• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1372-1376
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• 2000

The authors present two cases of lytic skull metastasis from thyroid carcinoma. The first case is a 62-year-old female who was diagnosed as thyroid cancer one year ago. She complained a mass over the right parietal area but showed no neurological abnormalities. The mass didn't invade the dura, and was completely removed. Histopathological examination revealed the insular thyroid carcinoma, composed of undifferenciated cells that were responded to thyroglobulin in immunohistochemical staining. The second case is a 75-year-old female who complained a mass over the right parietal and neck area without any neurological abnormality. The mass was confined to the epidural region which was associated with osteolytic change of skull. It was also completely removed. Histopathological examination of mass revealed the follicular thyroid carcinoma.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.131-135
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• 2000

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma, an idiopathic accumulation of blood in the vertebral epidural space without identifiable predisposing factors, is a rare condition. The diagnosis can be made from a careful history and neurological examination, but clinical diagnosis is often difficult because of its non-specific symptomatology and it can be confused with myocardial infarct, musculoskeletal pain, vasculitis and acute dissection of an aortic aneurysm. For a favourable outcome, early decompressive laminectomy and evacuation of hematoma are necessary. We report a 50-year-old female who presented with acute paraparesis and back pain on thoracic area. Diagnosis of spinal epidural hematoma which extended over $T_4-T_9$ was made by magnetic resonance imaging. We performed immediately decompressive laminectomy and evacuated the epidural hematoma. No cause for bleeding was evident. Postoperatively, neurological symptoms disappeared within six weeks.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.427-431
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• 2005

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the radiological charactersitics related to the formation of peritumoral edema in meningiomas. Methods: Fifty patients with meningioma were examined by magnetic resonance images and cerebral angiography. The predictive factors associated peritumoral edema, such as, tumor size, peritumoral rim (cerebrospinal fluid cleft), shape of tumor margin, signal intensity of tumor in T2WI, and pial blood supply were evaluated. Results: Tumor size, peritumoral rim and pial blood supply correlated with peritumoral edema on univariate analyses. But in multivariate analyses, pial blood supply was statistically significant as a factor for peritumoral edema in meningioma. Conclusion: In our results, pial blood supply is significant contributing factor for peritumoral edema in meningioma.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.213-216
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• 2005

Objective: We report six patients with traumatic intracerebellar hematomas between 1997 and 2003 at our hospitals. Methods: Each data about patients' clinicoradiologic findings, management, and outcomes, which were retrospectively reviewed. Results: All patients had skull fracture on occiput and five patients with large hematomas(three cm or greater) were operated on. In the results of surgery, three patients were good outcome but two patients were fatal due to compression of brain stem. One patient with small hematoma (1.5cm) was treated conservatively and recovered. Conclusion: In our cases, the clinical course and prognosis of traumatic intracerebellar hematoma were grave. The results of this study support that early diagnosis based on strict observation in patients with occipital fracture will lead to best results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.512-516
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• 2011

Objective : Patients with asymptomatic chronic subdural hematoma (SDH) are prone to fall or slip. Acute trauma on these patients may develop acute subdural bleeding over the chronic SDH. We recently experienced 9 patients with acute-on-chronic SDH. We report the clinical and radiological features of this lesion. Methods : We retrospectively examined the computed tomographic (CT) scans of 107 consecutive patients who diagnosed as chronic SDH from January 2008 to December 2010. All cases of CSDH were diagnosed on CT with or without MRI scan. Results : Acute-on-chronic SDH is not rare, being 8% of chronic SDH. The most common cause of trauma was a slip in drunken state. Alcoholism with multiple episodes of trauma was one of the prominent histories. Acute-on-chronic SDH appeared as a hyperdense layer of clot with irregular blurred margin or lumps in liquefied hematoma. Single or two burr holes was usually effective to remove the hematoma. Conclusion : Repeated trauma may cause acute bleeding over the chronic SDH. It will be helpful to understand the role of repeated trauma as a mechanism of hematoma enlargement.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.293-298
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• 2005

