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A combined surgery of direct and indirect revascularization has been frequently performed in patients with moyamoya disease, though the efficacy of indirect revascularization surgery in adult patients with moyamoya disease has not been established. This study aimed to evaluate superficial temporal artery (STA) and deep temporal artery (DTA) diameters 1 day and 3 months after combined revascularization surgery in patients with moyamoya disease. We also investigated clinical factors related to DTA enlargement after surgery.We examined 78 cerebral hemispheres in 57 adult and pediatric patients with moyamoya disease who underwent combined revascularization surgery [STA-MCA bypass and encephalo-duro-myo-synangiosis] in our institution. STA and DTA diameters were measured on axial magnetic resonance angiography images at 1 day and 3 months after surgery.DTA diameter increased in 64 hemispheres (82.1%). DTA diameter increase in association with STA diameter decrease was found in 39 hemispheres (50%). The proportion of hemispheres with a reduction in STA diameter was significantly higher in hemispheres with DTA enlargement than in hemispheres with DTA reduction (P = 0.0088). Among the 64 hemispheres with DTA enlargement, 51 (79.7%) showed cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) impairment in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) territory before surgery. CVR impairment in the ACA territory was the only clinical factor related to DTA enlargement (P 0.001).The DTA frequently enlarges after combined revascularization surgery, even in adult patients with moyamoya disease. In patients with impaired CVR in the ACA territory, blood supply from the DTA to the ACA territory can be expected after combined revascularization surgery.

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) in the posterior fossa has until now been reported in only 16 patients. This study clarified the frequency and characteristics of the posterior fossa CSDH through the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with supratentorial CSDH.We retrospectively examined presurgical MRI findings in patients with supratentorial CSDH who underwent surgery between 2006 and 2020.MRI revealed posterior fossa CSDH in 24 (7.3%) of 329 patients. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that anticoagulant treatment (P = 0.033, odds ratio [OR] 3.53), cerebrospinal fluid leak (P = 0.001, OR 18.5), and lack of previous trauma 3 weeks or more before admission (P = 0.027, OR 3.03) were risk factors of posterior fossa CSDH. Computed tomography could not show the hematomas in 20 patients (83.3%). All the posterior fossa CSDHs improved after supratentorial CSDH drainage.Posterior fossa CSDH was observed on MRI in a minority of patients with supratentorial CSDH. Although most patients with posterior fossa CSDH had good outcomes, large posterior fossa CSDH sometimes must be treated surgically, according to previous reports.

Some aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients are delayed in their presentation. This can cause a washout of the subarachnoid hematoma and a potential misdiagnosis. As a result, they may suffer re-rupture of the aneurysm and preventable deterioration. We investigated the factors that influence delayed SAH presentation.Aneurysmal SAH patients treated at nine stroke centers from 2002 to 2020 were included. Age, gender, pre-SAH modified Rankin scale (mRS), World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) grade, Fisher group, day of presentation, aneurysm treatment method, past history of cerebral stroke, comorbidity of hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus, and mRS at discharge were assessed retrospectively. We formed two groups based on the day of presentation after the onset of SAH: day 0 ∼ 3 (early) and other (delayed). Logistic regression analyses detected the factors that influenced the day of presentation and outcome for SAH. A p-value0.05 was considered significant.Delayed presentation comprised 282 cases (6.3%) of 4,507 included cases. Logistic regression analyses showed that patients in an urban area, of male gender, low WFNS grade, and low Fisher group correlated significantly with a delayed presentation. But delayed presentation did not influence outcome at discharge.Area of residency and gender correlated with delayed presentation after SAH in Japan. Urbanization, male gender and mild SAH lead patients to delay presentation. The factors underlying these tendencies will be analyzed in a future prospective study.

After bypass surgery in patients with moyamoya disease, several changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) have been recognized, while findings on MRI/gadolinium-enhanced (Gd) vessel wall imaging (VWI) have never been reported. The purposes of this study were to investigate postoperative changes on MRI/Gd VWI and to clarify the relationship between the MRI/Gd VWI and MRI/FLAIR findings.Consecutive patients who underwent bypass surgery at our hospital from September 2020 to March 2022 were candidates.In 20 patients with moyamoya disease, 25 operated hemispheres were investigated. In all hemispheres, hyperintensities in the cortical sulci on MRI/FLAIR and enhancement in the cortical sulci on MRI/Gd VWI appeared after bypass surgery. The maximum appearance of sulci enhancement on MRI/Gd VWI occurred earlier than the maximum appearance of the sulci hyperintensity on MRI/FLAIR, and this difference was significant (p = 0.001).MRI/Gd VWI demonstrated that the peak of the enhancement changes preceded the peak of hyperintensity changes on MRI/FLAIR. These MRI changes may reflect alterations in blood-brain barrier permeability after bypass surgery in patients with moyamoya disease.

Objective. Ruptured blood-blister aneurysm (BBA) of the internal carotid artery (ICA) remains a challenging lesion, even in the age of modern neurosurgery and endovascular treatment. This retrospective multicenter study aimed to investigate the real-world treatment choice and treatment results.Methods. We included 182 ruptured BBAs of the ICA treated at 51 neurosurgical centers in Japan between 2013 and 2017. The baseline patient characteristics, radiological features of the aneurysm, treatment modality, details of treatment, complications of treatment, treatment results were retrospectively collected. The treatment strategy was divided into deconstructive and reconstructive procedures. Primary clinical outcomes were evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at final follow-up.Results. Direct surgery was performed in 144 (79%) cases, and the remaining 38 (21%) cases received endovascular treatment. The majority of treatment selections were deconstructive and reconstructive procedures in the direct surgery group and endovascular treatment group, respectively. Overall, favorable clinical outcomes (mRS 0 to 2) were achieved in 66% of cases, and the mortality rate was 15% at the final follow-up (mean 23 months). There was no significant difference in clinical outcome between direct and endovascular treatment groups. Conclusion. Our large nationwide study compared the real-world treatment options for ruptured BBAs and their results. Our findings may offer beneficial information for treatment decision and for future studies investigating ruptured BBAs.

