Pituitary Abscess Mimicking a Pituitary Adenoma Presenting with Secondary Amenorrhea and Blurring of Vision: A Case Report.

Pituitary abscess is a rare condition. It can present with hormonal deficiencies and may affect reproductive health. We present a case of a 43-year-old female presenting with bitemporal hemianopsia and amenorrhea.

Patients' perceptions of carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve decompression surgery.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow are the most common entrapment neuropathies seen in adults. Surgery for nerve decompression is a safe and effective treatment option, and is usually performed under local anesthesia and as an outpatient procedure. This study aimed to explore patients' satisfaction and other aspects of the overall experience with this type of surgery.

A long peripheral nerve autograft model in the sheep forelimb.

Background: Autologous nerve grafts remain the only proven means of bridging lengthy gaps in peripheral nerve. However, there is very little literature on a reliable long (> 5 cm) nerve autograft animal model.

Objective: To establish a reproducible long nerve gap and autograft animal model that is clinically relevant but not cost prohibitive.

Delays in the operating room: signs of an imperfect system.

Background: Delays in the operating room have a negative effect on its efficiency and the working environment. In this prospective study, we analyzed data on perioperative system delays.

Methods: One neurosurgeon prospectively recorded all errors, including perioperative delays, for consecutive patients undergoing elective procedures from May 2000 to February 2009.

Patients' perceptions of awake and outpatient craniotomy for brain tumor: a qualitative study.

Object: Routine and nonselective use of awake and outpatient craniotomy for supratentorial tumors has been shown to be safe and effective from a medical standpoint. In this study the authors aim was to explore patients' perceptions about awake and outpatient craniotomy.

Methods: Qualitative research methodology was used.

Information gaps for patients requiring craniotomy for benign brain lesion: a qualitative study.

Doctor-patient communication in the setting of a life-threatening illness poses considerable challenges. This study aimed to determine the information needs of a subset of neurosurgical patients. Qualitative case study methodology was used.

The relationship between parasagittal and falcine meningiomas and the superficial cortical veins: a virtual reality study.

Objectives: Surgery for parasagittal and falcine meningiomas requires meticulous preservation of the cortical veins that surround the tumour; thus, knowledge of the relevant venous anatomy would be extremely helpful during surgery.

Methods: This study utilises virtual reality technology to determine the number, size and disposition of the veins in relation to the tumour in 8 patients with parasagittal and falcine meningiomas. The same data were also collected from the scans of 8 normal subjects and compared with the data from the meningioma patients.

Gamma Knife patients' experience: lessons learned from a qualitative study.

Background: Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GKSRS) is an outpatient radiation therapy procedure in which a highly focused dose of radiation is delivered in a single fraction. It is used to treat a variety of well-demarcated intracranial lesions, including brain tumors. This study aims to explore patients' perspectives of the GKSRS process and the various stages involved.

Intraoperative swelling leading to neurological deterioration: an argument for large craniotomy in awake surgery for glioma resection.

Gliomas are intrinsic brain tumours that are frequently associated with cerebral oedema. As such, keyhole approaches may not be appropriate because if the craniotomy is small, intraoperative cerebral oedema may occur, resulting in cortical compression at the bone edge. This would lead to further neurological deficit, especially if the swollen brain is located in eloquent areas.

Is there too much variability in technical neurosurgery decision-making? Virtual Tumour Board of a challenging case.

Decades into the era of evidence-based medicine, most neurosurgeons are aware that the vast majority of our day-to-day patient care decisions are not guided by class I evidence, especially those related to surgical procedures. We rely on common sense, personal bias based on our residency training and personal experience. A 35-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of visual loss, cognitive decline and endocrine dysfunction.

Diffusion tensor tractography: corticospinal tract fiber reduction is associated with temporary hemiparesis in benign extracerebral lesions.

Objective: Benign extracerebral lesions such as meningiomas may cause hemiparesis by compression and deviation without infiltrating the white matter. We used magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion tensor tractography to investigate the effects of benign extracerebral lesions on the corticospinal tract (CST).

Methods: Thirteen patients with extracerebral lesions (11 benign meningiomas and 2 benign cysts) underwent magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion tensor tractography of the CST using fiber assignment by continuous tractography.

The role of surgery in high-grade glioma--is surgical resection justified? A review of the current knowledge.

Introduction: The aims of this article were to review the role of surgical resection in the management of high-grade gliomas and to determine whether there is any survival benefit from surgical resection.

Methods: A literature review of the influence of surgical resection on outcome was carried out. Relevant original and review papers were obtained through a PubMed search using the following keywords: glioma, resection, prognosis and outcome.