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Cranial cavernous malformations (CCMs) constitute a heterogeneous group of lesions that tend to change dynamically over time with related periods of repeated exacerbation and alternating periods of remission. The decision on their management is based on estimating the inherent risk of further morbidity and the risk/benefit related to the particular treatment mode. Incidentally detected CCMs or lesions in asymptomatic patients presenting without major hemorrhage are best followed up. Complete resection of a CCM is the only healing option and is indicated for symptomatic or hemorrhagic lesions. In the large published series 83-92 % of the patients improved or remained unchanged after surgery, with only 8-11 % showing significant deterioration. For most patients, quality of life is improved. Analysis of the risk/benefit ratio for radiosurgery shows that it should not be regarded as an alternative option: It confers limited protection against bleeding and is related to a certain morbidity risk. In the subgroup of patients with symptomatic or hemorrhagic CCMs in locations that preclude surgical resection with acceptable risks, we recommend follow-up. The senior author is following a group of more than 80 such patients, and the vast majority remain free of hemorrhage and symptoms.

Three-dimensional ultrasound (US) technology is supposed to help combat some of the orientation difficulties inherent to two-dimensional US. Contemporary navigation solutions combine reconstructed 3D US images with common navigation images and support orientation. New real-time 3D US (without neuronavigation) is more time effective, but whether it further assists in orientation remains to be determined. An integrated US system (IGSonic, VectorVision, BrainLAB, Munich Germany) and a non-integrated system with real-time 3D US (iU22, Philips, Bothell, USA) were recently compared in neurosurgical procedures in our group. The reconstructed navigation view was time-consuming, but images were displayed in familiar planes (e.g., axial, sagittal, coronal). Further potential applications of US angiography and pure US navigation are possible. Real-time 3D images were displayed without the need for an additional acquisition and reconstruction process, but spatial orientation remained challenging in this preliminary testing phase. Reconstructed 3D US navigation appears to be superior with respect to spatial orientation, and the technique can be combined with other imaging data. However, the potential of real-time 3D US imaging is promising.

According to recent clinical data, motor cortex stimulation (MCS) is an alternative treatment for central pain syndromes. We present our minimal invasive technique of image guidance for the placement of motor cortex stimulating electrode and assess the clinical usefulness of both neuronavigation and vacuum headrest. Neuronavigation was used for identification of precentral gyrus and accurate planning of the single burr-hole. The exact location was reconfirmed by intraoperative phase reversal of somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) and clinical response after electrical stimulation test. Implementation of navigation technique facilitated localization of the precentral gyrus with a high degree of accuracy. Determination of stimulating electrode placement was possible in every case. Postoperative clinical and neuroradiological evaluations were performed in each patient. All patients experienced postoperative relief from pain. Our preliminary series may confirm image guidance as a useful tool for surgery of MCS. Additionally, minimal and safe exposure can be performed using a single burr-hole and vacuum head rest.

Introduction: Nauta et al. first reported on a successful punctate midline myelotomy (PMM) at the spinal cord Th 10 level for the treatment of intractable pelvic cancer pain., Case Study: The authors published another case history of a patient with multiple anaplastic carcinomas of the small intestine, peritoneal carcinosis and retroperitoneal lymphomas, suffering from severe visceral pain in the hypo-, meso-, and epigastrium. Nauta's PMM was successfully performed at the level Th 4. Narcotic medication was tapered from 30 mg i.v. morphine per hour preoperatively to 5 mg per hour within 5 days postoperatively. Pain intensity decreased from 10 to 2-3 on the visual analog scale. Only minor transient side effects appeared postoperatively. Pain reduction remained until the patient died from the extended disease five weeks later., Discussion: Meanwhile Nauta et al. reported on 5 additional patients, in whom PMM led to a sufficient pain reduction. Another paper reported on sufficient control of visceral pain due to advanced stomach cancer after a modified Th 1-2 PMM., Conclusion: PMM sufficiently controls not only pelvic visceral pain, but also visceral pain generated in the meso- and epigastrium. The findings support the concept of a midline dorsal column visceral pain pathway.

Objectives: Complex pain syndromes due to spasticity and central deafferentation often fail to respond to medical therapy and create challenging problems in the pain management. So far, only spasticity associated musculosceletal pain has been reported to respond to intrathecal baclofen application [1, 2]., Methods: We report the treatment of severe neuropathic pain in a patient with ED and the combined intrathecal application of baclofen and morphine in 5 patients with severe spasticity related pain., Results: Continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion resulted in a pain free period of 20 months in the patient with ED. Patients with spasticity treated with intrathecal application of baclofen and morphine were pain free for a mean period of 2 years., Conclusion: Intrathecal baclofen and morphine application proved to be effective in spasticity related and central deafferentation pain and should therefore be considered in the management of these patients.

The authors report their experiences gained from 19 patients with ventral or ventrolateral foramen magnum meningiomas operated on via the dorsolateral, suboccipital transcondylar access route. It is emphasized that the microsurgical management of these lesions includes two important aspects which increase the safety of the procedure: a meticulous preoperative planning based on the microanatomical details of each patient, as well as an individualized tailoring of the surgical approach. There were no deaths, and, in the past 5 years, no neurological complications in this series. Gross total removal of the tumour was achieved in each case. It is concluded that microsurgical removal of ventral or ventrolateral foramen magnum meningiomas with this technique constitutes a safe and recommendable procedure.

The glucose metabolism of 62 meningiomas was measured by fluorine -18-2-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET and correlated with proliferation rate (Ki-67 index) and tumor cellularity. The mean metabolic rate (MRGlu) for meningiomas was 0.26 +/- 0.13 mikromol/g/min (range 0.08-0.62 mikromol/g/min). The relative tumor FDG-uptake (Q-MRGlu) (tumor/contralateral cortex) of all meningiomas was calculated with 0.73 +/- 0.37 (0.24-1.79). Differences of Q-MRGlu were significant between the groups with high vs. low cellularity (p < 0.01), increased vs. normal proliferation rate (p < 0.025) and low (WHO grade I) vs. higher (WHO grades II, III) graded tumors. In recurrent meningiomas (14 tumors) the glucose metabolism was not increased. The data show that 18 FDG-PET is suitable to serve as non-invasive predictor of tumor growth characteristics in meningiomas.