Background: Computer-based simulation is necessary to clarify the hemodynamics in brain aneurysm. Specifically for endovascular treatments, the effects of indwelling intravascular devices on blood stream need to be considered. The most recent technology used for cerebral aneurysm treatment is related to the use of flow diverters to reduce the amount of flow entering the aneurysm. To verify the differences of flow reduction, we analyzed multiple Enterprise stents and two kinds of flow diverters. Materials and Methods: In this research, we virtually modeled three kinds of commercial intracranial stents (Enterprise, Silk, and Pipeline) and mounted to fit into the vessel wall, and deployed across the neck of an IC-ophthalmic artery aneurysm. Also, we compared the differences among multiple Enterprise stents and two flow diverters in a standalone mode. Results: From the numerical results, the values of wall shear stress and pressure are reduced in proportion to the size of mesh, especially in the inflow area. However, the reduced velocity within the aneurysm sac by the multiple stents is not as significant as the flow diverters. Conclusions: This is the first study analyzing the flow alterations among multiple Enterprise stents and flow diverters. The placement of small meshed stents dramatically reduced the aneurysmal fluid movement. However, compared to the flow diverters, we did not observe the reduction of flow velocity within the aneurysm by the multiple stents.

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Background: Mechanical thrombectomy devices are gaining popularity in large vessel occlusions where chemical thrombolysis is usually futile. MERCI, Multi-MERCI, Penumbra and SWIFT trails have elevated the status of mechanical thrombectomy from being a complementary treatment modality to mainstream stroke intervention. The aim of this study was to compare our immediate recanalization rates with available mechanical devices. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review from March 2009 to August 2012 was performed on patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion. Cases where IATPA and/or balloon angioplasty was performed without mechanical thrombectomy were excluded from the study. Recanalization rates were assessed immediately post-procedure by follow-up angiography. TICI scores were used to quantify the extent of recanalization and the residual clot burden. Results: Twenty two procedures were performed on 20 patients using Merci (MER):5; Penumbra (PEN):11; Solitaire-FR (SOL):6. Two patients underwent intervention using both Merci and Penumbra devices. The M:F ratio was 1.2:1. The most common vascular territory involved was the right MCA (9/20) followed by left MCA (5/20), left ICA (2/20), basilar (3/20) and vertebral arteries (1/20). The average door to needle time was 210 minutes [MER: 184.4; PEN: 249.2; SOL: 162]. Additional procedures were performed in 63.4% (14/22) of the patients [MER: 80% (4/5); PEN: 72.7% (8/11) and SOL: 33.3% (2/6)]. Vasospasm was observed in MER: 20% (1/5); PEN: 9.1% (1/11); SOL: 0% (0/6)]. Complete recanalization was achieved in 59.1% (13/22) [MER: 40% (2/5); PEN: 45.5% (5/11); SOL: 100% (6/6)]. The rate of complete recanalization was statistically significant for the Solitaire group vs. the MERCI group ( P=0.0062) as well as the Penumbra group (0.0025). The average pre-procedure TICI was 0.4 [MER: 0.6; PEN: 0.3; SOL: 0.3], while the average post-procedure TICI was 2.5 [MER: 2.4; PEN: 2.3; SOL: 3.0]. Conclusions: The study reveals a higher rate of angiographic recanalization using the Solitaire-FR device, requiring a lesser number of passes and other associated procedures as compared to MERCI and Penumbra. Thus, Stentrievers (Solitaire-FR) are advantageous in faster device delivery and quick flow restoration. However, future prospective randomized large trials are required to confirm these early results.

