Baran Yılmaz

Magnetically Controlled Growing Rod in Early-Onset Scoliosis: A Minimum of 2-Year Follow-Up

Purpose: The magnetically controlled growing rod technique decreases complications, costs, and loss of functionality by avoiding successive surgical corrections every 6 months in patients with early-onset scoliosis. However, only a few studies have presented clinical experience with the magnetically controlled growing rod. In this study we aimed to present our single-center experience in patients with early-onset scoliosis who underwent the magnetically controlled growing rod technique and follow-up for at least 2 years. Materials and Methods: We made an observational study by evaluating patients with early-onset scoliosis who underwent the magnetically controlled growing rod technique between February 2012 and December 2013. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from the patients charts. We included patients who were followed up for at least 2 years. Radiological data were obtained from plain anterior-posterior and lateral scoliosis X-rays. Results: Eight patients with early-onset scoliosis who underwent surgery using the magnetic system were treated with dual rods. None of the spines were fused to the sacrum. We observed no intra- and/or postsurgical complications. The average number of external rod lengthenings was 7.6. The average amount of lengthening was 30.6 mm on the right side and 27.8 mm on the left side by the time of last clinical follow-up. The average coronal and sagittal Cobb values at the final clinical evaluation were 10.5° (thoracic coronal), 13.75° (lumbar coronal), 6.25° (lumbosacral coronal), 24.5° (thoracic sagittal), and 40° (lumbar sagittal), respectively. Conclusions: The magnetically controlled growing rod is beneficial in early-onset scoliosis, since it enables spinal growth and decreases additional surgeries, complications, and costs. Even though we had a small sample size, our follow-up period was enough to declare long-term outcomes of our patients. Multicenter and large sample-sized studies are needed to make more conclusive statements regarding this promising scoliosis treatment approach.

Posterior epidural migration of lumbar disc fragment as an unusual ring-enhancing mass.

A 60-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of 2-month history of low back pain and difficulty in walking. Bladder and bowel functions were normal. The clinical history was unremarkable. On physical examination, both lower limbs showed muscular weakness with increased muscle tone, especially on the right side. Sensation was intact in all dermatomes, and reflexes were normal. Laboratory tests revealed normal findings. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a wellcircumscribed smoothly marginated solid mass within the posterior epidural space at L2–L3, which compressed the dura. Signal intensity of the mass was similar to that of the intervertebral disc on all sequences (Fig. 1). The lesion revealed an intense rim enhancement on fat-saturated contrastenhanced magnetic resonance images (Fig. 1). There was no calcification in the epidural mass lesion on computed tomography scan (Fig. 2). Decompressive L2 laminectomy was

A case of pituitary apoplexy following posterior lumbar fusion surgery.

Pituitary adenoma is a common primary brain neoplasm. Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a rare complication of pituitary adenoma and occurs as the result of sudden tumor growth and following different comorbidities. The authors describe the first case of PA following posterior lumbar fusion surgery performed while the patient was prone. In patients with a preexisting pituitary adenoma, thorough clinical and laboratory investigations should be conducted using an interdisciplinary approach before any planned surgery. In unknown cases of pituitary adenoma, PA should be kept in mind for the differential diagnosis in a case with headache, nausea, vomiting, ophthalmoplegia, visual loss, and electrolyte imbalance concurrent with an ongoing disease state.

Multiple hemorrhages in brain after spine surgery supra- and infra-tentorial components together.

Remote cerebellar hemorrhage after cranial and spinal surgeries is a well-documented entity, so far concomitant supra- and infra-tentorial hemorrhage after spine surgery has rarely been reported in the literature. A 57-year-old woman presented with intractable low back pain and severely impaired mobility. One year ago, she underwent lumbar laminectomy and fusion with posterior spinal instrumentation between L2 and S1. She developed adjacent segment disease at the upper level of the instrumented vertebra. She had a revision surgery and underwent posterior laminectomy and fusion with bilateral transpedicular instrumentation between T10 and S1. She had severe headache, somnolence, and left hemiparesia 48 h after the surgery. Her emergent head computed tomography depicted intra-parenchymal hemorrhage in the right parietal lobe accompanying with subarachnoid hemorrhage, bilateral symmetrical cerebellar hemorrhages and pneumocephalus. She was treated nonsurgically and she got better despite some residual deficits. Symptoms including constant headache, nausea, vomiting, impaired consciousness, new onset seizure, and focal neurological deficit after spine surgeries should raise suspicion for intracranial intra-parenchymal hemorrhage.

A Very Quickly Prepared, Colored Silicone Material for Injecting into Cerebral Vasculature for Anatomical Dissection: A Novel and Suitable Material for both Fresh and Non-Fresh Cadavers.