A wide lateral viewing angle is often necessary for spinal surgery. However, the skin and paraspinal muscles limit this angle in the traditional posterior midline approach. This article describes a simple, less-invasive approach that provides good lateral viewing angles to spinal lesions. The approach consisted of (1) a horizontal skin incision, (2) unilateral dissection and exposure of the laminae, (3) a horizontal fascial incision, and (4) application of retractors in the longitudinal direction with a minimal incision on the multifidus muscle. We successfully used this approach on 24 patients with various spinal diseases. The pathology of the lesions included nine schwannomas, five meningiomas, four ossification of ligamentum flavum (OLF), three malignant tumors, and three others. There were nine cervical, twelve thoracic, two lumbar, and one sacral lesions. We could achieve gross total removal in most cases without significant complications. The approach provided an excellent surgical field for removing ventrally located tumors with minimal cord retraction. This simple technique will be a valuable addition to the armamentarium of spine surgeons.

Computed tomography angiography (CTA) immediately after diagnosis of intracerebral hematoma (ICH) on noncontrast CT in the emergency room has benefits, which consist of early diagnosis of secondary ICH and prediction of hematoma growth using the spot sign in primary ICH, but CTA also involves possible risks of acute kidney injury (AKI) and adverse reactions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits and risks of CTA. A total of 1423 consecutive adult patients diagnosed with ICH who were admitted within 3 days of onset between 2010 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Of 1082 patients undergoing CTA, 162 patients (15.0%) showed secondary ICH, and the sensitivity of CTA for secondary ICH was 95.7%. Of 920 patients with primary ICH, a logistic regression model using the spot sign and four other previously reported risk factors (antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, interval from onset to arrival, hematoma volume) with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.787 significantly improved model performance to predict hematoma growth compared with a model using the same four factors without the spot sign (AUC: 0.697) (DeLong's test: P = 0.0002). Rates of AKI occurrence were 9.0% and 9.8% in patients with and without CTA, respectively. The odds ratio of AKI in patients with CTA adjusted by reported risk factors was 1.16 (95% confidence interval: 0.72-1.95, P = 0.5548). Emergency CTA following noncontrast CT in patients with ICH could be useful for early diagnosis of secondary ICH and prediction of hematoma growth using the spot sign in primary ICH with little risk.

The crisis of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is causing damage to the social and medical community. However, extreme emergency neuro-interventions such as mechanical thrombectomy still require the healthcare workers to offer the appropriate treatment while preventing further spread of the infection. This article outlines the necessary steps in managing a possible COVID-19 patient starting from patient screening to personnel infection and environmental contamination measures.

Background Recurrent trigeminal neuralgia after successful microvascular decompression is not rare. Case Description A 72-year-old woman who presented with typical right trigeminal neuralgia had been successfully treated by microvascular decompression with transposition of the superior cerebellar artery. However, she complained of trigeminal neuralgia on the ipsilateral side 14 months after the microvascular decompression. Redo microvascular decompression showed that the anterior inferior cerebellar artery, which had not been detected at the initial surgery, compressed the right trigeminal nerve. Conclusions This case is an unusual type of recurrent trigeminal neuralgia because of a subsequently developed offending vessel within a short period.

New-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), nilotinib and ponatinib, for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) have been reported to cause symptomatic cerebral ischemia. Herein, we report two patients with asymptomatic cerebral artery stenosis associated with these TKIs, as a previously unreported finding. Both patients were in their 40 s and administered new-generation TKIs without vascular risk factors. New-generation TKIs for CML can cause major cerebrovascular stenosis without any symptoms. Examining the neck and intracranial arteries using magnetic resonance angiography and carotid ultrasonography may prevent future cerebral infarctions associated with these TKIs.

BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a common complication associated with neurosurgical procedures, and eliminating postoperative CSF leaks remains challenging. OBJECTIVE: Unique applications of free or vascularized flaps for watertight dural and skull base reconstruction are presented. METHODS: A total of 512 cases of cranial surgeries were examined focused on the postoperative complications that required revision surgery. These cases were divided into skull base (SB) lesions and non-SB lesions according to the site of dural opening. The postoperative complications were analyzed according to their relationship to the CSF. A free flap, including fascial, myofascial, or pericranial flap, is routinely prepared for later use in dural closure in all cranial surgeries. A pedicled vascularized pericranial flap (VPF) is also used for SB dural reconstruction in extended surgical procedures.RESULTS: There were 434 cases of SB lesions and 78 cases of non-SB lesions. Of the 512 surgical cases, 27 (5.3%) required revision surgery due to patients’ postoperative conditions or complications. There were 9 cases (1.8%) of CSF-related and 18 cases (3.5%) of non-CSF-related complications. Eight of nine cases of CSF-related complications (88.9%) were seen in posterior fossa surgery. Postoperative CSF leaks that required revision surgery were seen in 4 cases (0.8%). SB reconstruction using a VPF was performed in 40 cases of SB surgeries. No postoperative infection was seen in these 40 cases, and only 1 case (2.5%) of pseudomeningocele, which required revision surgery, occurred. CONCLUSION: Dural reconstruction using a fascial flap or VPF plays an important role in achieving successful surgery.

