• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.195-201
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the usefulness of a polyester urethane dural substitute (Neuro-Patch^®, B. Braun, Boulogne, France) as an anti-adhesion agent in subsequent cranioplasty by analyzing the use of Neuro-Patch^® during decompressive craniectomy in traumatic brain injury patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with traumatic brain injury who underwent decompressive craniectomy followed by cranioplasty from January 2015 to December 2018. Patients were analyzed according to whether they received treatment with Neuro-Patch^® or not (Neuro-Patch^® group, n=71; control group, n=55). Patients' baseline characteristics were analyzed to identify factors that could affect cranioplasty results, including age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, use of antiplatelet agents or anticoagulant medication, the interval between craniectomy and cranioplasty, and the type of bone used in cranioplasty. The cranioplasty results were analyzed according to the following factors: operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospitalization period, surgical site infection, and revision surgery due to extra-axial hematoma. Results: No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding patients' baseline characteristics. For the cranioplasty procedures, the operation time (155 vs. 190 minutes, p=0.003), intraoperative blood loss (350 vs. 450 mL, p=0.012), and number of surgical site infections (4 vs. 11 cases, p=0.024) were significantly lower in the Neuro-Patch^® group than in the control group. Conclusions: The use of Neuro-Patch^® was associated with a shorter operation time, less blood loss, and a lower number of surgical site infections in subsequent cranioplasties. These results may provide a rationale for prospective studies investigating the efficacy of Neuro-Patch^®.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.15-22
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• 2000

Objective : This study was undertaken to evaluate the benefits and risks of the stereotactic biopsy in brain lesions. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy and morbidity rate associated with the stereotactic biopsy. Methods : The authors present a review of 47 patients, who underwent stereotactic biopsy using Cosman-Roberts-Wells(CRW) stereotactic apparatus during last six years. Results : Target locations were supratentorial in 36 cases, infratentorial in 9 and multiple in 2. According to pathological diagnosis, the largest group was neoplasm(29) followed by infection(9), infarction(2), cyst(2), and non-specific(5). Definitive diagnosis could be made in 42 of 47 cases(89.4%). When the mass lesion had been suspected as neoplastic condition, the diagnostic rate was 96.7%(29/30). It was being much higher than that of non-neoplastic lesion, 76.5%(13/17). The treatment modality was changed in 15 cases(32%) because the result of stereotactic biopsy was different from clinical diagnosis. Subsequent craniotomy after stereotactic biopsy was then performed in 6 cases, and the pathological diagnoses were precisely coincident in all of these cases. There were two complications(4.3%) : One intratumoral hemorrhage in glioblastoma and a transient hemiparesis in benign astrocytoma. There was no mortality in this series. Conclusion : The precise histological verification is crucial to determine the adequate treatment modality in intracranial lesions. Stereotactic biopsy is a safe and accurate diagnostic procedure for intracranial lesions with a low complication rate.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.20-26
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• 2007

Objective : We present the difference of histopathologic changes of the internal elastic lamina (IEL) and collagen III in the superficial temporal artery (STA) between aneurysmal patients and non-aneurysmal patients. Also, the pathologic data with clinical features by comparative methods to validate the risk factor of the intracranial aneurysm are presented. Methods : Samples of the STA were harvested form 38 patients including aneurysmal and non-aneurysmal patients undergoing craniotomy. Paraffin-embedded sections were examined, using hematoxylin and eosin, van Giebson and mouse anti-collagen III staining techniques. Histopathological observations were ana lysed and correlated with clinical features such as presence of aneurysm, hypertension, age, and sex. Results : Twenty-seven patients had the intracranial aneurysm. Of these 24 patients were 50 years old or older. Nineteen patients had a history of hypertension. Twenty patients were female. Histopathological study demostrated the derangement of IEL and the deficiency of type III collagen were prominent in aneurysmal patients (p < 0.05). Fifty years old or older patients did not show correlation with the deficiency of type III collagen, but with the derangement of IEL (p < 0.05). The female sex was not correlated with the derangement of IEL but with the deficiency of type III collagen (p < 0.05). However, Hypertension was not correlated with these pathologic data. Conclusion : Patients with intracranial aneurysms have severe histopathologic changes of the arterial wall showing the derangement of IEL and the deficiency of type III collagen. In the clinico-pathologic study, the advanced age and female sex were considered as risk factors of the intracranial aneurysm.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제58권6호
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• pp.513-517
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• 2015

