Giant Frontal Mucocele Occurring 32 Years after Frontal Bone Fracture: A Case Report

Giant mucoceles of the frontal sinus are rare but their recognition is important in the differential diagnosis of proptosis and fronto-orbital lesions. The authors describe a patient with frontal giant mucocele with intracranial as well as orbit and ethmoid sinus involvement. Thirty-two years after a frontal sinus fracture, a 51-year-old female presented with headache, and left exophthalmos and ophthalmoplegia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a giant frontal sinus mucocele with extension into the left anterior cranial fossa. The mucocele was treated with a transcranial and endoscopic transnasal approach. The frontal sinus was then cranialized with reconstruction of the posterior wall, and finally a wide nasal drainage was performed. The clinical symptoms disappeared immediately after surgery

Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery using pedicle vascularized nasoseptal flap for cholesterol granuloma in petrous apex: A technical note

Background Compared with surgical resection, endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for cholesterol granuloma (CG) in the petrous apex (PA) is associated with local recurrence due to obstruction of the drainage route. We present a detailed procedure of an endoscopic TSS using pedicle vascularized nasoseptal flap (PVNF). Methods A 40-year-old woman with a history of repeated surgery for left tympanitis was referred to our institution. Neurological examination revealed severe hearing loss in the left ear. Radiologic examination presented a round mass in the left PA and significant fluid collection in the mastoid air cells of the left temporal bone. CG was strongly suspected, and endoscopic TSS using PVNF was performed. Prior to endoscopic drainage, a PVNF was harvested from the mucosa of the ipsilateral nasal septum, with an attempt to preserve the sphenopalatine artery in the flap. Following this, puncture and adequate irrigation of the lesion was performed by endoscopic TSS, with neuro-navigation system assistance; the apex of PVNF was then placed into the lesion to prevent the obstruction of the drainage route. An absorbable polyglycolic acid sheet and fibrin glue were applied on the flap to prevent spontaneous deviation from the lesion. Results The patient was discharged without any further neurological complications. Eight-month postoperative computed tomography images showed no recurrence; the drainage route was patent and the fluid collection in the left mastoid air cells was resolved. Moreover, hearing loss was improved. Conclusions Endoscopic TSS using PVNF may be one of available surgical options for PACG

Surgical Outcomes of High-Grade Spinal Cord Gliomas

Study DesignA retrospective study.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to obtain useful information for establishing the guidelines for treating high-grade spinal cord gliomas.Overview of LiteratureThe optimal management of high-grade spinal cord gliomas remains controversial. We report the outcomes of the surgical management of 14 high-grade spinal glioma.MethodsWe analyzed the outcomes of 14 patients with high-grade spinal cord gliomas who were surgically treated between 1989 and 2012. Survival was charted with the Kaplan-Meier plots and comparisons were made with the log-rank test.ResultsNone of the patients with high-grade spinal cord gliomas underwent total resection. Subtotal resection was performed in two patients, partial resection was performed in nine patients, and open biopsy was performed in three patients. All patients underwent postoperative radiotherapy and six patients further underwent radiation cordotomy. The median survival time for patients with high-grade spinal cord gliomas was 15 months, with a 5-year survival rate of 22.2%. The median survival time for patients with World Health Organization grade III tumors was 25.5 months, whereas the median survival time for patients with glioblastoma multiforme was 12.5 months. Both univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models demonstrated a significant effect only in the group that did not include cervical cord lesion as a factor associated with survival (p=0.04 and 0.03).ConclusionsThe surgical outcome of patients diagnosed with high-grade spinal cord gliomas remains poor. Notably, only the model which excluded cervical cord lesions as a factor significantly predicted survival

Adult-Onset Orbital Sinus Pericranii with T2 Hyperintensity Lesion : A Case Report

Sinus pericranii is a rare vascular anomaly, and most cases occur in children and develop at the midline. In previous reports of sinus pericranii, T2 hyperintensity lesion has not been regarded as a common sequela. We report an extremely rare case of orbital sinus pericranii with associated T2 hyperintensity lesion. A 50-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a history of right upper eyelid swelling that had been present for several years. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and digital subtraction angiography demonstrated a connection between the lesion and normal cerebral venous system. Thus, we diagnosed the lesion as a sinus pericranii despite its atypical features. We elected to observe the patient, and the lesion had remained the same size without any adverse events, such as hemorrhage, occurring throughout the 5-year follow-up. An atypical sinus pericranii should be considered in patients with a soft compressible swelling on the head, even if the lesion is located off the midline

FTY720 (Fingolimod) Ameliorates Brain Injury through Multiple Mechanisms and is a Strong Candidate for Stroke Treatment

FTY720 (Fingolimod) is a known sphingosine-1-phosphate (SIP) receptor agonist that exerts strong anti-inflammatory effects and was approved as the first oral drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010. FTY720 is mainly associated with unique functional "antagonist" and "agonist" mechanisms. The functional antagonistic mechanism is mediated by the transient down-regulation and degradation of SW receptors on lymphocytes, which prevents lymphocytes from entering the blood stream from the lymph node. This subsequently results in the development of lymphopenia and reduces lymphocytic inflammation. Functional agonistic mechanisms are executed through Si P receptors expressed on the surface of various cells including neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and blood vessel endothelial cells. These functions might play important roles in regulating anti-apoptotic systems, modulating brain immune and phagocytic activities, preserving the Blood-Brain-Barrier (BBB), and the proliferation of neural precursor cells. Recently, FTY720 have shown receptor-independent effects, including intracellular target bindings and epigenetic modulations. Many researchers have recognized the positive effects of FTY720 and launched basic and clinical experiments to test the use of this agent against stroke. Although the mechanism of FTY720 has not been fully elucidated, its efficacy against cerebral stroke is becoming clear, not only in animal models, but also in ischemic stroke patients through clinical trials. In this article, we review the data obtained from laboratory findings and preliminary clinical trials using FTY720 for stroke treatment

