Extra-cranial posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms are rare with only 22 cases been reported so far. Intra-dural type of extra-cranial PICA aneurysm is even rarer with few case ...reports available. We report a previously unreported type of proximal PICA aneurysm in which the PICA aneurysm had intra-dural location at the C2 vertebral level.
A 51 year old gentleman presented with sub-arachnoid haemorrhage and intra-ventricular haemorrhage, predominantly involving the fourth ventricle and had no focal neurological deficit. CT angiogram was negative however a dedicated four vessel angiogram demonstrated an abnormal extracranial origin of right PICA at C1-C2 level, with associated aneurysm in its proximal segment. A C1 posterior arch excision with partial C2 laminectomy and clipping of the aneurysm was done.
Aneurysm associated with extracranial intra-dural PICA origin is a rare cause of SAH, and may not be detected with CT angiography. Such cases often require dedicated four vessel angiography, with careful study for any possibility of extra-cranial aneurysm. This variant has important surgical implication and requires preservation of the Lateral spinal artery (LSA-PICA communication), and that such aneurysm approached only with posterior cervical exposure without the need of a craniotomy. Such cases remind us the need to have an in-depth understanding of the variations of the posterior circulation.
Breast cancer (BC) is globally one of the leading killers among women. Within a breast tumor, a minor population of transformed cells accountable for drug resistance, survival, and metastasis is ...known as breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Several experimental lines of evidence have indicated that BCSCs influence the functionality of immune cells. They evade immune surveillance by altering the characteristics of immune cells and modulate the tumor landscape to an immune-suppressive type. They are proficient in switching from a quiescent phase (slowly cycling) to an actively proliferating phenotype with a high degree of plasticity. This review confers the relevance and impact of crosstalk between immune cells and BCSCs as a fate determinant for BC prognosis. It also focuses on current strategies for targeting these aberrant BCSCs that could open avenues for the treatment of breast carcinoma.
Cobb syndrome is a rare neurocutaneous disorder characterised by spinal and cutaneous vascular malformations in a metameric distribution. Managing such cases is a challenge for the interventionists ...and neurosurgeons as the results are often suboptimal. We describe a case of Cobb syndrome in a young male child who presented clinically with acute paraparesis and lower backache. On radiological workup, an intradural perimedullary complex spinal arteriovenous fistula was seen with presence of subarachnoid haemorrhage in the spinal canal and compressive myelopathy. There was a haemangioma in paraspinal muscles and a maculopapular cutaneous lesion in the lower back. He was treated with combined endovascular embolisation and surgical intervention and showed significant clinical improvement on follow-up.
Traditional large craniotomies have been the standard for aneurysm surgery. However, minimally invasive “keyhole” approaches have gained popularity for aneurysm clipping in recent years. This study ...focuses on Supra-Orbital Keyhole Approach (SOKHA),its use in clipping of aneurysms of the anterior Circle of Willis. Here we share the experiences of a tertiary care center regarding aneurysm clipping using SOKHA.
We retrospectively reviewed 166 cases involving aneurysm clipping, with 62 patients undergoing SOKHA and 104 patients undergoing the pterional approach. Factors evaluated included patient demographics, aneurysm characteristics, incidence of intraoperative complications, temporary-clipping usage, and postoperative clinical outcomes. Glasgow Outcome Scale scores were utilized to assess clinical outcomes.
The study found that both the SOKHA and pterional approaches were similar in terms of age distribution, Hunt and Hess grades, and the incidence of hydrocephalus. The majority of aneurysms in both groups were anterior communicating artery aneurysms.Hydrocephalus was observed in 14.5 % of SOKHA cases and 13.5 % of pterional cases. Intraoperative aneurysm rupture occurred in 8.1 % of SOKHA cases and 7.7 % of pterional cases. There were no mortalities in the SOKHA group, while the pterional group had 1.92 % mortality rate. At the last follow-up, 77.4 % of SOKHA cases and 75.9 % of pterional cases had a favorable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale IV and V), with no significant difference.
SOKHA offers the advantage of potential cosmetic benefit with neurological outcomes comparable to those of the traditional pterional approach, in properly selected patients.
•A comparative study between two different approaches traditional pterional and supra-orbital keyhole.•The advantages and disadvantages of keyhole approach in the management of ruptured intracranial aneurysm.•Outcome analysis.
To assess the accuracy of freehand cervical C1 C2 screws placement by knock and drill (K and D) technique in craniovertebral anomalous bony anatomy.
From January 2017 to December 2022, 682 ...consecutive C1 C2 screws in 215 patients with craniovertebral junction (CVJ) anomalies were enrolled. All patients underwent posterior fixation with K and D technique without any fluoroscopic guidance. The patient's demographic details, clinical details, radiological details, major intraoperative events, and postoperative complications were noted. The screws malposition grades and direction on CT images in the axial and sagittal plane were defined as new per proposed "SGPGI accuracy criteria." All patients had a clinical evaluation at 3-month follow-up.
Total 682 C1, C2 screws were placed in 215 patients for CVJ anomalies using K and D technique. The accuracy of screws placement by freehand technique was 84.46% (576/682). So with technique explained the rate of malplacement in simple (16.35%) and complex (15.19%) groups were almost comparable and comparison difference was not significant (
= 0.7005).
