Supra-orbital keyhole removal of anterior fossa and parasellar meningiomas.

The improvement of surgical techniques as well as the introduction of new surgical instruments promoted the use of keyhole craniotomies in neurosurgery. We evaluated the technical aspects of the supra-orbital keyhole approach considering the indications, limitations, and complications of this approach to treat anterior cranial fossa and parasellar meningiomas. Twenty-four patients (21 females; mean age, 53 + or - 8.

Aggressive intracranial fibromatosis: case report.

Unlabelled: Fibromatosis is a locally aggressive, proliferative fibroblastic lesion affecting musculoaponeurotic structures, most often in the limbs and trunk. Intracranial fibromatosis is extremely rare and requires aggressive treatment to prevent recurrence.

Case Description: We present the case of a 20 year old woman with aggressive skull base fibromatosis.

[Posterior longitudinal ligament ossification: case report].

Posterior longitudinal ligament ossification of cervical spine is a rare condition among caucasians. A 42 years old japanese patient with progressive walking difficulty was diagnosed with this pathology by CT scan and MRI and treated surgically by an anterior approach with arthrodesis. Pathophysiology, racial prevalence, clinical picture, radiological characteristics and surgical approaches options are revised.

[Olfactory groove meningioma: correlation between clinicoradiological features and proliferative index (Mib-1)].

Objective: The aim of this study is to correlationate demographic, radiologic features and proliferative index defined by immunohistochemical expression of Mib-1 in olfactory groove meningiomas, and to observe possible predictive factors of recurrence of this tumor.

Method: There were analysed demographic, clinical and radiological features of 15 patients with olfactory groove meningioma. Fifteen paraffin-embebed tumors were studied by immunohistochemical methods for the expression of proliferative index by the Mib-1.

[Size and proliferative index correlation in acoustic neuromas].

Acoustic neuromas are the most common tumors in the cerebellopontine angle. The molecular mechanisms involved in generation and growth of these tumors are not completely elucidated. Many radiological, clinic and immunohistochemistry data were correlated to tumor growth.

Results of the treatment of syringomyelia associated with Chiari malformation: analysis of 60 cases.

We analyze the results of surgical treatment of 60 patients presenting syringomyelia (SM) associated with Chiari malformation (CM) who were operated in the period 1982-2000. For each case, analysis covered 15 signs and 16 symptoms included in a protocol that separated SM signs and symptoms from those of CM. A score system was established in parallel with the protocol to make the evaluation of treatment results easier.

[Septic spondylodiscitis: diagnosis and treatment].

We studied retrospectively 24 patients with septic discitis of different etiologies (hematogenic, primary and infantile) and the different aspects involved in its diagnosis and treatment. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate proved to be a valuable parameter and should always be interpreted carefully along with the clinical and neuroimaging findings. Biopsies should be reserved for doubtful cases with atypical course.

[Neurosurgical treatment of sphenoidal mucocele by endonasal transseptal endoscopic approach: report of two cases].

Mucoceles are benign, slowly expansive, mucous-filled cystic lesions that arise in the paranasal sinuses. They most commonly occur in the frontal and ethmoid sinuses and are rarely in the sphenoid sinus. The incidence of sphenoid sinus mucoceles is about 1% of paranasal sinus mucoceles.

[Growth pituitary adenomas: evaluation of 20 patients].

The growth hormone secreting pituitary adenomas can be mono, bi or pluri-hormonals. The most frequent association of GH is with the sub unit alpha or with the prolactin. This type of adenoma comes with the classic alterations of acromegaly, but when they produce more than one hormone, visual symptoms can be present.

[Nonfuntional pituitary adenomas: evaluation of 36 patients].

We present our experience with 36 cases of nonfunctional pituitary adenomas. These tumors were divided into non reactive and inactive in agreement with the immunohistochemical study. They present with visual symptoms, mainly bitemporal hemianopsia; they were macroadenomas, either invasive or non invasive, in both groups.