Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D Brors.
A rare case of an unusual sinus within the styloid process is described. The radiological appearance of this malformation is presented with CT-scans and a hypothesis for its development is presented. The malformation is designated as "Recessus processus styloidei" and this entity is considered to be a dysgenesis of the second branchial arch.
Surgery is the most common treatment for angiofibromas, but the approach is still a major point of discussion. Five cases of angiofibroma with typical localisation were treated surgically by an endonasal approach at the Fulda Academic Teaching Hospital from 1994 to 1997. This article presents an analysis of the clinical findings, computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, preoperative embolization, operative technique and complications. Endoscopic and radiologic follow-up ranging from 5 to 39 months excluded any residual tumour or recurrence. The endonasal microendoscopic approach with adequate preoperative embolization should be considered as an useful technique for removing tumours with considerable size without using an external incision.
We describe an unusual occult transclival cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula to the sphenoid sinus demonstrated by MRI. CT was performed because of a posterior cerebral infarct caused by cardiac arrhythmia. Axial sections showed fluid in the sphenoid sinus. High-resolution scans revealed a bony defect 3 mm in diameter of the posterior wall of the sphenoid sinus, and MRI showed a transclival CSF fistula. This occult lesion was confirmed by surgery and duraplasty was successfully performed via an endonasal approach.
The case of a 50-year-old man with an unusual sinus of the styloid process is presented. This anomaly caused recurrent otorrhea and repeated neck inflammation. The sinus was identified in the upper part of the styloid process and was resected completely as definitive treatment. Since the styloid process is formed by mesenchymal tissue of the second branchial arch, lack of chondrification and ossification was presumed to be the cause of the sinus found in the patient. In case of direct communication between the styloid process cavity and the middle ear space the term "styloid process recess" is suggested. This recess can act as a possible source for recurrent middle ear infections and neck inflammations.
BACKGROUND: Haemangiopericytomas are rare vascular neoplasms which show either slow local tumour growth or aggressive progression in size with a high tendency of recurrence and metastasis. Manifestations of haemangiopericytomas in the area of the nose and sinuses are supposed to have a relatively benign course. To date clinical and histological parameters for prognosis are uncertain. Therefore in a quite large number of cases only the clinical course allows to evaluate the dignity of a haemangiopericytoma. PATIENTS AND RESULTS: We present our experience with five haemanglopericytomas in contact with the skull base out of a total number of 457 skull base tumours. The site of origin of these five haemangiopericytomas were: nasal septum, pterygopalatine fossa, oronasopharynx, temporal bone, and parotid gland. All neoplasms showed primary or recurrent tumor in contact with the skull base and an intracranial extension was observed twice. One patient died postoperatively of a cerebral infarction. Three patients showed one or more recurrences which were treated surgically. In one case 5 recurrences occurred. Despite of 4 surgical procedures within a period of 15 months, the tumour could be controlled only for a short period of time, and the patient died 16 months after the first operation. CONCLUSION: One has to consider that haemangiopericytomas of the head and neck show a potential malignant course. The vascular tumor may recur decades later. Adequate therapy and life-long follow-up are therefore mandatory in haemangiopericytomas. Complete surgical resection of the tumour is usually the treatment of choice, in spite of the high degree of surgical skill required, especially in advanced tumour and in case of recurrence.
The anatomical and surgical approach to the sella region is of special interest for microsurgeons involved in ear, nose, and throat surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, maxillofacial surgery, and skull base surgery. We investigated the surface morphology of the cavernous sinus and the sella turcica in 48 adult and 2 neonate specimens. To simplify the morphometric recording, distances between anatomical landmarks were defined. In addition, three triangles-the preinfundibular, the parasellar, and the internal carotid artery triangle-are introduced. These triangles are defined in order to determine the location where cranial nerves III, IV, V, and VI penetrate the dura with respect to the anterior and posterior clinoid processes and the tuberculum and dorsum sellae. The triangles were found to be symmetrical, with identical bilateral measurements, and the entry points of the cranial nerves were found to be constant. In 17 cases (34%), we found a dehiscence of the sellar diaphragm, and in 15 cases (30%), rope-like adhesions at the pituitary stalk.
Four typical manifestations of the occipital vertebra are described from both an anatomic and a radiologic point of view; the basilar process, the condylus tertius, the paracondylar process, and the isolated prebasioccipital arch. The clinical importance of the described variants is discussed.
We investigated 100 skulls and found in 8 cases a dehiscence of the paries jugularis. In 7 cases this was on the left side and in 1 case on the right. Thickness of the paries jugularis was estimated by means of a diaphanoscopic technique. We classified data according to four degrees of diaphaneity: 0 (hardly translucent), 1 (translucent), 2 (brightly translucent) and 3 (nearly transparent). The frequencies of these degrees were: 0, 38 cases (19%); 1, 122 cases (61%); 2, 35 cases (17.5%); and 3, 5 cases (2.5%). In investigating the frequency of additional ducts in the paries jugularis, we distinguished between three types of solum tympani: type I, no additional canals (18 cases); type II, 1-10 additional canals (172 cases); and type III, more than 10 additional canals (10 cases).
A case of a rare variety of the course of the pars cavernosa of the internal carotid artery, combined with a pronounced rarefying hyperostosis of the cranial vault is described. Anatomical aspects, the clinical significance of this manifestation and aetiological considerations are discussed.
The influence of laminin-1 (LN) and tenascin-C (TN), extracellular matrix molecules expressed spatially and temporally along the neural growth route from spiral ganglion (SG) neurons to the cochlear sensory cells, was evaluated in cultured SG explants from postnatal day 4 rats. Increasing concentrations of LN resulted in a strong, dose-dependent increase in the length of neurites and in a higher number of neural processes, while varying TN concentrations had relatively minor effects on both parameters. The results suggest differential receptor activation by LN and TN. When explants grown on LN were treated with Kistrin, an inhibitor of the alphavbeta3 integrin, the LN-induced increase in neurite length was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. However, the number of extending neurites was not affected, indicating that different receptors mediate this response, perhaps by increasing neuronal survival.