phenylephrine-hydrochloride and Brain-Stem-Neoplasms

Brainstem lesions are challenging to manage, and surgical options have been controversial. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been used for local control, but life-threatening toxicities from 0% to 9.5% have been reported. Several microsurgical approaches involving safe entry zones have been developed to optimize the exposure and minimize complications in different portions of the brainstem, but require extensive drilling and manipulation of neurovascular structures. With recent advancements, the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) can provide direct visualization of ventral brainstem. No case has been reported of EEA to remove a brainstem metastasis.. We present an illustrative case of a 68-yr-old female with metastatic colon cancer who presented with 2.8 × 2.7 × 2.1 cm (7.9 cm3) heterogeneously enhancing, right ventral pontine lesion with extensive edema. She underwent endoscopic endonasal transclival approach, and gross total resection of the lesion was achieved.. The endoscopic approach may offer certain advantages for removal of ventral brainstem lesions, as it can provide direct visualization of important neurovascular structures, especially, if the lesion displaces the tracts and comes superficial to the pial surface.

Topics: Aged; Brain Stem Neoplasms; Female; Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System; Humans; Neuroendoscopy; Nose; Pons

Syringobulbia is an uncommon lesion that occurs in the central nervous system; it is often defined as a pathologic cavitation in the brainstem. The cases with partial blockage of the cerebrospinal fluid pathways at the level of the foramen magnum are more common and the most important group. The most common treatment of syringobulbia is craniovertebral decompression.. This paper reports a case of a symptomatic syringobulbia in which an urgent endoscopic endonasal approach to the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) was done to limit bulbo-medullary compression and rapid neurologic deterioration. A 69-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of acute onset of dysphonia, dysphagia, imbalance, and vomiting. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cystic lesion in the brainstem, suggestive of a syringobulbia in Klippel Feil syndrome with CVJ stenosis.. This case report details the successful use of endoscopic endonasal anterior decompression to treat syringobulbia, and adds to the growing literature in support of the endonasal endoscopic approach as a safe and feasible means for decompressing the craniocervical junction, even in the setting of urgency. However, prudent patient selection, combined with sound clinical judgment, access to instrumentation, and intraoperative imaging cannot be overemphasized.

Topics: Aged; Brain Stem Neoplasms; Cervical Vertebrae; Decompression, Surgical; Humans; Klippel-Feil Syndrome; Male; Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery; Neurosurgical Procedures; Nose; Spinal Cord Compression; Spinal Stenosis; Treatment Outcome

The authors report a case of a recurrent pediatric ventral pontine ependymoma that they resected through an endonasal endoscopic transclival approach. Regarding the options for a surgical approach to ventral pontine tumors, traditional far-lateral approaches are associated with considerable morbidity due to the required muscle mobilization, brain retraction, and in-line obstruction of cranial nerves before reaching the target. The endoscopic endonasal transclival approach was made appealing by eliminating all of these concerns. The patient's fully pneumatized sphenoid sinus, laterally displaced basilar artery, and the direct ventral location of the bulky disease all further supported this unconventional choice of surgical corridor to achieve a palliative brainstem decompression of an incurable recurrence.

Topics: Adolescent; Basilar Artery; Brain Stem; Brain Stem Neoplasms; Cranial Fossa, Posterior; Decompression, Surgical; Ependymoma; Fatal Outcome; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Humans; Male; Meningitis; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neuroendoscopy; Neurosurgical Procedures; Nose; Palliative Care; Reoperation; Sphenoid Sinus

Although they are traditionally reserved for "aesthetic refinement" in the latter stages of facial reanimation surgery, the author uses a variety of autogenous fascia lata grafts in a very aggressive approach as the primary therapeutic option in static facial rebalancing and/or in conjunction with dynamic muscle transfers to achieve architectural integrity and functional restoration of the totally or partially paralyzed face.. Forty-nine autogenous fascia lata grafts, harvested through serial incisions in the lateral thigh, were placed in 35 totally or partially paralyzed faces. The grafts were categorized by anatomical location: I and II, lateral lip in totally paralyzed and partially paralyzed faces, respectively; III, nostril suspension; IV, lower eyelid suspension; V, bimalar lower lip sling; and VI, platysma transfer/autogenous fascia lata extension for lower lip invagination.. In all group I and II cases, static balance of facial architecture was restored at 4 to 6 weeks (after swelling resolved). Average lip commissure displacement was corrected to within 0.5 cm of the horizontal axis. Subjective functional improvement in speech, fluid retention, and chewing was immediate in all cases. In group I (n = 10; median age, 10.5 years), a 60 to 100 percent symmetrical smile was achieved with voluntary gracilis contraction of 3 of 5 to 5 of 5. In group II (n = 20; median age, 33 years), with 16 sling only patients, one to two grades of voluntary risorius and lip elevator motion were achieved in most. When accompanied by a temporalis turnover flap, both risorius and lip elevator function improved two to three grades. In group III (n = 5), inspiratory collapse was ameliorated in all cases and nasal flow improved subjectively 80 to 100 percent. In group IV (n = 4), scleral show and keratitis were improved in all cases. In group V (n = 6), improved oral competence was achieved in all patients. In group VI (n = 4), static lip evagination was achieved in all cases; voluntary lip depressor function was two to four grades improved.. Early placement of autogenous fascia lata restores static balance of the deeper facial architecture in repose. Functional improvement of chewing, fluid retention, speech articulation, smile symmetry, and ectropion is immediate. The psychological effect is also immediate, with achievement of self-esteem and acceptance by family and peers.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Birth Injuries; Brain Stem Neoplasms; Child; Ectropion; Extraction, Obstetrical; Facial Expression; Facial Paralysis; Fascia Lata; Female; Humans; Lip; Male; Mastication; Middle Aged; Mobius Syndrome; Nose; Recovery of Function; Speech; Transplantation, Autologous