Lumbosacral dural ectasia in type 1 neurofibromatosis. Report of two cases.

Dural ectasia denotes circumferential expansion or dilatation of the dural sac, and has been frequently reported in association with type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1). The pathogenesis has not been defined, but its correlation with NF1 infers a congenital malformative hypothesis. The neural elements in the dilated sleeve typically are not enlarged or abnormal, nevertheless the enlarged area contain an increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid.

Post-traumatic cerebral air embolism. Case report.

A case of post-traumatic cerebral air embolism is presented. In the chest-X-radiography fractures of many ribs and hemo-pneumothorax were visible on the right side associated with intra-alveolar, interstitial hemorrhages and mediastinal emphysema. At the end of a CT scan of the head appeared features of arterial air embolism.

Association of bilateral extracranial internal carotid artery occlusion and midline brain tumour.

A 42-year-old patient with a bilateral extracranial internal carotid occlusion which was associated with a midline intracerebral tumour of the genu of the corpus callosum, is reported. This rare association is discussed in the light of the pathogenetic theories referred to in the literature in similar cases. It is felt that, such cases, although rarely encountered, should stimulate the adoption of more accurate neuroradiological investigations, in patients harbouring brain tumours, in order carefully to plan the anaesthetic and surgical procedures.