Preoperative spinal cord arteriography in aneurysmal disease of the descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta: preliminary results in 45 patients.

Between 1985 and 1988 45 patients with descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms underwent selective arteriography of the intercostal and lumbar arteries to delineate preoperatively the artery of Adamkiewicz and the thoracic radicular artery. Identification of these vessels failed in five patients (11%), was considered complete in 31 patients (69%) and incomplete in nine (20%). Selective arteriography classified these patients into four groups: groups A and B--the artery of Adamkiewicz arose respectively above and below the zone of operation; group C--the artery arose directly from the segment to be operated; and group D--origin could not be determined.

[Pseudotumoral spinal cord dilatation during multiple sclerosis. 2 cases with magnetic resonance imaging].

We report 2 patients presenting with signs and symptoms of a medullary lesion. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using surface coils showed a volume increase of the spinal cord. Multiple sclerosis (MS) was suspected on the clinical evolution, the cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal pattern in one case and the return of the cervical cord to an almost normal calibre on successive MRI.

[Role of surgical resection in the treatment of vertebral hemangioma].

Resection (total or subtotal excision of vertebra) of vertebral hemangiomas appears to be the logical course when there are neurological signs. This is a rather complicated surgery with the aim of reduction of recurrence rate. We report two such cases with surgical technique and results at 2 and 4 years post-operatively.

Intraarterial infusion of carboplatin in the treatment of malignant gliomas: a phase II study.

Twenty-three previously treated patients with malignant gliomas were included in this phase II study of carboplatin (400 mg/m2) given as an intraarterial infusion every 4 weeks. Five patients (26% of 19 evaluable) achieved a partial response for 3 to 10 months and 5 patients presented a stabilization for 2 to 7 months. Toxicity was mild in most patients, with nausea, vomiting and myelosuppression being the most frequent side-effects.

[Medical treatment of inoperable malignant glioma. Non-superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy with HECNU followed by conventional radiotherapy].

Forty-six cases of non-surgical malignant glioma were treated by several repeated infusion of non-superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy using HECNU, followed by conventional radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was well tolerated immediately. Good responses rate was 46% for the whole group, but was higher in anaplastic astrocytomas (71%) than in glioblastomas (43%).

MR imaging of spinal cord arteriovenous malformations at 0.5 T: study of 34 cases.

Thirty-four patients with angiographically proved arteriovenous malformations of the spinal cord were studied between May 1986 and July 1987. Examinations were performed on a CGR 5000 Magniscan 0.5-T scanner with a surface coil in all cases, and multislices in both T1- and T2-weighted sequences were obtained in sagittal and axial planes.

[Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae: exacerbation after myelography with metrizamide].

Metrizamide dorsal myelography was performed in two patients with minor to moderate sensorimotor paraparesis. Direct and indirect myelographic signs of spinal arteriovenous aneurysm were seen and spinal cord angiography showed thoracic dural arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) in both cases. Within 24 hours following myelography, clear neurological worsening occurred, associated with cephalalgia, nausea and transient diplopia in one case, leading to paraplegia in a few days.

Traumatic rupture of the thoracoabdominal aorta.

We report a case of traumatic rupture of the thoracoabdominal aorta that was successfully repaired 3 days following the accident. Associated lesions included rupture of the left renal and celiac arteries. This rare lesion should be suspected in the victims of violent hyperextension of the body with or without a fracture of the dorsolumbar spine.

[Focal chronic ischemia and concomitant migraine: an atypical form of Sturge-Weber angiomatosis?].

A young man with a left hemifacial hemangioma had during a six months period about forty left hemispheric neurologic attacks suggestive of classic migraine. The neurologic examination was normal during the attack-free period. The CT scan (fig.

Stroke, migraine and intracranial aneurysm: a case report.

A man had since childhood recurrent attacks typical of ophthalmic migraine. After an otherwise unremarkable attack, he was left with a permanent quadrantanopsia due to a right occipital infarct. The remarkable pattern of progression, which characterized the visual phenomenon of subsequent attacks, favours a primary neuronal phenomenon.

[Ischemic accident caused by thrombosis of a venous angioma. Apropos of a case].

Authors report one case of cerebral ischemic accident by thrombosis of a venous angioma of brain. This kind of malformation is quite unusual and was considered by most authors as unable to involve supratentorial ischemic complications. This case seems to be the first reported in the literature and demonstrates that venous brain ischemic accidents can result from venous angioma of the brain.

[Intracranial artery stenoses 44 years after craniofacial radiotherapy].

A 58 year-old patient experienced several ischemic strokes in the carotid arteries territories. History revealed a nasal epithelioma, for which he had received, at age 14, an irradiation through an anterior field (5500 rads), and two lateral fields (4550 rads each). He had a nasofacial atrophy as apparent sequellae.

Cerebral venous thrombosis--a review of 38 cases.

A series of 38 patients with angiographically proven cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) affecting dural sinuses is reported. This study shows that CVT is not rare, that the clinical diagnosis is extremely difficult because of the variable modes of onset and groupings of symptoms, that most CT findings are non specific and that angiography remains the best diagnostic tool. Only 4 patients died, which suggests a more benign outcome than classically described.

Venous infarctions.

Strokes of venous origin are relatively infrequent. They usually cause venous infarcts which can be observed in 2 main circumstances: cerebral thrombophlebitis or dural arteriovenous (AV) fistulae draining into cerebral veins. The authors study the CT and angiographic aspects of these venous infarcts and their evolution.