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The use of self-expandable stents for endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms has increased over time. Different types of stent malpositioning, such as stent migration, distortion, incomplete opening, and apposition, can occur as a complication of the stent deployment procedure. In this report, we present a successful retrieval of a low-profile stent after full deployment in a dissecting posterior-inferior cerebellar artery because of incomplete apposition and subsequent acute occlusion of the stent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The corpus callosum is the largest white matter bundle in the brain and integrates inter-hemispheric cortices during sensory-motor and high-order cognitive processes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between the metabolite concentrations in the corpus callosum and intelligence among adolescents. Thirty male adolescents aged between 14 and 16years were included into the study. We measured the intelligence quotient (IQ) scores of the subjects by using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (verbal, performance and full-scale IQ) test. We used proton MR spectroscopy to measure the absolute concentrations of N-acetylasparate (NAA), creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho) in the genu, midbody and isthmus/splenium regions of the corpus callosum. We also measured the whole brain parenchymal size and used it as a confounding factor in the statistical analyses. We assessed the correlations between neurometabolite concentrations and verbal, performance and full-scale IQ scores. We found a significant positive correlation between the whole brain parenchymal size and the full-scale IQ scores. And, the NAA concentration in the isthmus/splenium region was positively correlated with the performance IQ and full-scale IQ scores. NAA is a marker of neuro/axonal integrity. NAA concentration in white matter is related to the structural and functional integrity of axonal fibers. The positive correlation of the IQ scores with the NAA concentrations in the isthmus/splenium region indicates that more efficient inter-hemispheric data transfer between parieto-occipital cortices may enhance intellectual performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The disconnectivity hypothesis as part of the neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia states that an abnormality in brain development causing impaired corticocortical or interhemispheric connectivity leads to cognitive deficits and symptoms of the illness. Previous studies showed the altered morphology of corpus callosum in patients with schizophrenia. We investigated the metabolic integrity of corpus callosum of individuals at ultra high risk (UHR) of developing schizophrenia and first-episode patients. Methods: We studied 17 individuals at UHR of developing schizophrenia, 14 first-episode schizophrenia patients, and 30 healthy control subjects. We measured the absolute concentrations of neurometabolites and T2 relaxation time of tissue water (T2B) in the genu region of corpus callosum by using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results: N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentrations were decreased and T2B values were prolonged in the UHR cases as well as in the first-episode patients, compared with the control subjects. The difference between the NAA concentrations of the UHR cases and first-episode patients was also significant. The NAA concentrations of the UHR cases and first-episode patients were correlated with the severity of negative symptoms. Conclusions: We demonstrated the disrupted metabolic integrity of corpus callosum among individuals at UHR of schizophrenia and the first-episode patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

▪ Abstract: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a syndrome characterized by orthostatic headache, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and diplopia. Subdural effusion, diffuse dural enhancement, dilatation of epidural veins, and increased height of hypophysis are cranial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings in SIH. Epidural blood patch is reportedly one of the effective treatment options. We present the follow-up MR imaging findings in a case of SIH after a successful epidural blood patch treatment. We propose that cranial MR imaging as an objective test to evaluate the success of epidural blood patch treatment. ▪ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tay-Sachs disease is an inherited metabolic disease caused by the accumulation of GM(2) gangliosides in the central nervous system. Deficiency of hexosaminidase A leads to the accumulation of gangliosides in neurons, axons and glial cells.Objective: To present the cranial MRI and proton MR spectroscopy findings of children of Tay-Sachs disease.Materials and Methods: Three children aged 10, 20 and 21 months were examined.Results: On T2-weighted MR images there were hyperintense signal changes in the basal ganglia and cerebral white matter. MR spectroscopy demonstrated an increase in myoinositol/creatine and choline/creatine ratios with a decrease in the N-acetyl aspartate/creatine ratio.Conclusions: The spectroscopy findings support demyelination, gliosis and neuronal loss in the neuropathological process of Tay-Sachs disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

