• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.504-512
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• 2020

Objective : An important factor during pituitary adenoma surgery is to preserve pituitary stalk (PS) as this plays a role in reduction of the risk of postoperative diabetes insipidus. The hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract (HHT) projects through the PS to the posterior pituitary gland. To reconstruct white matter fiber pathways, methods like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography have been widely used. In this report we attempted to predict the position of PS using DTI tractography and to assess its intraoperative correlation during surgery of pituitary adenomas. Methods : DTI tractography was used to tract the HHT in nine patients before craniotomy for pituitary adenomas. The DTI location of the HHT was compared with the PS position identified at the time of surgery. DTI fiber tracking was carried out in nine patients prior to the planned craniotomy for pituitary adenomas. In one patient, the PS could not be identified during the surgery. In the other eight patients, a comparison was made between the location of the HHT identified by DTI and the position of the PS visualized at the time of surgery. Results : The position of the HHT identified by DTI showed consistency with the intraoperative position of the PS in seven patients (88.9% concordance). Conclusion : This study shows that DTI can identify the position of the HHT and thus the position of the PS with a high degree of reliability.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2012

Background : Orbital roof fractures are frequently associated with a high energy impact to the craniofacial region, and displaced orbital roof fractures can cause ophthalmic and neurologic complications and occasionally require open surgical intervention. The purpose of this article was to investigate the clinical features and treatment outcomes of orbital root fractures combined with neurologic injuries after early reconstruction. Methods : Between January 2006 and December 2008, 45 patients with orbital roof fractures were admitted; among them, 37 patients were treated conservatively and 8 patients underwent early surgical intervention for orbital roof fractures. The type of injuries that caused the fractures, patient characteristics, associated fractures, ocular and neurological injuries, patient management, and treatment outcomes were investigated. Results : The patients underwent frontal craniotomy and free bone fragment removal, their orbital roofs were reconstructed with titanium micromesh, and associated fractures were repaired. The mean follow up period was 11 months. There were no postoperative neurologic sequelae. Postoperative computed tomography scans showed anatomically reconstructed orbital roofs. Two of the five patients with traumatic optic neuropathy achieved full visual acuity recovery, one patient showed decreased visual acuity, and the other two patients completely lost their vision due to traumatic optic neuropathy. Preoperative ophthalmic symptoms, such as proptosis, diplopia, upper eyelid ptosis, and enophthalmos were corrected. Conclusions : Early recognition and treatment of orbital roof fractures can reduce intracranial and ocular complications. A coronal flap with frontal craniotomy and orbital roof reconstruction using titanium mesh provides a versatile method and provides good functional and cosmetic results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2017

Objective : The purposes of this study were to introduce a superficial temporal artery (STA)-sparing mini-pterional approach for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms and review the surgical results of this approach. Methods : Between June 2010 and December 2015, we performed the STA-sparing mini-pterional approach for 117 patients with 141 unruptured intracranial aneurysms. We analyzed demographic, radiologic, and clinical variables including age, sex, craniotomy size, aneurysm location, height of STA bifurcation, and postoperative complications. Results : The mean age of patients was 58.4 years. The height of STA bifurcation from the superior border of the zygomatic arch was $20.5mm{\pm}10.0$ (standard deviation [SD]). The craniotomy size was $1051.6mm^2{\pm}206.5$ (SD). Aneurysm neck clipping was possible in all cases. Intradural anterior clinoidectomy was performed in four cases. Contralateral approaches to aneurysms were adopted for four cases. Surgery-related complications occurred in two cases. Permanent morbidity occurred in one case. Conclusion : Our STA-sparing mini-pterional approach for surgical treatment of cerebral aneurysms is easy to learn and has the advantages of small incision, STA sparing, and a relatively wide surgical field. It may be a good alternative to the conventional pterional approach for treating cerebral aneurysms.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.4-13
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• 2020

For surgical minimalism to reduce iatrogenic traumatization, a supraorbital keyhole approach has already been successfully applied to treat many unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms. However, using this minimal approach also raises several technical concerns due to the small cranial opening and cosmetic impact of a facial incision. Yet, such technical limitations can be overcome by using favorable surgical indications, slender surgical instruments, and optimized surgical techniques, while excellent cosmetic outcomes can be achieved using a short skin incision located <1 cm from the supraorbital margin, reconstruction of any bone defects around the bone flap, and meticulous wound closure. Thus, given such reassuring surgical results, in terms of the clipping status, neurological effects, and cosmetic outcomes, any concerns can be transitioned into confidence.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.183-186
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• 2017

