Cervical Radiculopathy and Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency Secondary to Intraneural Foramen Vertebral Artery Loop: A Case Report.

This case report describes a 40-year-old male who presented with chronic neck pain radiating to the left upper limb, associated with weakness and numbness. He also had symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Imaging revealed an intraneural foramen vertebral artery (VA) loop compressing the C3 nerve root.

A Pituitary Abscess Caused by Morganella morganii: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Pituitary abscess (PA) is a rare pituitary lesion accounting for less than 1% of all pituitary diseases and is associated with high mortality rates. The non-specific clinical symptoms and radiological features preclude accurate diagnosis of the disease. Hence, surgical intervention is still considered the criterion standard method for PA diagnosis.

Agenesis of the corpus callosum associated with spinal open neural tube defect.

Objective: To ascertain the incidence and clinical implications of agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) in spinal open neural tube defects (SONTD).

Methods: All cases of SONTD registered at the Spina Bifida Clinic in King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 1995 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed, and mid-sagittal MRI of the corpus callosum (CC) area was analyzed in each case. Neurodevelopmental outcome was classified as poor in children with seizures, severe neurodevelopmental impairment, or death.

Classification, clinical features, and genetics of neural tube defects.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) constitute a major health burden (0.5-2/1000 pregnancies worldwide), and remain a preventable cause of still birth, neonatal, and infant death, or significant lifelong handicaps. The malformations result from failure of the neural folds to fuse in the midline, and form the neural tube between the third and the fourth week of embryonic development.

Split cord malformation associated with spinal open neural tube defect.

Objective: To illustrate the clinical and radiological findings of split cord malformation (SCM) in patients with spinal open neural tube defect (SONTD), and report the outcome of their treatment.

Methods: A retrospective study of the clinical and radiological findings of 11 patients diagnosed with SCM, identified among 83 patients with SONTD at King Khalid University Hospital, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 1995 and 2010.

Results: There were 6 girls and 5 boys; their age ranged from less than a year to 9 years (mean 4.

Epidemiology, prenatal management, and prevention of neural tube defects.

This review article discusses the epidemiology, risk factors, prenatal screening, diagnosis, prevention potentials, and epidemiologic impact of neural tube defects (NTDs). The average incidence of NTDs is 1/1000 births, with a marked geographic variation. In the developed countries, the incidence of NTDs has fallen over recent decades.

Risk factors for neural tube defects in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia: Case-control study.

Both genetic and non-genetic environmental factors are involved in the etiology of neural tube defects (NTD) which affect 0.5-2/1000 pregnancies worldwide. This study aimed to explore the risk factors for the development of NTD in Saudi population, and highlight identifiable and preventable causes.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy for hydrocephalus in children younger than 1 year of age.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in the treatment of hydrocephalus in children under 1 year of age. The authors analyzed data of ETV in their institution.

Methods: Between January 1995 and December 2008, 52 ETV procedures were performed for the treatment of hydrocephalus in 49 infants (32 male and 17 female).

Anesthesia for third ventriculostomy. A report of 128 cases.

Background: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has become the standard surgical procedure for treatment of non-communicating hydrocephalus. The aim of this study is to report our results over the past ten years with reference to perioperative complications of ETV with a review of some specific anesthetic issues.

Methods: The computerized database (in the Department of Neurosurgery) and the medical records of 128 patients who underwent ETV between February 1998 and February 2007 at our Hospital, were reviewed.

Moyamoya syndrome as a risk factor for stroke in Saudi children. Novel and usual associations.

Objective: To report on moyamoya syndrome (MMS) as a risk factor for stroke in a prospective and retrospective cohort of Saudi children. The usual and novel associations of MMS in this cohort will also be described.

Methods: Children with stroke were evaluated at the Division of Pediatric Neurology at King Khalid University Hospital, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the periods July 1992 to February 2001 (retrospective study) and February 2001 to March 2003 (prospective study).

Congenital and genetic cerebrovascular anomalies as risk factors for stroke in Saudi children.

Objective: To explore the role of and report on congenital and genetic cerebrovascular anomalies as risk factors for stroke in a prospective and retrospective cohort of Saudi children.

Methods: Children with stroke were evaluated at the Division of Pediatric Neurology (DPN), or were seen as inpatients in the Pediatric Wards at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the periods July 1992 to February 2001 (retrospective study) and February 2001 to March 2003 (prospective study). Stroke work-up for each suspected case included hemostatic assays, serological, biochemical and neurophysiological tests.

