A proposed classification for assessing rupture risk in patients with intracranial arteriovenous malformations.

Background: Whether cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) should be treated remains an ongoing debate. Nevertheless, there is a need for predictive factors that assist in labelling lesions as low or high risk for future rupture. Our aim was to design a new classification that would consider hemodynamic and anatomic factors in the rapid assessment of rupture risk in patients with AVMs.

Comparative analysis of aneurysm volume by different methods based on angiography and computed tomography angiography.

Endovascular treatment and prognosis of intracranial aneurysms are based on size and volume, which demand more accurate neuroimaging techniques. Aneurysm volume calculation is important to choose endovascular treatment modalities and packing density calculation. Of all these methods, it remains unknown which one is the most accurate to calculate aneurysm volume.

[Melanocytoma and meningeal melanocytosis, similar but different lesions].

Background: Meningeal melanomatosis is an extra-axial well-encapsulated malignant tumour with diffuse meningeal growth and dark coloration (due to high melanin contents), while meningeal melanocytoma is the focalized benign variant. Melanocytic lesions may be secondary to melanoma or be histologically benign, however, their diffuse nature makes them impossible to cure. Melanocytosis is a diffuse tumour that can form solitary extra-axial tumours, which invades the parenchyma and presents signs of malignancy with increased mitosis and Ki67, observed in 1 to 6% of immunopathological exams.

Vertebral Stenting and Vertebroplasty Guided by an Angiographic 3D Rotational Unit.

Introduction. Use of interventional imaging systems in minimally invasion procedures such as kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty gives the advantage of high-resolution images, various zoom levels, different working angles, and intraprocedure image processing such as three-dimensional reconstructions to minimize complication rate. Due to the recent technological improvement of rotational angiographic units (RAU) with flat-panel detectors, the useful interventional features of CT have been combined with high-quality fluoroscopy into one single machine.

[Preoperative embolization with microspheres of giant supratentorial meningiomas: 5-year experience].

Background: Preoperative embolization of hypervascular tumours such as meningiomas has proven to be a favorable factor for resection of the latter because it diminishes intraoperative bleeding and the need for blood transfusions.

Objectives: Evaluation of surgical outcomes of preoperative embolization with microspheres of giant supratentorial meningiomas.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patient records from 2007 to 2012 with the diagnosis of giant supratentorial meningiomas (> 5 cm) (n= 27) and obtained two samples: those with preoperative embolization (n= 14) and patients without any properative embolization (n= 13).

High-grade astroblastoma in a child: Report of one case and review of literature.

Background: Astroblastoma is a rare glial neoplastic lesion that affects children and adolescents; its histogenesis remains uncertain. It is considered to account for 0.5% of all glial neoplasms, and two different subtypes have been defined based upon histologic characteristics.