l-2-Hydroxyglutaric aciduria is a rare inherited, neurometabolic disorder. The underlying metabolic defect and the pathophysiology of l-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria have not yet been defined. We present MR spectroscopy and cranial MR imaging findings, including diffusion-weighted sequences in two male siblings (aged 10 and 12 years). MR spectroscopy revealed a multiplet at 2.10-2.50 ppm and two broad peaks at 0.9-1.6 ppm. The multiplet at 2.10-2.50 ppm might have been created by elevated glutamate and glutamine or l-2-hydroxyglutaric acid itself, which has a similar chemical structure to glutamate. Diffusion-weighted images demonstrated increased diffusion of water molecules in the white-matter lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhalation of toluene, which is an organic solvent, causes toxic encephalopathy characterized by cognitive impairment, cerebellar and extra-pyramidal symptoms. We studied cranial MR images and single-voxel MR spectroscopy of 22 toluene abusers and age-matched control subjects. The mean age of the abusers and mean duration of abuse were 18,1 years and 47 months, respectively. We got three MR spectra from the centrum semiovale, cerebellum and thalamus by using STEAM sequence with a TE value of 30 ms. N-acetyl aspartate (NAA)/Creatine (Cr), Choline (Cho)/Cr, myo-inositol (mI)/Cr peak integral ratios were calculated. NAA/Cr in the cerebellum and centrum semiovale of the abusers were significantly lower than those of the control subjects. mI/Cr in centrum semiovale and cerebellum were higher in toluene abusers. No significant difference was found in the metabolite ratios of the thalami. The association of NAA/Cr and mI/Cr ratios in cerebellum and centrum semiovale with the duration of abuse was significant. Normal level of NAA in thalamus, which was a neuron rich gray matter structure, might imply that toluene inhalation did not cause direct neuronal injury. Selective reduction of NAA and increased level of mI in white matter supported the theory of that axonopathy and gliosis were the main mechanisms of pathophysiology in chronic toluene encepholopathy. Insignificance of elevation of Cho/Cr ratios demonstrated that toluene inhalation did not cause active demyelination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cyclosporin encephalopathy is a well-known entity, which is clinically characterized by altered mental status, vision problems, focal neurological deficits and seizures. The exact pathophysiology of the cyclosporin encephalopathy has not yet been defined. We report the diffusion-weighted MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy findings in a case of cyclosporin encephalopathy. The white-matter lesions with reversible restricted diffusion supported the hypothesis of reversible vasospasm induced by the cyclosporin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented regarding the case of a 78-year-old woman who was diagnosed with giant intracavernous aneurysm with intraorbital extension.

Tracheoceles are rare, and usually, they have been described as incidental findings while evaluating patients for other problems. Our patient complained of a mass located in the right supraclavicular region that got larger on coughing and straining; otherwise, he was asymptomatic. His history did not reveal any predisposing factors. Computed tomography showed an air-filled 3×2.5×2 cm mass at the level of the T2-4 vertebrae. Surgical exploration showed an air-filled mass located between the common carotid artery and trachea, communicating with the tracheal lumen via a narrow tract attached to the posterior wall of the trachea. The mass was completely resected, and the defect in the posterior wall was repaired. A literature search revealed only one tracheocele case without any predisposing factors, and our case is a new one. It is different from other tracheocele reports considering the origin side, type, and level of the lesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We assessed the safety and efficacy of flow diverter stents (FDSs) in the treatment of recanalized or residual intracranial aneurysms treated endovascularly. Materials & Methods: Patients whose recanalized or residual aneurysms were treated with FDSs in five tertiary hospitals were reviewed retrospectively. The patients' demographic data, aneurysm characteristics, types of previous treatment, and clinical complications, or serious adverse events associated with FDSs, as well as the results of neurological and angiographic follow-up assessments, were