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Aim: The objective of the present study was to elucidate the causes of late diagnostics of vestibular shwannomas based on the results of the analysis of the medical histories of the patients admitted to the Academician N.N. Burdenko National Medical Research Centre of Neurosurgery for the management of this condition., Material and Methods: We undertook the retrospective review of a series of 192 cases of vestibular shwannomas in the patients treated based at the N.N. Burdenko National Medical Research Centre of Neurosurgery in 2015. The study included the analysis of demographic characteristics of the patients as well as their anamnestic and clinical data., Results and Discussion: A total of 55 (29%) patients were found to have small tumours (Samii T1-T3) whereas 137 (71%) ones presented with giant neoplasms including T4a and T4b tumours (in accordance with the Samii classification) in 63 (33%) and 74 (38%) patients respectively. The duration of the disease from the appearance of its first clinical symptoms up to the establishment of the definitive diagnosis was 41 months on the average. 37 (19%) patients appeared to have paid no attention to the unilateral impairment of hearing. 46 (24%) patients applied for the medical assistance to the therapists and neurologists. 56 (29%) patients had remained for a long time under the supervision of the ENT specialists and surdologists based at the local outpatient facilities., Conclusion: More than 2/3 of the examined patients presenting with vestibular shwannomas apply for the medical assistance at the late stages of the disease. Such situation can be attributed to the low level of oncological alertness among the general population and health providers, the poor awareness of the general practitioners and otorhinolaryngologists about this pathology, the unavailability or inefficient application of the modern neurovisualization technologies, in the first place magnetic resonance imaging. The problems encountered in connection with the performance of screening studies give evidence of the necessity of the introduction of up-to-date otoneurological and audiological investigations as well as the neurovisualization techniques into the everyday clinical practice for the comprehensive examination of all the patients suffering from unilateral hearing loss.

Delayed facial palsy is a complication developing 3 or more days after surgery. The etiology and pathogenesis of this condition has not been fully explored, and there are no treatment standards for it. As in the case of Bell's paralysis, glucocorticosteroids (GCSs) are currently used to treat delayed facial palsy. However, patients with contraindications to GCSs need new therapy modalities., Aim: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of botulinum therapy in patients with delayed facial palsy after neurosurgical interventions., Material and Methods: We examined 33 patients with delayed facial palsy developed 3 or more days after resection of vestibular schwannoma. The main group included 18 patients with contraindications to GCSs who received injections of botulinum toxin A (BTA) into the facial muscles of the healthy side for muscle relaxation. The comparison group consisted of 15 patients who received a course of prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day) for 5-7 days. The efficacy of treatment was assessed using the House-Brackmann scale and Clinical Global Impression Scale. The follow-up period after therapy was 3 months., Results: Delayed facial palsy was more common in the following cases: the facial nerve was located near the antero-inferior tumor pole; the tumor was adherent to the facial nerve; the tumor extended in the oral direction; the tumor had with unclear borders and was 11 to 30 mm in size. In most patients of both groups, facial muscle palsy developed more than 11 days after surgery. Treatment both in the main and control groups resulted in a significant improvement: complete regression of the facial asymmetry in patients of the main group and comparison groups 3 months after treatment onset was 83.3 and 93.3% (House-Brackmann scale), respectively., Conclusion: Botulinum therapy may be recommended for patients with delayed facial palsy developed after vestibular schwannoma resection, who have contraindications to GCSs.

The literature lacks studies of cognitive impairments in large groups of patients after resection of third ventricle colloid cysts., Aim: To evaluate cognitive impairments in patients before and after resection of third ventricle colloid cysts., Material and Methods: We performed a clinical and neuropsychological study of 52 patients with third ventricle colloid cysts using the Luria method (1962). Forty three patients were examined before and after cyst resection in the early postoperative period (three patients in this group were also examined in a long-term period of 3-7 months after surgery). Forty one patients were operated on using the transcallosal approach, and two patients were operated on using the subtentorial-supracerebellar transchoroidal approach. The other patients were examined only before or after surgery. The patients' age ranged from 14 to 61 years; the mean age was 33.8 years; the median age was 29 years., Results: On examination before surgery, cognitive impairments were minimal in 5 patients without clear signs of hydrocephalus. Impairments of memory and dynamic praxis, mild spatial disorders, and psychological inertia were observed in other patients with hydrocephalus. There was no significant difference in the state of cognitive functions between patients with and without stagnation in the fundus. On examination on day 3-6 after transcallosal surgery, several groups of patients were identified. Eight patients had an improvement in cognitive functions, which might be related to postoperative resolution of hydrocephalus. In 15 patients, changes in mnestic functions were insignificant. This group consisted of the youngest patients with a median age of 24 years. Korsakoff syndrome and disorientation were detected in 5 patients. This was the oldest age group, with a median age of 48 years. In other 13 patients, aggravation of mnestic disorders was moderate. Similar memory impairments were detected in the case of the subtentorial-supracerebellar approach. Memory disorders progressively regressed in all patients., Conclusion: Postoperative memory impairment of a varying degree was found in 21 out of 43 patients, with adhesions between the cyst capsule and fornix being observed only in 5 patients. In this case, no injury to the fornix was intraoperatively observed. We discuss the role of the age factor, cyst size, and technical surgical difficulties in the pathogenesis of memory disorders in the absence of injury to the calvarium during colloid cyst resection.

