Dural and carotid cavernous sinus fistulas. Diagnosis, management, and complications

Carotid cavernous sinus fistulas (CCSFs) are a rare entity occurring as a result of head trauma and also spontaneously. The major threat from these fistulas is loss of vision. The authors reviewed 18 cases of direct and dural CCSFs seen over the last 10 years and compared our results with 553 cases treated in the literature. Seventy-one percent of our patients with direct CCSFs had successful balloon embolization. In the literature, successful closure of direct CCSFs has ranged from 58 to 100%. As experience with embolization techniques broadens, morbidity and mortality is reduced. The clinical features, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic options, and complications of treatment of CCSFs are discussed.

Rupture of inferior thyroid artery aneurysm

We report a case in which rupture of an aneurysm of the inferior thyroid artery caused respiratory arrest. The aneurysm was embolized successfully by an angiographic technique. Published reports of rupture of thyroid artery aneurysms are reviewed.

Long-term delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol treatment. Computed tomography of the brains of rhesus monkeys

High-resolution computed tomographic (CT) scanning of the brain was performed on three groups of rhesus monkeys for the detection of ventricular or cisternal enlargement. These three groups comprised four age-matched controls that had no prior drug usage--four monkeys receiving short-term (two to ten months) orally administered delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC [now known nonproprietarily as dronabinol] and four monkeys receiving long-term (five years) orally administered delta 9-THC. Our results show a statistically significant enlargement of the frontal horns and the bicaudate distance in the long-term group as compared with the control and less significant enlargement of these areas in the long-term group compared with the short-term group. These findings suggest atrophy of the head of the caudate nucleus and the frontal portion of the brain of rhesus monkeys receiving long-term treatment with delta 9-THC.

Outpatient low-dose computed tomography metrizamide myelography and evaluation of lumbar disk disease

Outpatient low-dose computed tomography metrizamide myelography (CTMM) for the evaluation of lumbar disk disease is described in 55 patients. Ten individuals (group 1) were studied using 3.5 ml of 150 mg I/ml (525 mg I total) of metrizamide. Forty-five additional patients (group 2) were examined with 5 ml of 110 mg I/ml (550 mg I total) concentration of metrizamide. Group 2 experienced less post-procedure headache (6.6%) and nausea (2.2%) than did group 1 (30% and 10%, respectively). Group 2 demonstrated a lowered rate of headache (p less than .01) and showed a trend to less nausea (p less than .09) than a recently published study describing full-dose lumbar myelography. In addition, CTMM in group 2 produced more uniform mixing of metrizamide than in group 1. Overall, low-dose CTMM increased accuracy and reduced morbidity, patient cost, and inconvenience as compared with routine full-dose lumbar myelography.

Residual myelographic contrast material seen on the chest radiograph

Oily contrast material remaining after myelography may escape through the lumbar needle track and enter the dependent thoracic extradural spaces as droplets and collections in the intercostal spaces. Until these intercostal collections are absorbed, which takes place slowly over a period of one or more years, they can produce densities on the chest radiograph. The authors report 26 such cases representing three different patterns of distribution.

Percutaneous transluminal carotid angioplasty in fibromuscular dysplasia. Case report

A patient with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) of the internal carotid artery was treated by balloon percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). This is the sixth reported case of FMD stenotic disease which was dilated by PTA. All previous cases including the current example were treated successfully with resolution of symptoms. This procedure is associated with a relatively low morbidity and is an alternative method of treatment to operative endarterectomy for this disorder.

The value of computed tomographic metrizamide myelography in the neuroradiological evaluation of the spine

The diagnostic value of plain film metrizamide myelography (PFMM) was compared with computed tomographic metrizamide myelography (CTMM) in a study of 106 individuals who had undergone high-resolution computed tomographic scanning of the spine. CTMM provided more significant information than PFMM in 42 of 106 cases (40%), but showed no advantage over PFMM in 63 of 106 cases (59%). In 19 of the 42 cases (45%), PFMM was useful in directing the CT analysis to the appropriate region of pathology. In one patient, PFMM revealed a mobile herniated disc that had not been visualized with CTMM. In 30 of 106 cases in which plain CT scans of the spine were also obtained, the addition of intrathecal metrizamide demonstrated additional pathology in ten individuals. In general, CTMM was useful in the delineation of a variety of pathologic entities, especially neoplasms and congenital abnormalities. Low-dose CTMM (3 ml of a 150 ml/mg concentration) was performed as an outpatient procedure and found to be a useful adjunct to plain CT in two patients. A schema for the radiological evaluation of pathology of the spine is presented.

