Incidence of hereditary thrombophilia in patients with cranial dural arteriovenous fistulae.

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) can develop as consequence of prior venous sinus thrombosis. However, the prevalence of prothrombotic conditions in patients with intracranial DAVFs is unknown and there is no consensus on the indications to screen for procoagulable conditions in these patients. We performed a retrospective review of patients presenting to our institution for management of cranial DAVF.

Differences between patient- and professional-reported modified Rankin Scale score in patients with unruptured aneurysms.

Objective: Clinical trials forming the basis of current guidelines for the management of intracranial aneurysms have relied on patient-reported modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores to assess functional outcome. The effect of patient demographics on perception of disability and, by extension, patient-reported mRS score, is not well understood.

Methods: A consecutive series of patients with a previously treated or untreated unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) prospectively underwent a structured interview with a trained nurse.

Risk of de novo aneurysm formation in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Background And Purpose: The rate of de novo aneurysm formation in patients with unruptured aneurysm without history of subarachnoid hemorrhage is scarcely defined in literature. We report the incidence of de novo aneurysm formation in a large contemporary series of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) undergoing serial neurovascular imaging.

Methods: Neurovascular imaging studies of 321 consecutive UIA patients with no prior history of subarachnoid hemorrhage, with at least 3 years of follow-up imaging, were reviewed by a neuroradiologist and a neurosurgeon.

Item response theory analysis to evaluate reliability and minimal clinically important change of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire in patients with severe disability due to back pain from vertebral compression fractures.

Background Context: The majority of validation done on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) has been in patients with mild or moderate disability. There is paucity of research focusing on the psychometric quality of the RMDQ in patients with severe disability.

Purpose: To evaluate the psychometric quality of the RMDQ in patients with severe disability.

Natural history of untreated unruptured intracranial aneurysms in the elderly.

Background: The effect of age on risk of intracranial aneurysm rupture is not well understood. We investigated the clinical course of patients 65 years and older with conservatively managed unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) and determined risk factors for rupture in this population.

Methods: We reviewed prospectively collected data on baseline characteristics and long-term follow-up for patients aged 65 years and older with an UIA that were initially managed with observation.

Unruptured internal carotid artery bifurcation aneurysms: general features and overall results after modern treatment.

Background: Internal carotid artery bifurcation aneurysms (ICAbifAs) present unique challenges to endovascular and surgical operators, and little is known about their natural history. We reviewed our institution's experience with ICAbifAs studying outcomes of surgical and endovascular management and natural history.

Methods: Consecutive patients with unruptured ICAbifAs evaluated and/or treated over an 8-year interval were studied.

Armband activity monitor data do not correlate with reported pain scores in patients receiving vertebroplasty.

Background: Prior research on the efficacy of vertebroplasty has focused primarily on subjective, patient-reported outcomes.

Objective: To apply an armband activity monitor (SenseWear by BodyMedia Inc, USA) to patients presenting for consideration for vertebroplasty and to determine the correlation between patient-reported outcomes and quantitative activity metrics at baseline and 30 days after presentation.

Materials And Methods: Nineteen patients were enrolled (15 receiving vertebroplasty, 4 not receiving vertebroplasty).

Evolution of transthoracic fine needle aspiration and core needle biopsy practice: A comparison of two time periods, 1996-1998 and 2003-2005.

To examine the performance of our large pulmonary transthoracic fine needle aspiration/core biopsy (FNA/CB) practice over time, we performed a retrospective analysis of data from 333 consecutive procedures performed in 1996-1998 and 568 consecutive procedures performed in 2003-2005. Fluoroscopic guidance was performed more frequently in the earlier cohort, while a larger majority of procedures in the later cohort were by computed tomography (CT-guidance). A follow-up histologic diagnosis of cancer or clinical evidence of disease was considered the gold-standard.