Ilhan Elmaci

Spinal hydatid disease.

Study design: Review article on spinal involvement of hydatid disease.Objectives: A better understanding of this rare but clinically challenging disease is intended. An overview of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, presentation and diagnosis of spinal hydatid disease is provided. Management problems and frequent pitfalls are discussed as well as current therapeutic options, results and outcome.Methods: Thirty-seven reports of spinal hydatid disease published between 1964 and 2000 were reviewed.Results: Most of the reported cases of spinal hydatid disease presented with spinal cord compression syndrome. Due to the relative rarity of the problem the diagnosis was frequently made during surgery. Surgical intervention by decompressive laminectomy was the most frequent first management. Reports of anterior procedures as well as spinal stabilization exist. Intraoperative prophylaxis to reduce spillage as well as pharmacotherapy were usually instituted. Results of surgery were generally reported to be poor. Progressive neurological and mechanical deterioration over the years was the most frequently reported disease course. Anecdotal reports of alternative management strategies exist.Conclusion: Spinal hydatid disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord compression syndrome in endemic countries and sought after with imaging and serology. Treatment is based on surgical decompression. Despite therapy the disease frequently relapses with progressive destruction of the vertebral column and neurological deterioration. Retention of spinal stability is the major long term concern. Overall outcome is poor with few reports of disease-free long term survival.

Spinal solitary fibrous tumor: seventh reported case and review of the literature

We present the clinical, radiological, and pathological features of a solitary fibrous tumor in the spinal cord. This case is the seventh spinal solitary fibrous tumor in the literature. The tumor caused clinical symptoms in a 70-year-old female, which indicated compression of the spinal cord. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an intradural extramedullary mass at T3 vertebral level. Surgically, the tumor was firm, in an intradural extramedullary location and attached to the dura. Histologically, the tumor was composed of spindle cells in a collagen-rich matrix but exhibited regional variations. CD34 and vimentin were diffusely positive during immunohistochemical stain testing. The tumor displayed no positive staining for epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin, S-100 protein, smooth muscle actin or desmin. The Ki-67 labeling index was low. Solitary fibrous tumors have been found in a variety of locations suggesting that a solitary fibrous tumor has a mesenchymal origin. This rare tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal tumors.Spinal Cord (2001) 39, 57–60.

Effect of surgery on tumor progression and malignant degeneration in hemispheric diffuse low-grade astrocytomas.

The aim of this study is to determine the impact of surgery on tumor progression and malignant degeneration in hemispheric diffuse astrocytoma WHO grade II. Twenty-eight patients who were operated or underwent stereotactic biopsy for hemispheric diffuse astrocytoma WHO grade II at Marmara University between January 1987 and January 1996, were prospectively reviewed for the presence of recurrence and histopathological dedifferentiation at their fourth years after the initial treatment. Twenty-two patients underwent surgical resection. Of this group, 7 patients had a total, 11 had a subtotal and 4 patients had a partial resection. Six patients underwent stereotactic biopsy. All patients, except for the ones in whom a radiological total surgical removal could be achieved, received postoperative radiotherapy. In the total surgical-removal group only one patient had recurrence, while no upgrade was noted. All of the patients in the partial resection and stereotactic biopsy groups recurred at a higher grade. Our results indicate that both tumor progression and histopathological dedifferentiation were less commonly seen when a total or subtotal resection could be achieved. So, surgery, as radical as possible, should be the choice of treatment in low-grade hemispheric astrocytomas.

