Brain arteriovenous malformation diagnosis: value of time-resolved contrast-enhanced MR angiography at 3.0T compared to DSA.

Introduction: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the value of time-resolved contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (TR-CE-MRA) with a 3.0-T magnetic field compared to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the reference standard for the diagnosis of brain arteriovenous malformation (bAVM).

Methods: Nineteen patients with 19 angiographically confirmed untreated bAVM were investigated with both DSA and TR-CE-MRA for the initial diagnosis.

Brief report: coronary heart disease: an unknown association to pathological gambling.

Pathological gamblers (PG), because of their high level of stress, depression, and alcohol or nicotine consumption may be overexposed to coronary heart disease (CHD). To test this association, we assessed pathological gambling (DSM-IV-TR criteria and South Oaks Gambling Screen scale) among 73 patients hospitalized in cardiology for CHD and 61 in-patients from the same department hospitalized for a non-coronary disorder. We found six cases of PG (8.

Safety and efficacy of balloon remodeling technique during endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms: critical review of the literature.

The balloon remodeling technique was initially designed for the endovascular treatment of anatomically complex aneurysms, specifically wide-neck aneurysms. A nondetachable balloon is inflated in front of the aneurysm neck during coil deposition and removed at the end of the procedure. Some controversies regarding the safety of the technique were introduced by the recent publication of a series showing a much higher rate of complications with the remodeling technique compared with the standard coiling technique.

Posterior fossa volume increase after surgery for Chiari malformation Type I: a quantitative assessment using magnetic resonance imaging and correlations with the treatment response.

Object: The aim of this paper was to measure the posterior fossa (PF) volume increase resulting from a given-sized occipital craniectomy in Chiari malformation Type I surgery and to analyze its correlations with the PF size and the treatment response, with the perspective of tailoring the amount of bone removal to the patient-specific PF dimensions.

Methods: Between January 2005 and June 2006, 11 adult patients with symptomatic Chiari malformation Type I underwent a standardized PF decompression. A prospective evaluation with clinical examination, functional grading, and MR imaging measurement protocols was performed pre- and postoperatively.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound for non-union treatment: a 14-case series evaluation.

Introduction: Non-union is presently managed exclusively by surgery, but alternative treatments are under evaluation.

Objective: To assess the benefit of external ultrasound stimulation in surgically treated lowerlimb long-bone non-union.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective series of 14 patients were treated using the Exogen(®) ultrasound stimulator (Smith & Nephew Inc.

Double lumen remodelling balloon: a new technique for treatment of bifurcation aneurysms.

Bifurcation aneurysms (carotid bifurcation aneurysms, top of basilar artery aneurysms and middle cerebral artery aneurysms) are frequently treated by endovascular treatment (EVT) but their treatment is sometimes difficult singularly when the neck is wide. The "remodelling technique" is used for the treatment of these difficult aneurysms. However, the use of this technique is more complicated in bifurcation aneurysms compared to side-wall aneurysms.

Direct carotid-cavernous fistula following intracavernous carotid aneurysm treatment with a flow-diverter stent. A case report.

A 39-year-old woman presented with a right intra-cavernous carotid aneurysm measuring 1.76 cm×1.33 cm.

Congenital toxoplasmosis in France in 2007: first results from a national surveillance system.

When immunocompetent people become infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the disease is generally asymptomatic. However, transplacental transmission of T. gondii may lead to severe congenital infection including in utero abortion, foetal death, or neurological or ocular damage of the foetus.

Vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: recent advances in endovascular management.

Purpose Of Review: In a rapidly advancing specialty, it is essential to review the recent studies of alternative new treatments and present their efficacy, safety and outcome. We discuss the recent advances in the endovascular treatment of cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in the past few years with special focus on the literature regarding this subject in the last 18-24 months.

Recent Findings: The recent findings are as follows: effect of papaverine on brain oxygen; recent evaluation concerning nimodipine use; combined intraarterial and intravenous use of milrinone; illustration of the numerous recent studies on nicardipine; the safety and efficacy of high-dose intraarterial verapamil; outcome and adverse effects of intraarterial fasudil; transluminal balloon angioplasty; and recent evaluation of its efficacy and evaluation of its prophylactic use.

Similar safety in centers with low and high volumes of endovascular treatments for unruptured intracranial aneurysms: evaluation of the analysis of treatment by endovascular approach of nonruptured aneurysms study.

Background And Purpose: The outcome of treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysm by surgery or endovascular therapy appeared to be related to the volume of patients treated by the hospital. We performed an analysis in the ATENA series to determine whether the outcome of endovascular treatment was different in hospitals with low and high volumes of cases.

Materials And Methods: The ATENA series included 649 patients with 739 unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Immediate anatomic results after the endovascular treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms: analysis in the CLARITY series.

Background And Purpose: The efficacy of the endovascular treatment in providing stable occlusion of intracranial aneurysms is still controversial and should be precisely analyzed. A first step is to carefully study immediate anatomical results. CLARITY (Clinical and Anatomical Results in the Treatment of Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms) is a prospective multicenter consecutive series including patients treated by coiling for ruptured aneurysms.

Immediate anatomic results after the endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: analysis of the ATENA series.

Background And Purpose: A precise analysis of the immediate postoperative anatomic results in a large series of unruptured intracranial aneurysms treated by endovascular approach has not previously been presented. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms in light of immediate postoperative anatomic results in a prospective, multicenter study (the Analysis of Treatment by Endovascular Approach of Nonruptured Aneurysms study; ATENA).

Materials And Methods: Postoperative anatomic results from digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were evaluated with the Montreal scale by the treating physician and by 2 anonymous, independent, experienced neuroradiologists.