Preoperative information regarding tumor feeder distribution is important in meningioma surgery. We aimed to examine the relationship between the contrast-enhancement pattern in meningioma on magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion images and the feeder pattern.The subjects were 21 patients diagnosed with meningioma who underwent MR perfusion imaging between 2017 and 2020.The distribution of feeders from the internal carotid artery (ICA) system or external carotid artery (ECA) system within the tumor based on angiograms was compared with that in areas of enhancement on original MR perfusion images in seven of 21 patients who underwent cerebral angiography. The aspect ratios of tumors, which was defined as the ratio of the area of contrast enhancement to the length of the enhanced area in contact with the tumor margin on the early-phase MR perfusion images, supplied by the ICA (pial feeder pattern) and ECA (dural feeder pattern) systems were 0.12 ± 0.11 and 7.21 ± 4.99 (mean ± standard deviation), respectively (The distribution of pial and dural feeders within a meningioma could be distinguished by the aspect ratio based on original MR perfusion images.

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is well known to be caused by insufficient cerebral vascular formation. However, the essential pathogenesis has not yet been identified. Using our recently developed technique of generating vasculogenic and anti-inflammatory cultures, we investigated endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) expansion and differentiation under the cytokine milieu generated by the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) of the operated and non-operated MMD patients. EPC colony forming assay of the cultured PBMNCs disclosed the decline of the definitive EPC colony numbers in the both MMD patients. The level of interleukin-10 (IL-10) was lower in secretory cytokines from the cultured PBMNCs of MMD patients than that in that of controls using a cytometric bead array. The addition of human recombinant IL-10 to PBMNCs cultured from MMD patients restored the EPC colony forming potential of MMD PBMNCs. Following phorbol myristate acetate stimulation of the cultured PBMNCs, flow cytometry revealed a decrease in intracellular IL-10 storage in the main cell populations of the PBMNCs cultured from MMD patients relative to those cultured from controls. The present data provide the expected mechanism of vascular malformation in MMD pathogenesis originated from the insufficient production of IL-10 secreting cells from PBMNCs fostering EPC expansion and differentiation.

Patients with spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage present with rapidly deteriorating neurological symptoms due to a hematoma-induced mass effect in the brainstem. We compared the standard surgical approach of a suboccipital craniectomy with neuroendoscopic surgery for treating spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage. We performed a retrospective analysis of 41 patients indicated for surgery to treat spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage. At our hospital, craniectomy was performed until 2010, and neuroendoscopic surgery was performed thereafter when a qualified surgeon was available. Duration of surgery and intraoperative blood loss were lower in the neuroendoscopic surgery group. The extent of hematoma removal and the percentage of patients requiring shunting were similar between groups. The mass effect was resolved in all patients in both groups, and no substantial re-bleeding was observed in either group. The outcomes at discharge were comparable between the two groups. Our surgeons used the supine lateral position, which involves fewer burdens to the patient than the prone position. Selection of the site of the burr hole is important to avoid the midline and to avoid the area exactly above the transverse and sigmoid sinus. Our results suggest that minimally invasive neuroendoscopic surgery is safe and superior to craniectomy due to shortened duration of surgery and decreased intraoperative bleeding.

Background The ideal surgery for a blood blister-like aneurysm (BBA) in the internal carotid artery (ICA) involves complete termination of blood flow into the BBA by trapping of the ICA at sites both proximal and distal to the BBA. In the present report, we describe a clipping method with ICA trapping for prevention of anterior choroidal artery ischemia, a major problem in ICA trapping with reconstruction surgery using external carotid artery–middle cerebral artery high-flow bypass (HFB). Methods The data from patients with a ruptured BBA treated by the combination of ICA trapping and blood flow reconstruction from 2008 to 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. Results Fifteen patients had been treated with the combination surgery. Clip placement for ICA trapping depended on the relationship between the distal neck of the BBA and the posterior communicating artery. In the case of the BBA distal neck located at the same level or distal to the posterior communicating artery, oblique placement of a distal clip to the ICA was mandatory to maintain blood flow of the anterior choroidal artery. No patients developed recurrence of the BBA after trapping. The outcomes were assessed using the modified Rankin scale score, with a score of 0 or 1 in 12 of the 15 patients (80%). Conclusions A complete shutdown of blood flow to the BBA by ICA trapping is essential for the permanent prevention of BBA recurrence. In cases of a BBA distal neck located distal to the posterior communicating artery, the oblique clipping technique applied to the ICA is useful to prevent ischemic complications of the anterior choroidal artery.

