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Background Hyperhidrosis (HH) profoundly affects a patient's well-being. Objective We report indications and outcomes of 322 patients treated for HH via thoracoscopic sympathectomy or sympathotomy at the Barrow Neurological Institute. Methods A prospectively maintained database of all patients who underwent sympathectomy or sympathotomy between 1996 and 2008 was examined. Additional follow-up was obtained in clinic, by phone, or by written questionnaire. Results A total of 322 patients (218 female patients) had thoracoscopic treatment (mean age 27.6 years; range, 10-60 years). Mean follow-up was 8 months. Presentations included HH of the palms (43 patients, 13.4%), axillae (13 patients, 4.0%), craniofacial region (4 patients, 1.2%), or some combination (262 patients, 81.4%). Sympathectomy and sympathotomy were equally effective in relieving HH. Palmar HH resolved in 99.7% of patients. Axillary or craniofacial HH resolved or improved in 89.1% and 100% of cases, respectively. Hospital stay averaged 0.5 days. Ablating the sympathetic chain at T5 increased the incidence of severe compensatory sweating (P = .0078). Sympathectomy was associated with a significantly higher incidence of Horner's syndrome compared with sympathotomy (5% vs 0.9%, P = .0319). Patients reported satisfaction and willingness to undergo the procedure again in 98.1% of cases. Conclusion Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is effective and safe treatment for severe palmar, axillary, and craniofacial HH. Ablating the T5 ganglion tends to increase the severity of compensatory sweating. Sympathectomy led to a higher incidence of ipsilateral Horner's syndrome compared with sympathotomy.

OBJECTIVE: We measured the variability in the size of the anterior tubercle of C1 and the optimal depth and angle of placement of C1 lateral mass screws using axial and sagittal reconstructed computed tomographic scans to determine the utility of these parameters for preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance. METHODS: One hundred consecutive cervical spine computed tomographic scans were reviewed (mean patient age, 44.6 years; age range, 7-96 years). The size of the anterior tubercle of C1, bilateral depths of optimal screw placement in the axial and sagittal planes, and optimal angles of placement in the axial and sagittal planes were measured in a standardized manner using the measuring tool included in our radiology server software. These measurements were correlated with age and sex. RESULTS: The mean depth of the C1 tubercle was 6.9 mm (range, 2.7―11.2 mm; standard deviation, 1.7 mm). The depth of the C1 tubercle tended to increase with age, but the relationship was not significant. The optimal screw depth in the sagittal plane was significantly greater than in the axial plane (right 2.09 versus 1.93 cm; left 2.07 versus 1.91 cm). The depth of the right lateral mass increased significantly with age. No other relationships reached significance. CONCLUSION: The depth of the anterior tubercle of C1 varies considerably and should be studied carefully before using lateral fluoroscopy of this structure to guide depth of C1 lateral mass screw placement. Optimal angles and depths of placement of C1 lateral mass screws vary widely and should be examined preoperatively to plan appropriate depth and trajectory.

INTRODUCTION:This report describes the stereotactic technique, hospitalization, and 90-day perioperative safety in patients who underwent bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the fornix for the treatment of mild probable Alzheimer disease.METHODS:The ADvance Trial is a multicenter, 12-month, do

OBJECTIVE Surgical biopsy of isolated infundibular lesions is indicated in patients who are symptomatic or whose imaging suggests a treatable lesion. Early therapy can prevent irreversible neurological or endocrinological damage and, potentially, metastasis. These considerations justify the small risk associated with surgery. CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 5-year-old boy presented with diabetes insipidus and an enhancing lesion of the pituitary stalk without evidence of extracranial disease. INTERVENTION The lesion was biopsied via an endoscopic intraventricular approach without complications. Pathological examination revealed Langerhans cell histiocytosis. CONCLUSION Endoscopic intraventricular biopsy can be considered as a less invasive alternative to craniotomy in patients with infundibular lesions protruding superiorly into the third ventricle.

Previous reports have described an association between moyamoya disease and arteriovenous malformations, but this unusual case is the first report of a unilateral moyamoya pattern simultaneously associated with an ipsilateral dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF).A 44-year-old man presented with headache, tinnitus, and an intraventricular hemorrhage, as seen on computed tomographic scans. Cerebral angiography showed a right moyamoya pattern and an ipsilateral dAVF fed by branches of the external carotid artery and draining into the transverse sinus.After the intraventricular hemorrhage resolved, the patient underwent transarterial embolization of the dAVF with Onyx (EV3, Inc. Irvine, CA), followed by a direct superficial temporal artery-to-middle cerebral artery bypass. Subsequent reconstitution of the dAVF required transvenous embolization, which obliterated the dAVF. At his 2-month follow-up examination, the patient was asymptomatic and neurologically intact.Recent investigations have established that both moyamoya disease and dAVFs are associated with dural angiogenesis. These factors may represent a mechanism for vaso-occlusive ischemia contributing to the formation of dAVF. This extremely rare coincidental presentation may have deeper pathogenic implications.