Challenges in intraoperative differentiation of craniopharyngioma and Rathke cleft cyst on endoscopic visualization.

Background: Craniopharyngiomas are epithelial tumors derived from the remnants of the Rathke pouch, while Rathke cleft cysts (RCC) are benign cystic lesions originating from the Rathke pouch itself [1]. Rathke cleft cysts comprise 10-15% of the hypophyseal tumors, while craniopharyngiomas are relatively rare, comprising only 2-5% of intracranial tumors [2]. Both located in the sellar and parasellar regions and share clinical symptoms including headache, visual disturbances, and endocrine dysfunction [3].

Impact of extent of resection and adjuvant radiation therapy in the progression free survival in patients with spheno-orbital meningioma.

Background: Spheno-orbital meningiomas (SOM) are known to invaded critical skull base areas. The authors report a series of WHO I SOM, propose a subclassification of this tumor according to its extension to critical positions and analyze the impact of extent of resection and the role of stereotactic radiotherapy in tumor recurrence.

Methods: A prospective maintained university medical center registry was utilized to undertake a retrospective review of patients operated with WHO I SOM.

Comparison between moyamoya disease and moyamoya syndrome in Israel.

Background And Aims: Moyamoya is a chronic brain vasculopathy involving the distal intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) or proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA). Moyamoya patients can be divided into those with primary moyamoya disease (MMD) and those with moyamoya secondary to other known causes such as intracranial atherosclerosis (moymoya syndrome [MMS]). Our aim was to compare the characteristics of MMD patients to those of MMS patients in a sample of Israeli patients seen over the course of 20 years at a tertiary referral center.

Very delayed CSF leak in patients after craniotomy for resection of skull base tumors.

Objective: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is a potentially dangerous neurosurgical complication. Delayed CSF leak has already been described after trauma, radiation therapy and endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for Sella turcica pathologies. Still, very few reported cases describe delayed CSF leak after craniotomy for tumors.

Vestibular schwannoma manifesting with hemifacial spasm in a young woman: clinical considerations and tumor removal with hearing preservation. 2-Dimensional operative video.

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a rare presentation of vestibular schwannoma. The authors present their experience with a 27-year-old woman who presented with normal hearing and HFS, which was the single neurological manifestation of an 18-mm vestibular schwannoma. In this challenging situation, the treatment goals were maximal tumor removal with preservation of hearing and facial nerve function and cure of the HFS.

ICG Flow 800 technology targeted STA-MCA microvascular bypass for exclusion of deep-seated fusiform MCA aneurysm: 2-dimensional operative video.

The authors present the case of an 18-year-old male with a deep-seated left fusiform dissecting M3 aneurysm for which endovascular treatment was not applicable. At the open surgery, they used the less commonly reported FLOW 800 fluorescent indocyanine green (ICG) videoangiography, before and after parental aneurysmal artery temporary clipping, to locate the distal outflow branch of the aneurysm and use it as the recipient artery for a superficial temporal artery-M4 bypass, excluding the aneurysm by clipping the parental artery. Repeated ICG FLOW 800 angiography confirmed bypass patency and adequate blood flow.

Superficial Temporal Artery-Middle Cerebral Artery Microvascular Bypass: Its Role in Treatment of Patients with Moyamoya Disease, Cerebral Aneurysms, and Vascular Occlusive Disease.

Background: Superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery microvascular bypass (STA-MCA MVB) is an important strategy for the management of selected patients

Objectives: To present our 19-year experience with STA-MCA MVB

Methods: Data for consecutive patients who underwent STA-MCA MVB from 2000–2019 due to moyamoya/moyamoya-like disease, complex intracranial aneurysms, or intractable brain ischemia due to internal carotid artery or MCA occlusive disease with repeated ischemic events were retrospectively analyzed under a waiver of informed consent. Key surgical steps and the important role of neuroendovascular interventions are presented. Surgical results and late outcomes were analyzed

Results: The study included 32 patients (17 women [53%], 15 men [47%]), mean age 42.

Cavernous Sinus Epidermoid Cyst Removal through a No-Keyhole Pterional Craniotomy: Operative Video and Technical Nuances.

Intracranial epidermoid cysts are considered benign tumors with good general prognosis. However, their radical removal may be associated with certain morbidity, especially when the capsule is attached to neurovascular structures. Epidermoid cysts located in the cavernous sinus are very rare.

Flow-diverter stents in the early management of acutely ruptured brain aneurysms: effective rebleeding protection with low thromboembolic complications.

Objective: Flow-diverter stents (FDSs) are not generally used for the management of acutely ruptured aneurysms with associated subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Herein, the authors present their experience with FDSs in this scenario, focusing on the antiplatelet regimen, perioperative management, and outcome.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed their institutional database for the treatment and outcomes of all patients with acutely ruptured aneurysms and associated SAH from July 2010 to September 2018 who had received an FDS implant as stand-alone treatment within 4 days after diagnosis.

Solid vs. cystic predominance in posterior fossa hemangioblastomas: implications for cerebrovascular risks and patient outcome.

Background: Hemangioblastomas (HGBs) are highly vascular benign tumors, commonly located in the posterior fossa, and 80% of them are sporadic. Patients usually present with features of raised intracranial pressure and cerebellar symptoms. HGB can be classified as either mostly cystic or solids.

Acquisition of Basic Microsurgical Skills Using Low-Cost, Readily Available Models: The Orange Model.