Carotid blood flow response to Conray-60: diagnostic implications

The vasoactive effect of the angiographic contrast medium Conray-60 (iothalamate meglumine 60%) on carotid blood flow was studied by the video dilution technique in 26 subjects during routine neuroangiography. After a test series of 1 ml injections of contrast material into the carotid arteries at designated time intervals, an increase in carotid blood flow was found in normal controls at 30 sec, while a significant decrease in flow was observed in patients with atheromatous disease and avascular intracranial masses (p less than 0.01). Test responses in patients with intracranial aneurysm, neoplasm, and granulomatous vasculitis are also reported. The differential effect of contrast material on the cerebral circulation correlates well with several pathologic states of the central nervous system and may be used as a simple test to diagnose and evaluate a variety of vascular disorders.

Carotid blood flow in man determined by video dilution technique: II. Vascular abnormalities

Carotid blood flows were evaluated in 31 individuals with vascular abnormalities using the video dilution technique. In patients with stenoses, angiographically estimated at 70%, blood flow was usually, but not always, measured less than normal. The technique proved to be useful in the evaluation of the efficiency of collateral arterial pathways and in the evaluation of superficial temporal-middle cerebral arterial bypass grafts. It was also helpful in estimating contralateral increase in arterial flows with cross compression techniques for the preoperative evaluation of patients subjected to carotid sacrifice. In a limited number of patients video dilution flows correlated with the degree or proximal arterial spasm and were useful in the preoperative study of these patients. The demonstration of flow abnormalities in patient with seizure disorders may be useful in the medical and surgical management of these individuals.

Assessment of cerebral blood flow in man by video dilution technique: a preliminary report

Video dilution technique (VDT) is currently performed in conjunction with routine cerebral angiography to determine carotid blood flow in humans. Preliminary results indicate that the blood flows (as a percentage of cardial output) of the common, internal, and external carotid arteries are 8.5%, 5.5%, and 3.0%, respectively (SD less than 1%). In contradistinction to previous techniques, VDT provides a safe and highly accurate method of determining carotid blood flow in human subjects. The usefulness of this technique in normal and pathologic states is discussed.

Cranial computed tomography in the diagnosis of symptomatic indirect trauma to the carotid artery

Five patients who were involved in motor vehicle accidents sustained indirect, nonpenetrating carotid artery injuries leading to cerebral infarction. Four patients were conscious when a severe lateralized neurological deficit developed three to 12 hours after injury indicating the presence of a vascular injury and not a mass lesion. In 3 patients with occlusion of the main stem middle cerebral artery, computed tomographic (CT) scans performed between 1 and 7 hours after the onset of the ischemic signs were normal, but all scans performed after 11 or more hours revealed progressive edema in a vascular distribution leading to a midline shift. The fifth patient had a severe diffuse brain injury and no apparent clinical pattern of a posttraumatic vascular complication. Sequential changes on the CT scans similar to those of the other patients led to the proper diagnosis of vascular injury; this was later confirmed by arteriography. Indirect, nonpenetrating injury to the carotid artery should be suspected in the presence of the typical clinical pattern or when serial CT scans show the evolution of progressive edema in a distribution atypical for traumatic contusion.

Classic and contemporary imaging of coccidioidomycosis

Disseminated coccidioidomycosis should be considered as a diagnostic possibility whenever a patient has visited or resides in an endemic coccidioidal area and has a history of fever, skin rash, persistent pulmonary symptoms, bone pain, headache, or confusion. Imaging of this multisystem disease, especially of the lung, bone, and central nervous system, shows various protean manifestations that can simulate many infectious entities. The radiographic, scintigraphic, computed tomographic, or sonographic findings of this disease may be helpful in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment follow-up in patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis.