The "cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation theory" of CSF flowing unidirectionally and circulating through the ventricles and subarachnoid space in a downward or upward fashion has been widely recognized. In this review, observations of CSF motion using different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques are described, findings that are shared among these techniques are extracted, and CSF motion, as we currently understand it based on the results from the quantitative analysis of CSF motion, is discussed, along with a discussion of slower water molecule motion in the perivascular, paravascular, and brain parenchyma. Today, a shared consensus regarding CSF motion is being formed, as follows: CSF motion is not a circulatory flow, but a combination of various directions of flow in the ventricles and subarachnoid space, and the acceleration of CSF motion differs depending on the CSF space. It is now necessary to revise the currently held concept that CSF flows unidirectionally. Currently, water molecule motion in the order of centimeters per second can be detected with various MRI techniques. Thus, we need new MRI techniques with high-velocity sensitivity, such as in the order of 10 μm/s, to determine water molecule movement in the vessel wall, paravascular space, and brain parenchyma. In this paper, the authors review the previous and current concepts of CSF motion in the central nervous system using various MRI techniques.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Many patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) have reportedly fallen prior to diagnosis. However, there are no previous reports on the iNPH prevalence among the elderly with history of falls. This study investigated the effectiveness of screening for iNPH in elderly patients presenting after a fall.We retrospectively assessed the Evans' index (EI) of 235 consecutive patients aged 60-89 who presented after falls between May and October 2020. We also assessed the presence of the iNPH triad (gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, and urinary incontinence). Patients with EI 0.3 and with all 3 triad were defined as having possible iNPH; those with clinical improvement after a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap test as having probable iNPH; and those with clinical improvement after a shunt surgery as having definite iNPH. We also examined the 235 patients' EI, and performed a case-control study of EI using sex- and age-matched control patients.Among the included 235 cases presenting after falls, 44 (18.7%) were diagnosed with possible iNPH, 29 (12.3%) with probable iNPH, and 25 (10.6%) with definite iNPH. The mean EI of these 235 patients was significantly larger than that of controls (0.30 ± 0.04 vs 0.26 ± 0.02, p 0.0001). The proportion of possible iNPH in the cases was 44 out of 235 (18.7%), significantly higher than that of the controls (0%, p 0.0001).Screening for iNPH in the elderly presenting after falls can possibly identify iNPH patients in the earlier stage who may benefit more from surgical treatments.

Sex differences in various diseases recently have been recognized as an important factor in the approach to more efficient preventive and therapeutic medicine. We clarified sex differences in the clinical characteristics of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) by comparing men and women with CSDH, as there is a well-known male predominance in the prevalence of CSDH.Clinical factors and computed tomography findings were investigated retrospectively in 490 consecutive patients admitted to our hospital between 2006 and 2015 who were diagnosed with CSDH.On univariate analysis, women were significantly older than men (P0.05). In women, premorbid impaired activities of daily living, consciousness disturbance, acute-to-chronic subdural hematoma, and death as outcomes at discharge were significantly more frequent than in men (P 0.05). In contrast, women had less frequent instances of good recovery and less alcohol intake (P0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated female sex as an independent predictor of consciousness disturbance at admission. Female sex also was identified as a predictor of death at discharge.We demonstrated sex differences in the clinical characteristics of CSDH. In the future, management of patients with CSDH with regard to sex differences in disease characteristics could be expected to improve the outcomes of women, which have been worse than in men.

Background Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a recently recognized autosomal dominant connective tissue disease. The manifestations of LDS include vascular tortuosity, scoliosis, craniosynostosis, aneurysm and aortic dissections. Clinical presentation A 35-year-old woman treated with Stanford type B aortic dissection and breast cancer was referred to us for Borden type II dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) draining to the vein of Galen, involving the midline of tentorium cerebelli. The dAVF was treated successfully by combined transarterial and transvenous embolization. Because of tortuosity of vertebral arteries, a genetic test was conducted confirming LDS type 2. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first case report of dAVF associated with LDS. The relationship between LDS and dAVF is unknown but this report shows the possibility that mutation of transforming growth factor β receptors 2 ( TGFBR2) related to LDS may be related to shunt diseases. Because intervention in LDS seems to be feasible compared to Ehlers Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome, it is important to make the correct diagnosis.

Computed tomography images of patients with chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) sometimes show obliteration of the basal cistern with high density in an obliterated Sylvian cistern, termed pseudo-subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The present study aimed to clarify the characteristics and outcomes of these conditions.We retrospectively investigated 669 consecutive patients who were surgically treated for CSDH between January 2006 and May 2019.Basal cistern effacement and pseudo-SAH were found in 24 (3.6%) and 11 (1.6%) patients, respectively. Predictors of basal cistern effacement in patients with CSDH were younger age, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and bilateral CSDH (P0.05). In patients with basal and Sylvian cistern effacement, the significantly different main features to differentiate patients with and without pseudo-SAH were younger age, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and thick small hematomas on computed tomography slices of the Sylvian cistern (P0.05). Magnetic resonance imaging showed that high-density areas in the Sylvian cistern of pseudo-SAH on precontrast computed tomography images corresponded to the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery. The outcomes of patients with basal cistern effacement and of patients with pseudo-SAH did not differ from other patients with CSDH, although rates of surgical complications were significantly higher among patients with basal cistern effacement.Although the outcomes of patients with basal cistern effacement and pseudo-SAH were similar to outcomes of other patients with CSDH, problematic postsurgical complications and cerebrospinal fluid leaks were more likely to arise in such patients.

Prehospital information of patients with intracerebral hematomas (ICHs), including systolic blood pressure (SBP), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and neurological deterioration (ND), defined as GCS score worsening ≥2 points, has been reported, though relationships among the prehospital information and clinical factors, including the spot sign, which was a reported predictor of outcomes, were not clarified. The purpose of this study was to elucidate relationships among prehospital information, the spot sign, and clinical outcomes after admission using multivariate analysis. Consecutive patients with ICHs admitted within 6 h of onset from 2009 to 2017 were investigated. Among 645 eligible patients, prehospital ND was found in 107 (16.6%). Multiple regression analysis showed that predictors of hematoma volume were prehospital GCS (p < 0.0001), prehospital ND (p < 0.0001), anticoagulant use (p = 0.0254), and cortical hematoma (p < 0.0001). Predictors of emergency surgery or death within 24 h were prehospital SBP (p = 0.0005, unit OR: 1.01), prehospital GCS (p < 0.0001, unit OR: 0.82), prehospital ND (p = 0.0002, OR: 3.26), and hematoma volume (p < 0.0001, unit OR: 1.04). Predictors of death at discharge were prehospital GCS (p < 0.0001, unit OR: 0.75), prehospital ND (p = 0.0001, OR: 3.49), and age (p = 0.0008, unit OR: 1.036). On the other hand, none of the 3 items of prehospital information were predictors of the spot sign or hematoma enlargement. The prehospital information and the spot sign could predict post-admission outcomes in a complementary fashion. Prehospital information might be used as a reference for preparing emergency treatment, as well as possible future blood pressure-lowering treatment, before emergency department arrival.

