Vagus nerve stimulation in drug-resistant epilepsy: the efficacy and adverse effects in a 5-year follow-up study in Iran.

Drug-resistant epilepsy seems like a different disease compared with easy to control epilepsy, and new strategies are needed to help these patients. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy is the most frequently used neurostimulation modality for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who are not eligible for seizure surgery. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of VNS in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy in an open-label, prospective, long-term study in Iran.

Spontaneous complete regression of hypothalamic pilocytic astrocytoma after partial resection in a child, complicated with Stevens-Johnson syndrome: a case report and literature review.

Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is the most common pediatric central nervous system glial neoplasm and the most common pediatric cerebellar tumor. The spontaneous regression that occurs after partial/subtotal resection is multifactorial, depending on multiple factors, as for the case of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses of the host to the implanted tumor. A 7-year-old boy was referred to a neurosurgery clinic with headache.

Transethmoidal encephalocele after reduction of high intracranial pressure in aqueductal stenosis.

Acquired non-traumatic transethmoidal encephaloceles are very infrequent lesions that are generally caused by a tumor or hydrocephalus. As far as we know, there is no reported case of encephalocele after CSF diversion in the literature. We present a 25-year-old woman with hydrocephalus due to aquiductal stenosis who was treated with endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

Transcranial approach for spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea due to Sternberg's canal intrasphenoidal meningoencephalocele: case report and review of the literature.

One type of congenital intrasphenoidal meningoencephalocele is remnant of lateral craniopharyngeal (Sternberg's) canal. We present a case of a 23-year girl with 10-month history of right side CSF rhinorrhea. CT scan, MRI revealed congenital meningoencephalocele and CSF leak from middle fossa to right side of sphenoid sinus, and there were bony defects at the floor of the anterior aspect of the right middle fossa.

Angiosarcoma of skull in a pregnant woman: case report and review of the literature.

Angiosarcoma is a rare tumor of bone that uncommonly involves the skull. Primary neoplasms of the skull represent 2.6% of primary neoplasms of bone.

Mesial temporal lobe epidermoid tumour compressing the hippocampal formation caused refractory temporal lobe epilepsy.

The authors report an unusual case of intradural epidermoid tumour in a 19-year-old girl presenting with refractory complex partial seizures including auditory hallucinations, and memory dysfunction. A complete resection was carried out sparing the hippocampus resulting in seizure freedom.

The anatomical relation between the superior sagittal sinus and the sagittal suture with surgical considerations.

Objective: Localization of superior sagittal sinus before craniotomy is very crucial to prevent the complications of surgery. The goal of this study was to verify the anatomical relationship between the sagittal suture and the superior sagittal sinus (SSS).

Methods: Fifty adult cadavers were included in this descriptive analytic study.

Gunshot injuries to the brachial plexus during wartime.

Gunshot injuries of the brachial plexus are a challenging issue among peripheral nerve lesions. Surgical reconstruction of such injuries is difficult and the clinical outcome depends on several factors. The aim of this study was to present the outcome of surgical management of gunshot injuries of the brachial plexus that occurred following Iran-Iraq war.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy for treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus.

Background: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy has become the preferred treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus. The purpose of this paper is to present our experience with ventriculostomy at our center.

Methods: Twenty-four patients underwent ventriculostomy for the treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus between May 2000 and May 2006.