Background: Attainment of basic microsurgical skills in neurosurgery presents a departmental challenge worldwide. Models for teaching are either not readily available or expensive and are incompatible with a resident's busy schedule, requiring lengthy and proper setup. We present a model and a set of measurable tasks, based on a fruit (orange) that is cheap, easy to set up instantly when desired, and useful for training of basic microsurgical skills.

Spontaneous symptomatic orbital meningoencephalocele in an adult patient. Case report and review of the literature.

Symptomatic spontaneous meningoencephalocele (MEC) is a very rare entity in adults and there have been no reported cases of spontaneous MEC through the orbital roof in an adult. We report a 41-year-old woman who presented with a left eyelid swelling for several weeks without any history of trauma. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a MEC through the orbital roof causing a significant blepharocele in this young patient.

The oblique occipital sinus - implications in posterior fossa approaches.

The retrosigmoid craniotomy is the standard approach to resect pathologies in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). Following the craniotomy, the dura mater is opened in the inferolateral direction and the basal cistern arachnoid is dissected in order to release pressure by the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the foramen magnum, so that the CPA compartment can be approached with minimal retraction of the cerebellum. We report two patients, both with vestibular schwannoma, in whom preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed unusual large oblique occipital sinus (OOS) draining laterally into the sigmoid sinus - jugular bulb junction.

Medulla oblongata cavernoma removal through a lazy far lateral approach: operative video and technical nuances.

Removal of brainstem cavernous malformation remains a surgical challenge. We present a case of a 63-year-old female who was diagnosed with a large cavernoma located in the medulla oblongata. The patient suffered three episodes of brainstem bleeding resulting in significant neurological deficits (hemiparesis, dysphagia, and dysarthria).

The infratranstentorial subtemporal approach (ITSTA): a valuable skull base approach to deep-seated non-skull base pathology.

Background: Surgical access to space-occupying lesions such as tumors and vascular malformations located in the area of the tentorial notch, mediobasal temporal lobe, and para-midbrain is difficult. Lesions in this area are typically resected with supratentorial approaches demanding significant elevation of the temporal lobe or even partial lobectomy, or via a supracerebellar transtentorial approach. We introduce an alternative, the skull base infratranstentorial subtemporal approach (ITSTA), which provides excellent exposure of the incisural area while minimizing risk to the temporal lobe.

Awake craniotomy for the resection of a Broca-sited cerebral cavernous malformation with a developmental venous anomaly using near-infrared indocyanine green video angiography.

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are known to be angiographically occult malformations with low perfusion of blood flow. Near-infrared indocyanine green (ICG) video angiography allows for intraoperative observation and documentation of blood flow in large and small vessels. Developmental venous anomalies (DVAs) are thought to be the most common cerebral vascular abnormality.

CPA Epidermoid Cyst with Rare Anatomic Variant: Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Embedded in the Subarcuate Fossa: Operative Video and Technical Nuances.

Intracranial epidermoid cysts are considered benign tumors with a good general prognosis; however, their radical removal, including tumor capsule, is associated with significant morbidity, especially when the capsule is attached to neurovascular structures. We show an operative video describing main steps and surgical nuances in the resection of a large right cerebellopontine angle (CPA) epidermoid cyst in a 42-year-old male patient who presented with intractable trigeminal neuralgia. Craniectomy was performed to exposure the transverse-sigmoid sinus junction.

Combination Treatment with Intravenous Tigecycline and Intraventricular and Intravenous Colistin in Postoperative Ventriculitis Caused by Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Nosocomial infections with multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens are a life-threatening complication in neurosurgery. An MDR Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) central nervous system (CNS) infection following neurosurgery has been previously reported and was treated with relative success using intraventricular and/or intravenous (IV) colistin, IV tigecycline, or IV colistin-rifampicin combination therapy.

Stent and flow diverter assisted treatment of acutely ruptured brain aneurysms.

Objective: We present our experience with stent techniques in the management of acutely ruptured aneurysms, focusing on aneurysm occlusion rates, intraprocedural complications, and late outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients treated by stent techniques during the early acute phase of aneurysmal rupture, from June 2011 to June 2016. Patients who underwent stenting for the management of unruptured aneurysms, or in a delayed fashion for a ruptured lesion, were excluded.

Vestibular Schwannoma Presenting with Bilateral Papilledema Without Hydrocephalus: Case Study.

Bilateral papilledema secondary to obstructive or communicating hydrocephalus in patients with vestibular schwannomas is a known presentation; however, papilledema in the absence of hydrocephalus is rarely reported and its mechanism is poorly understood. We report a case of a 20-year-old woman presenting with visual deterioration and bilateral papilledema on fundoscopy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a giant vestibular schwannoma with no sign of hydrocephalus.

Extensive bone erosion caused by pseudotumoral aneurysm growth.

Carotid ophthalmic aneurysms constitute 0.9-6.5% of the aneurysms of the ICA with up to 20% of the cases presenting with visual symptoms.

Idiopathic bilateral occlusion of the foramen of Monro: An unusual entity with varied clinical presentations.

We review our experience with four patients who presented to our Medical Center from 2005-2015 with adult idiopathic occlusion of the foramen of Monro (FM). All patients underwent CT scanning and MRI. Standard MRI was performed in each patient to rule out a secondary cause of obstruction (T1-weighted without- and with gadolinium, T2-weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery [FLAIR] and diffusion-weighted imaging [DWI] protocols).

Iatrogenic postoperative cerebellar cyst.

Cerebellar cyst is a known but uncommon entity. It is congenital in most cases, or may develop after brain parenchyma injuries or interventions. To our knowledge, de novo cerebellar cyst after extra-axial tumor excision, has not been described in the literature.