• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.513-518
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• 2020

Objective : Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is one of the most common intracranial hemorrhages. It can be managed with a simple surgical treatment such as burr-hole trephination and drainage. However, it has a relatively high recurrence rate. The mechanisms and risk factors for the recurrence have not yet been clearly identified and studies have reported varying results. Methods : We analyzed 230 patients with CSDH who were treated with burr-hole trephination and drainage at our institution from March 2011 to March 2016. The patients were divided into recurrence and non-recurrence groups and the medical records of each group were used to analyze the risk factors associated with CSDH recurrence. Results : After burr-hole trephination and drainage, CSDH recurrence was observed in 49 (21.3%) of the 230 patients. In univariate analysis, none of the factors showed statistical significance with respect to CSDH recurrence. In multivariate analysis, preoperative antithrombotic medication was the only independent risk factor for CSDH recurrence (odds ratio, 2.407; 95% confidence interval, 1.047-5.531). Conclusion : The present study found that preoperative antithrombotic medication was independently associated with CSDH recurrence.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.748-753
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• 2000

Objectives : A 10-year retrospective clinical study was undertaken to determine the differences between two groups according to age at presentation(group A, under 50 ; B, over 50). Methods : We analyzed 468 cases with chronic subdural hematoma admitted to the department of neurosurgery in our hospital from January 1987 to December 1996. The patients were divided into two groups according to age at presentation(group A, under 50 ; B, over 50). Results : 1) The number of group A was 126 cases(26.9%) and that of group B was 342 cases(73.1%), respectively. Males were more frequently involved than females in each group. 2) There noted a history of head trauma in 88.9% of group A and 92.4% of group B. Forty-nine patients(38.9%) of group A and 103 cases(30.1%) of group B revealed a history of alcoholism. 3) Group A patients presented with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure such as headache(75.% ), nausea and vomiting(68.0%). However, Group B patients had more frequent mental changes(84.0%) and focal neurological deficits such as hemiparesis(76.5%). 4) Onset of symptom and its duration was shorter in group A than group B. 5) Six patients among 441 cases(1.4%) treated with burr hole drainage and two patients of 27 cases(5.4%) with craniotomy died, and all of these were group B patients. The two cases among six patients with burr hole drainage developed huge intracerebral hemorrhage and brain stem hemorrhage, respectively. Conclusion : In treating patients with chronic subdural hematoma, distinguishing between two age groups is quite helpful to determine treatment strategies.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.446-455
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• 2023

Objective : Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common neurosurgical disease and generally treated with burr-hole surgery alone. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic agent that potentially reduces recurrence rates and the residual hematoma volume. However, the role of postoperative TXA medication remains unclear to date. This study aimed to verify the effectiveness of adjunctive TXA in the view of early hematoma resolution. Methods : Between January 2018 and September 2021, patients with CSDH who underwent burr-hole trephination in a single tertiary institute were reviewed. The study population was divided into three groups, TXA, non-TXA, and antithrombotics (AT) groups, according to the medical history of cardio-cerebrovascular disease and TXA administration. The primary endpoint was CSDH recurrence, defined as re-appearance or re-accumulation of CSDH requiring neurosurgical interventions. The secondary outcome was CSDH resolution, defined as complete or near-complete resorption of the CSDH. The CSDH resolution time and serial changes of hematoma thickness were also investigated. Results : A total of 240 patients was included in the analysis consisting of 185 male and 55 female, with a median age of 74 years. During the median imaging follow-up period of 75 days, 222 patients were reached to the primary or secondary endpoint. TXA was administered as an adjunctive therapy in 41 patients (TXA group, 16.9%) while 114 patients were included in the non-TXA group (47.9%) and 85 were in the AT group. The recurrence rate was the lowest in the TXA group (2.4%), followed by non-TXA (7.0%) and AT (8.2%) groups. However, there was no statistical significance due to the small number of patients with recurrence. CSDH resolution was achieved in 206 patients, and the median estimated time to resolution was significantly faster in the TXA group (p<0.001). Adjunctive TXA administration was a significant positive factor for achieving CSDH resolution (p<0.001). The hematoma thickness was comparable among the three groups at the initial time and after surgery. However, CSDH thickness in the TXA group decreased abruptly in a month and showed a significant difference from that in the other groups (p<0.001). There was no TXA-related adverse event. Conclusion : The adjunctive use of TXA after CSDH surgery significantly facilitated the resorption of residual CSDH and resulted in the early CSDH resolution. Adjunctive TXA may be an effective treatment option to reduce recurrence by enhancing CSDH resolution in the selective patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.181-184
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• 2010

