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Paraspinal hematomas are common complications following spine surgery. In general, these hematomas are asymptomatic and resolve without issue. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of literature that describes the recurrence of these hematomas in a chronic setting. This case report describes a patient with a chronic recurrent calcified paraspinal hematoma that first developed over 4 years and then reoccurred 11 years later at the same site. The case features a 53-year-old female presented with severe lumbar back pain and right lower extremity radiculopathy in which she underwent a lumbar decompression posterior spinal fusion from L3 to L5 in 2008. Postoperatively, she developed a lumbar paraspinal hematoma which was treated with aspiration followed by conservative management. Four years later, the patient had a large paraspinal mass removed from a similar location in an outside medical facility. The procedure required the assistance of plastic surgery for flap closure and a pathologic review of the mass revealed a calcified hematoma. Ten years later, the patient sought treatment from her index surgeon for a recurrence of the lumbar mass with new onset radicular symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine confirmed the presence of a large paraspinal mass. The patient proceeded with the removal of hardware, revision of laminectomy, revision of posterior instrumentation from L2 to L5, and removal of the lumbar mass. The pathology report classified the mass as a chronic calcified hematoma. The patient remains symptom-free for 1 year following the revision procedure. This case demonstrates an extremely rare presentation, ill-described in the existing literature, of a recurrent symptomatic calcified lumbar paraspinal hematoma requiring repeat operative intervention., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2025.)

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the optimal balloon diameter for intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided balloon angioplasty in calcified below-the-knee (BTK) tibial artery lesions., Methods: Between February 2024 and April 2024, a retrospective review was conducted on 17 patients with Rutherford category 4-6 severely calcified tibial arteries with >70% stenosis, treated with IVUS-guided balloon angioplasty. Sequentially, 3 mm and then 3.5 mm diameter balloons were inflated. The minimum lumen diameter and area were measured before and after the procedure in the proximal, mid, and distal segments of the tibial arteries. One- and three-month follow-ups were conducted using Doppler ultrasound., Results: Significant increases in lumen diameter ( P < 0.001 for all) and lumen area ( P < 0.001, P = 0.003, P = 0.002, respectively) were observed in the proximal, mid, and distal segments of the BTK arteries following IVUS-guided 3.5 mm balloon angioplasty. Ultra-low iodinated contrast media was used [median 2 mL (range, 1-4 mL)]. Lumen area increase ratios were similar among the proximal, mid, and distal segments ( P = 0.905). No target vessel revascularization, major amputation, or mortality was observed during follow-up. Wound healing was seen in 62.5% of the cases with foot ulcers., Conclusion: In the treatment of calcified BTK tibial arteries, a gradual balloon diameter increase up to 3.5 mm in IVUS-guided balloon angioplasty is safe and effective., Clinical Significance: Gradual balloon diameter increase up to 3.5 mm under IVUS guidance in calcified BTK lesions demonstrates significant potential. It enables ultra-low contrast usage, provides low complication rates, and achieves high patency and limb salvage, along with satisfactory wound healing in the short term.

Intracranial epidermoid cysts are benign, slow-growing congenital tumors of ectodermal origin. They are rare embryonal benign cystic masses with an incidence rate of approximately 0.04%-0.6% of intracranial tumors. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are fundamental diagnostic tools providing valuable information for surgical management. We reported a 59-year-old male patient with right limb weakness twelve hours prior to admission, slurred speech, and paresis of the facial nerve. Based on history taking, physical examination, and radiology examinations, we concluded a diagnosis of non-communicated hydrocephalus due to a right cerebellar intra-axial tumor with a suspicion of low-grade glioma (Pylocitic Astrocytoma). CT and MRI in intracranial epidermoid cysts are fundamental diagnostic tools for diagnosing and obtaining helpful information for surgical planning. Intracranial epidermoid cysts appear as lobulated lesions filling and expanding CSF spaces and exerting a gradual mass effect, insinuating between structures and encasing adjacent nerves and vessels. In this case, we noted a hypodense lesion with irregular calcifications and well-defined on the right cerebellar region measuring 6.15 × 5.47 × 5.7 cm, surrounded by a hypodense image suggesting an intra-axial mass suspected of low-grade glioma with a differential diagnosis of brain abscess. The hypointense lesion on the T1WI sequence found in the MRI examination, with no significant contrast enhancement and restricted diffusion area on DWI, was one of the notable features described in the epidermoid cyst. Intracranial epidermoid cyst rarely occurs in the intracranial, resulting in many symptoms in this case, which should be diagnosed and treated promptly. Imaging aids in proper diagnosis and provides more valuable information for further treatment., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of University of Washington.)

Introduction and Objective: Thoracic disc calcification is a radiological finding which may be incidental or diagnosed in patients presenting with myelopathy due to spinal cord compression. We performed a study to analyze the imaging patterns of calcified thoracic discs (CTDs)., Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of the spinal and radiology database of a tertiary referral orthopedic hospital was conducted for the incidence of CTDs between 2007 and 2020. Patients' demographics and radiological findings were recorded. The relationship between disc size, morphology, spinal cord compression, and management was assessed., Results: Fifty-one cases of CTDs were identified. The mean size of CTD was 806.2 mm 3 (range: 144-2340). The most common level of disc calcification was T9-T10 (24%) in 12 patients. Thoracic disc calcifications in our series commonly involved disc "protrusion" in 67% (34 patients), followed by "mushroom" type in 31% (16 patients) and "extrusion" in 2% (1 patient). 37% (19 patients) had spinal cord compression with 12% (6 patients) undergoing surgical interventions. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean sizes of CTD between the groups with and without spinal cord compression ( P = 0.566, independent sample t-test). Patients with "mushroom" type calcification were more likely to have surgical intervention ( P = 0.01, Fisher's exact test)., Conclusion: Thoracic disc calcifications, while common, can still be underdiagnosed till late myelopathic deterioration. Care of the elderly physicians, spinal surgeons, and radiologists need to be aware of them to guide diagnosis and management. Our study demonstrates that disc morphology plays a vital role in myelopathic presentation and therefore determines the need for surgical intervention instead of the absolute size of disc calcification., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Craniovertebral Junction and Spine.)