OBJECT The middle meningeal artery (MMA) is suspected to play an important role in the development of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). The aim of this study was to clarify whether the MMA was enlarged in patients with CSDHs. METHODS The authors retrospectively assessed 55 patients in whom CSDH was diagnosed between 2010 and 2014 and who underwent MR angiography (MRA) after the onset of CSDH. The authors compared MMA diameters between hemispheres with and without CSDHs on MR angiograms. A case-control study was also performed with 55 sex- and age-matched patients with incidental unruptured aneurysms as controls. RESULTS In 55 patients with CSDHs, the diameters of the 79 MMAs on the CSDH side were significantly larger than the diameters of the 31 MMAs on the non-CSDH side (p < 0.05). In 24 patients with bilateral CSDHs, no significant difference was found between the MMA diameters on the larger hematoma side and those on the smaller hematoma side. In 13 patients who underwent MRA before the onset of the CSDH, the MMAs on MR angiograms acquired after onset of the CSDH were significantly larger than those on MR angiograms acquired before the CSDH onset (p < 0.05). The diameters of the MMAs in 55 patients with CSDHs were significantly larger than those of the MMAs in the 55 control patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The MMA is enlarged with development of a CSDH. Information about the MMA observed on MRA in patients with CSDHs may be useful in developing a strategy for future treatment of CSDHs.

Background and Purpose— Hematoma expansion after acute intracerebral hemorrhage is common and is associated with early deterioration and poor clinical outcome. The computed tomographic angiography (CTA) spot sign is a promising predictor of expansion; however, frequency and predictive values are variable across studies, possibly because of differences in onset-to-CTA time. We performed a patient-level meta-analysis to define the relationship between onset-to-CTA time and frequency and predictive ability of the spot sign. Methods— We completed a systematic review for studies of CTA spot sign and hematoma expansion. We subsequently pooled patient-level data on the frequency and predictive values for significant hematoma expansion according to 5 predefined categorized onset-to-CTA times. We calculated spot-sign frequency both as raw and frequency-adjusted rates. Results— Among 2051 studies identified, 12 met our inclusion criteria. Baseline hematoma volume, spot-sign status, and time-to-CTA were available for 1176 patients, and 1039 patients had follow-up computed tomographies for hematoma expansion analysis. The overall spot sign frequency was 26%, decreasing from 39% within 2 hours of onset to 13% beyond 8 hours ( P P =0.004), with positive predictive values decreasing from 53% to 33%. Conclusions— The frequency of the CTA spot sign is inversely related to intracerebral hemorrhage onset-to-CTA time. Furthermore, the positive predictive value of the spot sign for significant hematoma expansion decreases as time-to-CTA increases. Our results offer more precise risk stratification for patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage and will help refine clinical prediction rules for intracerebral hemorrhage expansion.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays an essential role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system. The functions of CSF include: (1) buoyancy of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves; (2) volume adjustment in the cranial cavity; (3) nutrient transport; (4) protein or peptide transport; (5) brain volume regulation through osmoregulation; (6) buffering effect against external forces; (7) signal transduction; (8) drug transport; (9) immune system control; (10) elimination of metabolites and unnecessary substances; and finally (11) cooling of heat generated by neural activity. For CSF to fully mediate these functions, fluid-like movement in the ventricles and subarachnoid space is necessary. Furthermore, the relationship between the behaviors of CSF and interstitial fluid in the brain and spinal cord is important. In this review, we will present classical studies on CSF circulation from its discovery over 2,000 years ago, and will subsequently introduce functions that were recently discovered such as CSF production and absorption, water molecule movement in the interstitial space, exchange between interstitial fluid and CSF, and drainage of CSF and interstitial fluid into both the venous and the lymphatic systems. Finally, we will summarize future challenges in research. This review includes articles published up to February 2016.

While warfarin use and the presence of the spot sign on computed tomography angiography are associated with a high frequency of hematoma enlargement and high mortality among patients with intracerebral hematomas (ICHs), the effects of various combinations of warfarin use and/or the spot sign have never been clarified. The combinations of both or either of warfarin use and/or the spot sign were used to investigate their relationships with hematoma enlargement and mortality before the introduction of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) treatment.Consecutive patients with ICHs admitted within 6 h of onset from 2009 to 2017 were investigated.Of 703 eligible patients, the combinations of warfarin use and spot sign-present and of warfarin use and spot sign-absent were seen in 23 (3.3%) and 35 patients (5.0%), respectively. The combination of warfarin use and spot sign-present was a predictor of hematoma enlargement (p 0.05). In regard to mortality (13.5% for all patients), mortality with the combination of warfarin use and spot sign-present was 52.2%, which was significantly higher than in the 3 other groups. Multivariate analysis showed that the combination of warfarin use and spot sign-present was a significant predictor of mortality (p 0.05).Warfarin users with ICHs showing spot signs, who accounted for approximately 40% of ICH patients with warfarin use, showed a high frequency of hematoma enlargement and high mortality. This group was regarded as high-risk patients and should be considered candidates for prompt administration of PCC.