AIM Cadaveric studies have a great impact on neuroanatomy learning. Cadaver preparation may take a lot of effort, especially at the phase of intravascular color filling. The authors describe their silicone dye technique and a novel mixture which is self-curing, quick to prepare and easy to inject. MATERIAL AND METHODS The first one of these processes is undoubtedly embalming and decapitation of the cadaver. If possible, the most appropriate time that should be preferred is immediately after the donors death. Preparation for cadaveric dissection of the brain requires some fundamental steps that can be summarized into: a) Embalming and decapitation, b) Exposing, cannulization and irrigation of main vascular structures, c) Preparing colored silicone, d) Injection of colored silicone and staining the vascular tree, e) Sample maintenance RESULTS Our method of preparation of silicone dye and injection enables neurosurgeons and anatomists to fill cerebral and dural vascular structures, and even diploic veins nicely in both fresh and aged cadaveric heads. Moreover, the main vascular structures and their branches in the lateral and third ventricles are painted remarkably beautifully. CONCLUSION We tried to provide our experience about the preparation of head cadavers for anatomical dissection using a novel mixture of colored silicone that is very easy to prepare and inject with very satisfactory results.

Isolated metastasis of breast cancer to the pituitary gland

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Ossified-calcified intradural and extradural thoracic spinal meningioma with neural foraminal extension

A 26-year-old woman presented with progressive back pain and paraparesis. Thoracic spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intradural-extradural D9–D11 mass that extended to the enlarged left neural foramens. The tumor showed heterogeneous low signal on the T2and T1-weighted images, and intense enhancement on postcontrast images. The compressed spinal cord revealed T2-hyperintensity caused by myelopathy (Figs. 1–3). The plain computed tomography scan demonstrated a heavily ossified-calcified tumor (Fig. 4). Total tumor resection was performed, and the pathologic diagnosis was meningothelial meningioma WHO grade 1 with psammoma bodies. Ossified-calcified intradural and extradural thoracic spinal meningioma is extremely rare [1–3], and together with foraminal extension is yet to be reported. Awareness of the imaging findings of this rare presentation is essential to overcoming diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties.

Isolated third ventricle glioblastoma

AbstractIntroduction Glioblastoma is the most common and the most malignant type of gliomas. Cerebral hemispheres are usual locations for gliomas. Isolated third ventricular presentation is very rare for glioblastomas. A new case of isolated third ventricular glioblastoma has been presented in this report.Case descriptionA 36-year-old woman was admitted to outpatient clinic with headache, blurred vision and confusion. A head CT scan and MRI had showed third ventricular mass lesion with obstructive hydrocephalus. Previous to her admission to our clinic, a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt had been inserted and her hydrocephalus had been relieved to some extent in acute settings. In our clinic, stereotactic biopsy was performed and a second ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted from the opposite site. Histopathological diagnosis was glioblastoma. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy were started immediately after the surgery. Patient’s hydrocephalus has resolved and she was well at post-operative 6th month.Discussion and evaluationIn differential diagnosis list of the tumors presenting in the third ventricle, there are plenty of tumors such as colloid cyst, meningioma, germinoma, craniopharyngioma, lymphoma, choroid plexus papilloma, subependymal giant cell astrocytoma, chiasmatic and hypothalamic benign astrocytoma. Ring enhancement of this region pathology is a peculiar sign for glioblastoma, yet not pathognomonic. Tumor histology is crucial to yield the final diagnosis.ConclusionManagement of obstructive hydrocephalus, making histopathological diagnosis, starting adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy in isolated third ventricular glioblastomas is a safe and effective approach when we consider malignant nature and intractable progress of glioblastomas.

Familial occurrence of brain arteriovenous malformation: a novel ACVRL1 mutation detected by whole exome sequencing

OBJECTIVE Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can occur in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). However, brain AVM without HHT has also been reported. Using whole exome sequencing, the authors performed comprehensive genomic characterization of a 6-person Turkish family with 3 cases of brain AVM without HHT. METHODS Three siblings with brain AVM, one of whom also had spinal AVM, were evaluated. The parents and the fourth sibling had no AVM on cranial MRI. The authors performed a whole exome capture and Illumina sequencing on blood samples from 2 siblings with AVM. RESULTS An ACVRL1 heterozygous mutation (p.Lys332Glu) was identified in 2 patients via whole exome sequencing. Variant segregation was confirmed using direct Sanger sequencing. CONCLUSIONS Study results suggested that whole exome sequencing analysis is particularly useful in cases of locus heterogeneity and uncertain diagnostic classification schemes in patients with hereditary brain AVM.

Anatomy of the subthalamic nucleus, with correlation of deep brain stimulation [RETRACTED].

OBJECT The goal in this study was to examine the cadaveric anatomy of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and to analyze the implications of the findings for deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. METHODS Five formalin-fixed human cerebrums were dissected using the Klingler fiber dissection technique. Digital photographs of the dissections were fused to obtain an anaglyphic image. RESULTS The STN was located posteroinferior to the anterior corticospinal fibers, posterosuperior to the substantia nigra, and anteromedial to the red nucleus, lenticular fasciculus, and thalamic fasciculus. The subthalamic region is ventral to the thalamus, medial to the internal capsule, and lateral and caudal to the hypothalamus. The nuclei found within the subthalamic region include the STN. The relationship between the STN and surrounding structures, which are not delineated sharply, is described. CONCLUSIONS The fiber dissection technique supports the presence of the subthalamic region as an integrative network in humans and offers the potential to aid in understanding the impacts of DBS surgery of the STN in patients with Parkinson disease. Further research is needed to define the exact role of the STN in the integrative process.