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Biomedical subjects

Laurence A G Marshman

Publications and source records attributed to Laurence A G Marshman.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

"Disc cysts" and "posterior longitudinal ligament ganglion cysts": synonymous entities? Report of three cases and literature review.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Extradural cysts intimately associated with relatively normal lumbar discs have rarely been reported. Histologically nonspecific, most have been designated posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) or annulus fibrosus (AF) "ganglion cysts." Recently, "disc cysts" have been distinguished as a separate entity, mostly on the grounds of cyst-disc communication. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Three young male patients presented with unilateral sciatica. In all cases, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated rounded, cystic lesions (i.e., hypointense on T1- but hyperintense on T2-weighted scans) adjacent to minimally dehydrated, nonherniated disc spaces. INTERVENTION: At surgery, each cyst was found intimately related to either the AF (Case 3) or the PLL (Cases 1 and 2) of the adjacent disc; and direct disc-space communication was evident in Case 3. After cystectomy, with or without discectomy, all patients achieved complete and long-lasting resolution of their sciatic symptoms. Histological appearances were typical of ganglion cysts in all three cases, with evidence of prior hemorrhage in Cases 1 and 3. CONCLUSION: Our results and those of others suggest that all such cysts are ganglion cysts that derive from either the AF or the PLL at the disc level. Although disc cysts might be AF ganglion cysts exhibiting disc communication, their separate distinction is probably unnecessary. Cystectomy alone affords complete symptomatic remission; discectomy is usually unnecessary. Although anticipated with ganglia in general, neither spontaneous resolution nor postoperative recurrences have been witnessed. Unlike ganglia in general or juxtafacet ganglion cysts, such cysts seem to be unusually restricted to young men.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Primary extradural epithelioid leiomyosarcoma of the cervical spine: case report and literature review.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: No case of primary epithelioid leiomyosarcoma involving the spine has been reported previously. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old Nigerian woman presented with progressive spastic quadriparesis and acute urinary retention. Her only medical history included a total abdominal hysterectomy for fibroids 10 years earlier in Nigeria. Results of the general examination were normal. Pyramidal spastic quadriparesis (3/5) with a sensory level at C5-C6 was found neurologically. Magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brain and spine revealed extradural cord compression at C3-C5 as the sole abnormality. This was caused by a large, soft tissue mass arising from the erector spinae muscles, which was predominantly isointense on T1-weighted images, of mixed intensity on T2-weighted images, and homogenously enhanced after gadolinium contrast agent administration. There was an associated signal change in the cord at C3-C4. Computed tomography confirmed the predominantly soft tissue involvement, but with bone erosion and infiltration within the posterior elements of C4. Systemic screening for cancer was negative. INTERVENTION: At decompressive laminectomy, urgently undertaken under corticosteroid cover, an excessively vascularized, soft tissue tumor was subtotally excised, after which independent walking and normal sphincter function were regained within 1 week. Four weeks later, a complete macroscopic tumor excision was undertaken, incorporating lateral mass (C3-C6) and C2 pedicle screw stabilization, along with iliac crest bone grafting. The patient's neurological status continued to improve. However, while awaiting radical radiotherapy, the patient declined further treatment and returned to her native Nigeria. Histopathological findings were consistent with an epithelioid leiomyosarcoma. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of a primary craniospinal epithelioid leiomyosarcoma.

Actins↗
PubMed2005

Acute obstructive hydrocephalus associated with infratentorial subdural hygromas complicating Chiari malformation Type I decompression. Report of two cases and literature review.

Obstructive hydrocephalus complicating foramen magnum decompression (FMD) for a Chiari malformation (CM) Type I is rare. Two female patients (17 and 55 years old) presented with strain-related headaches. In both cases magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies confirmed a CM Type I, which was accompanied by syringomyelia in one case. Both patients underwent uncomplicated FMD with good initial recovery. Unfortunately, conditions in both patients deteriorated, with severe headaches occurring between Days 5 and 6 post-FMD. Decreased consciousness occurred in one case. In both patients, computerized tomography scanning demonstrated an acute obstructive hydrocephalus associated with bilateral infratentorial extraaxial fluid collections (EAFCs). In addition, left parafalcine and convexity EAFCs were present in one case. An emergency external ventricular drain was required in one patient, with delayed conversion to a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. Spontaneous resolution occurred in the other patient without neurosurgical intervention. In both cases, MR imaging confirmed that each EAFC was subdural, resembled cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and had distorted the superior cerebellum anteroinferiorly. Despite upper fourth ventricle/aqueduct compromise in one case, normal aqueduct flow artifacts were apparent on examination. All EAFCs resolved spontaneously. Obstructive hydrocephalus complicating FMD is rare but invariably associated with infratentorial EAFCs, which were confirmed to be subdural hygromas in this report. The authors assert that hydrocephalus results from upper fourth ventricle/aqueduct compromise as a result of CSF subdural dissection following a pinhole arachnoid tear on durotomy. Because such hygromas spontaneously resolve, permanent shunt insertion should be avoided.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage in pregnancy.