INTRODUCTION Magnetic resonance perfusion imaging is considered to be available as grading of brain tumor and follow-up of brain treatment. One of the methods, arterial spin labeling (ASL), is a test that is useful for patients with renal impairment and contrast agent allergy and has low invasiveness because it does not use a contrast agent. However, there have been no reports of ASL in intraoperative MRI (iMRI). PURPOSE In this hospital iMRI (1.5T), it was examined whether ASL could be used to evaluate residual tumor in patients under general anesthesia. CASE STUDY A 75-year-old woman with right temporal lobe Glioblastoma. 43-year-old man, left temporal lobe Diffuse astrocytoma. All performed ASL at the time of MRI imaging for navigation before induction of anesthesia just before surgery and iMRI. In all cases, the blood pressure at iMRI was maintained, and Post Label Delay (PLD) calculated the optimal PLD from the carotid artery velocity measured by iMRI, and defined it as 1800–2200 ms, and performed ASL. RESULTS Actually, imaging by iMRI was almost difficult to visualize, and reflux was not recognized not only in the tumor but also in the gray matter. DISCUSSION The blood flow velocity measurement in the internal carotid artery is performed by the phase contrast method by intraoperative MRI, and the CBF decreases because propofol used during the operation decreases the CBF and also the brain metabolism. However, it has been suggested that it is one of the factors that make evaluation with ASL difficult. Although the iMRI of our hospital is 1.5 T, which is also a subject of investigation, it is thought that there is a limit to ASL imaging in the case of general anesthesia with propofol even from the calculated PLD. CONCLUSION ASL in iMRI at our hospital was not useful.

Objective The number of patients with chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) showing comorbidities and/or impaired activities of daily living (ADL) before the onset of CSDH has increased with the recent aging of society. The purposes of this study were to evaluate ADL worsening by comparing premorbid ADL and ADL at discharge and to investigate the effects of pre-existing comorbidity-related clinical factors on the outcomes. Methods A total of 570 patients with CSDH admitted from 2006 to 2016 were studied retrospectively. Clinical factors, including pre-existing comorbidities, related to outcomes were identified by multivariate analysis. A variation of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) using 5 united categories of mRS scores 0/1, 2, 3/4, 5, and dead was used for evaluation of ADL. Results Of 570 patients, 390 (68.4%) had pre-existing comorbidities and 120 (21.1%) showed premorbid impaired ADL (mRS scores 2 and worse). Considering pre-existing impaired ADL, ADL deteriorated after CSDH in 92 patients (16.1%), whereas ADL impairment at discharge was found in 173 patients (30.4%). Comorbidities related to ADL deterioration on multivariate analysis were hemodialysis and chronic heart failure. Antithrombotic use for cardiovascular diseases was a predictor of acute-on-chronic subdural hematoma, which was the sole common predictor for ADL deterioration and the occurrence of surgical complications. Conclusions In patients with CSDH, pre-existing comorbidity-linked factors related to outcomes were hemodialysis, chronic heart failure, and antithrombotic use. Patients with acute-on-chronic subdural hematoma with these factors should be regarded as a high-risk group.

The presence of hemiparesis on arrival in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is presumed to affect prognosis; intracranial hematomas with mass effect responsible for hemiparesis are frequently observed in these patients. The aim of this study was to clarify characteristics and outcomes of patients who presented with hemiparesis on arrival with no responsible hematomas (hemiparesis without hematoma) having mass effect demonstrated on computed tomography.Consecutive patients with SAH treated with surgery for ruptured cerebral aneurysms within 5 days of onset between 2003 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed.Hemiparesis without hematoma was present in 25 of 858 surgically treated patients (2.9%). Internal carotid artery aneurysms were significantly more common in patients with hemiparesis without hematoma than in the other patients (P0.05). In 19 of 21 surviving patients (90.5%) with hemiparesis without hematoma on arrival, the hemiparesis improved at discharge. Favorable outcomes were achieved in 16 of 25 patients with hemiparesis without hematoma (64%) and in 13 of 59 patients with hemiparesis with hematomas (22.0%); this difference was significant (P0.05).Hemiparesis can be expected to improve in patients with SAH with hemiparesis without hematoma, and such patients appear to have a better prognosis than patients with SAH with hemiparesis and responsible hematomas. A possible major mechanism of hemiparesis without hematoma based on the characteristics identified is a combination of transient ipsilateral hemispheric functional failure caused by the impact of aneurysmal rupture and transient ischemia of the perforators originating from the internal carotid artery.

Detailed features of chronic subdural haematoma (cSDH) associated with disturbance of consciousness and acute-on-chronic subdural haematoma (a/cSDH), in which acute subdural haematoma overlaps cSDH, remain poorly understood. The object of this study was to clarify both characteristics of cSDH associated with disturbance of consciousness and the significance of a/cSDH.Clinical factors and computed tomography (CT) findings were retrospectively investigated in 349 consecutive patients admitted between 2006 and 2013 and diagnosed with cSDH.Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was ≤ 8 in 21 patients (6.0%) and 9-14 in 29 patients excluding aphasia and/or dementia (8.3%). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that a/cSDH, female sex and haemodialysis were significantly related to severe disturbance of consciousness (GCS ≤ 8). Predictors for a/cSDH observed in 29 patients (8.3%) were trauma history within 7 days before admission, high prothrombin time-international rate, and use of anticoagulants and/or antiplatelets. Unfavourable outcomes were observed in 29 of 299 patients (9.7%) without consciousness disturbance, compared to 27 of 50 patients (54%) with consciousness disturbance. Predictors of unfavourable outcome were consciousness disturbance, increase in age, malignancy, trauma history within 7 days and haemodialysis.Disturbance of consciousness associated with cSDH, often caused by either a/cSDH or concomitant disease, frequently resulted in unfavourable outcomes. As a result, in cSDH patients associated with disturbance of consciousness, underlying conditions, especially a/cSDH, which is often caused by haemostatic abnormality, should be clarified and managed.

