Diffuse vasospasm after transcortical temporal lobectomy for intractable epilepsy

Symptomatic cerebral vasospasm in the setting of carmustine wafer placement for glioblastoma: A case presentation and review of literature

Background:

Gliadel placement in glioblastoma resection, particularly with concurrent chemoradiation, has demonstrated an improvement in survival. There have been several reported adverse effects, some of which lend to significantly increased morbidity and mortality. With only two other cases described in literature, cerebral vasospasm secondary to carmustine-impregnated wafers is an extremely rare side effect.

Case Description:

We report the case of a 51-year-old female who presented with the left lower limb paresis 8 days after high-grade glioma resection provoked by carmustine wafer placement.

Conclusion:

We urge surgeons to reconsider placement of carmustine wafers in nations where the surgical resection cavity includes exposed large cerebral vasculature. We also propose the early identification of this devastating complication in the postoperative period by maintaining a high clinical suspicion and prompt utilization of computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography in the management and treatment of these patients accordingly.

Symptomatic Diffuse Vasospasm After Resection of Temporal Ganglioglioma: Review of the Literature with Case Illustration

BACKGROUND

Symptomatic cerebral vasospasm may occur in the setting of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, or after anterior skull base surgery, but its occurrence is extremely rare in the background of glioma surgical resection.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We present a rare case of symptomatic diffuse vasospasm, which is the fourth reported case of symptomatic vasospasm after temporal lobectomy and the third in the setting of a glial tumor. This patient, a 10-year-old boy, developed bilateral, progressive cerebral infarcts because of diffuse vasospasm after anteromesial temporal lobectomy for a left temporal ganglioglioma leading to significant morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk factors, likely pathogenesis and the importance of early diagnosis and timely institution of treatment, in such cases are discussed in the background of relevant literature. The current case represents the first report of symptomatic diffuse vasospasm occuring after surgical resection of intracranial ganglioglioma in the Western literature.