• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.277-280
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• 2006

Objective : The aim of this study is to determine which patients with progressively deteriorating acute cerebellar infarction would benefit from surgical treatment and which surgical procedure would best benefit them. Methods : Seventy six patients were treated at our hospital for cerebellar infarction over the past 3 years. Sixty nine patients received conservative management in the neurological department of our hospital. Among them, 7 patients [5 males and 2 females; average age, 49 yrs] were referred to neurosurgical department because of mental deterioration and underwent emergency surgery. Five patients underwent external ventricular drainage with suboccipital craniectomy and two patients underwent suboccipital craniectomy alone. Results : Of the 7 surgically treated patients, 4 patients experienced good recovery and 2 patients experienced moderate disability [disabled but independent] and 1 patient experienced severe disability [conscious but disabled]. There was no death. Conclusion : In patients conservatively treated for cerebellar infarction and showing mental deterioration and radiologically evident brainstem compression and ventricular enlargement, we strongly recommend suboccipital craniectomy [plus optional external ventricular drainage in case of showing hydrocephalus] as a first treatment option.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.43-46
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• 2007

Hypoglossal neurilemmoma is extremely rare. Intracranial hypoglossal neurilemmoma has been reported to the present most commonly as a space-occupying lesion with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure. A 68-year-old women presented with deviation of the tongue to the left on protrusion. Preoperative radiological images revealed an extra-axial mass in and around the hypoglossal canal. The tumor was totally resected via retrosigmoid suboccipital approach with burrhole craniectomy. Histopathological examination verified a neurilemmoma. She had no neurologic abnormality except hypoglossal palsy which recovered completely in six months. Retrosigmoid suboccipital approach with burrhole craniectomy can be an useful approach in intracranial hypoglossal neurilemmoma without extracranial extension or with minimal extracranial extension into the hypoglossal canal.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.206-209
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• 2006

Objective : Traditionally, standard access to the posterior fossa was a suboccipital craniectomy. After introducing the technique and benefit of posterior fossa craniotomy, several surgeons have used this procedure to manage various pathologies in posterior fossa in children. Though this approach offers several advantages over conventional suboccipital craniectomy, the elevation of bone flap is not easy in adult because of the irregular contour of inner bone surface and tight adhesion of dura to the skull. The aim of this article is to describe the technical aspects of this approach and to delineate the important landmarks for a safe and quick performance in adult. Methods : We report on our series of twenty-five adult patients who underwent craniotomy for posterior fossa pathologies between 2002 and 2005. The maximal follow-up period was 4 years. Results : None of the patients complained of persistent headache and no CSF leaks have occurred postoperatively. We have encountered only two cases of transient subcutaneous CSF retention after craniotomy. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the CT scan confirmed the well-fitted suboccipital bone contour after craniotomy. And patients were satisfied with the cosmetic results. Conclusion : This method is safer and simpler. It restores normal anatomical planes and improves protection of the contents of the posterior fossa. The authors recommend craniotomy as an alternative method of access to the posterior fossa in all age groups.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제46권5호
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• pp.501-504
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• 2009

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) is rare but potentially lethal as a complication of spinal surgery. We recently experienced a case of RCH in a 61-year-old man who showed mental deterioration after lumbar spinal surgery. There was dural tearing with subsequent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) loss during the surgery. Brain computed tomography scan revealed cerebellar hemorrhage, 3rd and 4th ventricular hemorrhage and pneumocephalus. He underwent suboccipital craniectomy and hematoma removal. The most important pathomechanism leading to RCH after spinal surgery has been known to be venous bleeding due to caudal sagging of cerebellum by rapid leak of large amount of CSF which seems to be related with this case. Dural repair and minimizing CSF loss after intraoperative dural tearing would be helpful to prevent postoperative RCH.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제52권5호
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• pp.480-483
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• 2012

The authors present a case of isolated dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) in the transverse sinus, which developed six years after microvascular decompression caused by hemifacial spasm via suboccipital craniectomy. The lesion was successfully treated by transarterial embolization using Onyx. We reviewed the related radiologic and therapeutic features of DAVF involving an isolated sinus and described the feasibility of the use of Onyx.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제52권3호
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• pp.250-253
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• 2012