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor of the midbrain tectum : a case report

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) is a relatively new nosologic entity. First described in 1988, it is now included in the “neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumours” category in the revised 2000 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumours of the Nervous System. The collective experience of more than 3000 reported cases indicates that, with only rare exceptions, DNTs are cerebral cortical lesions. At present, the actual incidence of extracortical DNT is unknown. We describe, the clinicopathologic features of the first tectal DNT. The patient was a 51-year-old man with a 2-month history of pulsatile headaches. On neurologic examination, the only abnormality was gait ataxia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a midbrain tumor involving the tectum. It was hypointense on T1-weighted images and featured an iso-to hyperintense nodule at its center. The nodule showed enhancement upon contrast administration. No aqueductal obstruction or intraventricular extension of tumor was detected. The tumor was approached supratentorially and removed completely. The mucoid tumor was well demarcated from neural tissue. Histopathologically, it was a typical DNT, exhibiting a nodular pattern of growth with a “specific glioneuronal component”. This case report documents the first DNT to arise in the midbrain tectum and focuses on the problem of diagnosing this uncommon tumor at extracortical sites.

Utility of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis and follow-up of tuberculous meningitis-related vasculopathy.

HeadingAbstract Introduction. This prospective clinical study tested the hypothesis that transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) can be efficiently utilized in the diagnosis and management of tuberculous meningitis-related vasculopathy. Patients and methods. Twenty patients with tuberculous meningitis were assessed with serial TCD examinations. Blood flow velocity (Vm) and pulsatility index (PI) were measured, and findings were correlated with patient prognosis and with clinical and radiological findings. Results and conclusions. The TCD data allowed us to distinguish three phases of tuberculous meningitis-related vasculopathy. In phase I vasculopathy TCD reveals increased Vm and normal to moderately decreased PI. In patients in this phase reversible ischemic deficits are seen clinically and radiologically. Phase II is associated with decreased Vm and decreased PI. At this stage patients reveal radiological and clinical signs related to proximally evolving vasculopathy in the basal main arteries. Phase III is characterized by almost absent blood flow in one or more basal arteries and, accordingly, by associated brain tissue infarction and permanent severe neurological deficit or fatal outcome.

Immunohistochemical expression of SPARC is correlated with recurrence, survival and malignant potential in meningiomas

Meningioma is a common neoplasm that constitutes almost 30% of all primary central nervous system tumors and is associated with inconsistent clinical outcomes. The extracellular matrix proteins play a crucial role in meningioma cell biology and are important in tumor cell invasion and in progression to malignancy. SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) (osteonectin) is a matricellular glycoprotein that regulates cell function by interacting with different extracellular matrix proteins. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of SPARC with proliferation index, p53 reactivity in WHO grade 1 (benign), grade 2 (atypical) and grade 3 (anaplastic) meningiomas and correlate with clinical features of the patients, including location of the tumor, recurrence of the tumor and survival of patients. We studied 111 meningiomas, 69 being benign, 34 being atypical and eight being anaplastic meningiomas of various histological types. Using immunohistochemical analysis, we evaluated the expression of SPARC, Ki‐67 (MIB‐1) and p53 in meningiomas. Immunohistochemical scores of SPARC were determined as the sum of frequency (0–3) and intensity (0–3) of immunolabeling of the tumor cells. A high immunohistochemical score (4–6) for SPARC was more frequent in atypical and in anaplastic meningiomas than in benign meningiomas (p < 0.01). MIB‐1 proliferation index showed significant association between tumor grades in meningiomas (p < 0.01). At the end of a follow‐up period of 47.53 ± 25.04 months, 30 tumors recurred. A high SPARC expression was significantly associated with tumor recurrence (p = 0.02). The immunoreactivity of p53 protein and MIB‐1 score were significantly higher in recurrent meningiomas than in non‐recurrent meningiomas. The cumulative survival of patients with high SPARC expression was significantly lower than patients with low SPARC expression. The high SPARC expression scores were predominantly identified in meningothelial, fibrous and chordoid meningiomas; low SPARC expression scores were mostly spotted in secretory and psammomatous meningiomas. Evaluating SPARC expression might help assessing recurrence risk and survival estimation in meningiomas.

Infratentorial lateral supracerebellar approach for trochlear nerve schwannoma

Schwannomas of the trochlear nerve are very rare. Only 25 cases without associated neurofibromatosis were reported in the literature, only 15 of which were surgically verified. We report an unusual case of a 31-year-old man who presented with isolated unilateral trochlear nerve palsy due to a left sided trochlear nerve schwannoma. The tumor was totally resected without additional morbidity using an infratentorial lateral supracerebellar approach.