A case of idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis (IHCP) misdiagnosed as an acute subdural hematoma is reported. A 37-year-old male patient presented with headache following head trauma 2 weeks earlier. Computerized tomography showed a diffuse high-density lesion along the left tentorium and falx cerebri. Initial chest X-rays revealed a small mass in the right upper lobe with right lower pleural thickening, which suggested lung cancer, such as an adenoma or mediastinal metastasis. During conservative treatment under the diagnosis of a subdural hematoma, left cranial nerve palsies were developed (3rd and 6th), followed by scleritis and uveitis involving both eyes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an unusual tentorium-falx enhancement on gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images. Non-specific chronic inflammation of the pachymeninges was noticed on histopathologic examination following an open biopsy. Systemic steroid treatment was initiated, resulting in dramatic improvement of symptoms. A follow-up brain MRI showed total resolution of the lesion 2 months after steroid treatment. IHCP should be included in the differential diagnosis of subtentorial-enhancing lesions.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.380-382
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• 2013

We report a case of fatal duret hemorrhage (DH) in a patient with acute tentorial subdural hematoma and bilateral chronic subdural hematoma along the cerebral hemispheres. Preoperative CT angiography (CTA) revealed prominent parenchymal enhancement in the ventral pontomesencephalic area. After burr-hole drainage, a large hemorrhage developed in this area. The parenchymal enhancement in the CTA may reflect the pontomensencephalic perforating vessel injury, and may be a sign of impending DH of acute transtentorial downward herniation. Previous use of aspirin and warfarin might have potentiated the process of DH and increase the extent of the bleed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.243-247
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• 2014

Objective : To analyze the clinical data and surgical results from symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) patients who underwent burr-hole drainage (BHD) at the maximal thickness area and twist-drill craniostomy (TDC) at the precoronal point. Methods : We analyzed data from 65 symptomatic CSDH patients who underwent TDC at the pre-coronal point or BHD at the maximal thickness area. For TDC, we defined the pre-coronal point to be 1 cm anterior to the coronal suture at the level of the superior temporal line. TDC was performed in patients with CSDH that extended beyond the coronal suture, as confirmed by preoperative CT scans. Medical records, radiological findings, and clinical performance were reviewed and analyzed. Results : Of the 65 CSDH patients, 13/17 (76.4%) with BHD and 42/48 (87.5%) with TDC showed improved clinical performance and radiological findings after surgery. Catheter failure was seen in 1/48 (2.4%) cases of TDC. Five patients (29.4%) in the BHD group and four patients (8.33%) in the TDC group underwent reoperations due to remaining hematomas, and they improved with a second operation, BHD or TDC. Conclusion : Both BHD at the maximal thickness area and TDC at the pre-coronal point are safe and effective drainage methods for symptomatic CSDHs with reasonable indications.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 1968

Technetium 99m pertechnetate brain scanning were performed in 3 cases of head injury (2 chronic subdural hematomas and 1 acute epidural hematoma), 2 cases of brain abscess and I case of intracerebral hematoma associated with arteriovenous anomaly. In all the cases brain scintigrams showed "hot areas." Literatures on radioisotope scanning of intracranial lesions were briefly reviewed. With the improvement of radioisotope scanner and development of new radiopharmaceuticals brain scanning became a safe and useful screening test for diagnosis of intracranial lesions. Brain scanning can be easily performed even to a moribund patient without any discomfort and risk to the patient which are associated with cerebral angiography or pneumoencephalography. Brain scanning has been useful in diagnosis of brain tumor, brain abscess, subdural hematoma, and cerebral vascular diseases. In 80 to 90% of brain tumors positive scintigrams can be expected. Early studies were done with $^{203}Hg$-Neohydrin or $^{131}I$-serum albumin. With these agents, however, patients receive rather much radiation to the whole body and kidneys. In 1965 Harper introduced $^{99m}Tc$ to reduce radiation dose to the patient and improve statistical variation in isotope scanning.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.235-241
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• 2015