We report a rare case of cerebellar liponeurocytoma with an unusually aggressive histopathology. A 49-year-old man presented with a four-month history of headache, vertigo, and progressive swaying gait. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a $3{\times}3.5cm$ sized relatively well-demarcated round mass lesion in the fourth ventricle, characterized by high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Postcontrast images revealed strong enhancement of the solid portion and the cyst wall. The patient underwent suboccipital craniectomy and tumor removal. The pathologic diagnosis was cerebellar liponeurocytoma. Adjuvant radiotherapy was offered due to concerns related to the high proliferative index (Ki-67, 13.68%) of the tumor. At the last routine postoperative follow-up visit (12 months), the patient complained of no specific symptom and there was no evidence of tumor recurrence. However, longterm follow-up and the analysis of similar cases are necessary because of the low number of reports and the short follow-up of cases.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제56권6호
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• pp.513-516
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• 2014

We report a case of cervicomedullary compression by an anomalous vertebral artery treated using microsurgical decompression with intraoperative monitoring. A 68-year-old woman presented with posterior neck pain and gait disturbance. MRI revealed multiple abnormalities, including an anomalous vertebral artery that compressed the spinal cord at the cervicomedullary junction. Suboccipital craniectomy with C1 laminectomy was performed. The spinal cord was found to be compressed by the vertebral arteries, which were retracted dorsolaterally. At that time, the somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) changed. After release of the vertebral artery, the SSEP signal normalized instantly. The vertebral artery was then lifted gently and anchored to the dura. There was no other procedural complication. The patient's symptoms improved. This case demonstrates that intraoperative monitoring may be useful for preventing procedural complications during spinal cord microsurgical decompression.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제29권9호
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• pp.1238-1242
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• 2000

Spinal schwannomas are usually extramedullary intradural tumors and their intramedullary localizations are thought to be extremely rare. A 60-year-old woman complaining spastic quadriparesis, voiding difficulty and dyspnea was admitted. Her cervical MRI revealed an intramedullary mass in the cervicomedullary junction with multiple cyst which extended from lower cervical to C3 spinal cord. The mass showed a low signal on T1WI, high signal on T2WI with an wall enhancement. The patient underwent a suboccipital craniectomy and C1-2 laminectomy and the cystic tumor was totally removed through a midline myelotomy. The tumor was proved as an intramedullary schwannoma by pathologic examination. The Intramedullary presence of a tumor arising from the cells of the nerve sheath is unusual, because the central nervous system fibers do not contain the Schwann cell. There have been several hypotheses, but none has been accepted universally. This rare tumor is considered as a curable benign neoplasm, and an accurate intraoperative diagnosis and surgically total removal are essential.

• 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.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.103-106
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• 2010

Purpose: Giant cell tumors of the bone are rare, locally aggressive lesions that primarily affect the epiphysis of the long bones in young adults. These tumors occur very rarely on the skull, principally in the sphenoid and temporal bones. The occipital bone is an unusual site. We report a rare case of a giant cell tumor of the occipital bone with a review of the relevant literature. Methods: A 7-year-old boy presented with a mass of the right occipital area, which was accompanied by localized tenderness and mild swelling. The mass was first recognized approximately 1 year earlier and grew slowly. There was no significant history of trauma. The physical examination revealed a nonmobile and non-tender bony swelling on the occipital region. The neurological evaluation was normal. The serial skull radiography and CT scan showed focal osteolytic bone destruction with a bulged soft tissue mass in the right occipital bone. The patient underwent a suboccipital craniectomy and a complete resection of the epidural mass. The lesion was firm and cystic. The mass adhered firmly to the dura mater. Results: The postoperative clinical course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged 5 days later. The histopathology report revealed scattered multinucleated giant cells and mononuclear stromal cells at the tumor section, and the giant cells were distributed evenly in the specimen, indicating a giant cell tumor. Conclusion: Giant cell tumors are generally benign, locally aggressive lesions. In our case, the lesion was resected completely but a persistent long term follow up will be needed because of the high recurrence rate and the possible transformation to a malignancy.