Incidence of basioccipital hypoplasia in Chiari malformation type I: comparative morphometric study of the posterior cranial fossa. Clinical article.

Object: The chronic tonsillar herniation defining Chiari malformation Type I (CMI) is thought to result from overcrowding of a normally developing hindbrain within a congenitally small posterior cranial fossa (PCF) due to occipital hypoplasia. The goals in the present study were to authenticate the cranioencephalic disproportion in a group of patients with CMI and to discuss new developmental aspects according to which part of the occipital bone was underdeveloped.

Methods: The authors retrospectively examined a group of 17 patients with CMI.

Hearing preservation and facial nerve function after microsurgery for intracanalicular vestibular schwannomas: comparison of middle fossa and retrosigmoid approaches.

Purpose: Therapeutic options for vestibular schwannomas (VS) include microsurgery, stereotactic radiosurgery and conservative management. Early treatment of intracanalicular vestibular schwannomas (IVS) may be advisable because their spontaneous course will show hearing loss in most cases. Advanced microsurgical techniques and continuous intraoperative monitoring of cranial nerves may allow hearing preservation (HP) without facial nerve damage.

The Valenti technique in the treatment of hallux rigidus.

Introduction: Metatarsophalangeal joint osteoarthritis of the great toe (hallux rigidus) is a frequent condition for which numerous surgical techniques have been proposed. The most used ones are cheilectomy and arthrodesis. The objectives of this retrospective study are to present the midterm results of the Valenti procedure and to compare these results with those from other recognized surgical techniques.

Transcranial resection of a large sinonasal juvenile psammomatoid ossifying fibroma.

Introduction: Juvenile psammomatoid ossifying fibroma (JPOF) is a benign but potentially locally aggressive fibroosseous lesion predominantly arising in the paranasal sinuses in children and young adults. Intracranial extension is rare but occurs sometimes. In such cases, tumor resection may often require the combination of neurosurgical and facial approaches.

Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy treatment of cavernous sinus meningiomas: a study of 100 cases.

Purpose: We discuss our experiences with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSR) in the treatment of cavernous sinus meningiomas.

Methods And Materials: From 1995 to 2006, we monitored 100 patients diagnosed with cavernous sinus meningiomas; 84 female and 16 male patients were included. The mean patient age was 56 years.

Intracranial teratomas in children: the role and timing of surgical removal.

Object: In this study, the authors report their experience with the surgical treatment of intracranial teratomas with an emphasis on the indications for delayed resection after oncological treatment.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the cases of 14 children with intracranial teratomas. The mean age at diagnosis was 10.

Microsurgical treatment of intracanalicular vestibular schwannomas.

Early treatment of intracanalicular vestibular schwannomas (IVSs) may be advisable because their spontaneous course will show hearing loss in most cases. Advanced microsurgical techniques and continuous intraoperative monitoring of cranial nerves may allow hearing preservation (HP) without facial nerve damage. However, there are still controversies about the definition of HP and the best surgical approach that should be used.

Intramedullary spinal cord cavernous angioma in children: case report and literature review.

Introduction: Intramedullary cavernous angiomas (ImCA) of the spinal cord are very uncommon malformations especially in the pediatric population where only ten cases have yet been reported within the available literature.

Case Report: In this paper, the authors report the case of a 12-year-old girl presenting with a T11 level hematomyelia because of a cavernous angioma. Microsurgical excision was performed with good clinical outcome and no magnetic resonance imaging evidence of residual cavernoma 30 months later.

Cell cycle and/or proliferation markers: what is the best method to discriminate cervical high-grade lesions?

The aim of this study on a series of biopsies diagnosed as normal, metaplastic, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) was dual: to determine the chronology of cell cycle and proliferation abnormalities after human papillomavirus infection during the development of squamous intraepithelial lesions and to determine the best diagnostic indicator(s) linked to the appearance of an HSIL. Ninety-nine cervical biopsies, 18 normal, 9 with metaplastic changes, 29 LSIL, and 43 HSIL (23 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 and 20 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3), were analyzed by image cytometry for DNA ploidy and p16INK4A determination, AgNOR counting, MIB-1, and ICBP90 immunostaining quantification. The human papillomavirus status had been previously determined on corresponding cytological smears with the Hybrid Capture II test.

Therapeutic management of broncholithiasis.

Broncholithiasis is characterized by calcified perihilar and mediastinal lymph nodes eroding into the tracheobronchial tree. We report herein 4 cases of symptomatic broncholithiasis managed by surgical resection in 2 cases and bronchoscopic removal in 2 cases. From our experience and from the literature review, bronchoscopic removal should be considered in cases of uncomplicated and loose broncholithiasis, whereas surgical management should be chosen first in complicated cases such as obstructive pneumonitis, bronchiectasis, massive hemoptysis, and bronchoesophageal fistulas.

Acardiac fetus in a triplet pregnancy: ultrasound pitfalls. A case report.

This communication aims at illustrating ultrasound diagnostic difficulties in early pregnancy with acardiac fetus. Our case concerns a spontaneously conceived triplet pregnancy. It was diagnosed as a twin pregnancy at 11 weeks of amenorrhea.

The vitamin D receptor FokI start codon polymorphism and bone mineral density in osteoporotic postmenopausal French women.

This study examined the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and a T/C polymorphism in the first of the two initiation codons in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene. The polymorphism was detected using the restriction enzyme FokI, the F allele indicating absence of the first codon and the f allele its presence. The FokI genotype was determined in 124 postmenopausal osteoporotic French women who were 45-90 years old.