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Background: Primary intracranial germ cell tumors are rare (ICGCTs) and usually localized in the pineal and suprasellar regions of the brain. They are divided into histologic types: Germinoma, teratoma choriocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac tumor, and malignant mixed germ cell tumors (MMGCTs). Neuroimaging evaluation is useful to distinguish between the types of ICGCTs. Germinoma is highly sensitive to radiotherapy or/and chemotherapy, and is potentially curable without surgery. MMGCTs are treated with the combination of chemotherapy and radiation, with a poorer prognosis. ICGCTs warrant correct pre-operative diagnosis in order to decide on appropriate management. Aim: To report the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical findings in three cases of primary intracranial germ-cell tumor . Materials and Methods: Three cases of intracranial germ cell tumors inclusive of both genders and all brain regions were retrieved from the archives of the Anatomical Pathology Department at King Abdul Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah between the years, 1995-2011, through a computerized search. Results: Based on histological examination, they were respectively diagnosed as MMGCTs (two cases) and germinoma. Clinical, radiological, pathological characteristics and immunohistochemical profile of the three ICGCTs are presented along with the review of recent literature. Conclusion: ICGCTs are rare tumors affecting males more than females, and at the end of three years follow-up in the present study, treatment morbidity appears to be low with no recurrence observed among surviving patients, indicating that suprasellar and basal ganglia ICGCTs may have a favorable prognosis regardless of histological type. Pineal MMGCTs may have an aggressive course.

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We report a rare case of a patient with a pial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) who presented in altered sensorium. He was found to have large epidural and subdural hematomas overlying a pial AVM. He underwent evacuation of these hematomas and postop computed tomography showed infarcts deep to the site of hematoma evacuation. These infarcts were postulated to be due to a steal phenomenon combined with raised intracranial pressure. The management and possible mechanisms for this rare combination are discussed.

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Cavernous angiomas or hemangiomas or cavernomas are benign, vascular malformations of the central nervous system and classified as occult vascular brain lesions, usually present in adulthood. With the advent of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, these lesions are increasingly recognized in children. We report two cases of pediatric brain cavernomas where the children presented with recurrent seizures. Imaging findings were suggestive of giant cavernous hemangioma. The lesions were excised completely and the patients recovered well without deficits with good control of seizures.

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Till date, 85 cases of melanotic schwannoma and 11 cases of spinal root melanoma have been reported in literature. We are reporting a case of a 45-year-old lady who presented with primary low back pain, and magnetic resonance imaging of lumbo-sacral spine showed at left L5-S1 foraminal lesion extending to the para-spinal compartment. Hemi-laminectomy, facetectomy, and excision of the lesion were done. It was primarily a cystic lesion with attachment to the exiting spinal nerve root. Histopathology of the cyst wall showed a fibro-collagenous stroma with no specific cell lining containing melanin pigment suggestive of a melanotic cyst. The patient was completely relieved of the back pain, and had no recurrence over a follow-up period of one and half years. This case is probably the first reported predominantly cystic, pigmented lesion, affecting the spinal root.

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Myelopathy is a rare but serious complication of radiation therapy (RT). Radiation myelopathy is white matter damage to the spinal cord developed after a certain period of application of ionizing radiation. Factors such as radiation dose and time between applications affect the occurrence as well as the severity of myelopathy. In those patients, positron emission tomography/computed tomography examination has a very important role both in the diagnosis and in the differential diagnosis of lesions. In this case report, the case of progressive paraparesis, developed in a 52-year-old female patient operated with pulmonary mucinous cystadenocarcinoma diagnosis and who received chemotherapy and RT following surgery, has been reported.

