High Cervical Disc Lesions in Elderly Patients – Presentation and Surgical Approach

Summary  The incidence of high cervical disc lesions is extremely rare, and the mechanism of their development is unclear. We report these three cases, and discuss the possible mechanisms. We also describe surgical strategies for these lesions.  The first and second cases were an 82-year-old male and an 84-year-old male with retro-odontoid disc hernia. The third was an 83-year-old female with a herniated disc at C2/C3. To investigate Aetiological mechanisms of these lesions, we examined the findings on cervical images in extension and flexion, and compared the results in a younger than 80-year-old group and an older than 80-year-old group.  The patients underwent surgery via a posterolateral intradural approach. Wide laminectomy and incision of the dentate ligaments enabled access to the ventral space of the upper cervical spinal canal and sufficient decompression. All patients became ambulatory postoperatively without special fixation of the cervical spine. In the younger group, the level mostly loaded during cervical movement was C5/6, however, the levels in the older group were C2/3 and C3/4.  In elderly patients, less mobilization of the middle and/or lower cervical spine due to spondylotic change causes overloading at higher levels resulting in high cervical disc lesions. Retro-odontoid disc lesions can be caused by a herniated disc at C2/C3, which migrates upward. Regarding surgical strategy, the posterolateral intradural approach is less invasive and more advantageous for these lesions.     

Multiple intracranial aneurysms: A high risk condition

Summary There is still a relative silence in the literature on what policy should be followed in treating multiple aneurysms. The main risks are: bleeding of a formerly asymptomatic aneurysm during the haemodynamic tides of the peri-operative period; aneurysm(s) can be hidden on angiograms and tend to be overlooked easier in case of an already revealed aneursym; misjudgement of the ruptured one as a silent additional aneurysm, therefore left for second stage surgery.This paper, based on a material of 330 operations for multiple aneurysms, focuses on these problems. It advocates the one stage complete repair of all lesions using both options of bilateral pterional craniotomies or the contralateral approach. But it also describes those silent aneurysms which safely could be clipped later. Hazards and disadvantages concerning the more aggressive surgery proved to be less significant than the natural history of multiple aneurysms represents.Presented at the EANS Wintermeeting on High Risk Neurosurgery, Budapest, February 20–23, 1991.     

颈静脉球解剖变异对经内镜行岩斜坡区病变手术的影响

目的 了解颈静脉球的解剖变异对颞骨径路在内镜下行桥小脑角区病变手术的影响。方法 在20例40侧成人尸头上模拟颞骨径路内镜手术,测量相关数据。结果 颈静脉球高度为左侧(7.39±2.11)mm,右侧(9.05±3.10)mm;宽度为左侧(6.28±1.25)mm,右侧(6.34±0.79)mm;颈静脉球顶距鼓室天盖、后半规管上、下缘、上半规管顶点、内淋巴囊上缘、面神经锥段中点、内听道下缘之间距离分别为:(16.05±3.34)mm、(8.73±3.11)mm、(3.13±1.83)mm、(14.63±3.33)mm、(5.01±2.88)mm、(3.70±3.36)mm、(5.03±3.19)mm。结论 高位颈静脉球对内镜手术有一定影响,但相对非内镜手术而言要小,高位颈静脉球的定义依不同的术式而不同。     

经迷路进路听神经瘤术后脑脊液漏的预防及处理

目的　探讨经迷路进路听神经瘤切除术后脑脊液漏发生的影响因素及处理方法。方法1999年以来采用迷路进路或扩大迷路进路听神经瘤切除术 85例 ,前 4 1例采用传统关闭术腔技术 ,后4 4例对关闭技术进行改良 ,分析其脑脊液漏的发生率。发生脑脊液漏者行保守或手术治疗。结果传统关闭技术组中脑脊液漏的发生率为 19 5 % ( 8 4 1) ,改良关闭技术组中脑脊液漏的发生率为 2 3%( 1 4 4 ) ,两组差异有显著性意义 (P =0 0 13)。传统关闭技术组中脑脊液漏多数发生在大型听神经瘤中 ,其发生率随肿瘤增大有上升的趋势。 9例脑脊液漏的患者中 ,3例经保守治疗 ;6例经手术修补成功 ,其中 5例 1次修补成功。结论　改良关闭术腔技术可显著降低经迷路进路听神经瘤切除术后脑脊液漏的发生率 ,手术修补为终止脑脊液漏的有效措施     

GM(1,1)灰色模型在尘肺患病人数预测的应用与评价

目的 探讨验证灰色模型在尘肺患病人数预测的应用效果。方法 利用该煤矿1996～1986年尘肺患病人数进行建模，并建立了数学模型X(I)=583e^0.038(T-II)-452，作外推预测验证。结果 该灰色预测模型的拟合程度较高，取得了较好的效果。结论 灰色模型可应用于尘肺患病人数的预测。     

经口咽入路显微手术治疗颅颈区畸形

目的 总结经口咽入路颅颈区畸形的显微手术治疗体会。方法 回顾30例颅颈区畸形病例的临床表现、术前准备、手术方法、术后效果及并发症，并结合文献进行分析。结果 本组30例颅颈区畸形，经行口咽入路显微手术后，随访3个月～4年，痊愈21例(70％)，好转6例(20％)。结论 采用经口咽入路显微外科手术是治疗颅颈区畸形的有效手段，术中良好的显露及镜下细心操作是降低并发症的关键。     

GLOMUS TUMORS──A REVIEW OF 8 CASES WITH INTRODUCTION OF A MODIFIED COMBINED INTRA-AND EXTRACRANIAL APPROACH

Eight cases of glomus tumors hospitalized in our department from 1982 through 1995 were reviewed. It comprised of five glomus tympanic tumors and three glomus jugular tumors. Discussion was centered on it’s contemporary diagnosis, classification and surgical treatment with introduction of a modified combined intra-and extracranial surgical approach to resect the extensive glomus tumors.     

咽旁间隙肿瘤及手术入路

为探讨咽旁间隙肿瘤的手术方法及入路的选择。报告６６例经各种手术入路治疗的良、恶性肿瘤。结果表明，经颈或经颈合并下颌及正中裂开外旋入路较之其他几种手术入路具有手术适应证广、安全、术后并发症少等优点。认为经颈或经颈合并下颌正中裂开外旋入路是一种安全、彻底切除咽旁间隙原发肿瘤效果最好的入路。     

A limited-sampling method for evaluation of the area under the curve of ultrafilterable carboplatin in children

Carboplatin is a widely used cytotoxic agent in numerous solid tumors of children. Since there is a large degree of interpatient variability in the area under the curve of free carboplatin for a given dose of the drug, the current tendency is to adjust the carboplatin dose so as to reach a target area under the curve rather than to determine a carboplatin dose on the basis of the body surface area. A limited-sampling method was developed for estimation of the ultrafilterable carboplatin area under the curve and for adjustment of the carboplatin dose on subsequent treatments. Population parameters were obtained from 16 children (reference group). We used the maximum a posteriori (MAP) Bayesian approach on 15 children with complete carboplatin pharmacokinetic data (test group). Two blood samples were sufficient to obtain reliable prediction of the area under the curve. The best sampling times were: (a) 30 min after the end of the infusion and (b) 5 h after the end of the infusion. On the basis of these data it is possible to prescribe prospectively a target area under the curve for free carboplatin given in a fractionated daily infusion and to adapt the carboplatin dose directly to ultrafilterable carboplatin measurements. Received: 8 June 1997 / Accepted: 9 January 1998