Objective : Microscopic indocyanine green (ICG) angiography is useful for identifying the completeness of aneurysm clipping and the preservation of parent arteries and small perforators. Neuroendoscopy is helpful for visualizing structures beyond the straight line of the microscopic view. We evaluated our prototype of endoscopic ICG fluorescence angiography in swine, which we developed in order to combine the merits of microscopic ICG angiography and endoscopy. Methods : Our endoscopic ICG system consists of a camera, a light source, a display and software. This system can simultaneously display real-time visible and near infrared fluorescence imaging on the same monitor. A commercially available endoscope was used, which was 4 mm in diameter and had an angle of $30^{\circ}$. A male crossbred swine was used. Results : Under general anesthesia, a small craniotomy was performed and the brain surface of the swine was exposed. ICG was injected via the ear vein with a bolus dose of 0.3 mg/kg. Visible and ICG fluorescence images of cortical vessels were simultaneously observed on the display monitor at high resolution. The real-time merging of the visible and fluorescent images corresponded well. Conclusion : Simultaneous visible color and ICG fluorescent imaging of the cortical vessels in the swine brain was satisfactory. Technical improvement and clinical implication are expected.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제49권5호
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• pp.278-283
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• 2011

Objective : The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether $^{18}F$-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FOG-PET) can be used to assess the therapeutic response of brain abscess. Methods : A study was conducted on 10 consecutive patients with brain abscess, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffuse-weighted imaging (DWI) was performed at 3 and 6 weeks after surgical treatment and intravenous antibiotics therapy and FOG-PET at 6 weeks after treatment. The extent of the abscess, signal changes on MRI, and FOG-PET standardized uptake values were analyzed and correlated with the response to therapy. Results : Aspiration or craniotomy with excision of the abscess followed by intravenous antibiotics for 6-8 weeks resulted in good recovery with no recurrence. In 10 patients, two had low signal intensity on the DWI; one had no uptake on FOG-PET imaging after 6 weeks antibiotics and discontinued intravenous treatment, but the other patient had diffuse, increased uptake on FOG-PET imaging after 6 weeks antibiotics and underwent an additional 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics. The remaining eight patients had high signals on the DWI. Four had no uptake on FOG-PET imaging and the treatment period varied from 6 to 8 weeks (mean, 6.75 weeks). Among the other four patients, FOG was accumulated in a diffuse or local area corresponding to a high signal area within the DWI and 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics was added. Conclusion : MRI plus FOG-PET improved the accuracy of assessing therapeutic responses to antibiotics treatment of brain abscess and aided in optimizing therapy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.73-78
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• 2010

Objective : Streptococcus pyogenes is a beta-hemolytic bacterium that belongs to Lancefield serogroup A, also known as group A streptococci (GAS). There have been five reported case in terms of PubMed-based search but no reported case of brain abscess caused by Streptococcus pyogenes as a result of penetrating skull injury. We present a patient who suffered from penetrating skull injury that resulted in a brain abscess caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. Methods : The patient was a 12-year-old boy who fell down from his bicycle while cycling and ran into a tree. A wooden stick penetrated his skin below the right lower eyelid and advanced to the cranium. He lost consciousness on the fifth day of the incident and his body temperature was measured as $40^{\circ}C$. While being admitted to our hospital, a cranial computed tomography revealed a frontal cystic mass with a perilesional hypodense zone of edema. There was no capsule formation around the lesion after intravenous contrast injection. Paranasal CT showed a bone defect located between the ethmoidal sinus and lamina cribrosa. Results : Bifrontal craniotomy was performed. The abscess located at the left frontal lobe was drained and the bone defect was repaired. Conclusion : Any penetrating lesion showing a connection between the lamina cribrosa and ethmoidal sinus may result in brain abscess caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. These patients should be treated urgently to repair the defect and drain the abscess with appropriate antibiotic therapy started due to the fulminant course of the brain abscess caused by this microorganism.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.160-164
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• 2008

