Emergency Approaches To Neurosurgical Conditions

Abhishek Agrawal
Gavin Britz Editors
Emergency Approaches
to Neurosurgical
Conditions
123
to Neurosurgical Conditions
Abhishek Agrawal • Gavin Britz
Editors
to Neurosurgical
Conditions
Editors
Abhishek Agrawal, M.D Gavin Britz
Department of Neurosurgery Department of Neurosurgery
and Radiology Methodist Neurological Institute
Brigham and Women’s Hospital Houston, TX
Harvard Medical School USA
Boston, MA
USA
ISBN 978-3-319-10692-2 ISBN 978-3-319-10693-9 (eBook)

DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-10693-9
Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London
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Preface
Patients with neurosurgical conditions are almost always

referred from either primary care physicians, neurologists,
internist, or a specialist in family medicine. This two-volume
guide will answer commonly asked questions about neuro-
surgical conditions related to brain and spinal cord, in an
attempt to fill in the gap and answer numerous questions that
arise after a diagnosis is made, explaining the basics of neuro-
surgical disease spectrum and their management options.
Comprehensive Guide to Neurosurgical Conditions
(Volume I) updates the reader on basic neuroanatomy and
physiology, including general neurosurgical conditions, ideal
neurosurgical and intensive care unit set up, second opinion,
brain death, and organ donation in a comprehensive and con-
cise manner.
Comprehensive Guide which is part of a book set includ-
ing Emergency Approaches to Neurosurgical Conditions
(Volume II) delves into different kinds of complex brain sur-
geries and focuses on the surgical aspect of neurosurgical
conditions, including management of tumors, aneurysms, and
pediatric conditions in chapters written by reputed neurosur-
geons in their allied subspecialty.
This two-volume book set also aims to replace “excess-
information” obtained on the internet about a particular
neurosurgical disease, which may be too overwhelming, not
complied properly, not updated, or may be misinterpreted,
misunderstood, or irrelevant for that particular disease. This
concise book is intended not only for neurologists or neuro-
surgeons who have direct patient interaction but also for
brain surgery patients and their families, medical students,
v
vi Preface
paramedics, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, health

planners, residents, and fellows who are already trained or in
training, to get a quick glimpse of neurosurgical conditions
encountered on a day-to-day basis.
Boston, MA, USA Abhishek Agrawal

Houston, TX, USA Gavin Britz
Acknowledgments
The key to success of any project depends upon the inputs

and guidance received from persons associated with the proj-
ect. Fortunately for us, there was encouragement, guidance,
and support from all quarters of life.
Great are those who teach and inspire. They deserve grati-
tude which can be expressed at a time like this. Our inesti-
mable gratitude goes to our colleagues and authors who
spend their precious time contributing chapters for this book.
We are also thankful to our assistant, Peggy Kelly, who
managed to keep track of the chapters and authors. In addi-
tion, we would like to express our gratitude to Melissa
Morton, Julia Megginson, and R. Nithyatharani from Springer
Publishers for their collegiality.
Behind all this is the unconditional support, motivation,
and encouragement from our family members, parents, and
children who have always been a source of strength and
inspiration.
Abhishek Agrawal
Gavin Britz
vii
Contents
1 Non-malignant Brain Tumors ................................... 1

Shawn L. Hervey-Jumper and Mitchel S. Berger
2 Malignant Brain Tumors............................................ 27
Leonardo Rangel-Castilla and Robert F. Spetzler
3 Pituitary Tumors ......................................................... 37
David S. Baskin
4 Pediatric Brain Tumors .............................................. 53
Mihir Gupta and Gerald A. Grant
5 Congenital Neurosurgical Problems ........................ 65
Herbert Edgar Fuchs
6 Hydrocephalus ............................................................ 71
Anthony M. Avellino
7 Chiari Syndrome ......................................................... 79
Samuel Braydon Harris
and Richard G. Ellenbogen
8 Brain Aneurysms ........................................................ 89
Yi Jonathan Zhang, Virendra Desai,
Orlando Diaz, Richard P. Klucznik, and Gavin Britz
9 Brain Arteriovenous Malformations ........................ 103
Andrew B. Shaw, Daniel S. Ikeda,
Evan S. Marlin, and Ciarán J. Powers
10 Moyamoya Disease..................................................... 121
Teresa E. Bell-Stephens and Gary K. Steinberg
ix
x Contents
11 Medical Management of a Stroke ............................ 137