A phenomenon of cerebral infarction following acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) in infants and young children, termed cerebral infarction following ASDH (CIASDH), has been well recognized, though both its mechanisms and risk factors have been poorly understood. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the predictors for CIASDH in a population of ASDH, and to evaluate the imaging studies to presume the mechanisms of CIASDH. We retrospectively examined consecutive children 6 years of age or younger, who were diagnosed with ASDH and were admitted to our hospital between 2000 and 2014. In 57 consecutive children with ASDH, 12 (21.1%) developed CIASDH. The multivariate analysis revealed five predictors for CIASDH: presence of seizure, consciousness disturbance at admission, absence of skull fracture, hematoma thickness ≥ 5 mm on computed tomography (CT), and midline shift ≥ 3 mm on CT (p < 0.05). In three of six patients (50%) undergoing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) within 5 days of admission, serpentine hyperintensities in the subarachnoid space (FLAIR vessel hyperintensities) were demonstrated. MR angiography showed neither occlusion nor stenosis of the cerebral arteries. Single photon emission CT performed at admission in one patient showed a cerebral blood flow reduction in the ASDH side. All the children with CIASDH showed unfavorable outcomes at discharge. Children showing multiple predictors at admission should be carefully observed for development of CIASDH. Evaluation of the imaging studies suggested that a blood flow disturbance in the level of peripheral arteries to microcirculation was one candidate for possible mechanisms to induce the CIASDH.

The authors report a 61-year-old female patient with a giant cavernous aneurysm in the right internal carotid artery (ICA) leading to acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) 7 days after the occurrence of abducens nerve palsy. She underwent ICA occlusion associated with high-flow bypass. In all five reported patients with a cavernous ICA aneurysm causing ASDH, the size of the aneurysm was giant and cranial nerve signs preceded the rupture. When a patient with a symptomatic cavernous ICA giant aneurysm experiences sudden-onset headache and/or consciousness disturbance, rupture of the aneurysm should be differentiated, even though a cavernous ICA aneurysm rarely causes ASDH.

Although arachnoid cysts (ACs) are associated with chronic subdural hematomas (CSDHs), especially in young patients, the detailed features of CSDHs associated with ACs remain poorly understood. The objective of this study was to clarify the relationship between the location of CSDHs and ACs and the significance of ACs in young patients with CSDHs. We retrospectively assessed 605 consecutive patients 7 years of age and older who were diagnosed with a CSDH between 2002 and 2014. Twelve patients (2%) had ACs, and 10 of the 12 patients were 7–40 years of age. Patients with ACs as a complication of CSDHs were significantly younger than those without ACs (p < 0.05). Three different relationships between the location of CSDHs and ACs were found: a CSDH contacting an AC, an ipsilateral CSDH apart from an AC, and a CSDH contralateral to an AC. In 21 patients with CSDHs who were 7–40 years of age, 10 (47.6%) had ACs (AC group) and 7 (33.3%) had no associated illnesses (non-AC group). All 10 young patients with ACs showed ipsilateral CSDHs including a CSDH apart from an AC. All 17 patients in both the AC and non-AC groups showed headache but no paresis at admission. The pathogenesis of CSDHs associated with ACs may be different among the three types of locations. The clinical characteristics of patients with a combination of a CSDH and an AC including headache as a major symptom may be attributed to young age in the majority of patients with ACs.

Background Few studies have examined the risk of computed tomography angiography (CTA) during the acute phase of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), while the benefits of CTA in ICH have been well-documented. The present study investigated both the benefits of identifying spot signs, which are supposed to indicate hematoma enlargement after admission, and risks of CTA performed during the acute phase of ICH. Methods We retrospectively assessed 323 consecutive patients with spontaneous ICHs admitted to our hospital between April 2009 and March 2012 and who underwent CTA on admission. Results In 80 patients (24.7 %), spot signs were demonstrated on CTA source images. Multivariate analysis revealed two independent factors correlated with presence of the spot sign: age and hematoma volume (p

Numerous studies have identified different predictors for secondary hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), although predictors regarding timing of the shunt operation have never been reported. Predictors for an early shunt, which was defined as a shunt operation performed ≤30 days after SAH onset, and for a late shunt, performed at 40 days, were investigated.A total of 735 consecutive SAH patients admitted to our hospital between 2003 and 2014 who underwent surgery for ruptured aneurysms within five days of onset were retrospectively assessed.Secondary hydrocephalus developed in 225 patients, including 70 with an early shunt and 96 with a late shunt. Multivariate analysis showed that predictors for secondary hydrocephalus were age ≥70 years, World Federation of Neurosurgical Society (WFNS) grade IV-V, Fisher grade 3-4, intraventricular hemorrhage, anterior cerebral artery aneurysms, and external drainage for acute hydrocephalus (p 0.05). In the early and late shunt groups, multivariate analysis indicated that early shunt was significantly associated with coil embolization, and late shunt was correlated with middle cerebral artery aneurysms and cerebral infarction due to vasospasm (p 0.05).The difference in the predictors between the early and late shunts implied that the mechanisms of secondary hydrocephalus differed between the early and late shunt groups. Knowledge of the associated risk factors might help to predict the timing of the shunt operation for early rehabilitation planning in the future.