A 7-year-old boy, diagnosed with an arachnoid cyst and subdural effusion on initial MRI, was admitted with left limb weakness and no history of head trauma. A subsequent follow-up MRI showed different stages of hematoma within multilayered enhancing membranes and in the arachnoid cyst, which was separated by the cerebrospinal fluid cleft. Craniotomy and fenestration of the cyst wall and hematoma removal were performed. The patient was diagnosed as a having a hemorrhagic rupture of an arachnoid cyst into the intradural space, probably via some one-way valve-like defect, based on the MRI and surgical findings. The MRI features and possible mechanism of this rare disease are discussed within the literature review.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.166-169
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• 2010

Spontaneous intracranial epidural hematoma (EDH) due to dural metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma is very rare. A 53-year-old male patient with hepatocellular carcinoma, who was admitted to the department of oncology, was referred to department of neurosurgery because of sudden mental deterioration to semicoma with papillary anisocoria and decerebrate rigidity after transarterial chemoembolization for hepatoma. Brain computed tomography (CT) revealed large amount of acute EDH with severe midline shifting. An emergent craniotomy and evacuation of EDH was performed. Active bleeding from middle cranial fossa floor was identified. There showed osteolytic change on the middle fossa floor with friable mass-like lesion spreading on the overlying dura suggesting metastasis. Pathological examination revealed anaplastic cells with sinusoidal arrangement which probably led to spontaneous hemorrhage and formation of EDH. As a rare cause of spontaneous EDH, dural metastasis from malignancy should be considered.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.68-71
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• 2006

Spinal subdural hematoma[SSDH] is rare disease. Furthermore, it rarely occurs as a complication of intracranial surgery. There are few case reports which describing SSDH after craniotomy. Although the exact pathogenetic mechanism is obscure, some investigators propose that downward migration of intracranial hematoma by the effect of gravity is one of the cause of SSDH, and which is commonly suggested. But others propose that cerebrospinal fluid[CSF] hypotension is an another possible mechanism In this paper, we report two cases of SSDH after clipping of an aneurysmal neck.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.78-80
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• 2001

The bone formation accompanied with other diseases in brain has been rarely reported. Furthermore, it has not been reported without any specific disease. We report a case of a 27 year old female who was referred to our hospital because of the incidentally found calcified lesion in plain X-ray of the skull. The CT and MRI of the brain showed a calcification with minimal enhancement at left parietal area. The calcified lesion was removed and biopsy was performed with stereotactic guided craniotomy. Pathologically, the lesion was confirmed as the membranous bone which was composed of bony trabeculations with osteocytes and the biopsy from adjacent area to the bone revealed a gliosis without any other disease.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.190-192
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• 2007

Rarely, downbeat nystagmus can occur due to compression of the lower brainstem by the ectatic vertebral artery and be resolved by microvascular decompression. We present a case of a 67-year-old man with downbeat nystagmus associated with brainstem compression by ectatic vertebral artery. He presented with oscillopsia and vertigo. When he turned his head upward, his symptoms were aggravated and a gait disturbance occurred. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomographic angiography demonstrated compression of the medulla oblongata by the left ectatic vertebral artery and other medical causes of downbeat nystagmus were ruled out. Retromastoid craniotomy was performed and after lifting the vertebral artery off the medulla, a trough-shaped indentation in the lower brainstem was identified. The ectatic vertebral artery was repositioned and a Teflon was inserted between the brainstem and the ectatic vertebral artery. Postoperatively, downbeat nystagmus had disappeared.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.592-595
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• 2009

Cerebellar hemorrhage is an unusual complication of supratentorial neurosurgery. To the best of our knowledge, only three case reports have described the occurrence of cerebellar hemorrhage after burr hole drainage for the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (SDH). We present the case of a patient with this rare postoperative complication of cerebellar hemorrhage after burr hole drainage of a chronic SDH. Although burr hole drainage for the treatment of chronic SDH is rare complication, it is necessary to be aware of the possibility of cerebellar hemorrhage after supratentorial surgery, even with limited surgery such as burr hole drainage of a chronic SDH.