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Background and objectives: Internal jugular vein (IJV) stenosis is associated with several neurological disorders including idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and pulsatile tinnitus. In cases of extreme bony compression causing stenosis in the infracondylar region, surgical decompression might be necessary. We aim to examine the safety and efficacy of surgical IJV decompression. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who received surgical IJV decompression via the extreme lateral infracondylar (ELI) approach between July 2020 and February 2022. Results: Fourteen patients with IJV stenosis were identified, all with persistent headache and/or tinnitus. Six patients were diagnosed with IIH, three of whom failed previous treatment. Of the eight remaining patients, two failed previous treatment. All underwent surgical IJV decompression via styloidectomy, release of soft tissue, and removal of the C1 transverse process (TP). Follow-up imaging showed significant improvement of IJV stenosis in eleven patients and mild improvement in three. Eight patients had significant improvement in their presenting symptoms, and three had partial improvement. Two patients received IJV stenting after a lack of initial improvement. Two patients experienced cranial nerve paresis, and one developed a superficial wound infection. Conclusion: The ELI approach for IJV decompression appears to be safe for patients who are not ideal endovascular candidates due to bony anatomy. Confirming long-term efficacy in relieving debilitating clinical symptoms requires longer follow-up and a larger patient cohort. Carefully selected patients with symptomatic bony IJV compression for whom there are no effective medical or endovascular options may benefit from surgical IJV decompression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advances in endovascular treatment, microsurgical clipping of middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms remains appropriate. We review the high occlusion rate and treatment durability seen with surgical clipping of MCA aneurysms. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent microsurgical clipping of saccular MCA aneurysms by a single surgeon. Outcomes included aneurysm occlusion rate and durability, modified Rankin scale (mRS), and postoperative neurological morbidities. Ninety-two patients with 92 saccular MCA aneurysms were included, 50% of which were ruptured aneurysms. The mean follow-up period was 59 months. Complete aneurysm occlusion was achieved in all except one patient (99%) with near-complete occlusion. MCA aneurysm clipping was durable, with only one patient (1%) requiring retreatment after 4 years due to regrowth. Of the cohort, 79.3% achieved mRS 0–2 at last follow-up, including all with unruptured aneurysms. Poor outcome at discharge was associated with age > 65 (p =.03), postoperative neurological morbidities (p =.006), and aneurysm rupture (p <.001). Older age remained the single correlate for poor long-term outcome (p =.04). For ruptured aneurysms, predictors of poor long-term outcome included hemiparesis on presentation (p =.017), clinical vasospasm requiring treatment (p =.026), and infarction related to vasospasm (p =.041). Older age (p =.046) and complex anatomy (p =.036) were predictors of new postoperative neurological morbidities in the unruptured group. MCA aneurysm clipping is safe, durable, and should be considered first-line treatment for patients with saccular MCA aneurysms, especially in centers with abundant surgical experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To understand the natural history and optimal treatment strategy for pituitary gland metastasis. Methods: We performed both a retrospective chart review of patients treated at our institution and a scoping review of the topic. Results: The retrospective review identified seven patients with an average age of 59.6 years. Primary histologies included breast cancer (4), melanoma (1), renal cell carcinoma (1), and sarcoma (1). Two patients had anterior pituitary endocrine dysfunction, one of whom was the only patient with visual symptoms. All patients were treated with radiosurgery and two also underwent surgical resection. Overall survival ranged from 6.5 to 117 months. Literature review identified 166 patients from 71 studies. The most common primary cancer was lung (27.7%), followed by breast (18.7%) and renal (14.5%) cancer. 107 presented with endocrine dysfunction, including 41 cases of diabetes insipidus and 55 cases of hypopituitarism. 110 presented with visual compromise. 107 patients received radiotherapy, 96 underwent surgical resection and 44 received systemic chemotherapy/immunotherapy. Surgery was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of vision improvement and a decreased likelihood of endocrine normalization. Radiographic regression predicted visual improvement. Median overall survival was 9.9 months (range: 0.2–96). Conclusions: This scoping review showed that both radiosurgery and surgical resection have been frequently used to treat pituitary metastases with good response. Vision improvement is more likely to happen following surgical resection, likely at the expense of endocrine dysfunction. Despite treatment and radiographic response, patient survival remains less than a year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of review: Cerebral venous thrombosis management has significantly evolved over the past decades. While anticoagulation (AC) use is widely accepted in treating CVT, medication class and dosing paradigm remain unclear. Furthermore, the role of endovascular interventions, including thrombectomy and intrasinus thrombolytics, is undefined. We present a review of recent clinical evidence for treatment and propose areas of future study. Recent findings.: Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) may be beneficial over standard unfractionated heparin (UFH). While limited randomized trials assessed direct oral AC (DOAC) therapy in CVT, multiple studies, including the recent ACTION-CVT and RESPECT CVT trials, suggest the safety and efficacy of DOACs over warfarin. The role of endovascular therapy remains unclear; however, evidence demonstrates relative safety and potential clinical efficacy in improving recanalization rates. Advancements in endovascular therapy will be in optimizing patient selection and the developing devices tailored to venous sinus thrombectomy. Summary: CVT treatment has significantly progressed. DOACs and endovascular rescue therapy are now utilized for efficient recanalization to minimize sequelae such as hemorrhage, venous infarction, and intracranial hypertension. However, the relative rarity of CVT has led to understudy. Thankfully, international collaborations are creating large, randomized trials and cohort studies to answer numerous outstanding questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]