The selection of therapeutic modalities, including endovascular coil embolization and surgical clipping, for management of unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms, remains controversial. Detailed long-term outcome data for endovascular coil embolization of unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms are still lacking. Thus, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of coil embolization of unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms.From January 1998 to July 2010, 138 patients underwent endovascular coiling for 140 unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms. Their medical records and radiologic images were reviewed retrospectively.Complications occurred in 5·7% of 140 procedures and the morbidity rate was 0·7%. Of the 140 unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms, a total of 111 aneurysms underwent follow-up imaging evaluation at 2 years or more, or showing reopening on imaging studies within 2 years (65·6±37·2 months). Multivariate analysis revealed two predictors for reopening of the aneurysms: a maximum diameter of aneurysms and a dome/neck ratio of aneurysms (P0·05). Reopening rates of aneurysms with maximum sizes of8, 8-10, and10 mm were 1%, 25%, and 75%, respectively. Reopening rates were significantly different among the three groups (P0·05). In aneurysms with a maximum diameter of 8-10 mm, there was a significant difference of dome/neck ratios between the presence and absence of reopened aneurysms (P0·05).The results indicate that endovascular coil embolization is a safe and effective treatment modality in selected patients with unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms. Consideration of the aneurysm size and the dome/neck ratio could assist in the selection of therapeutic modalities for these aneurysms.

Objective To evaluate quantitatively flow impairment of contrast medium on digital subtraction angiography (DSA) performed before and after filter retrieval following carotid artery stent (CAS) placement with distal filter protection. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed of 55 CAS placement procedures with distal filter protection in 51 patients. From a qualitative analysis, the operators determined if there was flow reduction of contrast medium on digital subtraction angiography (DSA) before filter retrieval. A quantitative analysis was performed of frame-by-frame images before and after filter retrieval to compare the flow state of contrast medium. Results Stop-flow or slow-flow classified by the operators during CAS placement was found in 10 (18%) of 55 procedures. However, the frame-by-frame analysis of DSA images showed flow reduction of contrast medium in 46 (84%) of 55 procedures. Among 45 procedures with normal-flow as classified by the operators, 36 (80%) procedures showed ≥1 frames with delay of contrast medium based on quantitative analysis. Conclusions The frame-by-frame comparison of angiographic images revealed a much higher incidence of blood flow impairment on DSA before filter retrieval compared with the operators' classification during CAS placement procedures. Considering the high incidence of blood flow impairment, the possibility of stagnation of blood flow in the internal carotid artery (ICA) column should be expected during every CAS placement procedure.

A routine aspiration method in filter-protected carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been reported recently in which the proximal internal carotid artery (ICA) blood column was aspirated using an aspiration catheter after postdilatation regardless of flow state on digital subtraction angiography. We examined the debris particles captured by this method.The routine aspiration method was used in 71 CAS procedures. In two procedures, captured debris particles were examined histologically. In the remaining 69 procedures, the size and number of debris particles were measured under a stereoscopic microscope, and then relationships between the amount of debris particles and clinical variables were evaluated using multivariate regression analysis.Histologically, the captured debris contained platelet-precipitating, thrombotic, lipid-rich fibrous and calcified material. The number of debris particles ≥1 mm was 19.6 ± 12.1 (mean ± SD) in 60 procedures with normal flow and 25.9 ± 17.2 (mean ± SD) in 9 procedures with slow/stop flow. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that extension of a proximal ICA angulation was an independent predictor of the amount of debris particles with a maximum diameter of either ≥1 mm or1 mm but ≥0.5 mm (p0.05).The captured debris appeared to originate from atheromatous plaques. If the routine aspiration method had not been used in the present series, the debris might have migrated into intracerebral arteries. Restriction of the extension of a proximal ICA angulation might reduce the amount of debris associated with CAS, especially when the proximal ICA angulation is pronounced.

Susceptibility-weighted (SW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a sensitive test to detect intravenous deoxygenated blood. On SW images, dilated appearing draining veins in tissue with perfusion impairment occur due to an increase in intravenous deoxyhemoglobin levels, and could indicate poor perfusion areas in which there is an elevated oxygen extraction fraction. In this study, patients with possible chronic ischemia caused by internal carotid artery stenosis underwent carotid artery stenting (CAS). Changes in cortical vein diameters were evaluated before and after CAS using SW imaging.Twenty-two patients with 25 lesions underwent 3 T SW imaging before and after CAS. The diameters of cortical veins were measured on SW images. Blood flow reduction and cerebrovascular reserve were examined before CAS using a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) study, including an acetazolamide stress test.Two of six patients with both decreased blood flow and reduced cerebrovascular reserve on SPECT showed significantly increased cortical vein diameters on pre-CAS SW images (P0.05). After CAS, these same two patients demonstrated a significant decrease in their cortical vein diameters (P0.05).The present study demonstrates that dilated cortical veins as seen on SW imaging may reflect areas of altered oxygen extraction fraction due to chronic ischemia in patients with carotid artery stenosis, and that cortical venous dilatation is reversed after successful CAS. In the future, estimations of the cortical vein diameters on SW imaging may help to qualitatively evaluate areas of poor perfusion in chronic ischemia.