Introduction: The first-choice vascular access to starting dialysis in patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is autogenous distal arteriovenous-fistula (AVF) to spare vascular district avoiding proximal fistula complications. One of most significant exclusion criteria to create distal AVF is still now the presence of huge calcification of the feeding artery due to large numbers of early failure (EF) and failure in maturation (FTM). In recent years the possibility to use new devices able to deliver intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) to treat high calcified stenosis could be a possibility to recruit these marginal arteries to create distal AVF., Methods: ESRD patients with totally calcified radial artery wall were enrolled to participate to this prospective, single arm, multicentric study. The selected patients were treated with intraoperative IVL at surgical time, during anastomosis creation to soften calcified radial artery. Patients were followed 1 month after surgery with eco-doppler, for flow and vessels maturation assessment. At 3 month was investigated how many patients have started dialysis treatment with two needle cannulation and good efficiency., Results: Nineteen distal forearm radio-cephalic fistula were built in 19 patients. One-month doppler assessment showed mean AVF flow of 743 ml/min and efferent vein caliper of 6.46 mm. At 3 months 14 patient have started stable 2 needles dialysis (other three patients were not yet dialysis dependent CKD). Were observed one immediate failure, one failure in maturation, and two late failures at 4 and 16 months respectively. Sixteen months primary and secondary patency was 78.9% and 89.5% respectively., Conclusion: These results showed how intraoperative IVL could help to recruit huge calcified marginal artery to create autogenous distal forearm AVF, avoiding proximal AVF, risking distal ischemia syndrome, and sparing vascular district to eventually rebuilt more proximal AVF in future., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) provides non-invasive quantitative assessments of plaque burden and composition. The quantitative assessment of plaque components requires the use of analysis software that provides reproducible semi-automated plaque detection and analysis. However, commercially available plaque analysis software can vary widely in the degree of automation, resulting in differences in terms of reproducibility and time spent., Aim: To compare the reproducibility and time spent of two CCTA analysis software tools using different algorithms for the quantitative assessment of coronary plaque volumes and composition in two independent patient cohorts., Methods: The study population included 100 patients from two different cohorts: 50 patients from a single-center (Siemens Healthineers, SOMATOM Force (DSCT)) and another 50 patients from a multi-center study (5 different > 64 slice CT scanner types). Quantitative measurements of total calcified and non-calcified plaque volume of the right coronary artery (RCA), left anterior descending (LAD), and left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) were performed on a total of 300 coronaries by two independent readers, using two different CCTA analysis software tools (Tool #1: Siemens Healthineers, syngo.via Frontier CT Coronary Plaque Analysis and Tool #2: Siemens Healthineers, successor CT Coronary Plaque Analysis prototype). In addition, the total time spent for the analysis was recorded with both programs., Results: The patients in cohorts 1 and 2 were 62.8 ± 10.2 and 70.9 ± 11.7 years old, respectively, 10 (20.0%) and 35 (70.0%) were female and 34 (68.0%) and 20 (40.0%), respectively, had hyperlipidemia. In Cohort #1, the inter- and intra-observer variabilities for the assessment of plaque volumes per patient for Tool #1 versus Tool #2 were 22.8%, 22.0%, and 26.0% versus 2.3%, 3.9%, and 2.5% and 19.7%, 21.4%, and 22.1% versus 0.2%, 0.1%, and 0.3%, respectively, for total, noncalcified, and calcified lesions ( p < 0.001 for all between Tools #1 and 2 both for inter- and intra-observer). The inter- and intra-observer variabilities using Tool #2 remained low at 2.9%, 2.7%, and 3.0% and 3.8%, 3.7%, and 4.0%, respectively, for total, non-calcified, and calcified lesions in Cohort #2. For each dataset, the median processing time was higher for Tool #1 versus Tool #2 (459.5 s IQR = 348.0-627.0 versus 208.5 s; IQR = 198.0-216.0) ( p < 0.001)., Conclusion: The plaque analysis Tool #2 (CT-guided PCI) encompassing a higher degree of automated support required less manual editing, was more time-efficient, and showed a higher intra- and inter-observer reproducibility for the quantitative assessment of plaque volumes both in a representative single-center and in a multi-center validation cohort.

