Aditya Gupta

Subarachnoid hemorrhage with blister aneurysms: Endovascular management

UNLABELLEDnBlister aneurysms of are rare lesions representing a real challenge for diagnosis and management. They typically show small size, hemispherical shape, fragile wall, broad neck, and are arising from non-branching sites of intracranial arteries.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnWe retrospectively reviewed all aneurysms treated at our institution. Seventeen patients (6 male, 11 female) with 17 blister aneurysms were identified (mean age 53.3, range 41-63 years). Clinical, procedural, angiographic data as well as follow up data were evaluated.nnnRESULTSnAll patients presented with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Majority of the blister aneurysms were located in ICA while 1 was located at posterior cerebral artery, 1 at vertebral and 1 involving basilar artery. All patients were treated using single or overlapping stents and if possible additional coiling. There was no intra-operative rupture. Good outcome (mrs 0-2) was seen in 14 patients. Poor clinical outcome (mrs 3-5) was seen in 2 patients due to vasospasm induced ischemic deficits at discharge, both of them improved on follow up (mrs 1 on follow up). There were 3 mortalities, One patient died of rebleeding while other 2 died due to SAH induced complications. Follow-up angiography was available in 16 patients (one patient died before follow up angiogram) and revealed complete or near complete aneurysm occlusion in 11, incomplete obliteration in 1 and no change in 2 cases. Two cases showed post-treatment angiographic aneurysm recurrence. Both cases were managed with repeat coiling and overlapping stent placement.nnnCONCLUSIONnEndovascular management using single/overlapping stent and if possible coil placement is technically safe and feasible in blister aneurysms. Overlapping stents lead to better aneurysm occlusion than a single stent. Blister aneurysm in dorso-medial ICA showed higher tendency of continued growth/recurrence, higher incidence of clinical vasospasm and in these cases early angiographic follow-up is advisable. Repeat treatment should be considered promptly if necessary.

Intramedullary melanocytoma of thoracic spine: A rare case report

Melanocytomas are present in leptomeninges and arise from neural crest during early embryonic development. They are a rare entity and usually occur in the thoracic spine and infratentorial region. We report a 32-year-old female with meningeal melanocytoma of D9-10. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intramedullary spinal tumor at D9-D10. Intraoperatively, the tumor was greyish-black in color with moderate vascularity, and was adherent to the cord. The clinical differential diagnoses included cavernoma and melanocytoma. On microscopic examination, the lesion showed sheets of cells with marked pigment deposition, which was obscuring the cellular morphology. The pigment was confirmed to be melanin by Masson′s Fontana stain. Immunohistochemistry was performed, which showed positivity for HMB-45, S-100, Vimentin and Melan-A. The cells were negative for cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, Glial fibrillary acidic protein and neuron-specific enolase. Mib-1 labeling index was less than 1%. In view of the lack of nuclear atypia, mitoses, necrosis and low Mib-1-labeling index along with immunohistochemistry profile, the diagnosis of Melanocytoma was made. Melanocytomas are rare pigmented tumors of the spinal cord and posterior cranial fossa. They are benign in nature, but can also be locally aggressive. Melanocytic lesions of the nervous system are to be differentiated from metastatic melanomas and also tumors showing melanin pigment deposition like schwanomma, paraganglioma, medulloblastoma and various gliomas.

Frame-based radiosurgery: Is it relevant in the era of IGRT?

PURPOSEnTo assess the setup errors and intrafraction motion in patients treated with frame-based and frameless stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnTen patients treated with frame-based and six patients treated with frameless radiosurgery were prospectively enrolled in the study. Leksell frame was used for frame-based and a customized uniframe orfit cast for frameless techniques. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were taken immediately before and after each treatment to evaluate the positional accuracy and corrections applied with the use of hexapod couch for both groups.nnnRESULTSnThe mean translational shifts with frame-based SRS were 1.00 ± 0.30 mm in the lateral direction (X), 0.20 ± 1.20 mm in craniocaudal direction (Y) and -0.10 ± 0.31 mm in the anteroposterior direction (Z). The rotational shifts for frame-based treatments were as follows: roll 0.32 ± 0.70, pitch 0.44 ± 0.66 and yaw 0.20 ± 0.4. For frameless SRS, translational shifts were -0.40 ± 0.90, 1.10 ± 1.10, and 0.50 ± 1.30 mm in X, Y, and Z directions, respectively, and rotational shifts were -0.11 ± 0.78, 0.20 ± 0.44, and 0.29 ± 0.35 in roll, pitch, and yaw, respectively. Intrafraction shifts with frame-based SRS were: X = 0.60 ± 1.80 mm, Y = 0.20 ± 0.60 mm, and Z = 0.00 ± 0.05 mm; and rotational shifts were: roll 0.01 ± 0.27, pitch 0.06 ± 0.15, and yaw 0.01 ± 0.09. For frameless SRS, these were: X = 0.11 ± 0.20 mm, Y = 0.20 ± 0.40 mm, and Z = 0.20 ± 0.20 mm and rotational shifts were: roll 0.09 ± 0.23, pitch 0.00 ± 0.12, and yaw 0.00 ± 0.09.nnnCONCLUSIONSnIn our experience, set up accuracy of frameless SRS is as good as frame-based SRS. With availability of verification methods such as CBCT and hexapod couch, an accurate and precise treatment delivery is feasible with frameless techniques.