Correlation of pulsatility index with intracranial pressure in traumatic brain injury.

AIM In traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients, it is desired to monitor the intracranial pressure (ICP) to assess the cerebral haemodynamics and guide the therapy. The study was designed to see if the pulsatility index (PI) measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) predicts information about ICP values. MATERIAL AND METHODS In 52 TBI patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score < 9, invasive intracranial monitoring and TCD ultrasonography for PI were performed through five days. ICP, cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), PI values were recorded and calculated. The correlation and regression analysis between ICP, PI and CPP were investigated in the whole group and in patients with a Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) of 3-5. RESULTS The decline in ICP and PI values was significant through five days. The correlation between ICP and PI was strongly significant (p < 0.0001) on days 1, 3 and 5. In patients with a GOS of 3-5, correlation of ICP and PI was also observed. The only significant correlation observed between CPP and PI was on day 5. CONCLUSION The strong correlation observed between ICP and PI through the management period of TBI patients can lead us to use TCD ultrasonography-derived PI as a guide if invasive monitoring is not available.

The effect of polymorphisms in the promoter region of the MMP-1 gene on the occurrence and invasiveness of hypophyseal adenoma

BackgroundThe matrix metalloproteinase-1 enzyme (MMP-1, also called collagenase 1) plays a key role in turnover of collagen fibers in the intercellular matrix. Insertion of a guanine residue was found within the promoter region of the MMP-1 gene. We found that MMP-1 levels increased approximately twofold over normal when this insertion was present, enabling MMP-1 to facilitate tumor invasion and metastasis. MMP-1 is also believed to play a role in tumor development. The aim of our study is to investigate the effect of polymorphisms in the promoter region of the MMP-1 gene on the development of benign and invasive hypophyseal adenomas.Patients and methodsThirty patients with hypophyseal adenomas diagnosed by radiological examination underwent surgical removal, and the diagnosis was confirmed using immunohistochemical staining of the pathology specimens. We found that ten of these patients had invasive adenomas confirmed by radiological examination and immunohistochemical staining. DNA isolation was performed on all specimens, and 5-cc venous blood samples were obtained from all patients as well as 30 volunteers using the Qiagen QIAquick kit. Promoter regions of MMP-1 genes from the DNA samples were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and primers designed for the site-directed mutation method. Following PCR, a guanine residue within the promoter region of the MMP-1 gene was identified using the restriction fragment length polymorphism method and the ALU I restriction enzyme. Three genotypes were detected in a genotyping assay: 2G/2G, 1G/2G, and 1G/1G.ResultsOf the surgically treated patients, 36.6% had the 2G/2G genotype, 46.6% had the 1G/2G genotype, and 16.6% had the 1G/1G genotype. The 2G allele frequency was found to be 83.4%. In 90% of cases of invasive adenoma, a homozygous 2G/2G genotype was detected.DiscussionThe risk for development of hypophyseal adenoma may be greater in patients with the 2G allele. In cases of existing hypophyseal adenoma, those with the homozygous 2G allele tend to be invasive.

Giant pericallosal artery aneurysm: case report and review of the literature

Abstract  Pericallosal artery aneurysms comprise 5% of all intracranial saccular aneurysms and are usually small. Giant cerebral aneurysms mostly occur in major arteries. To date, 12 cases of giant pericallosal artery aneurysm have been reported in the literature. An unusual giant thrombosed pericallosal artery aneurysm is reported here. A 65-year-old female presented with headache and personality changes. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cerebral angiography revealed a right-sided giant thrombosed pericallosal artery aneurysm. The patient was operated via an anterior interhemispheric approach and the neck of the aneurysm was successfully clipped. The postoperative period was uneventful. This rare lesion is one of few cases presented in the literature in which neuroradiologic and neuropathologic evaluation was completely performed and the neck of the aneurysm was clipped.