Background: Dense calcifications encasing pacing leads with long dwell times are common and increase the difficulty of and risks associated with transvenous lead extraction procedures (TLE). Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) focuses sound waves to fracture calcified tissue within a narrow radius to the catheter., Objectives: This study sought to assess the impact of Shockwave IVL pretreatment during extraction of long dwell time pacemaker and defibrillator leads., Methods: Data were compiled retrospectively from patients undergoing TLE at Essentia Health in Duluth, Minnesota, from October 2019 to April 2023. IVL pretreatment was performed using currently available 7- and 8-mm balloons with ≤300 pulses delivered in close proximity to the leads via a retrograde approach, after which the procedure was completed as usual., Results: Of the 120 patients undergoing TLE procedures, 55 were excluded from the study because the leads were freely mobile. Among the remaining 65 patients, 14 received IVL pretreatment. The median patient ages were similar at 67 (IQR: 63-76) years, with a lead dwell time of 10.7 (IQR: 6.9-14.9) years. The frequencies of diabetes, stroke, prior sternotomy, and lead types were not significantly different between the IVL and conventional groups. IVL pretreatment resulted in an average of 25 (IQR: 9-42) fewer minutes actively extracting leads (P = 0.007)., Conclusions: These data represent the first known cases using Shockwave IVL as an adjunctive measure during extraction of high-risk and high-complexity leads, with a resulting significant reduction in the amount of time spent engaging in the highest-risk phase of the procedure., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures This study was not funded. Dr Latanich has performed consulting and research work with Boston Scientific and Medtronic and is in the process of setting up a prospective randomized clinical trial with Shockwave to more exhaustively evaluate this technique but has not received any compensation for this work. Dr Anderson has reported that he has no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Sparse data are available on the etiology, morphology, clinical presentation, and outcomes of adrenal calcification. In this single-center retrospective study of 540 consecutive patients (median age 65 years, 45% women) with adrenal calcification on computed tomography (December 2017 to January 2021), most were discovered incidentally (472, 87%). The commonest etiology was idiopathic (389, 72%), followed by the adrenal tumor (113, 21%), hemorrhage (29, 5%), and infiltrative disease (7, 1%). Calcified adrenal tumors were predominantly benign (92, 81%) and primarily adenomas (63, 69%), whereas the most common calcified adrenal malignancy (16, 18%) was metastasis (12, 67%). Calcification (unilateral 94%, bilateral 6%) morphology varied from punctate (313, 58%) to coarse (165, 30%), linear/curvilinear (46, 9%), and rim-like (16, 3%). In summary, adrenal calcifications are usually incidentally discovered unilateral, punctate, or coarse lesions of unclear etiology. Most calcified adrenal tumors are benign and <20% malignant or pheochromocytomas., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: I.B. serves on the editorial board for EJE and was not involved in the handling of this manuscript. I.B. reports consulting (fee to institution) from HRA Pharma, Recordati, Corcept, Sparrow, Neurocrine, Diurnal, Adrenas, and Spruce, outside this work. I.B. reports funding for the investigator-initiated award from Recordati (outside this work). Other authors declare no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Society of Endocrinology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Pericardial cysts are rare benign intrathoracic lesions, and calcified pericardial cysts are even more uncommon. Most pericardial cysts are asymptomatic, but patients may present with chest pain, dyspnea and any complications of pericardial effusion. We present a case of a left-sided calcified pericardial cyst, highlighting its rarity and symptoms in relation to its location., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Mönckeberg's disease, a rare medial calcific arteriosclerosis, predominantly affects lower extremity arteries with an unclear etiology. If untreated, severe complications like ischemic necrosis and gangrene may arise. We present a case of a 28-year-old male with spontaneous lower limb swelling, abscess, and itching. Despite a history of deep vein thrombosis and warfarin therapy, Mönckeberg's disease was suspected. Imaging revealed diffuse vascular calcification of the media of the arterial wall bilaterally in the right and left femoral vessels with heterogenous irregular soft tissue collection in the right with suspected infection. Following treatment, the patient's symptoms improved, and follow-up imaging showed resolution of fluid collections and improved calcification appearance. This report highlights the importance of considering Mönckeberg's disease in the differential diagnosis of lower extremity swelling and the need for timely management to prevent serious complications., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Odah et al.)

Calcinosis cutis describes the deposition of calcium in the dermis. A case of a 69-year-old woman with idiopathic calcinosis cutis that presented as a mobile subcutaneous nodule is described. The patient had an asymptomatic, firm, mobile subcutaneous nodule on her right lower leg of at least six months duration. The nodule could be easily moved from one location to another. An incisional biopsy was performed. Microscopic examination of the tissue specimen showed islands of basophilic calcium material in dense sclerotic dermal connective tissue establishing the diagnosis of calcinosis cutis. Mobile solitary calcification is an unusual presentation of idiopathic calcinosis cutis. In addition to idiopathic calcinosis cutis, benign mobile subcutaneous tumors have also been derived from adnexal structures of hair follicles and adipose tissue. Hence, not only idiopathic calcinosis cutis, but also subepidermal calcinosis in the ocular adnexa, proliferating trichilemmal cyst with focal calcification, and mobile encapsulated adipose tissue can present as a mobile subcutaneous nodule. The features of idiopathic calcinosis presenting as a mobile subcutaneous nodule as well as the characteristics of other benign mobile subcutaneous tumors are reviewed., Competing Interests: The authors have declared financial relationships, which are detailed in the next section., (Copyright © 2023, Osuoji et al.)

Calcified chondroid neoplasms with FN1::FGFR1 or FGFR2 fusions constitute a recently described category of mesenchymal neoplasms mostly encountered in the extremities and temporomandibular joint. Herein, we report a case of FNI1-fused calcified chondroid neoplasm of the hand with a novel FGFR3 fusion partner. The tumor exhibited a multilobulated growth pattern composed of epithelioid cells embedded in abundant stroma with myxoid, chondroid, and fibrous areas and scattered osteoclast-like giant cells. RNA sequencing revealed an in-frame fusion between Exon 31 of FN1 and Exon 3 of FGFR3, which was subsequently confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Our findings expand on the spectrum of potential fusion partners in FN1-fused calcified chondroid neoplasms., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Ossified or calcified subdural chronic hematoma is an uncommon condition with an incidence of 0.3-2% of all chronic subdural hematomas. It can cause significant mortality and morbidity, especially in young patients. Because of the rare incidence of this condition, its pathophysiology and management preferences have not yet been clearly established, which raises the importance of reporting such cases in order to add valuable databases to the literature., Case Presentation: A 34-year-old woman with a history of head trauma several years ago presented with refractory headaches, convulsions, and muscle weakness. Computed tomography showed an extra-axial calcified lesion in the frontal lobe. Surgical treatment was decided considering the patient's age, in addition to the presence of serious medically uncontrolled symptoms. The calcified lesion was successfully removed surgically, and the patient recovered completely. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of ossified subdural chronic hematoma., Clinical Discussion: The symptoms of ossified subdural hematomas are not specific. However, the presence of a history of head trauma should raise suspicion of this condition. Computerized tomography is usually used as the diagnostic method. Nevertheless, it is unable to differentiate ossified chronic subdural hematomas from other intracranial extra-axial calcified lesions that need to be considered as a differential diagnosis. Pathologic investigations are needed to provide the final diagnosis., Conclusions: We highly recommend surgical therapy for ossified subdural hematomas that are symptomatic and persistent, especially in young patients. We further stress the significance of postsurgical anticonvulsant prophylaxis, particularly in patients presenting convulsions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Calcified subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a very rare presentation but a known and reported entity in literature. Most of the case reports have been described in children and the elderly. Surgical treatment for CSDH is still considered controversial. We report here a case of calcified subdural hematoma in a middle-aged male that was successfully operated on. A 45-year-old male presented with complaints of right-sided weakness and seizures with a history of head trauma three years ago. Non-contrast computerized tomography (NCCT) head showed calcified subdural hematoma associated with mass effect and midline shift. A frontotemporoparietal craniotomy was done to remove the CSDH. Intra-operatively the brain was pulsating well. He was discharged on the 12th postoperative day and doing well on a follow-up visit., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Anwer et al.)

