Revealing subependymal giant cell astrocytoma with multimodal positron emission tomography: illustrative cases.

Background: There is limited literature on the use of positron emission tomography (PET) for benign tumors originating in the brain ventricles, and the use of multiple tracers for subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) has not been reported. The authors compared the PET findings in two SEGA cases with past reports and literature, exploring the distinctive characteristics of SEGA on PET.

Observations: In a 21-year-old female with SEGA, the authors utilized 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), 11C-methionine (11C-MET), 18F-fluorothymidine (18F-FLT), 18F-fluoromisonidazole, and 18F-THK5351 tracers.

Current Treatment Results of Intracranial Carotid Artery Dissection Causing Cerebral Ischemia: A Japanese Nationwide Survey.

Intracranial carotid artery dissection causing cerebral ischemia is a rare but important cause of cerebral infarction in children and adolescents. Although endovascular therapy has been reported to be effective, questions regarding the indications for intervention are yet to be addressed. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate factors related to clinical outcomes through a nationwide survey.

A novel catheter interaction simulating method for virtual reality interventional training systems.

Endovascular robotic systems have been applied in robot-assisted interventional surgery to improve surgical safety and reduce radiation to surgeons. However, this surgery requires surgeons to be highly skilled at operating vascular interventional surgical robot. Virtual reality (VR) interventional training systems for robot-assisted interventional surgical training have many advantages over traditional training methods.

An Endovascular Catheterization Robotic System Using Collaborative Operation with Magnetically Controlled Haptic Force Feedback.

Robot-assisted technology is often used to perform endovascular catheterization surgeries, which generally depend on the flexible operability and the accurate force feedback of a robotic system. In this paper, an endovascular catheterization robotic system (ECRS) was developed to improve collaborative operation and haptic force feedback. A couple of operating handles were designed to maximize the use of the natural operations of surgeons on the master side, which is a flexible and ergonomic device.

Case Series of Endovascular Therapy for Blood Blister-Like Aneurysm in Acute Phase.

Objective: Blood blister-like aneurysms (BBAs) of the internal carotid artery are highly challenging to treat due to their variable morphology and tendency for rupture and regrowth. Here, we report a single-institution experience of endovascular therapy (EVT) for BBA treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with ruptured BBA from 2006 to 2019.

Endovascular Treatment for Posterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms with Oculomotor Nerve Palsy.

Objective: Coil embolization for the treatment of internal carotid artery-posterior communicating artery aneurysms (PComAAn) associated with oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP) remains controversial in terms of the therapeutic effect to improve ONP. Patients with PComAAn treated in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of coil embolization on ONP.

Methods: Twenty-three patients who had coil embolization for PComAAn with ONP were included in the analysis.

A Mirror Bilateral Neuro-Rehabilitation Robot System with the sEMG-Based Real-Time Patient Active Participant Assessment.

In this paper, a novel mirror visual feedback-based (MVF) bilateral neurorehabilitation system with surface electromyography (sEMG)-based patient active force assessment was proposed for upper limb motor recovery and improvement of limb inter-coordination. A mirror visual feedback-based human-robot interface was designed to facilitate the bilateral isometric force output training task. To achieve patient active participant assessment, an sEMG signals-based elbow joint isometric force estimation method was implemented into the proposed system for real-time affected side force assessment and participation evaluation.

Clinicopathologic Factors Associated with Tumor Necrosis after Preoperative Embolization of Meningiomas.

Objective: Preoperative embolization of meningiomas induces necrosis prior to surgery and facilitates resection. Lack of contrast enhancement on postembolization MRI correlates with pathological findings of necrosis and can be used to assess embolization efficacy. This study aimed to examine clinicopathologic factors associated with tumor necrosis after embolization.

A case of bleeding from maxillary carcinoma embolized from the maxillary and ophthalmic arteries.

Background: The majority of maxillary sinus cancers are advanced at initial detection due to anatomical limitations and lack of early symptoms. In patients with orbital invasion, the feeding arteries of the tumor are often associated with the ophthalmic artery in addition to the maxillary artery. We describe a case of tumor bleeding in a patient with recurrent maxillary carcinoma that was treated with embolization from the maxillary and ophthalmic arteries.

A preliminary study of relationship among the degree of internal carotid artery stenosis, wall shear stress on MR angiography and F-FDG uptake on PET/CT.

Background: This preliminary study was undertaken to evaluate relationship among the degree of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis, wall shear stress (WSS) by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and F-FDG uptake of ICA on PET/CT.

Methods: A total of 40 carotid arteries in 20 patients with carotid atherosclerotic disease were examined with MRA and F-FDG PET/CT. Atherosclerotic risk factors were assessed in all patients.

Association between carotid F-NaF and F-FDG uptake on PET/CT with ischemic vascular brain disease on MRI in patients with carotid artery disease.

Objective: Atherosclerosis is a dynamic and complex process characterized by the formation and progression of plaque mediated by various pathophysiologic steps including inflammation and calcification. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between carotid F-sodium fluoride (NaF) and F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake with the severity of ischemic vascular brain disease on MRI in patients with carotid artery disease.

Methods: A total of 28 patients who were scheduled to undergo clinically indicated carotid endarterectomy or stenting for carotid artery disease were examined with F-NaF and F-FDG PET/CT and brain MRI.

A Rare Case of Postoperative Symptomatic Cyst Formation After Resection of a Large Convexity Meningioma.

Background: Symptomatic cyst formation after brain tumor resection is a rare complication of the early postoperative phase. We describe a complicated case of postoperative symptomatic cyst formation after gross total removal of a convexity meningioma.