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Context: Cirsoid aneurysms of scalp are rare lesions which are mainly treated by surgical excision. Endovascular embolization was described either alone or prior to surgery in order to minimize the risk of bleeding. However, the endovascular therapy also carries the risk of scalp necrosis, escape of embolization material to circulation, and recurrence of the lesion. Aim: To evaluate the results of well-planned classic surgical excision of cirsoid aneurysm. Study Design: This is a retrospective case series study. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective case series study on nine patients with cirsoid aneurysms who were treated with surgical excision. Preoperative Planning for location, size, feeding arteries, and venous drainage of the lesions were done by plain and contrast enhanced CT, MRI, MR angiogram, and selective internal and external carotid angiograms. Complete surgical excision for the lesions was done. Postoperative evaluation of excision was done by cranial magnetic resonance angiography in all the patients. The mean follow up period was 34.1 (±7.62 STD) months. Results: The lesion was located in the occipital region in three (33.3%) cases, frontal region in two (22.2%) cases, temproparietal region in two (22.2%) cases, parietal region in one case (11.1%), and vertex in one case (11.1%). The superficial temporal artery was involved in seven (77.8%) cases, the occipital artery was involved in six (66.7%) cases, the posterior auricular artery was involved in five (55.6%) cases, the supraorbital artery was involved in two (22.2%) cases and the middle meningeal artery was involved in two (22.2%) cases. Total excision of the lesion was achieved in eight patients and en bloc resection and primary closure was done in one patient . Postoperative magnetic resonance angiogram showed no residual lesion in all patients. No postoperative complication related to the surgery had occurred. No recurrence had occurred during the follow-up period (mean 34.1 ± 7.62 STD months). Conclusion: Well-planned surgery of cirsoid aneurysm of the scalp without preoperative interventions could achieve complete excision of the lesion without any residual masses or recurrence and with a low incidence of complications.

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Background: Anaplastic astrocytoma (AA; WHO grade-III) patients determination of prognostic factors helps generating multimodal therapy protocols. For this purpose, in the Baskent University, Adana Medical Research Center, specific characteristics of AA patients who have surgery were retrospectively investigated and factors which affect prognosis has been determined. Patients and Methods: Between January 2005 and 2009, 20 patients who have AA have been evaluated retrospectively. Totally, 20 patients had 31 operations. Sixteen patients had only adjuvant radiation therapy (RT). In the postoperative period, 8 patients received adjuvant RT. Nine of 10 patients with tumor recurrence received concomitant therapy with temozolomide (ConcT with TMZ) protocol. No adjuvant therapy protocol could be applied in three patients with poor general condition in the postoperative period. Results: Median survival for patients died was 16±17 months; one year survival was 75% and five year survival 25%. After univariate analysis, preoperative Karnofsky performance score (KPS) was ≥80 ( P=0.005577*), postoperative KPS was ≥80 ( P=0.003825*), type of tumor resection ( P=0.001751*), multiple operations ( P=0.006233*), and ConcT with TMZ protocol ( P=0,005766*) were all positive prognostic factors which extend the survival. Conclusions: The results of the multivariate analysis did not put forward an independent prognostic factor acting on the survival period ( P>0.05).

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Venous air embolism (VAE) may be fatal and frequently carries high neurologic, respiratory, and cardiovascular morbidity. Its occurrence during anesthesia is challenging to the anesthesiologists in terms of early discovery and management. VAE during neurosurgical procedures especially in the sitting position is well known and usually prepared for it; however, VAE might happen unexpectedly as in this patient's case. A young patient underwent an exploratory pterional craniotomy for recollection of subdural hematoma and head pins were used to stabilize the head. The surgery and anesthesia were uneventful; however, he developed a sudden cardiovascular collapse at the end of surgery and immediately after removal of the Mayfield pins.

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Bilateral extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass-grafting of the cerebral circulation is uncommon. We report a case of anterior cerebral artery EC-IC bypass using the thoracodorsal axis artery-graft. The bifurcation of the thoracodorsal axis allows bypass of both anterior hemispheres, while matching appropriate small-vessel dimensions.