Thoracic disc herniation is one of the most therapeutically challenging spine conditions. A myriad of surgical approaches have been described in the literature, including posterior, anterior, and combined techniques. However, transthoracic and retropleural approaches are currently deemed the most effective techniques to successfully obtain anterior decompression. Herein the authors describe a 65-year-old female patient who underwent a transthoracic endoscopic approach to remove a calcified herniated thoracic disc that caused spinal cord compression. Despite having a long learning curve, the surgical technique described herein can be even used in patients with complex and calcified thoracic disc herniations. The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2022.3.FOCVID221., Competing Interests: Disclosures The authors report no conflict of interest concerning the materials or methods used in this study or the findings specified in this publication.The authors report no conflict of interest concerning the materials or methods used in this study or the findings specified in this publication., (© 2022, The Authors.)

Introduction: Juxta-facet cysts (JFCs) are extradural lesions. Calcification of cyst walls is often reported, although completely calcified facet cysts are extremely rare., Case Presentation: A 65-year-old man presented with a 1-year history of the right lower extremity weakness and pain, and chronic low back pain. Imaging showed hypointensity on T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance images which can be very well appreciated on a completely calcified computed tomography mass arising from the right L3/4 facet joint. The patient underwent a total cyst removal with a facetectomy of the right L3/4 facet, and L3 to L4 posterior fusion., Conclusion: We presented a case of a completely calcified JFC in a patient with back pain and radiculopathy who underwent cystectomy and spinal fusion. JFCs should be considered in the differential diagnosis of calcified extradural lesions., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: Nil, (Copyright: © Indian Orthopaedic Research Group.)

Background: Complex craniopharyngiomas pose a significant surgical challenge owing to its proximity to critical structures and its intrinsic nature to resist radical excision., Objective: To show that endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) is potentially a better alternative to transcranial approach in tumors that have been operated multiple times by transcranial route for achieving radical excision with minimal morbidity., Materials and Methods: A 32-year-old male previously operated twice through interhemispheric approach for craniopharyngioma presented with blurring of vision accompanied by headache and intermittent diplopia. Imaging revealed a large lobulated suprasellar recurrence with a large calcified part adjacent to left internal carotid artery. The tumor was resected by an extended endonasal approach. The patient experienced improvement in his vision with no significant endocrine complication., Results and Conclusion: This case demonstrates the surgical technique and various operative nuances of endoscopic endonasal resection of a complex craniopharyngioma., Competing Interests: None

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is currently an established therapy for elderly patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis across all surgical risk categories. Access is an important aspect when planning for and performing TAVI. The superiority of a transfemoral (TF) approach compared to a transthoracic (transapical, direct aortic) approach has been demonstrated in several studies. Recently, the introduction of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) has made it possible to treat patients with calcified iliofemoral disease by TF approach. This article aimed to provide a comprehensive overview on the following aspects: (1) preprocedural planning for IVL-assisted TF-TAVI; (2) procedural aspects in IVL-assisted TF-TAVI; (3) outcomes of IVL-assisted TF-TAVI in an experienced TAVI center; and (4) literature review and discussion of this new emerging approach., Competing Interests: OD received speaker fees from Shockwave Medical Inc. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Sawaya, Bajoras, Vanhaverbeke, Wang, Bieliauskas, Søndergaard and De Backer.)

Background: Leriche syndrome is the result of the atherosclerotic occlusion of the distal aorta that may also involve pelvic arteries. The standard treatment for this condition is considered surgical with various techniques available for establishing appropriate flow to both limbs. However, due to the technical advances in the last decades, endovascular approaches are now also capable to tackle such lesions. The 'pave-and-crack' technique enables the treatment of severely calcified lesions. This two-step procedure consists of firstly placing a covered stent prothesis (VIABAHN) into the severely calcified segment, which is afterwards aggressively dilated with high-pressure balloons. Subsequently, an interwoven nitinol SUPERA stent with high radial forces is placed within the prothesis., Case Summary: Herein, we describe the case of an 81-year-old male patient, who presented with critical limb-threatening ischaemia of his right leg. Doppler ultrasound revealed a long occlusion of the right external iliac artery, common femoral, superficial femoral, and deep femoral artery. The lesion was successfully tackled using antegrade and retrograde punctures and the 'pave-and-crack' technique., Discussion: The 'pave-and-crack' technique is an endovascular approach for the treatment of severe circumferential calcified lesions. Based on this technique covered stents are initially placed to prevent vessel rupture, which might occur during the aggressive balloon dilatation. Subsequently, the covered stents are relined by interwoven Supera stents, which provide high radial force preventing recoil and restenosis., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

