Mobile Schwannoma of the Cauda Equina for Which Intraoperative Myelography Was Useful in Locating

We report on a case of a mobile schwannoma of the cauda equina. The patient was a 24-year-old woman who visited our hospital with the chief complaints of low back pain and numbness of the right leg. A tumor was noted from the L2 midbody level to the L3 upper endplate on preoperative MRI and myelogram. During the surgery, a right L2 hemilaminectomy was performed, and the dura was incised, but no tumor was founded in the surgical field, and this was noted as a missing tumor. Intraoperative myelography showed that the tumor had moved to the adjacent vertebra on the caudal side. Myelography applied again to the caudal side of the mobile tumor. Then, the tumor had moved upward, and could be excised without an additional laminectomy.

A three-dimensional digital visualization model of cervical nerves in a healthy person

Three-dimensional reconstruction nerve models are classically obtained from two-dimensional images of ＂visible human＂ frozen sections. However, because of the flexibility of nerve tissues and small color differences compared with surrounding tissues, the integrity and validity of nerve tissues can be impaired during milling. Thus, in the present study, we obtained two-dimensional data from a healthy volunteer based on continuous CT angiography and magnetic resonance myelography. Semi-automatic segmentation and reconstruction were then conducted at different thresholds in different tissues using Mimics software. Small anatomical structures such as muscles and cervical nerves were reconstructed using the medical computer aided design module. Three-dimensional digital models of the cervical nerves and their surrounding structures were successfully developed, which allowed visualization of the spatial relation of anatomical structures with a strong three-dimensional effect, distinct appearance, clear distribution, and good continuity, precision, and integrality. These results indicate the validity of a three-dimensional digital visualization model of healthy human cervical nerves, which overcomes the disadvantages of milling, avoids data loss, and exhibits a realistic appearance and three-dimensional image.

Epidural blood patch for spontaneous intracranial hypotension with subdural hematoma: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)leakage at C1/2 in spontaneous intracranial hypotension(SIH)is rare.Subdural hematoma(SDH),a serious complication of SIH,may lead to neurological deficits.This report presents a case of SDH after spontaneous C1/2 CSF leakage,which was treated with a targeted epidural blood patch(EBP).CASE SUMMARY A 60-year-old man with no history of trauma was admitted to our hospital with orthostatic headache,nausea,and vomiting.Brain computed tomography imaging revealed bilateral,subacute to chronic SDH.Brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)findings were SDH with dural enhancement in the bilateral cerebral convexity and posterior fossa and mild sagging,suggesting SIH.Although the patient underwent burr hole trephination,the patient’s orthostatic headache was aggravated.MR myelography led to a suspicion of CSF leakage at C1/2.Therefore,we performed a targeted cervical EBP using an epidural catheter under fluoroscopic guidance.At 5 d after EBP,a follow-up MR myelography revealed a decrease in the interval size of the CSF collected.Although his symptoms improved,the patient still complained of headaches;therefore,we repeated the targeted cervical EBP 6 d after the initial EBP.Subsequently,his headache had almost disappeared on the 8th day after the repeated EBP.CONCLUSION Targeted EBP is an effective treatment for SDH in patients with SIH due to CSF leakage at C1/2.