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Background: Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) compartments are thought as independently fed, hemodynamically independent components of the AVM nidus. Its possible role in modulating transnidal pressures have not been investigated to our knowledge. Objective: To investigate if AVM compartments play a role in modulating transnidal pressures by using electrical models as a method of investigation. Materials and Methods: Monocompartmental and multicompartmental AVM models were constructed using electrical circuits- building on Dr. Guglielmi's previous work. Each compartment was fed by two feeding arteries (resistors) and had a shared draining vein with other compartments in the AVM nidus. Each compartment is composed of a series of resistors which represents the pressure gradient along the AVM (arterial, arteriolar, venular, and venous). Pressure (voltage) readings were obtained within these nidal points. Results: The pressure gradient (venous-arterial) is more as there are less AVM compartments in the nidus model. The monocomparmental model had a pressure gradient of 66mmHg (V); while it was 64, 61, and 59 for the 2-, 3-, and 4-compartment models, respectively. In addition, the more the number of compartments, the greater the flow (mA) is in the whole AVM nidus, 33 ml/min for the monocompartmental AVM and 121ml/min for the 4-compartment AVM; though there was greater flow per compartment as there were less compartments, 33ml/min per compartment for the monocompartmental model versus 29ml/min for the 4-compartment model. Conclusion: Transnidal pressure gradients may be less the more compartments an AVM has. This electrical model represents an approach that can be used in investigating the hemodynamic contributions of AVM compartments.

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Epidermoid cysts (Keratin pearls) are benign congenital lesions, found commonly in cerebello-pontine angle, suprasellar cistern, sylvian cistern, pineal region, but they are very rare in interhemispheric fissure. Approaching these lesions are challenging to neurosurgeons because of narrow and deep fissure with surrounding vital structures. The present study constitutes an analysis of interhemispheric epidermoid managed at our hospital in last 10 years (Jan 2001-Dec 2010). Total 187 cases of intracranial epidermoid operated in our institute; eight of them were interhemispheric epidermoid making about 4.27% of all epidermoids. The patients were presented with seizures (50%), headache (37%), and weakness (25%). On examination, the common findings were decreased Mini mental score (MMSE) in 50%, motor deficit in 25%, and decreased visual acuity in 25% of cases. All patients underwent craniotomy across the midline as per the location of the lesions. In seven patients, tumors were resected by interhemispheric approach but in one by transcortical. Lesion were excised with microscope and endoscopic assistance with measures to prevent spillage of epidermoid tissue while excision. Post excision tumor bed was irrigated with hydrocortisone diluted saline. All patients except one improved after surgery and non-developed chemical meningitis. One patient of parietal interhemispheric epidermoid with transcortical approach developed weakness in immediate post-operative period. Patients were followed for average 6.8 year without any recurrence. Interhemispheric epidermoids are rare tumors. Achieving safe complete excision without spillage is surgical goal to prevent chemical meningitis and recurrence. Endoscope assists in achieving complete excision so decrease incidence of chemical meningitis and recurrence

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Objectives: Data on the optimal head position for patients with acute ischemic stroke are unavailable. We evaluated the effects of mild head-down tilt (HDT) on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in mice during bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO). Materials and Methods: We used mice with BCCAO (35 minutes) and divided these into 2 groups ( n=16): BCCAO at 0°-HDT and 5°-HDT. CBF was measured for both hemispheres with a non-invasive laser Doppler blood perfusion imager. Changes in CBF during BCCAO were examined in both groups. Results: A significantly greater increase in CBF in both hemispheres was observed in 5°-HDT mice than in 0°-HDT mice (126.1% (8.715)% vs. 102.1% (4.718)%; P=0.0294). Conclusion: HDT enhanced the increase in CBF in both hemispheres in the mouse BCCAO model. The potential mechanism underlying CBF increase enhanced by HDT during BCCAO warrants further investigation.

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We present a case of tongue necrosis due to intraoperative pressure injury. A laryngeal mask airway with adhesive electrodes was inserted into the oropharynx, over an endotracheal tube, to facilitate glossopharyngeal nerve monitoring during craniotomy for a cerebellopontine angle tumor. The case, mechanisms of injury, and modifications to our current practice are discussed.

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Intramedullary tuberculoma (IMT) is a rare form of spinal tuberculosis. IMT has an incidence of 2 cases per 2000 cases of central nervous system tuberculosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be helpful for diagnosing IMT at an early stage and it is also very useful in follow-up. Three stages of IMT have been described in MRI based on the evolution of the lesion. Medical therapy is the mainstay of treatment for IMT though there are surgical options for select patients. Here, we describe a patient with dorsal IMT who improved clinically as well as radiologically with antituberculous treatment and steroids.

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