Esthesioneuroblastoma: endoscopic nasal and anterior craniotomy resection.

Objectives/hypothesis: The objective was to illustrate the use of endoscopic techniques as an evolving surgical modality in excision of esthesioneuroblastoma. The authors advocate this method with excision with anterior craniotomy for removal of cribriform plate or anterior cranial fossa tumor extension.

Study Design: A retrospective chart review of patients with esthesioneuroblastoma treated surgically at a tertiary care institution from 1991 to 2002 using this surgical paradigm.

Coil occlusion of the parent artery for treatment of symptomatic peripheral intracranial aneurysms.

Background And Purpose: Peripheral intracranial aneurysms can be difficult to treat with traditional surgical or embolization techniques that spare the parent vessel. We report the results of our use of coil occlusion of the parent vessel for the treatment of nine peripheral intracranial aneurysms.

Methods: During approximately a 4-year period, nine patients (six men and three women, 27 to 68 years old; average age, 42 years) presented to our institution with peripheral intracranial aneurysms.

Temporary subclavian steal to reduce intraprocedural embolic risk during detachable balloon occlusion of vertebrobasilar aneurysms: technical note with two case reports.

Purpose: Unintentional intracerebral embolization is a serious, ever present threat during neurointerventional procedures. We have devised a method to reduce this intraprocedural risk in vertebral artery interventions by creating a temporary subclavian steal.

Methods And Results: For this technique, a temporary balloon occlusion catheter is advanced into the proximal subclavian artery via a femoral artery approach, while a second introducer catheter is passed into the target vertebral artery via an axillary artery access.

Synovial cysts of the lumbar spine: diagnosis, surgical management, and pathogenesis. Report of eight cases.

Background: Synovial cysts are uncommon extradural degenerative lesions associated with symptoms of lower back pain and radiculopathy. Most of these lesions occur in the lumbar spine at the L4-5 level and to a lesser extent at the L5-S1 and L3-4 levels.

Methods: A retrospective study involving eight patients seen by the neurosurgery service from January 1, 1989, to May 30, 1994, was analyzed.