recorded. Results: Eighty-six patients (37 males) with 87 aneurysms were included in this study. Eighty (91.9%) aneurysms were in the anterior and seven (8.1%) in the posterior circulation. The initial treatment methods were the primary coiling or balloon remodeling technique in 69 (79.3%) and stent-assisted coiling in 18 (20.7%) aneurysms. The endovascular procedure was successful in all patients. Complications occurred in four patients, for a total complication rate of 4.6%. A technical complication developed in one patient (1.2%). An in-stent thrombosis treated with tirofiban was seen in two cases. Late in-stent stenosis exceeding 50% was treated with balloon angioplasty in one patient. The mean length of follow-up was 21.0 months. The first angiographic follow-up (3–6 months) revealed the complete occlusion of 74 aneurysms (85.1%). While 76 aneurysms (87.4%) were occluded at the last angiographic follow-up (mean: 26.0 months), 11 aneurysms (12.6%) were still filling. Morbimortality was zero. Conclusion: The drawback of endovascular treatment is aneurysmal remnants or recurrences, which is safely and durably amenable to flow diversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isovaleric acidaemia is an inborn error of leucine metabolism due to deficiency of isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase, which results in accumulation of isovaleric acid in body fluids. There are acute and chronic-intermittent forms of the disease. We present the cranial CT and MRI findings of a 19-month-old girl with the chronic-intermittent form of isovaleric acidaemia. She presented with severe metabolic acidosis, hyperglycaemia, glycosuria, ketonuria and acute encephalopathy. Cranial CT revealed bilateral hypodensity of the globi pallidi. MRI showed signal changes in the globi pallidi and corticospinal tracts of the mesencephalon, which were hypointense on T1-weighted and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Literature does not contain a standard procedure about anticoagulant therapy aimed at patients with atrial fibrillation and carotid artery stenosis following carotid endarterectomy. In this paper, we present our therapy modality at these patients in our clinic. Material and Method: The study includes 424 patients and 498 carotid endarterectomy operations performed by two surgeons with the same technique between June 2010 and December 2017. Fourty-five patients had chronic or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Therefore, the patients were receiving Coumadin and aspirin. The median age was 63.4±7.9. There were 27 female and 18 male patients. Thirty seven patients were hypertensive and 17 patients were diabetic. Nine patients underwent bilateral carotid endarterectomy operations. Thirty three patients were symptomatic. Eleven patients had coronary artery disease and 5 patients had cardiac valvular pathologies. Results: The whole carotid endarterectomy operations were performed under locoregional anesthesia. Early mortality occured in one patient because of hypertensive intracranial bleeding. The median follow up period was 68.4±19.2 months. One patient was lost due to aging and co-morbid factors and one patient was lost due to malignancy in late follow up period. Three patients required revisions for hematoma at incision region but an active bleeding focus could not be detected. There was no re-stenosis in any patient during follow-up. Conclusion: The large and multi-centered studies are needed for the anticoagulant therapy protocol for the patients with atrial fibrillation following carotid endarterectomy. We prefer combination of warfarin, providing INR value between 2-3, and 100 mg aspirin per day at our patients as therapy modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Isovaleric acidemia: cranial CT and MRI findings," that was published in the July 5, 2006 issue is presented.

Major bleeding during stapes surgery is a rare condition. The anterior course of the sigmoid sinus is comparatively common in contracted mastoid bones, but rare in good pneumatized temporal bones. We report a case of an unusual anterior course of the vertical segment of the sigmoid sinus, which led to profuse bleeding during a stapedotomy operation. The 34-year-old female patient presented with conductive-type hearing loss in the right ear. During the operation, the unintentional sliding movement of a blunt curette caused injury to the anteriorly positioned sigmoid sinus, which was separated from the posterior wall of the external auditory canal by an extremely thin shell of bone. Profuse bleeding from the sigmoid sinus was controlled by pushing the middle part of the oxidised regenerated cellulose inside the lumen, without compromising the sinus flow. After bleeding was restrained, the stapedotomy operation was completed successfully. During the 1-year follow-up, there was neither an air-bone gap nor a sensorineural hearing loss in pure tone audiogram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]