• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제42권1호
• /
• pp.56-58
• /
• 2007

A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in semicomatous consciousness. Brain computed tomography scans demonstrated $2.6{\times}2.5\;cm$ sized hyperdense mass in the pineal region with multiple punctate calcifications and hydrocephalus. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a pineal mass which was heterogeneously enhanced with gadolinium. After external ventricular drainage, the patient regained consciousness. The mass was totally removed via occipital transtentorial approach. No consequent ventricular shunt was needed and the patient recovered without any neurological deficit. Final pathologic report of the tumor was ependymoma.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제30권sup1호
• /
• pp.128-132
• /
• 2001

뇌기저동맥 체간부에 존재하는 동맥류는 매우 희귀하며 그 수술적 치료는 복잡한 해부학적 구조와 근접해있는 중요한 신경혈관 구조때문에 수술적 접근이 매우 어려운 부위이다. 산화 단층촬영과 자기공명영상의 발달은 두개저 병변을 정확히 진단할 수 있게 하였고 두개저 부위의 수술적 접근에 많은 발전을 가져오게 하였다. 뇌기저동맥 체간부에 존재하는 동맥류의 수술 방법중의 하나로 저자들은 소뇌와 측두엽의 견인이 적어 소뇌 부종을 극소화 할 수 있고 와우, 미로, 안면신경등의 구조물을 보존하여 청력손실, 안면신경마비등의 합병증이 없고 횡정맥동, S상정맥동의 보존뿐만 아니라 Labbe's 정맥을 보존할 수 있으며 수술시야가 비교적 좋은 장점들이 있는 후미로 전S상정맥동 경천막을 통한 추체로접근법을 이용하여 뇌기저동맥 체간부에 발생한 동맥류의 직접 결찰수술을 시행하여 좋은 결과를 얻었기에 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제30권3호
• /
• pp.366-370
• /
• 2001

Objective : The authors present three cases of brain tumors in which epidural hematomas(EDHs) were developed postoperatively in the remote areas from craniotomy sites. The preventive tactics as well as possible mechanisms of development of remote EDH are discussed. Material and Methods : The magnetic resonance imagings of three patients revealed a left lateral ventricular mass located just aside of foramen Monro in a 27-year-old male, a large cystic mass in the temporal lobe in a 35-year-old male, and a partially calcified pineal mass in a 27-year-old male patient. The surgical removals of these tumors were performed without any noticeable events during surgery via left frontal transcortical transventricular approach for lateral ventricular tumor, left temporal craniotomy for cystic temporal tumor, and right occipital transtentorial approach for pineal tumor. Results : Postoperative EDHs remote from the sites of craniotomy were detected by the immediate postoperative computerized tomographic scans. We obtained good outcomes without any morbidity in all three patients with emergent evacuation of the hematoma. The pathologic diagnoses were lateral ventricular ependymoastrocytoma, temporal craniopharyngioma and mixed germinoma of the pineal region. Conclusion : It is postulated that a sudden reduction of intracranial pressure(ICP) at the time of tumor removal may strip the dura from the inner table of the skull to cause EDH from the remote site of craniotomy. Gradual reduction of ICP with slow drainage of cerebrospinal fluid before tumor removal as well as lowering the head position of patient during surgery might be helpful for preventing this unusual complication.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제56권6호
• /
• pp.504-508
• /
• 2014

A 59-year-old male patient had 5-month history of gait disturbance and memory impairment. His initial brain computed tomography scan showed $3.5{\times}2.8cm$ sized mass with high density in the pineal region. The tumor was hypointense on T2 weighted magnetic resonance images and hyperintense on T1 weighted magnetic resonance images with heterogenous enhancement of central portion. The tumor was totally removed via the occipital transtentorial approach. Black mass was observed in the operation field, and after surgery, histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Whole spine magnetic resonance images and whole body 18-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography could not demonstrate the primary site of this melanoma. Scrupulous physical examination of his skin and mucosa was done and dark pigmented lesion on his left leg was found, but additional studies including magnetic resonance images and skin biopsy showed negative finding. As a result, final diagnosis of primary pineal malignant melanoma was made. He underwent treatment with the whole brain radiotherapy and extended local boost irradiation without chemotherapy. His preoperative symptoms were disappeared, and no other specific neurological deficits were founded. His follow-up image studies showed no recurrence or distant metastasis until 26 weeks after surgery. Primary pineal malignant melanomas are extremely rare intracranial tumors, and only 17 cases have been reported since 1899. The most recent case report showed favorable outcome by subtotal tumor resection followed by whole brain and extended local irradiation without chemotherapy. Our case is another result to prove that total tumor resection with radiotherapy can be the current optimal treatment for primary malignant melanoma in the pineal region.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제30권sup1호
• /
• pp.170-173
• /
• 2001

Germinoma associated with chronic granulomatous inflammation of pineal gland has been rarely reported in the literature. The mechanism of chronic granulomatous inflammation is not understood well. We report a case of chronic granulomatous inflammation in pineal germinoma. In a 17 year-old male who suffered from headache and diplopia for six months, the mass of pineal gland was detected by brain MRI and removed through occipital transtentorial approach. The pathological specimen revealed the mass was predominantly composed of chronic granulomatous inflammation associated with small portion of germ cell tumor nests In the pathological interpretation of chronic granulomatous inflammation of pineal mass, it would be obliged to search for the presence of germ cell component.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제30권10호
• /
• pp.1200-1209
• /
• 2001

Objective : A thorough understanding of the related venous structure is mandatory for successful removal of the petroclival meningiomas. This study was planned to investigate the guideline for safe ligation and incision of transverse or sigmoid sinuses and the importance of drainage pattern of vein of $Labb{\acute{e}}$ in surgical removal of petroclival meningiomas. Patients and Methods : The authors reviewed the venogram of the consecutive 37 cases of petroclival meningiomas and retrospectively analyzed their surgical findings. The drainage pattern of confluence of Herophili was classified as Type A(confluent & equal on both sides), Type B(confluent & non-dominant on tumor side), Type C(confluent & dominant on tumor side) and Type D(unilateral drainage only) as these findings gave the information on safe ligation and resection of the sinus. Usefulness of intraoperative test clamping of sinus for safe ligation was also reviewed. The vein of $Labb{\acute{e}}$ was analyzed with respect to its draining point and its collaterals to other superficial veins. Results : Contraindications of the sinus ligation and resection according to the drainage pattern at the confluence of Herophili were Type C(n=10, 27%)and Type D(n=4, 11%). Patients with Type A(n=12, 32%)and Type B(n=11, 30%) were tolerable to sinus ligation ipsilateral to tumor, if the test clamping proved to be safe. Identification of no brain swelling, after intraoperative test clamping of the sinus for more than 30 minutes performed in 7 out of 11 cases, was a reliable indicator of safe sinus ligation. The drainage pattern of the vein of $Labb{\acute{e}}$, especially low-lying type, could predict the possibility of postoperative hemorrhage and infarction. Its drainage into tentorium or superior petrosal sinus, however, made the transtentorial approach impossible, leading to restricted operative field. Conclusion : For a successful removal of the petroclival meningiomas preoperative venogram should be examined carefully. The extent of exposure in a planned approach can be estimated by analyzing the variation of sinuses and the drainage pattern of vein of $Labb{\acute{e}}$.