Although uncommon, aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in pregnancy can be devastating for both mother and baby. It is the leading cause of other indirect maternal death in England and Wales accounting for 60 deaths in the decade 1988-1999. No single obstetric or neurosurgical unit has sufficiently large database or experience in managing this condition in pregnancy. With significant improvements in antenatal care and management of deliveries, non-obstetric causes of maternal death such as aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage are likely to become increasingly significant. The clinical features of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage closely resemble those of other commoner conditions seen in pregnancy. It is therefore imperative that awareness by obstetricians and other frontline staff is increased so that a high index of suspicion is maintained when pregnant women present with unique headaches. Prompt neurosurgical referral is vital and early involvement of an experienced neuroradiologist essential. It is only when an early diagnosis is made and an aggressive treatment instituted that the bleak case-fatality figure associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage in pregnancy can be improved. This review, by a multidisciplinary and multicenter team, provides a comprehensive update on the epidemiology, aetiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and the complexities of the multidisciplinary management of this serious and potentially fatal condition when it occurs in pregnancy.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed2002

Preserved contractility without side bias in endovascular filament models for subarachnoid hemorrhage.

It is currently unknown whether endovascular filament (EF) models of acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) introduce any 'side bias' upon cerebrovascular reactivity by virtue of unilateral carotid manipulation, unilateral EF insertion, or potentially ipsilateral site of intracranial rupture. In this study, three experimental groups of adult male wistar rats were used: non-operated controls (n=20), sham operated controls (n=8), and SAH groups (n=26). All were anaesthetized with intraperitoneal 25% urethane (1 g/kg) except n=2 anaesthetized with intraperitoneal hypnorm/hypnovel. SAH was created by advancing an intraluminal thread through the intracranial internal carotid artery from an extracranial source in the neck. Using in vitro wire myography in all three groups, middle cerebral artery (MCA) responses ipsilateral and contralateral to EF insertion were compared using a range of vasoconstrictors and vasodilators within 3 h of SAH. No significant side differences in MCA reactivity were found with any agent in any group or sub-group analysed. In conclusion, EF-SAH models do not appear to introduce any significant 'side bias' upon ipsilateral MCA reactivity by virtue of the potentially confounding combination: (1) unilateral carotid manipulation, (2) unilateral EF insertion or (3) potentially ipsilateral intracranial rupture. They may thus be more confidentally used for post-SAH ex vivo cerebral vessel study--acute or delayed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

Internal carotid-inferior petrosal sinus fistula complicating foramen ovale telemetry: successful treatment with detachable coils: case report and review.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Iatrogenic internal carotid artery-cavernous sinus fistula complicating percutaneous foramen ovale (FO) instrumentation (e.g., retrogasserian rhizotomy for trigeminal neuralgia) has been reported in only four patients to date. To our knowledge, no case of fistula has previously been reported either to complicate FO telemetry or to involve the inferior petrosal sinus (IPS); moreover, most patients have presented within 48 hours. We present a case of internal carotid artery-IPS fistula that complicated FO telemetry in which the clinical syndrome was delayed by 4 weeks. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Four weeks after undergoing bilateral FO telemetry during Phase 2 investigations for surgery for epilepsy, a 37-year-old man suddenly developed a painful bilateral pupil-sparing oculomotor palsy, poor visual acuity, proptosis, conjunctival suffusion, and an audible bruit over the right frontotemporal region. INTERVENTION: Cerebral angiography demonstrated a high-flow arteriovenous fistula between the junction of the petrous and laceral portions of the right internal carotid artery and right IPS, with rapid filling of both cavernous sinuses. Successful obliteration was obtained with Guglielmi detachable coils, followed by complete resolution of the bilateral ocular abnormality. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of iatrogenic fistula formation to either involve the IPS or to complicate FO telemetry. In addition, symptomatology was anomalously delayed. This case highlights the importance of noting FO anatomic asymmetries before FO instrumentation and of routinely inquiring for "swooshing" noises after electrode withdrawal.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Thoracic idiopathic spinal cord herniation at the vertebral body level: a subgroup with a poor prognosis? Case reports and review of the literature.

The authors present two cases of thoracic idiopathic spinal cord herniation (TISCH) occurring at the vertebral body (VB) level in whom adequate surgical reduction failed to reverse symptoms. In the second case, in which TISCH occurred into a VB cavity, presentation was atypical (subacute spinal cord syndrome) and there was persistent postoperative deterioration. In both cases, adequate surgical reduction was achieved via a posterior midthoracic laminectomy, and reduction was maintained by closure of the anterior dural defect by using prosthetic material. Thoracic idiopathic spinal cord herniation occurring at a VB level may be technically well treated by surgical reduction, but the outcome appears less predictable. Herniation that occurs directly into a VB cavity may form a distinct subgroup in which the presentation is atypical and the prognosis worse.

Adult↗