A decade after International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial: Coiling as a first choice treatment in the management of intracranial aneurysms - Technical feasibility and early management outcomes

Purpose: The technique of coiling has evolved in the last decade with evolution in both equipment and material. The preferable treatment of intracranial aneurysms at our center is endovascular coiling. We discuss the technical and management outcomes of consecutive patients treated with this approach and compare our results with a decade old International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial. Materials and Methods: Between January 2006 and November 2011, a total of 324 aneurysms in 304 consecutive patients were treated. Endovascular treatment was done in 308 aneurysms (95.0%) in 288 patients while 16 patients (5%) underwent surgical clipping. Of the 308 aneurysms treated endovascularly, 269 (87.3%) were ruptured, and 39 (12.7%) were unruptured aneurysms. Results: The endovascular coiling was feasible in all (99.6%) but 1 case. The immediate postoperative occlusion status was complete occlusion in 240 aneurysms (77.9%), neck remnant in 57 aneurysms (18.5%), and aneurysm remnant in 11 aneurysms (3.6%). Technical issues - with or without clinical effect-were encountered in 20 patients (6.9%). They included 18 thromboembolic events (6.2%) and intraprocedural aneurysmal rupture in 2 cases (0.7%). In good grade patients, H and H grade 1-3, a good outcome (modified Rankin score [mRS] 0-2) was in 87.6% patients while the bad outcome (mRS 3-5) was in 10.2% patients and mortality of 2.2%. In bad grade patients, H and H grade 3-5, a good outcome was in 29.2%, and bad outcome was in 41.7% patients with mortality was 29.1%. In the unruptured aneurysm group, the good outcome was seen in 97.7% and bad outcome in 2.3% with no mortality. Conclusions: In the current era, the favorable results of coiling demonstrated in previous studies may be applicable to the larger proportion of patients. In our series of consecutively treated patients using latest advances, such as three-dimensional imaging and the interventional material, endovascular management as first choice was feasible in 95% of patients with good technical and management outcomes.

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis preceded by eclampsia: a rare association.

A 30‐year‐old lady from middle‐east attended our institute for drug resistant epilepsy. She was got married at the young age and became pregnant at 16 year of age. At around full‐term had a sudden surge in blood pressure followed by recurrent episodes of generalized seizures (eclampsia), which were controlled with the appropriate medications. One month post‐delivery she started having complex partial seizures (CPS). Seizure semiology included: An aura of fear and epigastric discomfort followed by behavioral arrest, oromandibular automatism along with ictal aphasia lasting for 1‐2 min which was classfical for CPS seen in MTLE.[2,3] She failed multiple anti‐epileptic drugs in appropriate doses and continued to have 4‐5 seizures per month and did not have a history of febrile seizures in childhood, meningitis or encephalitis. Birth history was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain showed left HS [Figure 1]. Video‐electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring suggest the left temporal epileptogenic zone [Figures 2 and 3]. With the diagnosis of left MTLE‐HS, the patient underwent the left anterior temporal lobectomy with amygdalo‐hippocampectomy. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of hippocampal sclerosis. She made a rapid post‐operative recovery and was discharged home on two anti‐epileptic drugs. She is seizure free for the last 1 year.

Tentorial dural arteriovenous fistula presenting as episodic weakness mimicking periodic paralysis

We report a rare case of episodic limb weakness caused by a tentorial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) draining into the perimesencephalic veins. A middle-aged man presented with episodes of transient quadriparesis preceded by recurrent vomiting. The patient was initially suspected of having periodic paralysis but, due to the presence of recurrent vomiting and brisk reflexes, MR imaging of the brain was performed which revealed marked T2 hyperintensity of the brainstem and cervical cord along with multiple prominent flow voids. Cerebral angiography showed a Borden type 3 DAVF at the left tentorial margin which was draining into the perimesencepahlic and perimedullary veins and refluxing into the cervical epidural veins. The patient made a remarkable recovery after surgical interruption of the fistula.