[en] There are problems that are unresolved with regard to the treatment of cases presenting a post-taumatic cervical myelopathy, such as when the surgical indications are not clearly evidence and the proper timing of this surgery. In this regard, the authors have used dynamic MRI to retrospectively analyze the cervical spine of 24 previously treated dynamic MRI cases presenting a subacute myelopathy to determine the efficacy of dynamic MRI as a method of treatment. Dynamic MRI analysis protocol was as follows. For the MR imagings, each patient was placed supine with the neck in the neutral position, after which the neck was set in the extended position. Dynamic changes between the neutral position and extended position images were analyzed by focusing on the following two point: (1) the narrowing of the subarachnoid space in the T2-weighted images and (2) evidence of cord compression in the T1-weighted images. Twelve cases out of 24 were treated conservatively because of a gradual improvement in their myelopathic symptoms. The other 12 cases were treated surgically, because of no improvement in their residual myelopathic symptoms at the time when the dynamic MRI had been performed. In the majority of cases in the surgical group, the narrowing of the subarachnoid space and spinal cord compression were hightened on neck extension, whereas in the conservative group, such findings were minimal. Dynamic MRI also more clearly visualized multiple lesions and the direction of the cord compression. These findings thus provided more detailed information to plan the surgical approach and to estimate the amount of surgical decompression needed. Based on the results of this retrospective study, we thus concluded that surgical treatment appears to benefit subacute cases who show no improvement in their residual myelopathic symptoms and whose dynamic MRI results also demonstrate an increased narrowing of subarachnoid space and a heightened spinal cord compression. (author)

[en] We conducted the nationwide surgery on the present status of the treatment of dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVF) in Japan. The questionnaires were sent to all of the 388 neurointerventionalists (268 clinics) certified by the Japanese Society of Neuroendovascular Therapy to ask the patients demography and details of treatment between 05 January and 06 December. The clinical data of 863 patients were reported by 92 clinics. 45% of the patients were men and 55% were women. Patients' mean age was 64.0±13.2 years. The cavernous sinus (CS) was involved in 396 patients (45.9%), the transverse-sigmoid sinus (TSS) in 230 (26.7%), the spinal cord in 51 (5.9%), the anterior condylar confluence (ACC) in 43 (5.0%), the tentorium in 41 (4.8%), the superior sagittal sinus in 28 (3.2%),the craniocervical junction (CCJ) in 21 (2.4%), the cranial vault in 21 (2.4%), the anterior cranial base (ACB) in 18 (2.1%), and the confluence of the sinus in 12 (1.4%). A total of 719 (83%) patients were treated endovascularly, 61 (7%) surgically, and 37 (4%) radiosurgically. The radiological results were complete obliteration in 66% of the patients, subtotal in 17%, and partial in 11%. Treatment complications were reported in 4.1% of the patients. The mean modified Rankin Scale was 1.4 before, and 0.6 after treatment. The results of the treatment of the CS and TSS lesions were acceptable and satisfactory. The analysis of the complications reported suggested that endovascular treatment sometimes tended to be selected inappropriately in the ACB and CCJ lesions. (author)

[en] To avoid any morbidity occuring after surgery for petroclival meningioma, we use the following treatment strategy: the tumor should be left undetached in cases where there is no cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space between the tumor and the surrounding structures to avoid a new deficit, the residual volume should be reduced to less than 20 ml, small enough for radiosurgery. The result of our strategy presented. During the past 10 years, we treated 13 patients with petroclival meningioma. The tumor volume ranged from 1.0 ml to 70 ml. 11 patients had neurological deficits preoperatively. 11 patients underwent an anterior petrosal approach while 2 patients underwent a far lateral approach according to the tumor attachment. The tumors were totally removed in 5 patients. The surgical removal successfully decreased the tumor size in 8 patients. The residual volume was small enough (less than 20 ml) just after surgical removal. Thus, radiosurgery was performed within 4 months after the open surgery in 7 patients. The residual tumor almost disappeared in 1 case and decreased in 4 cases. No new deficits occurred other than a transient facial weakness in 1 case. It is concluded that our planned surgical treatment for petroclival meningioma is safe and sure in terms of the patients' quality of life. The planned radiosurgery for the residual tumor immediately after the surgical removal is considered most effective. (author)

