Anterior cervical fusion with interbody titanium cage containing surgical bone site graft: our institution's experience in 103 consecutive cases of degenerative spondylosis.

The objective of this study is to evaluate whether anterior cervical fusion performed using BAK-C cage is a safe and effective method in the treatment of degenerative cervical disorders. Between 1998 and 2001, a consecutive series of 103 patients underwent anterior cervical fusion with titanium cage for cervical radiculopathy and/or spondylotic myelopathy. All the patients underwent single-level surgery.

Meningiomas infiltrating the superior sagittal sinus: surgical considerations of 328 cases.

The aim of the study was to discuss our management strategy and results of patients affected by meningiomas infiltrating the superior sagittal sinus. We describe 328 patients with meningiomas that were infiltrating the superior sagittal sinus. All the patients were surgically treated.

Gliomatosis cerebri in children. Case report and clinical considerations.

Objective: Gliomatosis cerebri (GC) is an uncommon entity characterised by the diffuse overgrowth of large parts of the brain by glial cells. Reports in the literature often refer to adult patients, its occurrence in children being even more rare.

Case Report: We report the case of an 8-year-old boy with GC and discuss the problem of intra vitam diagnosis.

Occipital condyle fractures: report of five cases and literature review.

Occipital condyle fractures (OCFs) are uncommon and potentially fatal lesions. After the advent of CT, prompt diagnosis can be readily made and consequently better prognosis of these patients is expected. Early recognition of some types of OCF is imperative to avoid fatal results.

"Supine-prone" dynamic X-ray examination: new method to evaluate low-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Lumbar instability often causes clinical symptoms, and spondylolisthesis is a main factor of the low back pain. Segmental lumbar instability generally is due to a degenerative or listhesic process of the lumbar spine and radiological imaging is essential to diagnose it. Lumbar spine segmental mobility has commonly been studied by dyanamic radiographic methods.

Post-traumatic glioma. Report of four cases and review of the literature.

Aims And Background: To add a further contribution to the literature supporting the relationship between previous head trauma and development of glioma.

Methods: We report on four patients who developed brain gliomas in the scar of an old brain injury.

Results: All cases fulfilled the widely established criteria for brain tumors of traumatic origin.

Solitary fibrous tumors of the meninges: report of four cases and literature review.

Central nervous system solitary fibrous tumors are a new pathological entity. To our knowledge, only 60 meningeal solitary fibrous tumors both in the spinal cord and in the brain have been described in the literature. The 56 previously reported cases of meningeal solitary fibrous tumors are critically reviewed.

High-dose radiation-induced meningiomas. Report of five cases and critical review of the literature.

Radiotherapy is an important modality for the treatment of tumors and arteriovenous malformations affecting the central nervous system, even though several significant side effects have been described (radionecrosis, tumors, etc.). Meningiomas induced by high-dose radiation therapy are uncommon.

Intradural lumbar disc herniations: the role of MRI in preoperative diagnosis and review of the literature.

The goal of this article is to report our experience on intradural lumbar disc herniation, consider the causes of this pathology, and analyze it from clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic perspectives with a particular emphasis on the role of MRI in preoperative diagnosis. We analyzed nine patients treated surgically for intradural lumbar disc hernia. All of them underwent surgery, and hemilaminectomy was performed.

Dorsal foramenal extraosseous epidural cavernous hemangioma.

Cavernous hemangiomas are vascular hamartomatous malformations that affect the central nervous system. This pathology is frequently encountered in the cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, and brainstem. Cavernous hemangiomas infrequently occur at the spinal level or relative to an intramedullary localization; extramedullary epidural sites are also sometimes affected by this pathology.

Multicentric glioma: our experience in 25 patients and critical review of the literature.

Multicentric gliomas are interesting and well-recognised entities with a yet unknown rate of occurrence. Single cases or small series are reported in the literature accessible to us, and we think this is the first large series describing true multicentric gliomas. We reviewed 25 patients selected according to the criteria defined by Batzdorf and Malamud.

Management of the cervical esophagus and hypofarinx perforations complicating anterior cervical spine surgery.

Study Design: Five cases of esophageal or pharyngeal perforation diagnosed during or after anterior cervical spine surgery are presented.

Objective: To outline a protocol for the early diagnosis and treatment of iatrogenic pharyngoesophageal perforations.

Summary Of Background Data: Pharyngoesophageal perforations after anterior cervical spine surgery are uncommon or rarely reported complications.

Single cerebral metastasis from colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Single cases are described in 50% of reported intracranial metastases. Single cerebral metastasis from colorectal adenocarcinoma is not very common, with a frequency varying between 0.5% and 1%.