Objective : The authors investigate the spatial characteristics of apoptotic genes expressed around the focal cerebral infarction, and attempted to explain the penumbra with them. Methods : A delayed focal cerebral infarction was created in twelve adult Sprague-Dawley rats. We performed the immunohistochemical staining for the apoptosis, bcl-2 and p53 proteins and measured the local cerebral blood flow [CBF] at the infarction core area and peri-infarct area pre- and intra-operatively. The peri-infarct area was divided into six sectors by distance from the infarction border. Results : The size [$mm^2$] of apoptosis, bcl-2, and p53 areas were $3.1{\pm}1.2$, $4.7{\pm}2.1$, and $6.8{\pm}2.4$, respectively. Apoptosis, bcl-2 or p53 positive cells were concentrated at the peri-infarct area adjacent to the infarction core. Their numbers reduced peripherally, which was inversely proportional to the local CBF. The p53 area seems to overlap with and larger than the ischemic penumbra. Conclusion : The p53 positive area provides a substitutive method defining the penumbra under the molecular base of knowledge.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup1
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• pp.149-152
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• 2001

The authors report a case of an extremely rare extraosseous chordoma in the upper cervical spine of a 70-year-old woman, which occupied the intradural and extradural portions, simultaneously. She underwent the operation with C2,3 total laminectomy and grossly total removal and postoperative radiation therapy. Extraosseous chordoma was very rare in the literatures. In addition, it was the first reported case of the extraosseous chordoma occupeid the intradural and extradural portions, simultaneously. And extraosseous chordoma must be distinguished from ecchordosis physaliphora, which is benign nature, usually asymptomatic.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.463-471
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• 2001

Objective : The authors reviewed 51 patients of spinal cord tumor located at the craniovertebral junction and high cervical area to determine which factors influenced resectability, complications, and postoperative outcomes. Methods : Radiological examinations, clinical data, and operation notes were evaluated, and additional follow-up information was obtained from outpatient examinations. The mean follow-up period was 3.5 years Results : The most common neurological findings were motor deficit(72.5%) and sensory change(47.1%). There was no clinical finding that is considered as pathognomic. Meningioma(18 cases, 35.3%) was the most common tumor in this region. Total removal was achieved in 45 patients. There was no surgical mortality. Immediate postoperative motor weakness were encounted in 11 cases(21.6%) which improved in long term followup except two patients. Conclusions : The location and relationship of the tumor to surrounding struncture determine its resectability. Postoperative results were related to the preoperative neurological status and pathological findings.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2005

Objective: Spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage in children is not common and very different compared to adults. We analyze the etiology, hemorrhagic type, clinical features, and outcome of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage in children. Methods: Twenty-nine patients under 17years of age with nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage were analyzed retrospectively. Neonates were excepted. We reviewed their medical records in regard to their age, symptoms, radiologic findings, treatment, and prognosis. Results: Among 29 patients, there were 17boys and 12girls. The average age was 10.2years. The most common presenting symptom was mental deterioration, and the most common cause was arteriovenous malformation. Spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage in children showed a better prognosis than in adults. Conclusion: Spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage in children resulted mainly from vascular malformation and the prognosis is relatively good. More careful follow-up studies and active management are needed for better outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.424-427
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• 2010

Objective : Chronic subdural hematomas (CSDH) are more common on the left hemisphere than on the right. We verified this left predilection of CSDH and tried to explain the reason for this discrepancy. Methods : We investigated the laterality of CSDH in 182 patients who were treated from January 2005 to December 2009. We examined the symmetry of the cranium and the location of the lesion. Results : CSDH was more common on the left-side. The cranium was symmetric in 63 patients, asymmetric in 119 patients. The asymmetric crania were flat on the right-side in 77 patients, on the left-side in 42 patients. The density of the CSDHs was hypodense in 29 patients, isodense 132 patients, and the others in 21 patients. Bilateral hematomas were more common in the hypodense group. In the right flat crania, the hematoma was more commonly located on the opposite side of the flat side. While in the left flat crania, the hematoma was more common on the same side. Conclusion : CSDHs occurred more frequently on the left side. The anatomical asymmetry of the cranium influences the left predilection of CSDH.