Objective: Trigeminal neuralgia occurs in 1-7% patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We assessed the efficacy of microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve in MS patients., Material and Methods: We studied MS patients with trigeminal neuralgia who underwent microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve. Results and сonclusion. The superior cerebellar artery was compressed in 5 patients, the vein in 1. At the follow up of 3-5 years, no relapses of trigeminal pain syndrome were observed after the successful surgery. There were no complications of surgical treatment. Indications to this treatment should be made on the basis of MRI.

The paper describes a rare case of severe, but reversible bilateral damage to the sciatic nerve (compression neuropathy) in a patient with Blumenbach's clivus meningioma developing during 12-hour operation removing the tumor in the patient's sitting position on the operating table. The etiology and prevention of this complication are discussed.

Mid-supratentorial liquor cysts are a relatively rare and generally congenital abnormality of the cerebral ventricles and subdural spaces. The data and views available in the literature on rational surgical policy is contradictory. The authors' experience in treating 16 patients was used to consider whether endoscopic techniques can be employed for invasive fenestration of the cysts. The goal of surgery was to remove the masses caused by cystic malformations and their local compression of the brain via fenestration of the walls of the cysts and via communication of their cavities with the ventricles and cisterns. There were solitary cysts in all cases (arachnoidal cysts of the interpedicular cistern and the third ventricle in 9; cysts of the ventricular septum in 4, ependicular cysts of the lateral ventricle in 2, and cysts of the celiac plexus of the third ventricle in other 2 cases, in 1 cases a liquor cyst was located in the midbrain thickness). The clinical picture was characterized by a combination of hypertensive, hydrocephalic and focal symptoms of damages to the hypothalamic and thalamic structures and the adjacent formations of the brain (pyramidal and extrapyramidal disorders, ataxia, chiasmal syndrome, metabolic and endocrine disorders, etc.). In 6 cases these symptoms were persistent despite preimplanted VP anastomosis. Rigid Storz endoscopes (Germany) with an external coat, 6 mm in diameter, and a Codman fibroendoscope (USA), 4 mm in diameter, were employed. Cystic ventriculostomy and cystic ventriculocisternostomies were made in 11 and 6 patients, respectively; one patient underwent endoscopic resection of the walls of an ependymal cyst. In one patient with signs of decreased liquor resorption, endoscopic fenestration was concurrently developed into a ventricle-peritoneal anastomosis. In other 4 anastomosis-dependent patients, the preimplanted mechanically consistent bypass system was left at its site. In 2 of these cases, cystic ventriculostomy was supplemented by ventricular septal fenestration and third-ventricular bottom perforation. Twelve patients were followed up for 6 to 36.5 months (mean 15 months). There has been no information about 6 patients since their discharge. In 12 (66.5%) surgery yielded expected results and the fenestration of cystic walls was followed by their retraction and a steady-state regression of local and/or hypertensive symptoms. In 5 (28%) patients, the complaints and clinical data remained unchanged despite although incomplete but objective cystic relaxation. This was most frequently noted in patients (n = 4) with arachnoidal cysts of the interpedicular cistern and the third ventricle who had endocrine disorders. In one case the operation was stopped due to bleeding. Totally, 5 patients were found to have complications (hemorrhage, ventriculitis). None patient died. Some aspects of indications for endoscopy and surgical techniques are considered. It is concluded that endoscopic internal bypass surgery in patients wit median cystic liquor malformations is the treatment of choice. When equipment is adjusted, fenestration of the membranous walls of these cysts by using an endoscope is reliable and safe. Such patients may be recommended endoscopic technology used as the method of choice.

Clinical analysis of 74 cases of colloid cysts of the III-d ventricle was performed. Dynamics of clinical symptom complex was studied both in preoperative and early postoperative period as well as in remote periods after surgery. Most of the patients were treated in N.N. Burdenko Institute of Neurosurgery during 1980-1995. Peculiarities of the disease development before clinical manifestation, variations of complicated postoperative period, prognostically significant symptoms, possible mechanisms of clinical syndromes development were considered.