[A trial of surgical management of brain edema in cerebral infarction--a review with our own experiences in 31 cases (author's transl)]

We have analyzed the clinical course of 31 cases with cerebral infarction for 4 years. Of the 31 patients, 6 cases (19%) showed the brain edema on the cerebral angiograms as manifested by the shift of the midline arteries. The patients were divided into two groups, normotensive (15 cases) and hypertensive cerebral infarction (16 cases). The clinical and angiographic findings in the normotensive groups have been differed significantly from those of the hypertensive groups. The findings of brain edema on the angiograms were prominent in the hypertensive groups, and the clinical course was generally good and fair in the normotensive groups. We have reviewed the literatures about brain edema associated with cerebral infarction and have discussed on the mechanisms. From the study of our cases, it was concluded that systemic hypertension could be a facilitatory factor in the occurrence of brain edema in cerebral infarction. Furthermore, the management of massive cerebral infarction should be reduction of increased intracranial pressure and prevention of cerebral herniation. So, it will be necessary to perform a surgical treatment such as internal decompression; removal of the infarcted, necrotized area and excision of herniated tissue, and external decompression; removal of boneflap.

[Effects of solcoseryl on the cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure, systemic blood pressure and EEG in acute intracranial hypertensive cats (author's transl)]

The experiment was performed on 86 cases under intraperitoneal pentobarbital anesthesia. One balloon was placed in the extradural space of right frontal region, and the other balloon was placed in the left extradural space and the intracranial pressure was measured. A needle was stereotaxically inserted into the subcortical area in order to measure the cerebral blood flow. Systemic blood pressure was recorded by inserting a catheter into the femoral artery, and electrocorticogram was also recorded. An expanding intracranial lesion was made by inflating the extradural balloon with physiological saline. The animals were arbitrarily divided into two groups.: 1) light or moderate groups which intracranial pressure before the injection of drug was below 400 mmH2O. 2) severe groups above 400 mmH2O. After the maintenance of the pressure, Solcoseryl was infused intravenously. The investigation was focused to observe whether Solcoseryl reveales any potent effect on cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure, systemic blood pressure and on electroencephalogram in acute intracranial hypertension. Results 1) Intravenous injection of Solcoseryl had the effect of lowering intracranial pressure in the light or moderate and severe groups. Particularly, dose of 80 mg/kg showed the marked effect, though with a rebound phenomenon in the light or moderate groups. Furthermore, the effect was more marked and lasting by drip infusion of Solcoseryl and also by intravenous injection of Solcoseryl after pretreatment with hydrocortisone, and at this time no rebound phenomenon was recognized. 2) Solcoseryl had the effect of increasing the cerebral blood flow accompained with the lowering of intracranial pressure. 3) Systemic blood pressure was transiently lowered by the injection of Solcoseryl 20 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg and recovered immediately. 4) Solcoseryl had no effect on electroencephalogram in the severe groups. Conclusion On the basis of these results, it is rational to conclude that Solcoseryl could be superior agent render to lower intracranial pressure and to improve cerebral blood flow in acute intracranial hypertension.

[Two cases of primary intracerebral malignant lymphoma (author's transl)]

Two cases of primary intracerebral malignant lymphoma were reported. Case 1 was a 42-year-old man who had been suffering from headache and mental disturbances for about 3 months prior to admission. These complaints progressed insidiously. He was admitted to our hospital on March 31, 1973. On neurological examinations he was in somnolence state and had neck rigidity, positive of Kernig's sign, disorientation and dyscalculia. Lumbar puncture gave a C.S.F. pressure of 240 mmH2O and the fluid contained 180 mg/dl of protein. A left vertebral angiogram via brachial artery demonstrated thalamic and cerebellar mass lesions. For the development of symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt operation was performed on April 7. A right carotid angiogram after ventriculoperitoneal shunt operation disclosed a frontal mass lesion. On May 2, a right frontal craniotomy was carried out and the frontal lobe was removed together with the tumors. After the operation his consciousness remained stupor. Thereafter consciousness and clinical pictures gradually worsened, and he died on May 30. Autopsy was performed, and gross examinations revealed tumors in the bilateral frontal and temporal lobes, right parietal lobe, and left cerebellar hemisphere. On coronal sections, there were neoplastic proliferation extending from the right thalamus to the putamen and a tumor in the right midbrain. No evidence of neoplastic proliferation was found outside the central nervous system. Microscopic examinations showed a diffuse proliferation of tumor cells with mitosis and polymorphism. The tumor was consisted of small lymphoid cells. Reticulin fibers were not found in the tumor with Watanabe's silver method. It was also unable to impregnate the tumor cells with silver carbonate. This case may be classified the primary interacerebral lymphosarcoma. Case 2 was a 48-year-old man, who was admitted to the hospital complaining of occipitalgia, speech disturbances and diffculty in walking. On neurological examinations, he had a right spastic hemiparesis and dyscalculia. A right carotid angiogram showed the frontal mass lesion. On April 18, a left frontal craniotomy was performed and frontal lobe was removed with the tumor. He made a good recovery from the operation and remained well for about 1 month. However, it culminated in a gradual diminution in the level of consciousness. Unfortunately, he died on June 20. No autopsy was performed. Histologically, the tumor cells had round or ovoid nuclei, mitosis and polymorphism. The perivascular arrangement of the tumor tissue showed tendency to confluence. There were reticulin fibers in the tumor tissue, particularly around the blood vessels. Microglial cells were not impregated with silver carbonate. It is supposed that this case belongs to the primary intracerebral "reticulum cells sarcoma-microglioma" described by Rubinstein or reticulum cell sarcoma. Both the case 1 and the case 2 should be filed to be malignant lymphoma in the wide category.