We report on retrograde retrieval of the soft end of dislodged guidewires during complex interventions. Interventionalists may consider this as an option for the endovascular management of this complication if an antegrade retrieval is not possible or fails., Competing Interests: No conflicts of interest to declare upon of all the authors of this manuscript., (© 2021 The Authors. Clinical Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Calcified neurocysticercosis (NCC) predisposes patients to an enduring state of epilepsy. The predictors for calcification in parenchymal neurocysticercosis are not well defined., Method: In this prospective cohort study, consecutive children with single-lesion parenchymal NCC were enrolled and followed up for one year. All patients were investigated with brain 3 T-MRI and electroimmunotransfer blot (EITB). Clinical follow-ups were performed every 3 months. Radiology was repeated at the 6-month and one-year follow-ups. The proportion of calcified lesions at one year and the predictors of calcification were studied., Result: During the study period from June 2013 to December 2015, 93 children with single lesion parenchymal NCC were enrolled. At presentation, 90 % of the lesions were in the colloidal stage, and 71 % of the lesions had moderate to severe perilesional oedema. All children had 6 months of follow-up, and 86 (92.5 %) had one year of follow-up. Seizure recurrence was present in 13 (14 %) children. Follow-up radiology at one year showed lesion resolution in 51 (59 %) lesions and calcification in 28 (32.5 %) lesions. Children with calcified lesions during follow-up had a higher odds of seizure recurrences {OR, 95 % CI 3.6(2.3-5.6)}. The presence at baseline of diffusion restriction {OR, 95% CI 2.9 (1.01-8.8)}, scolex or wall calcification in the T2 Star weighted angiography MRI images {OR, 95% CI 3.7 (1.7-8.2)} and >10 mm size of the lesion {OR, 95 % CI 2.4 (1.2-5.01)} predicted lesion calcification., Conclusion: Children with calcification of the parenchymal NCC lesions have a higher risk for seizure recurrence during follow-up. The presence of diffusion restriction, calcified nidus in the colloidal nodular stage, and >10 mm size of the lesion at baseline predicted calcification of the lesion during follow-up., (Copyright © 2020 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Balloon uncrossable lesions are common and can be challenging to treat. The most commonly used initial treatment strategies are using a small balloon (occasionally intentionally rupturing it) and increasing guide catheter support. Atherectomy can be challenging to perform in this setting, as the insertion of an atherectomy guidewire requires crossing the lesion with a microcatheter or over-the-wire balloon, which often fails. We report the use of the ViperWire Advance flex tip guidewire (Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota) for primary wiring of a heavily calcified balloon uncrossable lesion, followed by orbital atherectomy and successful equipment crossing leading to procedural success., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Conventional surgical approaches used in the management of thoracic disc herniation (TDH) are associated with high morbidity. The development of minimally invasive and mini-open approaches has consistently improved patient outcomes., Objective: To report our experience and outcomes of patients with symptomatic TDHs who underwent discectomy and partial corpectomy using the mini-open retropleural (MORP) approach as well as provide a detailed and illustrated technical description of the approach., Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed on all patients with symptomatic TDHs who underwent a MORP approach at a tertiary academic center between 2011 and 2019. Patient demographic, clinical, and imaging data were examined (n = 33). The surgical technique is illustrated and described in detail., Results: Discectomy of the herniated thoracic discs was successfully achieved in all patients using the MORP approach. Calcified discs were present in 63.6% (n = 21) of patients. Immediate instrumentation and fusion were performed in 30.3% (n = 10) of patients, which were among the earlier cases in this series. Symptomatic pleural effusions and cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 6.1% (n = 2) and 9.1% (n = 3), respectively. No patient required chest tube placement., Conclusion: The MORP approach described in this manuscript is feasible and safe in achieving discectomy in patients with symptomatic TDHs. Compared to conventional open and other minimally invasive approaches, patients undergoing the MORP approach may have better outcomes with lower complication rates., (Copyright © 2020 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.)

Cerebral hydatid disease is a peculiar manifestation of echinococcosis, an infection acquired from Echinococcus tapeworm, in its larval stage. It symbolizes only 2% of all the cerebral space occupying lesions. It is frequently observed in children and young adults. In this paper, we report an exceptional case of intracranial solitary calcified hydatid cyst in a 25 year old male, shepherd by occupation, presenting with history of difficulty in walking and convulsions for the last 20 years. Craniotomy was carried out and an intact calcified mass weighing around 300 grams was excised. It is the largest intracranial calcified hydatid cyst excised till date and is first of its kind., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Asian Journal of Neurosurgery.)

Introduction: Chronic calcified/ossified subdural hematoma is a rare diagnosis. The incidence of chronic calcified subdural hematoma is 0.3-2.7% of all chronic subdural hematomas. Surgical treatment is indicated in most cases, but there is still some controversy., Materials and Methods: We present a case report of 81-year-old woman with calcified chronic subdural hematoma. Patient underwent an osteoplastic left craniotomy, evacuation of chronic subdural mass with careful dissection andsuccessful removal of inner and outer membrane. Postoperative CT scan showed removal of subdural hematoma, decrease of left shift of median line and good brain re-expansion. Postoperative period was without any serious complications., Results: Subdural hematoma was successfully removed, resulting in a good recovery with complete resolution of patients symptoms. From our experience, we highly recommend surgical treatment in cases of chronic symptomatic calcified subdural hematomas.