Mary Guhwe, Kelly Blessing, Susan Chioffi,
and Carmelo Graffagnino
12 Neuro-Interventional Management
of a Stroke ................................................................... 151
Jan Vargas, Alejandro M. Spiotta, Raymond Turner,
Imran Chaudry, and Aquilla S. Turk
13 Symptoms and Signs to Look for After
a Spinal Cord Injury................................................... 157
Graham H. Creasey
14 Evaluation of Spinal Alignment ............................... 163
G. Alexander West
15 Herniated Discs of the Spine ................................... 169
Brandon D. Liebelt and J. Bob Blacklock
16 Spinal Fusion ............................................................... 175
Paul J. Holman, Blake Staub,
and Matthew McLaurin
17 Spinal Cord Tumors ................................................... 181
Robert E. Isaacs and Vijay Agarwal
18 Surgical Treatment of Epilepsy................................. 189
Todd S. Trask and Videndra Desai
Index..................................................................................... 201
Contributors
Vijay Agarwal, MD Division of Neurological Surgery,

Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center,
Durham, NC, USA
Anthony M. Avellino, MD, MBA Department of
Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School
of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
David S. Baskin, MD Department of Neurosurgery,
Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
Teresa E. Bell-Stephens, RN, BSN, CNRN Department
of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine,
Stanford, CA, USA
Mitchel S. Berger, MD Department of Neurological
Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San
Francisco, CA, USA
J. Bob Blacklock, MD Department of Neurosurgery,
Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston, TX, USA
Kelly Blessing, FNP Department of Neurology,
Duke University Medical Center, 2900 Bryan Research
Building Research Drive, Durham, NC, USA
Gavin Britz, MD Department of Neurosurgery, Houston
Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
Imran Chaudry, MD Department of Radiology, Medical
University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
xi
xii Contributors
Susan Chioffi, RN, MSN, ACNP-BC Department of

Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham,
NC, USA
Graham H. Creasey, MB, ChB, FRCSEd Department of
Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine,
VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Stanford,
Palo Alto, CA, USA
Videndra Desai, MD Department of Neurosurgery,
Virendra Desai, MD Department of Neurosurgery,
Orlando Diaz, MD Department of Neurosurgery, Houston
Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
Richard G. Ellenbogen, MD, FACS Department of
Neurological Surgery, University of Washington Medicine,
Seattle, WA, USA
Herbert E. Fuchs, MD, PhD, FAANS, FAAP Department
of Surgery, Duke Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
Carmelo Graffagnino, MD Department of Neurology,
Duke University Medical Center, 2900 Bryan Research
Building Research Drive, Durham, NC, USA
Gerald A. Grant, MD, FACS Department of Neurosurgery,
Stanford University Medical Center/Lucile Packard
Children’ Hospital, Standord, CA, USA
Mary Guhwe, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, SCRN Department of
Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham,
NC, USA
Mihir Gupta, BA School of Medicine, Stanford University,
Palo Alto, CA, USA
Samuel Braydon Harris Columbia University,
New York, USA
Contributors xiii
Shawn L. Hervey-Jumper, MD Department of Neurological

Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San
Francisco, CA, USA
Paul J. Holman, MD Department of Neurosurgery,
Daniel S. Ikeda, MD Department of Neurological Surgery,
The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center,
Columbus, OH, USA
Robert E. Isaacs, MD Division of Neurological Surgery,
Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center,
Durham, NC, USA
Richard P. Klucznic, MD Department of Neurosurgery,
Brandon D. Liebelt Department of Neurosurgery,
Evan S. Marlin, MD Department of Neurological Surgery,
Columbus, OH, USA
Matthew McLaurin, MD Louisiana State University,
Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Ciarán J. Powers, MD Department of Neurological Surgery,
Columbus, OH, USA
Leonardo Rangel-Castilla, MD Division of Neurological
Surgery, c/o Neuroscience Publications, Barrow Neurological
Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix,
AZ, USA
Andrew B. Shaw, MD Department of Neurological Surgery,
Columbus, OH, USA
xiv Contributors
Robert F. Spetzler, MD Division of Neurological Surgery,

