• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.945-948
• /
• 2000

A sixty-three year old woman presented with sudden onset of dystonic twitching of the extremities and repeatedly downgrading of consciousness in the midnight. She had no history of medical illness in the past but had been suffered from fatigue recently before the onset of the attack. At admission she was neurologically free including neuro-ophthalmologic examination. MRI showed a high signal T1WI mass in the sella protruding into the suprasellar cistern. Hormonal study revealed low value of T3, T4, LH and FSH. Under the impression of pituitary apoplexy she underwent operation via transcranial route. When the protruding diaphragma sellae was opened, milkish pus spilled out. The thick capsule was biopsied and pus was sent for the study. The results of Gram staining and culture were both negative but pathologic report of the specimen was high infiltration of lymphocytes with few polymorphs.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.59 no.6
• /
• pp.643-646
• /
• 2016

Chordoid glioma of the third ventricle is a rare and challenging tumor to surgery because of its unique anatomical location and its close juxtaposition to the neurovascular structures and hypothalamus. The authors report a case of chordoid glioma of the third ventricle in a 43-year-old woman, who presented with headache and somnolence. The tumor was approached by endoscopic transnasal technique with a favorable result. Histopathologic examination disclosed a neoplastic tissue composed of eosinophilic epithelioid cells, mucinous, periodic acid Schiff-diastase positive, extracellular matrix, and scattered lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates. The best treatment option remains controversial. Customarily, the surgical route to remove chordoid glioma is transcranial; however, the undersurface of the optic chiasm and optic nerves preclude an adequate surgical visualization. In contrast, an expanded endoscopic transnasal approach provides a direct midline corridor to this region without any brain retraction.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.6-10
• /
• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the surgical outcomes of bifrontal interhemispheric[BIH] approach and compare them to those of the pterional approach for the treatment of craniopharyngioma. Methods : Seventeen patients had their first operation for the resection of craniopharyngiomas between 2000 and 2004 at our medical center. Eleven patients who had the pterional approach and 6 with the BIH approach were enrolled. The age range at the time of surgery was 5 to 80 years [mean age 35.6 years old]. The presenting symptoms were visual disturbance increased intracranial pressure in 5 patients. Results : The tumors were totally removed in 3 [27 %] and subtotally in 8 [73 %] patients with the pterional approach. Total tumor removal was achieved in 5 out of 6 [83%] patients by the BIH approach, except improved in 4 [36 %] patients treated with the pterional approach and in all patients treated by the BIH approach. Conclusion : The BIH approach for craniopharyngioma surgery may be an effective and safe approach for tumors that extend outside of the sellar-suprasellar region with acceptable outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.125-129
• /
• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to identify any differential point in computerized tomographic[CT] findings between aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage[ASAH] and traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage[TSAH], which sometimes make us not confident in differentiation. Methods : CT of 142 ASAH and 82 TSAH patients over the last 2 years were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the thickness of SAH, the laterality of sylvian cisternal hemorrhage, the location, the number of involved cisterns, and the associated other lesions between two types of SAH. Results : Suprasellar cisterns and sylvian cisterns were most prominently and frequently involved cisterns in ASAH but cortical sulci and sylvian cisterns were most frequently involved in TSAH. Intraventricular and intracerebral hemorrhage were frequently seen in ASAH. Thickness of SAH over 1mm, bilateral sylvian SAH, multiple cisternal SAH were in favor of ASAH. The number of involved cisterns were more frequently seen in ASAH than in TSAH. In ASAH, bilateral sylvian hemorrhages were more frequently seen than in TSAH. Skull fracture, subdural hematoma, subgaleal hematoma, and hemorrhagic contusion were frequently associated with TSAH. Conclusion : As a result of our study, the authors conclude that when IVH, hydrocephalus, thick SAH > 1mm bilateral sylvian SAH, and multiple cisternal SAH are seen in CT, immediate angiography should be performed to rule out cerebral aneurysms whether associated with other traumatic lesions or not.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.10
• /
• pp.1220-1223
• /
• 2001

Authors experienced a unique case of craniopharyngioma which had evolved rapidly after 4 years of total resection for supratentorial meningioma. A 58-year-old woman presented with headache and visual deterioration. Previously, she had undertaken surgical removal of frontal convexity meningioma 4 years ago and had been well without any postoperative sequelae thereafter. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a newly developed suprasellar mass. Pertinent operative procedure was performed and histological verification was made as an adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. She has been showing unremarkable clinical course up to date. Possible pathogenic mechanisms of de novo development of craniopharyngioma are disscussed with review of case.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.16-19
• /
• 2005

Objective: This study is designed to evaluate the clinical outcome, the safety and the effectiveness of the open sella methods(OSM) with intentionally staged transsphenoidal approach(TSA) for giant pituitary adenomas(GPA). Methods: Eight patients with GPA were managed by the OSM with intentionally staged TSA. There were 5 nonfunctioning adenomas, 2 prolactin-secreting adenomas, and 1 growth hormone-secreting adenoma. Among them, 6 patients underwent two times of TSA, one patient underwent three times of TSA, and the other patient underwent two times of TSA followed by radiation therapy. The mean time interval between staged operations was 3.9 months except for one case. Results: Seven out of the eight patients with GPA treated with the OSM with intentionally staged TSA showed that the tumors were completely removed on magnetic resonance imaging and that they were free from headache and visual problem suffered previously. Only one patient experienced severe complications including panhypo-pituitarism, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and permanent diabetes insipidus. Conclusion: With the surgical treatment for 8 cases of GPA, which extended to the suprasellar and parasellar area, we suggest that the OSM with intentionally staged TSA is a safe and effective method in management for GPA.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.60 no.3
• /
• pp.327-334
• /
• 2017

