Cauda equina syndrome in ankylosing spondylitis. Anatomical, diagnostic, and therapeutic considerations.

This article describes a case of cauda equina syndrome associated with ankylosing spondylitis, and reviews 28 additional cases in the literature. The neurological symptoms appear late in the evolution of spondylitis, when it is at an inactive stage. The diagnosis is easily confirmed by myelography, with watersoluble contrast and performed in a supine position, and by computerized tomography (CT) scan of the lumbar spine.

[Intraventricular hematomas. Treatment with ventricular drainage combined with intracranial pressure monitoring (author's transl)].

Twelve patients with intraventricular hematomas were treated only with continuous ventricular drainage combined with intracranial pressure monitoring. Half of the patients showed a favourable clinical response. The main interest of ventricular drainage lies in the treatment of acute hydrocephaly which is usually associated.

Non traumatic cerebellar hematomas.

Five cases of spontaneous cerebellar hematomas are reported. In four cases the diagnosis was made by computerized tomography. The clinical diagnosis being difficult, surgical treatment was often applied too late and the diagnosis sometimes never made.

[Computer tomography appearances of intracranial epidermoid and dermoid cysts as demonstrated by three cases (author's transl)].

The authors describe the computer tomography appearances of intracranial epidermoid and dermoid cysts as demonstrated by three cases, and review the published literature. Dermoid and epidermoid cysts can be distinguished from each other by their topography (dermoid cysts are found more medially while epidermoid cysts occur on the base of the skull and in the pontocerebellar angle), by the presence or not of calcification (found almost exclusively in dermoid cysts), and by their computer tomography appearances. Both tumors have low densities, below that of the cerebrospinal fluid, but dermoid cysts have lower densities than epidermoid cysts, which can be easily explained by referring to the anatomo-pathological appearance.

[Solitary vertebral osteochondroma with spinal cord compression (author's transl)].

Solitary vertebral osteochondromas with spinal cord compression are very rare. Here we report a case of an osteochondroma of the 5th cervical vertebra protruding into the spinal canal. The therapeutic approach is discussed in relation to the natural evolution and the favourable prognosis of these lesions.

CT scanning for the diagnosis of the cerebrellar and spinal lesions of von Hippel-Lindau's disease.

The CT features of cerebellar lesions with von Hippel-Lindau's disease are analyzed. The use of CT scanning for associated spinal hemangioblastomas is discussed in the light of a case with a low cervical lesion. The role of computed tomography in the neuroradiological investigations is discussed.

Pathognomonic aspect of germinoma on CT scan.

Bilateral visual impairment, associated with amenorrhea, diabetes insipidus and mental deterioration were observed in a 28 year old woman. CT scan revealed bilateral symmetrical infiltrative processes surrounding the ventricular system, which was confirmed by postmortem examination. Histologically the lesion was a germinoma.

The use of coronal scans for computed tomography of the orbits.

The use of coronal tomograms for CT scanning of the orbits is emphasized and the technic for patient positioning is described. Normal tomographic images are described and the contribution of coronal scans to a correct diagnosis is stressed in the light of 16 pathological cases. Coronal tomograms are especially valuable to show the regions of the orbital floor and roof and complement axial scanning.

The management of anterior sacral meningocele with computed tomography.

This report concerns a case of anterior sacral meningocele (ASM) with an evaluation of the diagnostic reliability of the CT scan for the management of this condition and others concerning the vertebral column and pelvis. This technic makes a precise preoperative survey possible by the direct demonstration of the lesion and its extension, by the measurement of its density and by the visualization of its pedicle, as well as easy and atraumatic postoperative control. ASM is a congenital meningeal cyst, herniating through a bony defect of the sacrum.

The value of computed tomography for the diagnosis of hourglass tumors of the spine.

A case of cervical hourglass tumor is reported with a brief review of the litterature. The diagnostic and preoperative value of CT investigation is emphasized.

Computer tomography for lesions of the craniovertebral region.

The images obtained by computed tomography constitute a new and interesting approach to lesions of the craniovertebral region. The criteria of basilar invagination must be systematically checked in routine examination. The main interest of CT scanning is the simultaneous view of the bony structures as well as the central nervous system in a completely innocuous way.

Traumatic arteriovenous fistulas of the vertebral artery.

Arteriovenous fistulas of the vertebral artery are uncommon. Trauma, arterial erosion by abscess and congenital weakness of the arterial wall are the most frequent cause of these fistulas. Few of them have been reported following percutaneous puncture of the vertebral artery.