Objective : Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) detects various patterns, which can be attributed to many factors. The purpose of this study was to measure the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and highly specific protein [beta-trace protein (${\beta}TP$)] for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in CSDHs, and correlate the levels of these markers with the MRI findings. Methods : Thirty one patients, treated surgically for CSDH, were divided on the basis of MRI findings into hyperintense and non-hyperintense groups. The concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and ${\beta}TP$ in the subdural fluid and serum were measured. The ${\beta}TP$ was considered to indicate an admixture of CSF to the subdural fluid if ${\beta}TP$ in the subdural fluid $({\beta}TP_{SF})/{\beta}TP$ in the serum $({\beta}TP_{SER})>2$. Results : The mean concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 of the hyperintense group (n=17) of T1-WI MRI were $3975.1{\pm}1040.8pg/mL$ and $6873.2{\pm}6365.4pg/mL$, whereas them of the non-hyperintense group (n=14) were $2173.5{\pm}1042.1pg/mL$ and $2851.2{\pm}6267.5pg/mL$ (p<0.001 and p=0.004). The mean concentrations of ${\beta}TP_{SF}$ and the ratio of ${\beta}TP_{SF}/{\beta}TP_{SER}$ of the hyperintense group (n=13) of T2-WI MRI were $7.3{\pm}2.9mg/L$ and $12.6{\pm}5.4$, whereas them of the non-hyperintense group (n=18) were $4.3{\pm}2.3mg/L$ and $7.5{\pm}3.9$ (p=0.011 and p=0.011). Conclusion : The hyperintense group on T1-WI MRI of CSDHs exhibited higher concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 than non-hyperintense group. And, the hyperintese group on T2-WI MRI exhibited higher concentrations of ${\beta}TP_{SF}$ and the ratio of ${\beta}TP_{SF}/{\beta}TP_{SER}$ than non-hyperintense group. These findings appear to be associated with rebleeding and CSF admixture in the CSDHs.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2009

Objective: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is one of the most common types of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage, usually occurring in the older patients, with a good surgical prognosis. Burr hole craniostomy is the most frequently used neurosurgical treatment of CSDH. However, there have been only few studies to assess the role of the number of burr holes in respect to recurrence rates. The aim of this study is to compare the postoperative recurrence rates between one and two burr craniostomy with closed-system drainage for CSDH. Methods: From January 2002 to December 2006, 180 consecutive patients who were treated with burr hole craniostomy with closed-system drainage for the symptomatic CSDH were enrolled. Pre- and post-operative computed tomography (CT) scans and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used for radiological evaluation. The number of burr hole was decided by neurosurgeon's preference and was usually made on the maximum width of hematoma. The patients were followed with clinical symptoms or signs and CT scans. All the drainage catheters were maintained below the head level and removed after CT scans showing satisfactory evacuation. All patients were followed-up for at least 1 month after discharge. Results: Out of 180 patients, 51 patients were treated with one burr hole, whereas 129 were treated with two burr holes. The overall postoperative recurrence rate was 5.6% (n = 10/180) in our study. One of 51 patients (2.0%) operated on with one burr hole recurred, whereas 9 of 129 patients (7.0%) evacuated by two burr holes recurred. Although the number of burr hole in this study is not statistically associated with postoperative recurrence rate (p> 0.05), CSDH treated with two burr holes showed somewhat higher recurrence rates. Conclusion: In agreement with previous studies, burr hole craniostomy with closed drainage achieved a good surgical prognosis as a treatment of CSDH in this study. Results of our study indicate that burr hole craniostomy with one burr hole would be sufficient to evacuate CSDH with lower recurrence rate.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.726-734
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• 2023

Objective : Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) patients using antithrombotic agents (AT) at high risk for cardiovascular disease are increasing. The authors aimed to analyze the factors influencing outcome by targeting patients using AT and to establish a desirable treatment strategy. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed on data from 462 patients who underwent burr hole trephination (BHT) surgery for CSDH at five hospitals from March 2010 to June 2021. Outcomes included incidence of postoperative acute bleeding, recurrence rate, and morbidity or mortality rate. Patients were divided into the following four groups based on their history of AT use : no AT. Only antiplatelet agents (AP), only anticoagulants (AC), both of AP and AC. In addition, a concurrent literature review was conducted alongside our cohort study. Results : Of 462 patients, 119 (119/462, 25.76%) were using AT. AP prescription did not significantly delay surgery (p=0.318), but AC prescription led to a significant increase in the time interval from admission to operation (p=0.048). After BHT, AP or AC intake significantly increased the period required for an in-dwelling drain (p=0.026 and p=0.037). The use of AC was significantly related to acute bleeding (p=0.044), while the use of AP was not (p=0.808). Use of AP or AC had no significant effect on CSDH recurrence (p=0.517 and p=1.000) or reoperation (p=0.924 and p=1.000). Morbidity was not statistically correlated with use of either AP or AC (p=0.795 and p=0.557, respectively), and there was no significant correlation with mortality for use of these medications (p=0.470 and p=1.000). Conclusion : Elderly CSDH patients may benefit from maintenance of AT therapy during BHT due to reduced thromboembolic risk. However, the use of AC necessitates individualized due to potential postoperative bleeding. Careful post-operative monitoring could mitigate prognosis and recurrence impacts.