• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.381-385
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• 2009

The first case of intracranial metastases of a cervical intramedullary low-grade astrocytoma without malignant transformation in adult is presented in this report. Seven years ago, a 45 year-old male patient underwent biopsy to confirm pathologic characteristics and received craniocervical radiation and chemotherapy for a grade II astrocytoma in the cervical spinal cord. Two years later, posterior fusion was necessary for progressive kyphosis in the cervical spine. He was well for approximately 7 years after the primary surgery. Two months ago, he presented with partial weakness and incoordination with gait difficulty. MRI Scan demonstrated multiple small lesions in the cerebellar vermis and left hemisphere. After suboccipital craniectomy and posterior cervical exposure, the small masses in the cerebellar vermis and hemispheres were excised to a large extent by guidance of an intraoperative navigation system. The tumor at the cervical and brain lesions was classified as an astrocytoma (WHO grade II). When a patient with low-grade astrocytoma in the spinal cord has new cranial symptoms after surgery, radiaton, and chemotherapy, the possibility of its metastasis should be suspected because it can spread to the intracranial cavity even without malignant transformation as shown in this case.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제29권7호
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• pp.904-909
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• 2000

Objectives : Most cases of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL) present with myelopathy or myeloradiculopathy, which sometimes is further complicated by minor trauma to the spinal cord. The main purpose of surgery in these patients is the alleviation symptoms but also as protection against further deterioration. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of trauma on the surgical outcome in patients with cervical OPLL. Methods : Over the past 13 years, we have operated on 123 patients with myelopathy associated with cevical OPLL. Among these, thirty patients had cervical cord injury associated with major or minor trauma and their clinical and radiographic data were reviewed retrosepctively. Results : As to cause of trauma, seventeen were related with traffic accident and 13 were related with minor slipping injury. The pre- and post-operative motor power were significantly weaker in the patients with trauma, but the degree of motor improvement was significantly higher(trauma group : $0.90{\pm}1.49$, non-trauma group : $0.41{\pm}0.80$). Conclusion : These results indicate that even indirect minor trauma to the cervical spine can cause irreversible changes to the spinal cord if this is associated with underlying cervical stenosis with OPLL. Although less favorable results may be anticipated in patients with trauma, operative decompression could improve motor power and protect further deterioration.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제39권5호
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• pp.340-346
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• 2006

Objective : The lack of anatomical knowledge for the anterior cervical microforaminotomy is liable to injure the neurovascular structures. The surgical anatomy is examined with special attention to the ventral aspect exposed in anterior cervical microforaminotomy. Methods : In 16adult formalin fixed cadaveric cervical spine, the author measured the distances from the medical margin of the longus colli to the medical wall of the ipsilateral vertebral artery and the angle for the ipsilateral vertebral artery. The distances from the lateral margin of the posterior longitudinal ligament to the medial margin of the ipsilateral medial wall of the vertebral artery, to the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglion was measured too. Results : The distance from the medial margin of the longus colli to the ipsilateral vertebral artery was $13.3{\sim}14.7mm$ and the angle for the ipsilateral vertebral artery was $41{\sim}42.5\;degrees$. The range of distance from the lateral margin of the posterior longitudinal ligament to the ipsilateral vertebral artery was $11.9{\sim}16.1mm$, to the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglion was $11.6{\sim}12.9mm$. Conclusion : These data will aid in reducing neurovascular injury during anterior cervical approaches.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제62권6호
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• pp.671-680
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• 2019

Objective : We introduce innovative method of cervical column reconstruction and performed the reconstruction with a flanged titanium mesh cage (TMC) instead of a plate after anterior corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and an ossified posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Methods : Fifty patients with CSM or OPLL who underwent anterior cervical reconstruction with a flanged TMC were investigated retrospectively. Odom's criteria were used to assess the clinical outcomes. The radiographic evaluation included TMC subsidence, fusion status, and interbody height. Thirty-eight patients underwent single-level and 12 patients underwent two-level corpectomy with a mean follow-up period of 16.8 months. Results : In all, 19 patients (38%) had excellent outcomes and 25 patients (50%) had good outcomes. Two patients (4%) in whom C5 palsy occurred were categorized as poor. The fusion rate at the last follow-up was 98%, and the severe subsidence rate was 34%. No differences in subsidence were observed among Odom's criteria or between the single-level and two-level corpectomy groups. Conclusion : The satisfactory outcomes in this study indicate that the flanged TMC is an effective graft for cervical reconstruction.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.154-160
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• 2009

Purpose: This study aimed to determine new criteria for detecting independent factors with high sensitivity in cases of cervical spine injury. We compared the sensitivity, the specificity, and the false negative predictive value (NPV) of plain radiographs with those of computed tomography for cervical spine injury in patients with minor head injury. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 357 patients who underwent both cervical plain radiographs and computer tomography from January 2006, to September 2008. Patients were divided into two groups: the cervical spine injury group and the no cervical spine injury group. New criteria were organized based on variables that had significant differences in the logistic regression test. Results: Among the 357 patients, 78 patients had cervical spine injuries. The average age was $43.9{\pm}15.2$ yrs old, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.90. The most common mechanism of injury was motor vehicle accidents. There was a significant difference in loss of consciousness, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)=14, neurologic deficit, posterior neck tenderness, and abnormality of the cervical plain radiographs between the two groups on the logistic regression test. New criteria included the above five variables. If a patient has at least variable, the area under the ROC curve of the new criteria was 0.850, and the sensitivity and the false NPV were 87.2% and 5.2%, respectively. Conclusion: New criteria included loss of consciousness, GCS=14, neurologic deficit, posterior neck tenderness, and abnormality of the cervical plain radiographs. If the patient had at least 1 variable, he or she could have a of cervical spine injury with a sensitivity of 87.2% and a false NPV of 5.2%.