Inhibition of high calcium during anaerobic wastewater treatment has been studied in recent years, focusing on calcium precipitates in anaerobic granule but neglecting the effect of functional microbes. In this study, key factors of calcification and microbial behaviors especially methanogens of calcified anaerobic granule (AnGS) were investigated in batch assays with calcium level varying from 0 to 5 g L -1 . The results showed that the COD removal efficiency and specific methane activity of calcified AnGS were restrained with calcium addition, especially high calcium (>2 g L -1 ), and little tolerance of calcified AnGS to Ca 2+ was underlined compared with non-calcified AnGS. Analysis of calcium mass flow from solution to sludge validated the formation of calcium precipitates influenced by calcium concentration, pH and HCO 3 - . Besides, death of microbes in outer layer of anaerobic granules was triggered by calcium precipitation. Most importantly, aceticlastic Methanothrix genus was the dominant methanogen, and its relative abundance was correlative negatively with cumulative decrease of bulk Ca 2+ . Hydrogenotrophic Methanobacterium was enriched at higher calcium level, and it suggested that hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis could play a role in alleviating the inhibition of high calcium., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Calcified chronic subdural hematoma which is usually found in children and takes several months for calcification to be seen on imaging is presented in an elderly patient in which the calcification could be visible early after trauma., Presentation of Case: An elderly man, 83, living with caregiver, was brought to our hospital due to dysarthria and suffocation for 2 days. Three months ago, he experienced his head injury from a fall. Four days ago, he developed progressive left hemiparesis. Because of clinically progressive deterioration and computed tomography scan revealing acute epidural hematoma, the patient was transferred to operating room. Gross findings and pathologic reports unfolded that the lesion was consistent with calcified chronic subdural hematoma. Despite a successful operation, the patient cannot survive., Discussion: In addition to the presentation in an elderly patient, there was scarcely any paper reporting an early presentation of calcium deposition. Nevertheless, according to the lack of previous data recorded for his earlier performance, deviation on walking or sitting, before the accident, we cannot actually know whether there has been calcium deposition in his brain before or not., Conclusion: Calcified chronic subdural hematoma could present in elderly group of patient and early presentation of calcium deposition following trauma is possible. However, surgery in this group of patient entails a risk of fatality, despite the successful operation., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: This report discusses the risks and complications of using the extended endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EEETA) in a special craniopharyngioma case to caution neurosurgeons., Case Description: A 38-year-old woman with craniopharyngioma underwent EEETA surgery. Her anterior cerebral artery was punctured intraoperatively and clipped using an aneurysm clip through the nose in an emergency procedure., Conclusions: The coexistence of severe calcified craniopharyngiomas, especially with sharp calcified spurs, a narrow distance between the anterior communicating artery and the planum sphenoidale, and a narrow distance between the bilateral internal carotid arteries is a significant warning signal during EEETA for craniopharyngiomas. In this circumstance, it may be preferable to use open microsurgical approaches. If the anterior communicating artery or anterior cerebral artery is punctured during EEETA, another method is available to fix the problem using an aneurysm clip through the nose, and not only endovascular embolization., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Thoracic disk herniations (TDHs) represent only 0.15% to 1.8% of surgically managed disk herniations but have posed a particular challenge to spine surgeons. Numerous surgical approaches have been cited in the literature with varying degrees of success, technical complexity, and complication profiles., Objective: To report a case of a combined lateral retropleural and dorsal transdural approach for complex thoracic discectomy., Methods: In this report, we describe a combined lateral/retropleural and posterior transdural approach for a patient with a giant calcified TDH that was not amenable to safe removal using a single approach., Results: In complex situations such as this, a dual corridor approach allows for improved visualization and maximal resection opportunity and opens up yet another option to address recalcitrant TDH., Conclusion: The staged dual corridor approach is safe and represents a further surgical option for extremely difficult TDH., (Copyright © 2018 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.)

Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor (CFP) is a rare, benign soft tissue tumor that may uncommonly arise in the pleura. These tumors can show multifocal dissemination across the pleural surface, but the mechanism underlying this dissemination is unclear. Review of previously reported cases of pleural CFP demonstrates a strong predilection for basal and diaphragmatic pleural surfaces, and a significantly higher rate of multifocality compared with other locations. We present a 59-year-old male with multiple CFP of the pleura. Reactive-appearing adhesions spanning the pleural surfaces were present, and by electron microscopy, were involved by tumor. We suggest this is the likely mode of dissemination across the pleural surfaces.

Introduction: Odontomas generally appear as small, solitary, or multiple radio-opaque lesions found on routine radiographic examinations. Traditionally, odontomas have been classified as benign odontogenic tumors and are subdivided into complex or compound odontomas morphologically. Frequently, they interfere with the eruption of the teeth., Case Report: This paper describes the case of a compound odontoma in a 10-year-old boy diagnosed after extraction of the retained right primary mandibular first molar in the radiograph. A surgical excision was performed and the histopathological examination revealed a compound odontome., Conclusion: Early diagnosis of odontomas and complete removal ensures better prognosis., How to Cite This Article: Rana V, Srivastava N, et al. Compound Odontome: A Case Report. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2019;12(1):64-67., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None

