Skull base surgery for malignancy: when not to operate

The purpose of this paper is to detail the contraindications for surgery, with curative intent for those patients who suffer from a head and neck malignancy that invades the intracranial space. This is based on a 30-year experience of over 250 patients. The most important contraindications are anatomical. Surgery is not done if the following structures are invaded: brain stem, eloquent portions of the cerebrum, superior sagittal sinus, both internal carotid arteries, both cavernous sinuses and certain vital bridging veins. Certain tumor factors are absolute but are occasionally relative contraindications: such as distant metastatic disease especially if multiple and at multiple anatomic sites. Some tumors that behave in a particularly virulent fashion that defy complete resection but are often difficult to predict preoperatively. Lack of patient medical fitness or absence of patient commitment to the operative procedure is make-up two serious contraindications to surgery. Presented at the 77th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, 24–28 May 2006, Mannheim, Germany.     

Dislocation of an upper third molar into the maxillary sinus after a severe trauma: a case report

Abstract – Dental injuries are common following facial trauma. This article presents a rare injury: the dislocation of a third molar into the maxillary sinus after complex mandibular and maxillary tuberosity fractures. The possible mechanism and clinical treatment are discussed.     

Raymond's syndrome following petrosal sinus sampling

Summary Inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) is used to evaluate the pituitary-dependency of Cushing's disease, and to predict the laterality of a microadenoma prior to transsphenoidal operation. A serious complication occured in a 14-year-old boy: he suffered brain stem ischaemia with abducens nerve palsy and hemiparesis (Raymond's syndrome). The case prompted us to reconsider the indication for this investigation.     

Convergence of occipital nerve and superior sagittal sinus input in the cervical spinal cord of the cat

Co-existence of facial and occipital pain may occur in occipital neuralgia, migraine and cluster headache; suggesting convergence of trigeminal and cervical afferents. Such convergence has been shown in humans and other animals, but the site and extent of this are uncertain. In anaesthetized adult cats, the superior sagittal sinus and occipital nerve were stimulated electrically, and extracellular recordings made in the dorsolateral area of the upper cervical cord using glass-coated tungsten electrodes. Of 49 units in 10 cats, 33 (67%) had input from the superior sagittal sinus and the occipital nerve. Thirteen (27%) had superior sagittal sinus input and 3 (6%) had occipital nerve input. Convergent receptive fields were identified mechanically in 7 units. These experiments in cats show convergent input from occipital nerve and superior sagittal sinus on dorsolateral area units in two-thirds of cases studied. This experimental site of trigeminocervical convergence may relate to referral of pain in occipital neuralgia and other headaches.     

扩大经额硬膜外入路切除巨大侵袭性垂体瘤

目的:探讨采用扩大的经额硬膜外入路切除巨大侵袭性垂体瘤的临床应用.方法:1997年6月至2002年3月采用该入路显微外科切除巨大侵袭性垂体瘤10例,肿瘤主要累及于鞍上、蝶筛窦及上斜坡区.结果:本组10例中,肿瘤全切6例,次全切除3例,大部分切除1例.术后发生颅神经麻痹4例,其中动眼神经障碍3例,外展神经障碍1例.全组无手术死亡.术后影像学随访6～24个月,全切除肿瘤病例未见肿瘤复发,次全切除者无明显增大.结论:该入路可充分显露鞍区肿瘤,术野开阔,对脑组织损伤小,适用于已侵犯蝶筛窦区及上斜坡的侵袭性垂体瘤.     

Persistent left superior vena cava draining to left atrium with normal coronary sinus

In embryology, a persistent connection of the left superior vena cava to the left atrium rarely coexists with a coronary sinus. We herein report an unusual case of persistent left superior vena cava terminating in a left atrium with normal coronary sinus, which was revealed at the time of permanent pacemaker implantation after a second operation for recurrent left atrioventricular valve regurgitation. Because this anomaly had gone undiagnosed at the first operation, we were unable to diagnose it prior to the second operation, because the preoperative coronary angiogram clearly demonstrated a coronary sinus that was not dilated. We would have repaired the anomaly using a patch or other procedure had it been diagnosed before the second operation in order to prevent cyanosis or brain complications secondary to right-to-left shunting. One should always be on guard for this rare condition.     

