Patient Outcomes After Minimally Invasive Excision of Lumbar Synovial Cysts, With and Without a Spondylolisthesis, in an Ambulatory Care Center Setting.

Background: Lumbar synovial cysts are thought to signal facet joint degeneration and possible instability, leading some surgeons to routinely add a fusion to the decompressive procedure. These recommendations were formulated before the minimally invasive surgery (MIS) era. Here we describe our outcomes in surgical treatment of lumbar synovial cysts using MIS techniques.

Safe Discharge of Patients From an Ambulatory Care Center After Incidental Durotomy During Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery.

Background: Incidental durotomy is a well-known complication of spinal surgery that may occur occasionally. Increasingly, minimally invasive techniques are being used for spinal decompressions in an ambulatory surgical center (ASC) setting. The management of this complication in an ASC setting has not been reported.

Positron emission tomography of pituitary macroadenomas: hormone production and effects of therapies.

Positron emission tomography with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) was carried out in 24 patients with pituitary macroadenomas (32 studies) to assess the glucose utilization of these tumors in vivo. The adenoma metabolic index, which is the ratio of FDG uptake of tumor to a whole brain slice, was calculated. Comparisons were made between tumor uptake of FDG and hormone secretion and response to therapies.

Role of iron and ferritin in MR imaging of the brain: a study in primates at different field strengths.

The authors measured in vivo signal intensity on magnetic resonance (MR) images and postmortem iron concentrations in the brains of three young and two old rhesus monkeys. T2-weighted MR imaging was done at 0.5, 1.

Positron emission tomography in the detection of malignant degeneration of low-grade gliomas.

The management of low-grade gliomas represents a challenge to the physician as a significant proportion may undergo malignant degeneration to a high-grade tumor. We present the positron emission tomography (PET) scans, using [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), of 12 patients who have histological and/or clinical evidence of malignant degeneration of a low-grade glioma. Each scan displays a focal area of hypermetabolism similar to that of malignant gliomas which arise de novo.

MR imaging of thoracic disk herniations.

Magnetic resonance (MR) is of value in imaging intervertebral disk disease. We present the MR findings in two patients with thoracic disk herniations who required surgical intervention. The advantages of MR over CT myelography are ease of obtaining sagittal sections, rapid assessment of the entire thoracic spine, and a high rate of patient acceptance related to the noninvasive nature of MR and lack of morbidity and complications.