Carotid blood flow in man determined by video dilution technique: 1. Theory, procedure, and normal values

The blood flows in the common, internal, and external carotid arteries were determined as a percentage of the cardiac output by video dilution technique in 20 normal subjects during routine angiography. Nine women and 11 men, ages 19-63 years, displayed a mean flow in the common carotid of 8.5% (SD +/- 0.9%; n = 40); internal carotid, 5.3% (SD +/- 1.0%; n = 24); and external carotid, 3.2% (SD +/- 0.4%; n = 24). Relative flow is calculated by a modification of the Stewart-Hamilton principle. The technique is fast, simple, highly accurate, and avoids the errors connected with previous videodensitometric mean transit time techniques. The method can be used in routine angiography without prolonging the catheterization procedure or adding to the patient's risk or cost.

Cerebral blood flow determination by video dilution technique in a patient with malignant chemodectoma

Cerebral angiography performed on a patient with a preliminary diagnosis of jugular foramen syndrome revealed a highly vascular malignant chemodectoma supplied mainly by the left ascending pharyngeal artery. Blood flow was determined during angiography in the extracranial branches of the carotid arteries by video dilution technique. The decrease of blood flow after partial embolization of the left ascending pharyngeal artery was also quantified. The application and value of video dilution technique in blood flow determination, together with the angiographic findings are discussed.

Diagnostic image evaluation of hydranencephaly and pictorially similar entities, with emphasis on computed tomography

The radiographic evaluation of a spectrum of vascular cerebral damage is presented, ranging from simple porencephaly to the most severe form, classic hydranencephaly. With a combination of clinical materal and computed tomography, it is possible in most cases to arrive at a specific diagnosis of hydranencephaly or severe bilateral porencephaly. Pictorially similar entities, such as massive congenital subdural hematomas or hygromas, alobar holoprosencephaly, massive hydrocephalus, and massive postanoxic or infective encephalopathies, are discussed.

Computed tomography of disseminated coccidiodomycosis

Fifteen cases of disseminated cerebral coccidioidomycosis (DCC) were evaluated by computed tomography (CT). Of the 14 patients with abnormal CT scans, all but 2 showed definite evidence of hydrocephalus. Abnormalities of the basal cisterns were present on non-contrast scans in 8 cases (53%). Ten (67%) demonstrated abnormal contrast enhancement of basal cisterns and other cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces. White-matter lesions were detected in 6 cases (40%). Hydrocephalus usually follows abnormal enhancement of basal cisterns. A consistent relationship between active disease (as diagnosed by CSF complement fixation titers) and contrast enhancement could be demonstrated only in the first weeks of the illness.

Traumatic dislocation of the atlanto-occipital articulation (AOA) with short-term survival. With a radiographic method of measuring the AOA

Three patients with traumatic atlanto-occipital articulation (AOA) dislocation are presented, and an additional 10 well documented cases are reviewed from the literature. Medulla oblongata and/or spinal cord deficits, and evidence of cranial nerve injuries were noted in eight patients. Angiographic evidence of vertebral occlusion or narrowing was demonstrated in four patients. One patient had systemic hypertension, presumably from bilateral traumatic ninth nerve injuries. Five patients ultimately died. A new method of measuring the AOA is introduced.

Cerebral aneurysmal rupture during angiography with confirmation by computed tomography: a review of intra-angiographic aneurysmal rupture

Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm during angiography, with confirmation by computed tomography (CT), is described. A review of 30 additional reported cases demonstrates no unusual profiles, with the exception of the predominance of female patients (71%), and the presence of pre-angiographic arterial hypertension. Experimental and clinical evidence increasingly suggests that intravascular pressures are transiently elevated during cerebral angiography. These changes may be enhanced by increased flow rates of contrast media, smaller diameters of the catheters, and the presence of intracranial arterial spasm, the latter presenting as a very prominent feature in intra-angiographic arterial rupture. However, direct evidence of elevation of the intra-aneurysmal pressure has not been documented, and may have occurred in only a portion of the cases.

Fluid--fluid level in cystic cerebral metastatic melanoma

Two cases of cystic metastatic melanoma are presented. The only reliable computed tomography sign of a true cystic lesion is the presence of an interface, such as between blood and tumor fluid. Differentiation of cystic metastatic melanoma from other cystic lesions of the brain is discussed.