재태 38주에 시행한 산전 검사상 우연히 발견된 거미막 낭종을 가지고 태어난 생후 2개월된 여아가 지속적인 과민상태를 나타내었다. 이후 시행한 두부 전산화 단층촬영상 수두증을 동반하여 크기가 증가된 거미막 낭종이 관찰되었다. 우리는 상기 소견에 대하여 개두술하에 낭종 개창술을 시행하였으나 낭종의 크기가 줄어들지 않았고, 13개월 이후에 시행한 경과관찰에서 수두증이 악화된 소견을 보였다. 환아는 이후 낭종-복막간 단락술을 시행하였으며, 5년뒤 시행한 두부 자기공명영상에서 낭종의 크기 감소와 더불어 뇌수두증이 해소되었다. 거미막 낭종 자체의 크기가 증가하는 것은 드문 현상이며, 아직까지 이에 대한 명확한 수술적 치료는 나와 있지 않다. 우리는 이 증례를 통하여 수두증이 동반된 크기가 증가하는 거미막 낭종의 치료에 있어서 낭종-복강간 단락술이 적절한 수술적 치료법이 될 것으로 판단한다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.1357-1362
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• 2016

Metastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is an uncommon cancer. The principal treatment consists of chemotherapy with or without surgery or radiotherapy. We here retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of metastatic GTN treated at our institute between January, 1999 and December, 2013. Sixty-three patients met the criteria. The median age was 30.0 years and almost 90% were referral cases. Nearly 40% of the studied patients presented with vaginal bleeding while 22.2% were asymptomatic. The most common antecedent pregnancy was hydatidiform mole (57.1%) followed by term pregnancy (20.6%). The median interval time from antecedent pregnancy to the development of GTN was three months and the median pretreatment B-hCG was 58,274 mIU/ml. Stage III (74.6%) was the most common staging followed by stage IV (20.6%) and stage II (4.8%). The most frequent surgery was hysterectomy (31.7%). Thoracotomy and craniotomy were performed in three and two patients, respectively. The most common first line chemotherapy regimen was methotrexate and folinic acid (36.5%) followed by EMA (etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D) (34.9%), EMACO (etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, vincristine) (17.5%) with the remission rate of 66.7%. Nearly one-third of the patients were given a subsequent chemotherapy regimen after failure with the first line therapy and showed a final response rate of 73.0%. However, in stage IV, the response to first line treatment was only 38.5%. In conclusion, the outcomes of metastatic GTN were poor especially with the higher stages.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.237-240
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• 2006

The simultaneous correction of the hypertelorism and exophthalmos combined with craniosynostosis is very rarely performed operative procedures in the world. The craniosynostosis is the congenital anomaly that designates premature fusion of one or more sutures in either cranial vault or cranial base. Hypertelorism is not a distinct clinical syndrome in itself, but is a physical finding secondary to facial and cranial maldevelopment and it is defined as a increase in the distance between the medial orbital walls. Exophthalmos can occur following the decrease in the size of the orbit in patients with developmental skeletal disorders such as craniofacial synostosis. The authors experienced 9-year-old male patient, who has complex cranio-facial abnormality. The craniosynostosis was oxycephaly type and primary fronto-orbital advancement surgery had been performed in other hospital. The abnormal cranial vault combined with hypertelorism and exophthalmos due to maldeveloped both orbital walls. Surgical correction was obtained by various cranio-fronto-orbital remodeling technique such as calvarial bone craniotomy, fronto-orbital advancement, paramedian resection, medial canthopexy, Tessier-Wolfe three wall orbital expansions. We achieved a quite satisfactory result both functionally and aesthetically in a complex cranio-facial deformity patient by combination and modification of previously developed various cranio-facial plasty technique and hereby report the case with brief discussion and review of literature.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.89-92
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• 2006

Penetrating facial wounds are uncommon and are usually life threatening because of the possibility of brain damage. There are three possible pathways for penetrating the cranium through the orbit: via the orbital roof, via the superior orbital fissure, or between the optic canal and lateral wall of the orbit. Brain injuries resulting from the penetrating wounds show extensive parenchymal damage, hemorrhage, and brain edema. Transorbital penetrating wounds can lead to diverse lesions of the optical apparatus, including the eye globe, the optical nerve, and the chiasm. Moreover, intracerebral structures may be hurt, and bleeding and infection may occur. Early diagnosis and prompt debridement are the fundamental factors affecting the outcome of a penetrating facial wound. An 87-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with a grinder impacted into the medial aspect of the right eye. On presentation, the man was fully conscious with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 and complained of a visual disturbance of the right eye. Computed tomography demonstrated a right orbital medial and inferior wall fracture, a frontal bone fracture, and a contusional hemorrhage in frontal lobe of the brain. A craniotomy with hematoma removal and repair of the orbital floor was done. He showed no neurological deficits except right visual loss. This appears to be the first report of a man with a penetrating facial wound caused by a grinder, who presented with a potentially disastrous craniocerebral injury that did not lead to any serious neurological seguelae.