Hematologic risk factors for stroke in Saudi children.

Objective: To explore the hematologic risk factors for stroke in a cohort of Saudi children.

Methods: We evaluated children at the Division of Pediatric Neurology at King Khalid University Hospital, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, during the periods July 1992 to February 2001 (retrospective study) and February 2001 to March 2003 (prospective study). Investigations for suspected cases included neuroimaging, transcranial Doppler (TCD) for cases of sickle cell disease (SCD), and Duplex scan.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in the first year of life: case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Primary subarachnoid hemorrhage is rare in infancy. A bleeding arterial aneurysm as its cause is even less frequent. A review of the literature turned up 85 cases of cerebral aneurysm that occurred in the 1st year of life, 63 of them presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

The coagulopathy in acute head injury: comparison of cerebral versus peripheral measurements of haemostatic activation markers.

Brain injury is known to result in various degrees of disordered haemostasis. Moreover, the recently developed assays of molecular markers of haemostasis can give an accurate reflection of its activation in vivo. The aim of this study was to monitor the levels of prothrombin fraction 1 + 2 (F1 + 2), thrombin antithrombin complexes (TAT) and D-dimer on the admission of patients to the ICU and up to the fourth day postinjury.

Ventricular failure as a cause of unsuccessful endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

Introduction: In spite of extensive studies on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics, the mechanism of its circulation is still obscure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of an insult to the brain tissue on the success or failure of an endoscopic procedure.

Methods: During the period from May 1995 to December 1998 we studied 21 children, ages from 2 to 48 months (mean 15 months) with non-communicating hydrocephalus.

The incidence of bradycardia during endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

Unlabelled: The incidence of bradycardia during endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is unknown. In an attempt to determine that incidence, we studied 49 pediatric patients with obstructive hydrocephalus who underwent ETV during general anesthesia. The median age was 54.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy: towards more indications for the treatment of non-communicating hydrocephalus.

Objective: Since its reintroduction during the last 2 decades, third ventriculostomy has shown promising results. However, with more experience and better selection of cases, the indications and contraindications are likely to change.

Methods: During the period from November 1994 to December 1996, we have treated 27 patients with non-communicating hydrocephalus by endoscopic third ventriculostomy at the King Khalid University Hospital.

Intracavitary administration of amphotericin B in the treatment of cerebral aspergillosis in a non immune-compromised patient: case report and review of the literature.

A 24-year-old man presented with cerebral aspergillus fungal granuloma involving the left frontal region secondary to pulmonary aspergillosis. He was otherwise healthy with no evidence of immune-suppression. Because of poor penetration of amphotericin B into the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), this patient was treated by a combination of systemic and local therapy in addition to surgical excision resulting in a cure with follow up for more than three years.

Epidemiology of infantile hydrocephalus in Saudi Arabia: birth prevalence and associated factors.

Introduction: Hydrocephalus is a common central nervous system disorder in children. In spite of its importance, it has not been subjected to sufficient epidemiological studies, particularly in the developing countries. The aim of this study was to provide information from a representative series of newly diagnosed cases of infantile hydrocephalus on the birth prevalence, associated factors and mortality.

Spina bifida in Saudi Arabia: is consanguinity among the parents a risk factor?

Introduction: Spina bifida is an important birth defect. Its incidence differs from one country to another due to different factors. The aims of this study were: (1) to estimate the incidence of spina bifida in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah and compare it with the Eastern part of the Kingdom, and (2) to find out if consanguinity is a risk factor.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy: a study of intracranial pressure vs. haemodynamic changes.

Fourteen paediatric patients with obstructive hydrocephalus were studied. They underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy under general anaesthesia. Their ages ranged from 1 to 144 weeks (mean 34+/-36 weeks) and weight from 2 to 22 kg (mean 10.

Management of minor head injuries: admission criteria, radiological evaluation and treatment of complications.

The clinical course of patients admitted following minor head injuries (Glasgow Coma Score [GCS] 13-15) has been studied less extensively than in severely head injured patients. Admission criteria, methods and indications for radiological evaluation are controversial. To study this further, a retrospective review of 633 patients admitted following such injuries to King Khalid University Hospital between 1986 and 1993 was undertaken.