastatic or primary sarcomas of the spine, but this may be due to the small number of patients undergoing en bloc resections.     

Oculomotor nerve schwannoma located in the oculomotor cistern

BACKGROUND: OSs are extremely rare tumors, most often located in the interpeduncular cistern or the CS. We report an OS located predominantly within the oculomotor cistern, the arachnoid sac that surrounds the nerve for a short distance in the roof of the CS. We discuss a possible growth pattern for cavernous OSs. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report the case of a 34-year-old woman presenting with a right oculomotor nerve palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass within the borders of the roof of the CS extending forward toward the superior orbital fissure. A right pterional approach was undertaken, and the roof of the CS was opened just above the oculomotor nerve toward the superior orbital fissure. Although the part of the OS inside the oculomotor cistern was excised completely while preserving the anatomical continuity of the nerve, a subtotal removal was performed for the more anterior part of the tumor toward the superior orbital fissure. At 5 months follow-up, her third nerve paresis had improved dramatically. CONCLUSIONS: Resection of cavernous OSs within the oculomotor cistern, where the third nerve is clearly separated from the adjacent neurovascular structures, is feasible with functional preservation of the nerve. The chance of occurrence of the nerve palsy may increase as the resection proceeds more anteriorly toward the superior orbital fissure.     

Mucocele of the paranasal sinuses as a cause of acquired orbital hypertelorism: the second case

BACKGROUND: Orbital hypertelorism is defined as a lateralization of the total orbit. This condition is associated almost always with congenital abnormalities. An acquired total displacement of the orbit is almost impossible once the bony pillars of the craniofacial complex are established. The aim of this article was to discuss a case of a young man with paranasal sinus mucocele, who developed OHT. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 20-year-old man was admitted to us with orbital hypertelorism in 1993. The patient's examination revealed marked orbital hypertelorism, and no other abnormal finding was noted, and he had no congenital defect at birth. Hypertelorism was corrected by surgery, and we find that this condition was acquired secondary to paranasal sinus mucocele. CONCLUSION: This is the second case of an acquired OHT secondary to paranasal sinus mucocele and the first in which the condition was corrected by surgery in late years of life. We found excellent correction of orbital hypertelorism 13 years after surgery. The authors discuss the possible link between mucocele and possible mechanism for the development of orbital hypertelorism and emphasize the need for early surgery and long-term follow-up.