Objective: The giant calcified herniated thoracic disc (HTD), a rare disease, is a challenge for surgeons because of its complications. This review aimed to confirm the surgical treatment, including surgical approach, results, and complications of HTDs., Methods: This systematic review of the literature complies with the PRISMA guidelines and involves a search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for all papers describing surgical treatment of giant calcified HTDs in ≥3 patients. Data on the surgical approach, change in neurologic impairment, and complications were extracted from the search results., Results: A total of 11 studies, including 164 patients with giant calcified HTDs that met the inclusion criteria, were included in this systematic review. Of the 164 patients, 145 had myelopathy in giant calcified HTDs, and 8 surgical approaches were included. After the surgical treatment, the neurologic grades were improved in 69% of patients, remained unchanged in 22% of patients, and worsened further in 3% of patients at the final follow-up. Also, of the total patients analyzed, 3% had permanent neurologic deterioration, 4% patients had subarachnoid-pleural cerebrospinal fluid fistula complications, 30% had other complications, 4% had reoperation via transthoracic approach, 13% had permanent neurologic deterioration via the posterolateral approach, and 25% had permanent neurologic deterioration via the thoracoscopy approach., Conclusions: Surgical treatment can improve or stabilize neurologic impairment for most patients with giant calcified HTDs. We thus recommend the anterior thoracotomy approach for giant calcified HTDs because of the theoretical advantages over other approaches and the low rate of neurologic deterioration, subarachnoid-pleural cerebrospinal fluid fistula, and reoperation., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Pilocytic astrocytoma is a less aggressive form of glial tumor that commonly occurs in the pediatric population, and its malignant transformation is extremely rare. Here, we report an elderly case of malignant small cell glioma with hemorrhage coexistent with a calcified pilocytic astrocytoma component. An 80-year-old male was found to have a right cerebellar non-enhanced tumor with hematoma adjoining a calcified nodule. The lesion was surgically removed, and a histological examination verified that the tumor was a malignant small cell glioma with hemorrhagic change and the calcified nodule showed features of pilocytic astrocytoma. Genetic analyses revealed no glioma-relevant genetic alterations such as IDH and BRAF mutations. Although calcification is generally observed in slowly growing gliomas, the aggressive clinical course of calcified cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma has been previously reported. Our extremely rare case shows that careful follow-up is necessary even for calcified pilocytic astrocytomas., (© 2018 Japanese Society of Neuropathology.)

Retroperitoneal teratoma involving adrenal gland is a rare entity in adults comprising only 4% of all primary teratomas. These tumors are mainly seen in infants and children. Diagnosis is made by X-ray and CT abdomen showing the presence of large tumor with cystic and calcified walls. Here, we present an interesting image of a 16-year-old girl who presented with large (12 × 10 cm) calcified cyst occupying left side of abdomen which was treated successfully by surgical excision., Competing Interests: Compliance with Ethical StandardsThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

OBJECTIVE The authors report a novel paradigm for resection of the disc or dural complex to treat giant calcified transdural herniated thoracic discs, and they describe a technique for the repair of dural defects. These herniated thoracic discs are uncommon, complicated lesions that often require a multidisciplinary team for effective treatment. The intradural component must be removed to effectively decompress the spinal cord. The opening of the friable dura mater, which frequently adheres to the extradural component of the disc, can result in large defects and difficult-to-manage CSF leaks. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective study of the technique and outcomes in patients with a transdural herniated disc treated at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center within a 4-year period between 2012 and 2015. RESULTS During the study period, 7 patients (mean age 56.1 years) presented to the department of neurosurgery with clinical symptoms consistent with myeloradiculopathy. In all cases, 2-level corpectomies of the involved levels were combined with circumferential resection of the dura and complete decompression of the spinal cord. The dural defect was repaired with an onlay dural patch, and a large piece of AlloDerm (LifeCell Corp) graft was sewn to close the pleural defect. Every patient had a perioperative lumbar drain placed for CSF diversion. No patient suffered neurological decline related to the surgery, and 3 patients experienced clinically significant improvement in function. Two patients developed an early postoperative CSF leak that required operative revision to oversew the defects. CONCLUSIONS This novel technique for decompression of the spinal cord by dural resection for the removal of giant calcified transdural herniated thoracic discs is safe and results in excellent decompression of the spinal cord. The technique becomes necessary when primary repair of the dura is not possible, and it can be used in cases in which the resection of pathology includes the dura.

With the advent of newer imaging modalities retained surgical items are now easily diagnosed by their characteristic imaging appearances. A combination of complementary imaging modalities helps to arrive at the diagnosis of this relatively rare complication. Factors contributing to their imaging features include the timing of diagnosis and imaging, presence of secondary infection, communication of the retained item with hollow viscus or external skin wound, and type of imaging modality used. A high index of suspicion is necessary for diagnosis before labeling it as a retained surgical item. In parallel with recent advances in surgery, it is essential that there is increasing awareness among radiologists regarding the newer types of retained surgical items., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Introduction: There are limited data describing bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) implantation in complex lesions. Only short-term clinical outcomes are available for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS)., Aim: To evaluate 12-month clinical outcome, safety and effectiveness of BVS implantation in complex lesions and in stable angina (SA) or ACS., Material and Methods: Five hundred ninety-one patients with SA/ACS were enrolled between October 2012 and November 2013 in 30 invasive cardiology centres in Poland. At least one BVS implantation during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was the only inclusion criteria. The clinical endpoint was the occurrence of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) (all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), clinically driven target lesion revascularisation (TLR) with urgent PCI or target vessel revascularisation (TVR) with urgent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)) and device-oriented composite endpoint (DOCE) (cardiac death, urgent target vessel revascularisation with PCI/CABG, target vessel MI) during 12-month follow-up., Results: After 12 months TLR with urgent PCI was significantly more often reported in patients with diagnosed UA (4.59%; p < 0.02) in comparison with other PCI indications. No significant differences were found in terms of composite MACE endpoint, cumulative MACE (p = 0.09), stent thrombosis (p = 0.2) or restenosis (p = 0.2). There were no significant differences in cumulative MACE and composite MACE endpoint between patients with no/mild versus moderate/severe tortuosity and no/mild versus moderate/severe calcification of the target vessel. No significant difference was found between groups of patients with or without bifurcation of the target vessel. Device-oriented composite endpoint was significantly more often reported in the ACS group (3.2% vs. 0.47%; p < 0.03), most frequently in patients with diagnosed UA (5.5%)., Conclusions: Bioresorbable vascular scaffold can be successfully and safely used for ACS treatment and in lesions of higher complexity.