• 대한기관식도과학회지
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.7-13
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• 1999

Background and Objective： The tuberculous lymphadenitis of neck is one of the most common extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in Korea. Although the incidence of pulmonary tuberculo-sis has decreased recently, that of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis has not decreased. In spite of great efforts and diversity of study, the exact criterias of diagnosis and optimal therapeutic methods of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis have been the subject of much debate and still remain unclear. So we intend to enucleate clinical manifestations and suggest the optimal therapeutic manners. Material : The 483 cases, diagnosed as cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis by fine needle aspiration biopsy during the past 10 years from Jan. 1987 to Dec. 1996 Method : Retrospective study Results 1) The overall rate of tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis was 23.4% of neck mass. 2) Incidence ratio of male to female was 1：2.7 3) The frequent location of tuberculous lymphadenitis was posterior cervical area, supraclavicular area, jugular chain in order. 4) The response rate of medical treatment in tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis was 84.9%. 5) The duration of medical treatment in remissioned group was 18.6 months in average. 6) Surgical intervention was needed in 15.1%. 7) The duration of post operative medical treatment was 18.4 months in average. Conclusion : Tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis is prevalent in women, age of 20-40 years and mainly involve posterior cervical area. Fine needle aspiration biopsy is a very useful method for early detection of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis. After diagnosis is made, anti-tuberculosis medication is recommended for more than 18 months. Unless the size of neck mass is decreases inspite of the thorough anti-tuberculosis medication for more than 1 month or if complication like as abscess or fistula occurs, surgery is needed with post operative medical treatment for more than 12 months.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.140-145
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• 2002

Neurologic sequelae of tuberculous meningitis include hemiparesis, paraparesis, quadriparesis, aphasia, developmental delay, dementia, blindness, visual field defect, deafness, cranial nerve palsies, epilepsy, and hypothalamic and pituitary dysfunction. But cervical epidural abscess and cervical spondylitis are rare. A 64-year-old woman who was diagnosed as tuberculous meningitis presented a severe neck pain and stiffness after 3 weeks of anti-tuberculous medication. Electromyography and cervical X-ray showed a cervical spondylosis with polyradiculopathy. But cervical MRI showed an acute cervical epidural abscess and mild cervical spondylitis. After continuous anti-tuberculous medication with supportive care, she showed a slow clinical improvement. But about 1 month of anti-tuberculous therapy, she presented a more aggravation of neck pain, neck stiffness, radicular pain, and neck motion limitation. Follow-up cervical MRI showed an more advanced cervical spondylitis. Afterthen she has recovered slowly by cervical laminectomy with posterior stabilization and continuous anti-tuberculous medication.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제57권2호
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• pp.135-139
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• 2015

Spinal neurenteric cysts are uncommon congenital lesions, furthermore solitary neurenteric cysts of the upper cervical spine are very rare. A 15-year-old boy having an intraspinal neurenteric cyst located at cervical spine presented with symptoms of neck pain and both shoulders pain for 2 months. Cervical spine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging demonstrated an intradural extramedullary cystic mass at the C1-3 level without enhancement after gadolinium injection. There was no associated malformation on the MR imaging, computed tomography, and radiography. Hemilaminectomy at the C1-3 levels was performed and the lesion was completely removed through a posterior approach. Histological examination showed the cystic wall lined with ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium containing mucinous contents. Neurenteric cyst should be considered in the diagnosis of spinal solitary cystic mass.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.139-142
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• 2011

Vertebral involvement of fibrous dysplasia (FD) is rare, especially in the cervical spine. Moreover, cervical FD presenting as a pathologic fracture in older patients is extremely rare. We report a case of symptomatic cervical FD associated with pathologic fracture in a 63-year-old man. The patient presented with progressive weakness of the left arm and pain in the shoulder and arm. Radiologic studies revealed a collapsed and typical 'ground glass' radiolucency of C4. Multiple lytic lesions involved the odontoid process of C2 and the body, left pedicle, and posterior elements of C4. Combined anterior and posterior decompression and reconstruction were performed. Post-operatively, the histopathologic examination confirmed FD. On the post-operative follow-up examination, the neurologic deficits had completely resolved.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.218-221
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• 2011

The anterior approach to the cervical spine surgery is associated with possible complications such as dysphagia, hoarseness and granuloma formation etc. Because of orthopedic metallic plates, the increasing or focal uptake pattern may be demonstrated in $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT scan. A 67-year-old-man came to our department, complained of dysphagia during the 4 months. He underwent cervical spine surgery three years ago. The CT and MRI findings mimicked typical posterior pharyngeal wall cancer with cervical metastasis. Furthermore, the SUV in $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT was 10.3. But he was finally diagnosed as a granuloma resulting from the metallic cervical implants. The clinical correlation and medical history should be taken into account to avoid false-positive findings in PET/CT and to avoid many erroneous diagnostic pathways.