Jean Brihaye

Management and surgical outcome of suprasellar meningiomas.

The authors analyse 22 cases of suprasellar meningiomas, drawing attention to factors influencing on the surgical outcome. In all but one case, symptomatology began with progressive visual failure in one eye. Bilateral anosmia was noted in 4 patients with large tumour. Mental disorders were conspicuous in 5 cases and 3 patients suffered from epilepsy. Headache was severe in 5 cases. Endrocrinological disorders were observed in 3 patients. The sella turcica was of normal shape in all cases. Marked hyperostosis of the planum or tuberculum existed in 7 cases. The tumour was heavy-calcified in 2 cases. CT scanning showed everytime a marked enhancement of the tumour and in 4 cases, a large hypodense area surrounded the tumour. The patients were operated on through a bifrontal approach or a unilateral frontal flap. A partial anterior frontal lobectomy was regularly performed on one side. While the tumour is piecemeal exacavated, the dural attachment at the base is reached as quickly as possible. Complications consisted in rhinorrhea of CSF in 2 cases, once in a transitory diabetes insipidus and in a secondary hydrocephalus. Post-operative mortality remains high. Among the eleven cases of large tumours, a direct postoperative death occurred, due to a severe arterial bleeding. Two other patients died 4 and 6 weeks respectively after operation. An other patient died 8 years after operation, from meningitis. Among the 5 cases of medium-sized tumours, one post-operative death occurred in a young female, 30 of age, following urinary infection by Klebsiella, complicated by toxicemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Occlusion of the basilar artery in young patients

SummaryReport of two new cases of occlusion of the basilar artery in young patients, one of which was verified by post-mortem examination to be caused by a dissecting aneurysm; the other patient is still alive three months after the onset.

Pseudo-tumoural aneurysm in the third ventricle: Report of three cases

Summary3 cases of giant sacciform aneurysm developed in the third ventricle are reported. They were observed in patients over 50 years. Clinical symptomatology evoked a tumor rather than a vascular malformation. Diagnosis can be difficult even with angiography and CTscan performed conjointly when the giant aneurysm is completely thrombosed. The size of the lesion is not a matter of age since 10% at least of these giant aneurysms are observed in children. They are mainly seen along the large arteries at the neck or at the base of the brain; the high focal pressure of the blood flow at these levels can perhaps play a role in the usual site of these lesions. Surgical treatment remains a challenge when the aneurysm is burrowed deep into the third ventricle and when being thrombosed, it is mainly symptomatic by its mass.

Spasm of the ophthalmic artery in a case of posttraumatic amaurosis

SummaryAn extensive and segmental spasm of the ophthalmic artery has been demonstrated angiographically a few hours after a car accident in a case with posttraumatic amaurosis. The possibility of a correlation between ophthalmic artery spasm and posttraumatic amaurosis has been discussed.

Report of the Executive Committee meeting of the EANS Paris — 19 July 1979

B. Pertuiset, France, President; B. Guidetti, Italy, Vice-President; A. Konovalov, USSR, Vice-President; E. P~sztor, Hungary, Vice-President; K. Schfirmann, Federal Republic of Germany, Vice-President; L. Symon, United Kingdom, Vice-President; J. Brihaye, Belgium, Secretary; J. Overgaard, Denmark, Assistant Secretary; F. Walder, The Netherlands, Treasurer; A. Landolt, Switzerland, Assistant-Treasurer; R. Johnson, U.K., Past-President; J. Bonnal, Belgium; Ch. Plets, Belgium; H. B. Griffith, U.K.; P. Clarke, U.K., Assistant Editor; L. Karaguiosov, Bulgaria; Z. Kunc, Czechoslovakia; P. N~Idvorn;k, Czechoslovakia; W. Usbeck, German Democratic Republic; W. Grote, Federal Republic of Germany; H. Pia, Federal Republic of Germany; J. Philippon, France; J. P. Chodkiewicz, France; F. Cohadon, France; St. Comninos, Greece; G. Foroglou, Greece; F. T. Merei, Hungary; M. Shalit, Israel; G. F. Rossi, Italy; A. Bricolo, Italy; A. de Vasconcellos Marques, Portugal; J. G. Martin Rodriguez, Spain; T. A. Lie, The Netherlands; R. Braakman, The Netherlands; W. Koos, Austria; J. Glowacki, Poland; J. Lebkowski, Poland; St. Lindgren, Scandinavia; J. Erdner, Scandinavia; H. Markwalder, Switzerland; A. Levy, Switzerland; N. Avman, Turkey; E. Tuncbay, Turkey; G. Topovic, Yugoslavia; B. Klun, Yugoslavia; W. Luyendijk, Secretary of the WFNS; O. Sorour, Pan Arab Union of Neurosurgeons; A. E1 Banhawy, Pan Arab Union of Neurosurgeons; S. E1 Gindi, Pan Arab Union of Neurosurgeons.