Mitral annulus calcification (MAC) is a chronic, degenerative process in the fibrous base of the mitral valve. Although MAC was initially thought to be an age-related degenerative process, there is accumulating evidence that other mechanisms, such as atherosclerosis and abnormal calcium-phosphorus metabolism, also contribute to the development of MAC. Despite its frequency, the clinical relevance of MAC is grossly underappreciated. Indeed, MAC is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, mitral valve disease, arrhythmias, and mortality. MAC also influences the outcomes of cardiac surgery and interventions, and its clinical relevance may well increase substantially in the forthcoming era of transcatheter mitral valve replacement. In this paper, we review the available published data to provide a consistent, clinically relevant description of MAC on the basis of contemporary imaging. We describe the pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to the formation of MAC and the clinical implications of this disease entity., (Copyright © 2015 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Intrasellar location of schwannoma is extremely rare, although intracranial schwannomas are common in the central nervous system. The aim of the present study is to describe a calcified intrasellar schwannoma case., Materials and Methods: We represent a 45-year-old woman who had suffered from headaches; right side facial pain and visual disturbance which had worsen during the last week prior to admission. Physical examinations were normal except for the bitemporal visual field hemianopia which match with perimetry examination. MRI demonstrated an unusual seemingly calcified mass lesion in the sellar region which was mimicking pituitary macro adenoma., Result: Total resection of the tumor achieved through endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal approach by extracapsular dissection and pathologic examination of the tumor revealed calcified schwannoma., Conclusion: The differential diagnoses of sellar and suprasellar lesions include pituitary adenomas, craniopharyngiomas, meningiomas, and many others. However, schwannoma is not usually included, because the occurrence of schwannoma in the sellar or suprasellar region is extremely rare. Only few cases of intrasellar schwannomas have been reported in the literature, all of which presented a suprasellar extension similar to that of our case. Fascinating surgical point is managing very firm tumor through transsphenoidal corridor which we handle it by very sharp, debulking and extracapsular removal., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Extradural hematoma (EDH) after ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt procedure is a rare, dangerous but easily avoidable and manageable complication. It is more common in children and young adults presumably due to relatively lax adhesion of dura to calvarium. We report a case of an 18-year-old male with acqueductal stenosis who underwent VP shunt procedure. Three months later, a computed tomography (CT) scan was done for the complaints of intractable headache and altered sensorium which showed chronic calcified EDH near shunt site. The ventricular catheter was in position and the ventricles were decompressed. After surgical decompression of EDH his symptoms improved. We discuss the factors leading to formation of EDH, with stress on proper technique to prevent or minimize such an avoidable complication.

Rhabdoid meningioma (RM) is a relatively new, rare, and aggressive subtype of meningioma, classified as Grade III malignancy in 2000, 2007 versions of WHO classification of the central nervous system. We reviewed the data available from all published cases of RMs. To the best of our knowledge, there are more than 100 published cases of RMs; none have documented extensive calcification or origin from the cranio cervical junction. We report the first case of a totally calcified (stony mass), primary RM, at the cranio cervical junction. Also, we highlighted the role of the transcondylar approach to achieve microscopic total removal of such a challenging lesion. A 37 year old female, allergic to erythromycin, presented with 5 years of progressive right upper extremity numbness and weakness, right facial numbness, and occipital pain. Imaging demonstrated a large calcified mass at the right posterior-lateral margin of the cranio cervical junction, encasing the right vertebral artery and right PICA loop. Patient underwent microscopic total resection of the lesion. Pathological diagnosis was confirmed as RM with atypical features. Subsequently, the patient received postoperative intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) on the tumor bed, and close follow up imaging showed no recurrence 2 years after surgery. We report the first case of a primary RM originating from the cranial cervical junction; also, it is the first case to present with extensive calcification in this morphological subtype. We also conclude that RM has now become a feature of newly diagnosed cases and not only a disease of recurrent cases as it was thought in the past. Since RMs are typically considered aggressive, total surgical resection with close follow up and postoperative adjuvant radiation should be considered. However, the adjuvant therapy of each separate case of RM should be tailored according to its particular histopathologic profile.

Subepidermal calcified nodule is an uncommon form of calcinosis cutis, which most commonly occurs in children. It usually presents as an asymptomatic, solitary verrucous nodule on the head and neck region, but occasionally as multiple lesions. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels are usually normal. Histopathology shows well-formed homogeneous eosinophilic material and granules in the upper dermis. Material in the dermis stained with von Kossa was positive. We report on an unusual case of a subepidermal calcified nodule occurring on the sole. A 21-month-old male presented with an oval-shaped, whitish, hard nodule measuring 5×5 mm on the left sole, without any previous history of trauma.

The authors present a rare case of calcified (ossified) chronic epidural hematoma developed in a six-and-a-half-year-old female patient who was operated for cerebellar astrocytoma 6 months earlier. There was no history of trauma. Ossified epidural hematoma was seen as an incidental finding in the follow-up in computed tomography scan after 6 months of primary glioma surgery. Ossified chronic epidural hematoma with thick collagenous wall and newly formed bone on dura was excised. The development of calcified chronic subdural hematoma after decompressive intracranial surgery is a well-known occurrence, but the fact that a calcified epidural hematoma, which is rare and which can also develop after decompressive surgery, and the occurrence of calcified (ossified) epidural hematoma after postfossa a glioma surgery is not yet reported. The second case is a 9-year-old male anemic child with a history of fall while playing 5 months earlier who presented with headache of 3 months duration. He had bifrontal calcified epidural hematoma operated by craniotomy and excision of calcified dural edge.

Odontomas are hamartomas composed of various dental tissues, i.e. enamel, dentin, cementum and sometimes pulp. They are slow-growing, benign tumors showing nonaggressive behavior. Most of the odontomes are asymptomatic with unknown etiology, although occasional signs and symptoms related to their presence do occur. Presented here is the case report of 10-year-old girl with impacted left central incisor.