Heart rate fluctuations in diabetic patients with cardiac vagal dysfunction: a spectral analysis

The autonomic nervous control of cardiac function during active orthostatic load has been studied by measuring the power spectrum of heart rate fluctuations in 16 insulin-dependent diabetic patients and 14 age-matched control subjects. The patients were subdivided into two groups: 8 with normal respiratory sinus dysrhythmia (RSA+) and 8 with reduced respiratory sinus dysrhythmia (RSA-). In RSA- patients the total power (0.01-0.50 Hz) was significantly reduced compared with control subjects (4.7 versus 15.5 min-2, 2p less than 0.05) and the pattern of heart rate fluctuations was characterized by a relative increase in the low-frequency component (0.01-0.05 Hz) as compared with RSA+ patients and control subjects (45% versus 24% and 27%, both 2p less than 0.01). There was also a significant reduction in the high-frequency component (0.15-0.50 Hz) as compared with RSA+ patients and control subjects (17% versus 36% and 33%, both 2p less than 0.05). During standing, a significant increase in total power was found only in control subjects (2p less than 0.01) and the difference between control subjects, and RSA+ and RSA- patients reached significance (32.2 versus 15.1 and 12.7 min-2, 2p less than 0.02 and 2p less than 0.01). The pattern of heart rate fluctuations in RSA- patients showed no significant change on standing. These results suggest that the reduced overall heart rate variability in diabetic patients with cardiac autonomic neuropathy is associated with a typical heart rate fluctuation pattern.     

Comparative effects of stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion and the superior sagittal sinus on cerebral blood flow and evoked potentials in the cat

The superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and the trigeminal ganglion (Vg) of anesthetized cats were stimulated electrically and field potentials in the upper cervical spinal cord and regional cerebral blood flow were recorded. Stimulation of the entire ganglion produced smaller field potential changes in two regions (medioventral area (MVA); dorsolateral area (DLA] of the upper spinal cord than did stimulation of the sagittal sinus (Vg/SSS response ratio = 17% for the MVA and 48% for the DLA). Stimulation of the trigeminal ganglion increased blood flow in only the frontal and parietal cortices (+93% and +33%), whereas stimulation of the sinus produced both larger changes in these areas (+137% and +139%) and also produced changes in regional cerebral blood flow in the thalamus (+122%).     

颈交感神经对血管源性头痛痛觉传导的影响

目的采用电刺激大鼠上矢状窦(SSS)区硬脑膜,观察颈上交感神经节(SCG)摘除术前后在延髓和上颈段三叉神经脊束核一氧化氮合酶(NOS)阳性神经元数目的变化,以探讨交感神经系统在血管源性头痛(如偏头痛)涉及的伤害觉信息传递中的作用。方法以雄性SD大鼠(体重为220～250g)为实验对象,行颈上交感神经节摘除术后再手术暴露其SSS,然后电刺激SSS区硬脑膜,应用免疫组织化学染色技术,观察延髓和上颈段三叉神经脊束核NOS表达的变化。结果NOS免疫反应阳性神经元主要分布在三叉神经脊束核和上颈段脊髓的第Ⅰ、Ⅱ板层,双侧对称。假手术对照组、SCG摘除组每张切片的NOS阳性神经元数分别为150.2±10.3、223.0±11.6,SCG摘除组NOS阳性神经元数目较假手术对照组明显增加(P<0.05)。结论颈交感神经系统参与了头部血管源性疼痛(如偏头痛)中伤害性感觉信息导致的疼痛的产生、传导及调节过程。     

多层螺旋CT血管成像诊断颈动脉海绵窦瘘

目的探讨颈动脉海绵窦瘘(CCF)的解剖病理基础及螺旋CT血管成像(MSCTA)表现,提高MSCTA对CCF的诊断能力。方法12例经DSA证实的CCF均进行了螺旋CT平扫、增强扫描及血管成像重建。结果CCF的MSCT及CTA表现为:海绵窦扩大及眼上静脉扩张12例,并与颈内动脉同时显影;其他属支静脉扩张6例;对侧海绵窦扩大4例,与DSA检查结果一致。患侧眼球突出12例。颅底、眶壁骨折5例。眼球壁模糊、增厚5例。脑挫伤、出血4例。眼外肌增粗1例。结论螺旋CT及其血管成像诊断CCF简单、快捷、准确、可靠,特别是在外伤性CCF中,是首选的检查及诊断方法。