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.     

Experimental Hydrocephalus in Suckling Hamster Induced by Myxovirus Infection

Abstract This study was undertaken to elucidate the pathogenesis of the hydrocephalus and aqueductal stenosis induced by intracerebral mumps virus inoculation in suckling hamsters.
Mild ventricular dilatation became apparent after 5 days of inoculation. Focal denuding of the ependymal layer and subsequent aqueductal stenosis were observed by 14 days after inoculation. The virus antigen was detected not only in the ependymal cells and choroid plexus, but also in some neurons in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, midbrain and cerebellum. In the cerebral aqueduct, the orderly arrangement of the cilialy clusters was destroyed on the 5th day after inoculation. After 10 days, proliferation of GFAP positive cells was noticed around the cerebral aqueduct and subsequently caused aqueductal stenosis. In the advanced state of hydrocephalus, the cerebellum was displaced downward and showed an elongated, atrophic and sleevelike structure similar to the Arnold-Chiari malformation. It was suggested that the extensive damage of the ependymal cilia may account for early ventricular dilatation, and subsequent aqueductal stenosis with glial proliferation is the main cause of the advanced hydrocephalus. It has not yet been determined whether the mumps virus can pass through the human placenta or not. If it can, however, our results strongly suggest that mumps virus infection in the human fetus will cause congenital hydrocephalus.     

Ulnar distribution of reflex sympathetic dystrophy due to compression of the brachial plexus by a primary venous malformation

An atypical variant of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is presented in a 45 year old female with a vascular malformation of the right arm and chest wall. The mechanism was thought to be compression of the brachial plexus by the malformation. The unique scintigraphic features of this presentation of RSD in the ulnar arterial distribution are illustrated.     

Arteriovenous malformations that rupture during pregnancy: a management dilemma

Summary Intracranial haemorrhage due to rupture of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) during pregnancy is a rare but serious condition that warrants prompt recognition. Once the diagnosis is made, the management is primarily based on neurosurgical rather than obstetric considerations. Due to its rarity, no definitive guidelines exist, and the best time to perform elective surgery (i.e., at presentation or at completion of the pregnancy) is ill-defined. This report describes three patients recently treated at our institution who had AVMs that ruptured during pregnancy. These cases well summarize the difficulties encountered in treating such patients. The diagnostic as well as the therapeutic implications of this condition are discussed.     

Clinical impact of CCM mutation detection in familial cavernous angioma

Introduction and background A 3-year-old Bosnian girl with a large symptomatic brainstem and multiple supratentorial cavernous angiomas, who underwent neurosurgical treatment, is presented. As multiple cavernomas are more common in familial cases, genetic analyses and neuroradiological imaging were performed in the patient and her parents to see whether there was any evidence for inheritance. This information is important for genetic counseling and provision of medical care for at-risk relatives. Currently, no recommendation is available on how to manage these cases.Results Genetic analyses demonstrated a novel CCM1 frameshift mutation (c.1683_1684insA; p.V562SfsX6) in the child and the asymptomatic 27-year-old mother. Sensitive gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging of the mother revealed multiple supratentorial lesions, whereas analogous imaging of the father showed no pathological findings.Conclusion This case exemplifies that seemingly sporadic cases with multiple lesions might well be hereditary and that presymptomatic genetic testing of family members may identify relatives for whom clinical and neuroradiological monitoring is indicated.     

脑动静脉畸形实验动物模型的建立

脑动静脉畸形是一种比较常见的严重威胁人们生命安全和生存质量的脑血管疾病，目前人们主要是通过尸体解剖以及CT、MRI等影像学的方法认识。近年来，学者们应用各种动物模型来研究脑动静脉畸形的血流动力学，病理生理学以及脑动静脉畸形栓塞材料的评估，栓塞后临床疗效评价，放射照射剂量对脑动静脉畸形的影响等。本文就脑动静脉畸形实验动物的常用种类，动物模型的建立方法以及动物模型的实际应用进行了综述。     

经皮血管内栓塞颅内动静脉畸形（附38例治疗效果观察）

经皮血管内采用氰基丙烯酸异丁脂（ＩＢＣＡ）栓塞治疗３８例颅内动静脉畸形（ＡＶＭ）病人。其中８例达到１００％完全栓塞，栓塞面积大于７５％的１０例，大于５０％者１１例；余下９例栓塞面积小于５０％，１９例以出血为首发症状，１１例以癫痫为首发症状，６例神经功能障碍，２例以头痛为主要症状。栓塞术后发生并发症５例，占１３％，无死亡病例。本文讨论了超选插管技术问题、Ａｍｙｔａｌ试验假阴性、导管粘连及正常灌注压突破。     

X刀治疗脑内病变283例长期随访研究

目的:总结X刀治疗脑内病变的长期随访结果.方法:对283例X刀治疗的脑瘤和脑血管畸形患者进行临床和影像学随访,随访时间为1～8年,平均(2.05±4.66)年.结果:82例转移瘤消失35例(42.7％),缩小28例(34.1％),无变化11例(13.4％),增大8例(9.8％);61例胶质瘤消失10例(16.4％),缩小19例(31.1％),无变化16例(26.2％),增大16例(26.2％);55例动静脉畸形消失29例(52.7％),缩小20例(36.4％),无变化6例(10.9％);17例海绵状血管瘤缩小4例(23.5％),无变化13例(76.5％);35例脑膜瘤消失5例(14.3％),缩小15例(42.9％),无变化13例(37.1％),增大2例(5.7％);12例神经鞘瘤消失3例(25.0％),缩小6例(50.0％),无变化2例(16.7％),增大1例(8.3％);10例生殖细胞瘤消失8例(80.0％),缩小2例(20.0％);11例其他肿瘤消失2例(18.2％),缩小4例(36.4％),无变化4例(36.4％),增大1例(9.0％).影像检查还发现病灶有坏死表现99例,囊性变19例,周边环状强化73例,胶质细胞增生20例,暂时性反应性肿大23例,放射性脑水肿28例.结论:X刀对小型脑肿瘤和血管畸形是一种安全有效的治疗方法,X刀治疗的主要并发症是放射性脑水肿.     

Effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on Teratogenicity of Cadmium in Mice

ABSTRACT Embryotoxicity and teratogenicity of cadmium (Cd) and modulation of its effects by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) were evaluated in mice. Pregnant ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with 3.5 mg/kg of CdCl₂ on day 10 or 11 of gestation (vaginal plug = day 0). Pregnant mice were pretreated with 160 mg/kg of NAC intravenously 2 hours before dosing with CdCl₂. Pregnant mice were killed on day 17 of gestation. Fetuses were examined for external malformations, especially limb malformations, cleft palate and abnormal palatal rugae. There was little difference in body weight gain of dams during the gestation period in the groups treated with NAC plus Cd as compared with the groups treated with Cd alone. Pretreatment with 160 mg/kg of NAC decreased the fetal mortality, incidence of cleft palate and abnormal palatal rugae induced by Cd on day 11. On day 10, pretreatment with NAC decreased the incidence of Cd induced abnormal palatal rugae. These results clearly indicate that NAC exerts protective effects against embryotoxicity and teratogenicity of Cd.     

脑动静脉畸形血管重构的分子生物学机制

脑动静脉畸形存在活跃的血管重构,本文就其重构的分子生物学机制作一综述。