[en] Our aim was to determine whether CT angiography (CTA) is suitable for the evaluation of patency and in-stent restenoses in small vessel stents for intracranial angioplasty. From June, 2000 to February, 2006, 26 patients received stent-assisted angioplasty for intracranial atherosclerotic lesions. The procedure was successfully performed in all patients. Multi plannar reconstruction (MPR) was evaluated for image quality on three groups with I-E (Internal-External diameter) ratios, as follows: Group A=I-E ratio>0.5 (Possible to evaluate stent lumen, high certainty), Group B=0.31≤I-E ratio≤0.5 (Possible to evaluate stent lumen, low certainty), Group C=I-E ratio≤0.31 (Uninterpretable). We examined the possibility of evaluating the stent lumen, maching the identity with the angiographical findings, and finding a predictor of favorable CTA findings. CTA was performed in 19 patients. It was possible to evaluate the visible stent lumen in 14 patients (73.7%); 10 patients comprised group A, 4 patients group B, 5 patients group C. Nine patients were evaluated with both CTA and angiography after the stenting. CTA findings were identical with angiographical findings in 8 of 9 patients. Stent diameter was associated with CTA findings, all of the patients who received 4.0 mm stents were in group A. The stent lumen may be visualized and evaluated in most stents using CTA, but tend to only be interpretable in the small vessels. (author)

[en] Recent advances in neuroimaging of the spine and spinal cord are described based upon our clinical experiences with spinal disorders. Preoperative neuroradiological examinations, including magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computerized tomography (CT) with three-dimensional reconstruction (3D-CT), were retrospectively analyzed in patients with cervical spondylosis or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (130 cases), spinal trauma (43 cases) and intramedullary spinal cord tumors (92 cases). CT scan and 3D-CT were useful in elucidating the spine pathology associated with degenerative and traumatic spine diseases. Visualization of the deformity of the spine or fracture-dislocation of the spinal column with 3D-CT helped to determine the correct surgical treatment. MR imaging was most important in the diagnosis of both spine and spinal cord abnormalities. The axial MR images of the spinal cord were essential in understanding the laterality of the spinal cord compression in spinal column disorders and in determining surgical approaches to the intramedullary lesions. Although non-invasive diagnostic modalities such as MR imaging and CT scans are adequate for deciding which surgical treatment to use in the majority of spine and spinal cord disorders, conventional myelography is still needed in the diagnosis of nerve root compression in some cases of cervical spondylosis. (author)

[en] Cavernous angiomas forming in the brain after radiation therapy for pediatric brain tumors have recently attracted special interest as a late complication of radiation therapy. We report here on two children with malignant brain tumors who developed intracerebral cavernous angiomas 4 to 5 years after radiation therapy. A 14-year-old girl with a primitive neuroectodermal tumor developed a cavernous angioma in the hypothalamus after being irradiated with 55 Gy 4 years ago. The second case, 13-year-old boy with a pineal mixed germ cell tumor showed a cavernous angioma at the thalamus 5 years after receiving radiation therapy with a dose of 60 Gy. Both patients did not show any abnormal symptoms and the cavernous angiomas diagnoses were made with MRI findings. A review of 20 reported cases of radiation-induced cavernous angiomas in the brain revealed some characteristic findings. Eighteen of the 20 cases were children, fourteen cases developed hemorrhage, the radiation dose administered was distributed between 18-60 Gy (median dose of 43.5 Gy), and the median latent period was 7.5 years (range: 2-21 years). As a differential diagnosis for the recurrent tumor is guite difficult in most cases, it is necessary to observe patients who developed angioma-like lesions in the irradiated area carefully. (author)

[en] We investigated the efficacy of an aggressive surgical treatment followed by subsequent radiochemotherapy for patients with multiple brain metastases derived from breast cancer. We compared 29 patients with multiple brain metastases with 15 patients with single metastasis. The means survival times (mean±standard error of mean (SEM)) of the multiple and single groups were 295±38 and 478±145 days, respectively (log-rank. p>0.5). The present study showed that the combined treatment with recently developed chemotherapy and radiation therapy brought excellent benefits in some cases with multiple brain metastases derived from breast cancer. (author)