Clinical Trials of Stem Cell Therapy for Cerebral Ischemic Stroke

Despite recent developments in innovative treatment strategies, stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Stem cell therapy is currently attracting much attention due to its potential for exerting significant therapeutic effects on stroke patients. Various types of cells, including bone marrow mononuclear cells, bone marrow/adipose-derived stem/stromal cells, umbilical cord blood cells, neural stem cells, and olfactory ensheathing cells have enhanced neurological outcomes in animal stroke models. These stem cells have also been tested via clinical trials involving stroke patients. In this article, the authors review potential molecular mechanisms underlying neural recovery associated with stem cell treatment, as well as recent advances in stem cell therapy, with particular reference to clinical trials and future prospects for such therapy in treating stroke

Clinical Trials of Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury

There are more than one million patients worldwide su ering paralysis caused by spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI causes severe socioeconomic problems not only to the patients and their caregivers but also to society; therefore, the development of innovative treatments is crucial. Many pharmacological therapies have been attempted in an e ort to reduce SCI-related damage; however, no single therapy that could dramatically improve the serious long-term sequelae of SCI has emerged. Stem cell transplantation therapy, which can ameliorate damage or regenerate neurological networks, has been proposed as a promising candidate for SCI treatment, and many basic and clinical experiments using stem cells for SCI treatment have been launched, with promising results. However, the cell transplantation methods, including cell type, dose, transplantation route, and transplantation timing, vary widely between trials, and there is no consensus regarding the most e ective treatment strategy. This study reviews the current knowledge on this issue, with a special focus on the clinical trials that have used stem cells for treating SCI, and highlights the problems that remain to be solved before the widespread clinical use of stem cells can be adopted

Factors influencing cerebral aneurysm obliteration and reliability of indocyanine green video-angiography

Background: Indocyanine green video-angiography (ICG-V) is commonly used for intraoperative confirmation of aneurysm obliteration following clipping. However, direct puncture of the aneurysm wall occasionally results in blood leakage in patients for whom ICG-V has indicated complete closure. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the reliability of ICG-V for confirming complete aneurysm closure, and to elucidate the factors underlying aneurysm obliteration and the occurrence of false-negative ICG-V findings. Methods: Between June 2012 and June 2016, 89 patients (107 aneurysms total) undergoing aneurysm clipping were examined using ICG-V to confirm aneurysm closure. In ICG-V-negative cases, further confirmation of complete aneurysm closure was obtained via direct puncture of the aneurysm wall, except in cases where this procedure was deemed unsafe. To elucidate the possible causes of ICG-V inaccuracies, positive, negative, and false-negative ICG-V findings were compared in terms of aneurysm location (maximum height and length), neck width (parallel and orthogonal directions to the branching vessels), wall thickness around the neck, bifurcation angle, and direction of the clipping closure line. Statistical analyses were performed using the Welsh's t test and Chi-square test. Results: Intraoperative ICG-V detected seven cases of incomplete aneurysm closure (6.5%), defined as positive ICG-V findings. Following direct aneurysm wall puncture, nine patients (8.4%) exhibited false-negative ICG-V findings. A Chi-square test revealed that false-negative ICG-V findings were significantly influenced by the presence of heterogeneous arteriosclerosis, and wall thickening at the clipping site, which were subjectively defined by the surgeon and confirmed by an independent observer, depending on the wall color and hardness, respectively. Conclusions: Although ICG-V is useful for intraoperative confirmation of aneurysm obliteration, our findings further highlight the risk of false-negative ICG-V findings. Acknowledgement of risk factors is crucial for efficient detection of false-negative ICG-V findings

Pathological findings of saccular cerebral aneurysms : impact of subintimal fibrin deposition on aneurysm rupture

Although several studies have suggested that aneurysmal wall inflammation and laminar thrombus are associated with the rupture of saccular aneurysms, the mechanisms leading to the rupture remain obscure. We performed full exposure of aneurysms before clip application and attempted to keep the fibrin cap on the rupture point. Using these specimens in a nearly original state before surgery, we conducted a pathological analysis and studied the differences between ruptured and unruptured aneurysms to clarify the mechanism of aneurysmal wall degeneration. This study included ruptured (n=28) and unruptured (n=12) saccular aneurysms resected after clipping. All of the ruptured aneurysms were obtained within 24 h of onset. Immunostainings for markers of inflammatory cells (CD68) and classical histological staining techniques were performed. Clinical variables and pathological findings from ruptured and unruptured aneurysms were compared. Patients with ruptured or unruptured aneurysms did not differ by age, gender, size, location, and risk factors, such as hypertension, smoking, and hyperlipidemia. The absence or fragmentation of the internal elastica lamina, the myointimal hyperplasia, and the thinning of the aneurysmal wall were generally observed in both aneurysms. The existence of subintimal fibrin deposition, organized laminar thrombus, intramural hemorrhage, neovascularization, and monocyte infiltration are more frequently observed in ruptured aneurysms. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ruptured aneurysm was associated with presence of subintimal fibrin deposition and monocyte infiltration. These findings suggest that subintimal fibrin deposition and chronic inflammation have a strong impact on degeneration of the aneurysmal wall leading to their rupture, and this finding may be caused by endothelial dysfunction