The freehand technique, as described, is effective in cases of anomalous bony anatomy, and it is mandatory in complex CVJ anomalies. The accuracy of screw placement and VA injury is comparable with major studies. This technique is supposedly cost-effective and less hazardous to both health-care workers and patients.
Background: Neonatal sepsis and meningitis is an important cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity especially in the developing countries. Bacteriological profile of meningitis and antibiotic ...sensitivity pattern may vary from one region to another.
Aims and Objectives: We have planned this study to know the etiological agent of neonatal meningitis with its antibiotic sensitivity profile and to evaluate some other associated risk factors of meningitis.
Materials and Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study was done for a period of 1 year in the SNCU and NICU of a district Medical College of West Bengal in neonates presented with clinical sepsis and meningitis. Sepsis screen, blood culture, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) study, and culture sensitivity was done and recorded along with demographic data, clinical presentation, outcome, and other associated factors.
Results: We found meningitis in 55 neonates out of 250 clinical sepsis. CSF culture was positive in 42 cases with Escherichia coli (30.9%), Klebsiella (26.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (16.6%), Acinetobacter (14.2%) and Coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CoNS 11.9%) as prevalent organism. E. coli and Klebsiella were mostly sensitive to Amikacin, Levofloxacin, and Colistin whereas less sensitive to Cefotaxime, Pipercilin-tazobactam or Meropenem and Acinetobacter showed good sensitivity only to Levofloxacin. Among the gram-positive organism, S. aureus and CoNS were only sensitive to Linezolid, Vancomycin, and Teicoplanin.
Conclusion: This type of study should help to make a proper antibiotic policy for an institution so that the empirical first-line antibiotic can be started with good effect in cases of neonatal sepsis and meningitis before the arrival of culture sensitivity report.
Although extensively studied, few papers have specifically addressed the surgical implications of horizontal and vertical tumor extensions in falcine meningioma (FM). The available classification ...systems do not address these tumor extensions and thus do not characterize FM in their entirety.
To determine the influence of radiologic tumor extensions on the clinicoradiologic and surgical aspects of FM, propose a new preoperative radiologic scheme for these tumors, and report our surgical outcomes.
Thirty-five patients with FM (mean age, 50.03 years; male/female ratio, 16:19) were classified into unilateral conventional (type I; n = 17), unilateral high (type II; n = 9) and bilateral FM (type III; n = 9) based on the coronal magnetic resonance imaging findings. We excluded the primary parasagittal meningiomas from our analysis.
Type II and III tumors were more common in males (unlike the overall cohort), presented more often with seizures, and were associated with less favorable postoperative outcomes. Preoperative motor weakness was almost exclusively seen with the unilateral tumors (type I/II). Preexisting weakness (P = 0.02) was a strong predictor of the likelihood of postoperative motor power worsening, the major surgical complication in our series (n = 9; 25.7%). New-onset postoperative weakness (n = 2) recovered completely, whereas worsening of the preexisting weakness showed only a partial improvement (n = 6).
The proposed classification scheme characterizes FMs comprehensively. Bilaterality and parasagittal extensions in FMs affect their clinical presentation, increase surgical difficulty, and influence the surgical outcome adversely. Preexisting motor weakness portends a poor postoperative motor outcome.
Abstract
Subaxial posttraumatic spondyloptosis is a rare entity with management dilemma in the literature. Various approaches have been discussed, but few reports focused on management plan and ...rationale. The authors reviewed the literature and reported a case of a 30-year-old woman presented with posttraumatic spastic quadriparesis. The patient had C6–7 spondyloptosis and was operated by anterior-only approach. There was improvement in both motor and sensory neurologic status. Surgical goals include vertebral realignment and stabilization. The authors conclude that anterior approach may be good enough if performed properly even if all three columns are involved.
Tuberculosis of the craniovertebral junction is rare as well as intriguing. We present a unique amalgamation of three rare entities: craniovertebral tuberculosis, occipital condyle syndrome, and ...nontraumatic type II rotatory atlantoaxial dislocation in one patient. We reviewed the limited literature available and the underlying pathophysiology to highlight the pattern of the disease presentation, progression, and response to management options. A 13-year-old girl presented with neck pain, torticollis, and right hypoglossal weakness following a fall from stairs 10 months back. Radiological investigation suggested right occipital condylar destruction with right-sided neck tilt and rotatory atlantoaxial dislocation. The contrast magnetic resonance imaging was suggestive of craniovertebral tuberculosis with primary foci in the right lung (apical cavitary lesion). In view of an intact neurological condition, she was started on antitubercular treatment and she continues to do well during the follow-up. It remains debatable if an anticipation of this problem calls for a surgical addressal at the acute stage of the disease as a delayed correction is likely to be more complex. While a halo device is preferable in these cases, it remains cumbersome and less preferred in comparison to the Philadelphia collar.
A 36-year-old female of rural background presented in the outpatient services of psychiatry with the complaints of increased irritability, increased talkativeness, grandiose talks, increased physical ...activity, increased religiosity and reduced sleep for the past 1 month. 3 In our patient, there are many potential causes (tumor in the left temporal lobe, temporal lobectomy, brain tissue damage due to radiotherapy as well seizure episodes) that might have attributed to the development of psychiatric symptoms. Choosing valproate as a medication for seizure prophylaxis, will not only ensure a seizure-free recovery; its mood stabilizing property will also take care of manic symptoms as well as aggression.
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