[en] Problems of lumbar spondylolisthesis treatment are many surgical tactics, elderly patient, osteoporosis, complications and recurrence of the symptoms. PLIF (posterior lumbar interbody fusion) and PS (pedicle screw) fixation technique for lumbar spondylolisthesis provide good patient satisfaction. Good outcome has been reported by only laminectomy alone, but patient satisfaction becomes worse year after year. The role of instrumentation for lumbar spondylolisthesis is decompression of the nerve root, correction of lumbar pathologies, bony fusion and early mobilization. We show our surgical technique and long term outcome of PLIF with PS for lumbar spondylolisthesis. Three hundred and fifty cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis were operated on in Department of Neurosurgery, Fujita Health University during the period of from December 1992 to August 2008. Patient background: age 16-84 years old (mean 62.5), Gender: male 153, female 197. Follow-up period 1-180 months (mean 61.2). Degenerative: 255, Isthmic: 63, Dysplastic: 10, Fracture: 5 and scoliosis 16 cases. Surgical procedure was PS with interbody fusion cage: 331, Hybrid cage (titanium cage with hydroxyapatite) 314, PS with Cerabone: 2 and PS with autograft: 17. CT was done to evaluate bony fusion postoperatively. Post operative improvements by JOA (Japan Orthopedic Association) score is 11.4 before surgery, 24.1 (post op. within 2 years), 25.4 (post op. 2-5 years), 25.0 (post op. 5-10 years) and 22.4 (post op. 10-15 years). Significant improvements were observed in %Slip and Slip angle but no remarkable change was observed in lumbar lordotic angle by postoperative X-ray evaluation. No root injury, and systemic complication except 4 cases of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage during surgery. Two cases were reoperated in whom cage with autograft migration due to pseudoarthrosis. Two cases had to undergo screw and cage system removal due to infection. Two cases of adjacent level stenosis had to undergo operation 10 tears after surgery in this study. Rigid fixation (PLIF+PS) technique for lumbar spondylolisthesis provide good surgical result for over 15 years. Minimum invasive surgery is popular but this technique achieved good satisfaction for patient and prevent malpractice. (author)

[en] Carotid Blowout Syndrome (CBS), or Carotid Artery Rupture (CAR), is a delayed complication with potentially fatal consequences occurring after the implementation of radiotherapy on head and neck tumors. In this report we describe two patients received endovascular treatment for severe hemorrhagic CBS developing 36 and 2 years, respectively, after radiotherapy. Both patients survived and responded positively to treatment. Case 1 was an 80-year-old woman found with minor hemorrhage near the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, 36 years after neck irradiation. She experienced frequent hemorrhagic events during the following years. Six years after the initial discovery of bleeding, she experienced massive hemorrhage, lapsed into shock, and was admitted to an Emergency Room. Connective tissue around the carotid artery was largely exposed due to neck skin defect. After hemorrhage was halted by manual compression, transient hemostasis was achieved with coil embolization of the aneurysm presumed to be the source of bleeding. Recurrent hemorrhage developed two weeks later with unraveled coil mass extrusion. Parent artery occlusion was performed by endovascular trapping, achieving permanent hemostasis. Case 2 presented massive nasal bleeding originating from the petrous segment of the internal carotid artery, 2 years after having been treated with heavy particle irradiation for olfactory neuroblastoma. Ischemic tolerance was confirmed by balloon occlusion test. Based on previous experiences, the bleeding was immediately halted by endovascular trapping. Both patients were subsequently discharged, free of new neurological symptoms. Emergent hemostatic treatment is required in CBS developing severe hemorrhage. However, within irradiation fields, temporal embolization devices hardly lead to complete resolution. This is due to the deteriorated condition of the vascular wall incapable to enduring the expansion power of coils, stents or balloons. Bypass grafting is also difficult, due to the fragile surrounding tissue. Although, the application of sufficiently-long covered stents is anticipated in the future, parent artery embolization is often required to save the patient's life even when the occlusion test is impossible. In such cases, endovascular trapping out of irradiation fields is the most reliable and efficacious treatment for achieving permanent hemostasis. (author)

[en] The authors performed scintigraphy using ^99mTc(V)-DMSA (Technetium-99m pentavalent dimercaptosuccinic acid) on patients with pituitary adenomas. Three non-functioning (100%), 2 GH-secreting (67%), 4 PRL-secreting (80%), and zero ACTH-secreting (0%) adenomas concentrated the ^99mTc(V)-DMSA, but all 5 of the non-adenomatous lesions and 1 normal pituitary gland did not. There was no significant relationship between tumor-to-background ratios and tumor sizes, or the serum hormone level. The ^99mTc(V)-DMSA scintigraphy showed an overall sensitivity of 69% (9/13) in detecting pituitary adenomas, which increased to 82% for non-functioning, GH-secreting and PRL-secreting adenomas. In conclusions, ^99mTc(V)-DMSA was found to be a suitable radiotracer for detecting pituitary adenomas. But further studies are necessary to define the processes that concentrate ^99mTc(V)-DMSA and their role in pituitary adenomas. (author)