Case Description: A 59-year-old woman presented with recent onset motor aphasia.

Histidine-rich Glycoprotein Could Be an Early Predictor of Vasospasm after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) is a major contributor to the high morbidity and mortality of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients. We measured histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG), a new biomarker of aSAH, in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to investigate whether HRG might be an early predictor of CVS. A total of seven controls and 14 aSAH patients (8 males, 6 females aged 53.

Association between dexmedetomidine use and neurological outcomes in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients: A retrospective observational study.

Purpose: Recent studies in animal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) models have reported that dexmedetomidine (DEX) use demonstrates significantly better neurological outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate whether DEX use is associated with favorable neurological outcomes (FO) in SAH patients.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all SAH patients between 2009 and 2017.

Cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula treated by facial vein direct puncture: Case report and review of the literature.

Introduction In case of cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (CSDAVF), transvenous embolization (TVE) of the cavernous sinus (CS) via the inferior petrosal sinus (IPS) is generally performed. However, various approach routes have been reported when the accessibility of the IPS is challenging. We herein report a case of CSDAVF treated by TVE with direct puncture of the facial vein.

Serial blood lactate measurements and its prognostic significance in intensive care unit management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.

Purpose: This study assesses the behavior of serial blood lactate measurements during intensive care unit (ICU) stay to identify prognostic factors of unfavorable neurological outcomes (UO) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who were consecutively hospitalized with SAH between 2009 and 2016. Arterial blood lactate levels were routinely obtained on admission and every 6h in the ICU.

Target Serum Sodium Levels During Intensive Care Unit Management of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Introduction: Dysnatremia commonly occur in the intensive care unit (ICU) management of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, detailed management strategies have not been provided even by current guidelines. The purposes of this study were to examine the association of abnormal serum sodium levels with unfavorable neurologic outcomes and to identify the target range of serum sodium in patients with SAH.

Blood Glucose Variability: A Strong Independent Predictor of Neurological Outcomes in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Purpose: In patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), increased glucose variability (GV) is associated with increased mortality and cerebral infarction; however, there are no reports demonstrating an association between GV and neurological outcome. This study investigated whether GV had an independent effect on neurological outcomes in patients with SAH in the intensive care unit.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive adult patients hospitalized with SAH between January 1, 2009, and May 31, 2015 (N = 122) were retrospectively reviewed.

Association Between Comorbidities, Nutritional Status, and Anticlotting Drugs and Neurologic Outcomes in Geriatric Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.

Background: Several studies using trauma data banks and registers showed that age, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Injury Severity Score, and intraventricular hemorrhage were independent factors for neurologic outcomes in geriatric patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, these analyses did not comprehensively evaluate factors particularly associated with geriatric patients. We aimed to identify factors particularly associated with geriatric patients that affect neurologic outcomes in TBI.

Impact of neurointensivist-managed intensive care unit implementation on patient outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the impact of neurointensivist-managed intensive care unit (NIM-ICU) implementation for patients admitted with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Methods: This study retrospectively evaluated 234 patients (mean age, 61.7 years; male, 67) admitted with SAH between January 1, 2001, and March 31, 2014.

[Intrapituitary adenoma metastasis from lung cancer with progressive cranial nerve palsies: a case report and literature review].

We report a rare case of metastasis to a preexisting pituitary adenoma. An 80-year-old man with a history of pituitary adenoma and lung cancer presented with recent onset of bilateral visual impairment, oculomotor nerve palsies, and severe headache. A CT scan revealed a pituitary tumor expanding into the suprasellar region and infiltrating the bilateral cavernous sinuses.

Treatment of acute cerebral artery occlusion using the Penumbra system: our early experience.

Intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) therapy is highly recommended to patients who are diagnosed with ischemic stroke within 4.5 hours after the onset while mechanical clot retrieval can be attempted in patients who are not indicated for or cannot effectively receive intravenous rt-PA therapy. In this article, we report early treatment outcomes and discuss the usefulness of mechanical clot retrieval using the Penumbra system (Penumbra Inc.

Cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism measurements using positron emission tomography on the first day after carotid artery stenting.

Background: The aim of the present study is the characterization of hemodynamics to predict hyperperfusion syndrome (HPS) after carotid artery stenting (CAS) with positron emission tomography (PET) obtained before and on the first day after the treatment.

Methods: Cerebral perfusion and oxygen metabolism were evaluated by (15)O-gas PET in 18 patients with symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis before and on the first day after CAS. Regional cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2), and cerebral blood volume (CBV) were measured in the ipsilateral and contralateral middle cerebral artery territories and compared between before and after CAS.

Detection of brain amyloid β deposition in patients with neuropsychological impairment after traumatic brain injury: PET evaluation using Pittsburgh Compound-B.

Objective: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an epigenetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amyloid β (Aβ) deposition is observed histopathologically in the traumatized brain. This study was conducted to detect cerebral Aβ deposition using amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with neuropsychological impairment after TBI.

Methods: Twelve patients with post-traumatic neuropsychological impairment (11 men and one woman, age range = 21-78 years) were examined using Pittsburgh Compound B ((11)C-PIB) PET at the chronic stage after TBI (range = 5-129 months).

Usefulness of L-[methyl-11c]methionine positron emission tomography in the treatment of idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis--case report.

A 53-year-old man suffered from pulsating headache for 2 months. Magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium revealed a linear or nodular mass along the left fronto-parietal convexity. Positron emission tomography (PET) with L-[methyl-11C]methionine (11C-MET) demonstrated increased uptake in the enhanced lesion.