To review recent advances in endoscopic techniques for treating intraventricular lesions via transcortical passage. Articles in PubMed published since 2000 were searched using the keywords 'endoscopy,' 'endoscopic,' and 'neuroendoscopic.' Of these articles, those describing intraventricular lesions were reviewed. Suprasellar arachnoid cysts (SACs) can be treated with ventriculo-cystostomy (VC) or ventriculo-cysto-cisternostomy (VCC). VCC showed better results compared to VC. Procedure type, fenestration size, stent placement, and aqueductal patency may affect SAC prognosis. Colloid cysts can be managed using a transforaminal approach (TA) or a transforaminal-transchoroidal approach (TTA). However, TTA may result in better exposure compared to TA. Intraventricular cysticercosis can be cured with an endoscopic procedure alone, but if pericystic inflammation and/or ependymal reaction are seen, third ventriculostomy may be recommended. Tumor biopsies have yielded successful diagnosis rates of up to 100%, but tumor location, total specimen size, endoscope type, and vigorous coagulation on the tumor surface may affect diagnostic accuracy. An ideal indication for tumor excision is a small tumor with friable consistency and little vascularity. Tumor size, composition, and vascularity may influence a complete resection. SACs and intraventricular cysticercosis can be treated successfully using endoscopic procedures. Endoscopic procedures may represent an alternative to surgical options for colloid cyst removal. Solid tumors can be safely biopsied using endoscopic techniques, but endoscopy for tumor resection still results in considerable challenges.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.sup2
• /
• pp.340-343
• /
• 2001

Arachnoid cysts are defined as duplicated arachnoids and their splitting with congenital, intra-arachnoid, and leptomeningeal malformations. They are most commonly located in the middle cranial fossa followed by suprasellar and quadrigeminal cisterns, posterior fossa, and very rare in cerebral convexities. They are often ruptured by trauma or spontaneously and cause subdural hygroma or subdural hematoma. Authors report a case of a 32-year-old woman with a convexity arachnoid cyst mimicking subdural hygroma associated with a separate middle fossa arachnoid cyst. Preoperatively, the convexity arachnoid cyst was misinterpreted as subdural hygroma resulted from a ruptured middle fossa cyst. The patient underwent craniotomy and cyst fenestration into the basal cistern. Two separate arachnoid cysts were found in the cerebral convexity and middle cranial fossa during the operation. Finally, cysts were resolved and she was discharged without any complication.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.652-656
• /
• 2001

Uveal melanoma is uncommon but life-threatening intraocular malignancy and has been treated by irradiation, local excision and enucleation. Gamma-Knife radiosurgery allows a high dose of radiation to be delivered to an intracranial target with a very high spatial accuracy and has been used for the treatment of ocular melanomas. We have treated two cases of uveal melanoma between October 1994 and December 1999. They include one man and one woman(34, 62 years, respectively). They were followed up for 12 momths. Mean maximal dose was 65Gy. In one case, the tumor disappeared 7 months after gamma-knife radiosurgery. In another case, multiple tumors (uveal, suprasellar and cerebellar tumor) had decreased in size. These results show that single and high dose gamma-knife radiosurgery is may be an option in the local control of uveal melanoma which can spare the eyeball and vision.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.12
• /
• pp.1381-1387
• /
• 2001

Objective : Endodermal sinus tumor or yolk sac tumor is an uncommon malignant germ-cell neoplasm. This tumor was originally described as a germ cell tumor of the ovary or the testis. Intracranial endodermal sinus tumor is extremely rare and usually develop in the pineal or suprasellar regions. The authors evaluated the effect of adjuvant therapy(chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy) and radical removal of intracranial endodermal sinus tumors. Material and Methods : Between 1996 and 2001, four patients of intracranial endodermal sinus tumor were diagnosed with tumor marker(AFP) and biopsy. Three patients were treated with surgical removal and chemotherapy with cisplatin($20mg/m^2$), etoposide($100mg/m^2$) and bleomycin($15mg/m^2$) as well as external beam radiation therapy. We compared the management problems for these tumors. Result : In all three patients the tumor size and the level of tumor marker decresed during initial adjuvant therapy. However, Tumors showed regrowth with elevated AFP of serum and CSF possibly related to delayed chemotherapeutic treatment or inadequate administration of chemotherapeutic drugs due to severe bone marrow suppression. An additional chemotherapy and external radiation therapy were given, but tumors could not be controlled with leptomeningeal seeding. Conclusion : Radiotherapy is considered to be less effective. The combination chemotherapy with PVB(cisplatin, vinblastine, bleomycine) or PE(cisplatin, etoposide) is considered to be value in prolongation of the survival rate. But the role of chemotherapy in this tumor has not yet been clarified due to bone marrow suppression and drug resistance. Further study with large series of this tumor is necessary to establish the optimal management.