Spontaneous haemorrhage and rupture of third ventricular colloid cyst.

Acute bleeding within a colloid cyst of the third ventricle represents a rare event causing sudden increase in the cyst volume that may lead to acute hydrocephalus and rapid neurological deterioration. We report a case of spontaneous rupture of haemorrhagic third ventricular colloid cyst and its management. A 77-year-old ex-smoker presented with unsteady gait, incontinence and gradually worsening confusion over a 3-week period.

Neurosurgical management of L-asparaginase induced haemorrhagic stroke.

The authors describe a case of L-asparaginase induced intracranial thrombosis and subsequent haemorrhage in a newly diagnosed 30-year-old man with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who was successfully managed by surgical intervention. At presentation, he had a Glasgow Coma Score of 7/15, was aphasic and had dense right hemiplegia. Neuroimaging revealed an acute anterior left middle cerebral artery infarct with parenchymal haemorrhagic conversion, mass effect and subfalcine herniation.

Sciatica as a presenting feature of thyroid follicular adenocarcinoma in a 79-year-old woman.

The authors describe an unusual case of metastatic thyroid follicular adenocarcinoma presenting with sciatica in a 79-year-old woman. The primary thyroid tumour was undiagnosed until this clinical presentation. The patient gave a short history of back pain and right-sided sciatica, which was progressive and nocturnal in nature.

The pressure profile test is more sensitive and specific than Palmer's test in predicting correct placement of the Veress needle.

Objectives: Although the majority of laparoscopic complications result from improper Veress needle placement, the safety tests commonly used to determine correct placement are not always reliable. A prospective observational study (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2) was set up to determine the reliability of Palmer's and pressure profile tests in predicting the correct intraperitoneal placement of the Veress needle prior to insufflation.

Study Design: One hundred consecutive women undergoing gynaecological laparoscopic surgery between September 2006 and June 2007 were recruited.