c/o Neuroscience Publications, Barrow Neurological
Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix,
AZ, USA
Alejandro M. Spiotta, MD Department of Neurosurgery,
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
Blake Staub, MD Department of Neurosurgery,
Gary K. Steinberg, MD,PhD Department of Neurosurgery,
Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
Todd S. Trask, MD Department of Neurosurgery, Methodist
Neurological Institute, Houston, TX, USA
Aquilla S. Turk, DO Department of Radiology and
Radiological Sciences, Medical University of South
Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
Raymond Turner, MD Department of Neurosurgery,
Jan Vargas, MD Department of Radiology and Radiological
Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston,
SC, USA
Alexander West, MD Department of Neurosurgery,
Yi Jonathan Zhang, MD Department of Neurosurgery,
Chapter 1
Non-malignant Brain Tumors
Shawn L. Hervey-Jumper and Mitchel S. Berger
Abbreviations
CT Computed tomography
DTI Diffusion tensor imaging
IDH Isocitrate dehydrogenase
MRI Magnetic resonance imaging
NF2 Neurofibromatosis type 2
PCV Procarbazine carmustine and vincristine
SRS Stereotactic radiosurgery
WHO World Health Organization
Introduction
Non-malignant tumors of the brain and central nervous sys-
tem occur at an incidence of 17.9 per 100,000 in the United
States [25, 26]. The most common primary non-malignant
tumors are gliomas and meningiomas [25, 26]. Gliomas are
tumors intrinsic to the brain that arise from glial cells (sup-
porting cells), and include astrocytomas, oligodendroglioma,
S.L. Hervey-Jumper, MD • M.S. Berger, MD ()

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California,
San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
e-mail: bergerm@neurosurg.ucsf.edu
A. Agrawal, G. Britz (eds.), Emergency Approaches to 1

Neurosurgical Conditions, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-10693-9_1,
2 S.L. Hervey-Jumper and M.S. Berger
and mixed tumors (oligoastrocytomas). Meningiomas arise

outside of the brain from arachnoidal cells of the meninges
(coverings of the brain). They represent the most frequently
diagnosed brain tumors in adults, accounting for 28–35 % of
cases [25, 26, 87, 112]. Brain tumors can be distinguished
based on behavior, by displaying a “non-malignant” or
“malignant” phenotype. Histologically, meningiomas are
classified into three subtypes: World Health Organization
(WHO) grade I, II, or III. WHO grade I non-malignant (also
known as “benign”) meningiomas represent the vast major-
ity, encompassing 90 % of cases. WHO grade I meningiomas
have a 10-year survival of 70–92 % and a recurrence rate of
7–20 % [23, 51, 65, 96, 112]. WHO grade II (atypical) menin-
giomas represent 9 % of cases and have a 30–40 % recur-
rence rate. WHO grade III (anaplastic) meningiomas
represent 1 % of cases and have a recurrence rate of 50–80 %
[96]. Astrocytomas also display a wide range of histological
subtypes, classified as WHO grade I, II, III, or IV tumors.
WHO grade I pilocytic astrocytomas occur predominantly in
children. WHO grade II diffuse astrocytomas are the most
common low-grade intrinsic brain tumor in adults. WHO
grade III (anaplastic) and WHO grade IV (glioblastoma)
tumors are classified as malignant gliomas. This chapter
focuses on adult non-malignant brain tumors with special
emphasis on low-grade gliomas (WHO grade II) and benign
meningiomas (WHO grade I). Malignant brain tumors are
discussed elsewhere in this book.
Low-Grade Gliomas
Low-grade gliomas represent 15 % of all newly diagnosed

primary intrinsic brain tumors in adults [26]. Their incidence
has increased over the past two decades due to advances in
diagnostic imaging and improved diagnostic accuracy [26, 50,
107]. WHO grade II gliomas include diffuse (infiltrative)
astrocytoma representing 2.8 % of glioma cases, oligodendro-
gliomas representing 1.3 % of cases, and mixed oligoastrocy-
tomas representing 1 % of cases [26, 77]. Between 1,500 and
Chapter 1. Non-malignant Brain Tumors 3
a b
Figure 1.1 (a) Diffuse astrocytoma demonstrating increased cellu-

larity and disruption of the normal orderly pattern of cells. WHO
grade II astrocytomas lack the endothelial proliferation and necro-
sis seen in malignant gliomas. (b) WHO grade II oligodendroglio-
mas are characterized by uniform circular cells with a halo or “fried
egg” appearance
1,800 new low-grade gliomas are diagnosed in the United

States each year. Tumor cells infiltrate into brain parenchyma
where they can later transform, acquiring more malignant
behavior over time. Median time to tumor progression and
recurrence is 5.5 years, and median time to malignant trans-
formation is 10.1 years with maximal safe resection. An esti-
mated 50 % of patents with diffuse low-grade gliomas will
progress and show recurrence within 5 years of initial diagno-
sis [32, 79, 85, 105].
The median age at diagnosis for low-grade gliomas is 45
years, with patients ranging from 20 to 70 years of age [26].
Low-grade gliomas are more common among Caucasian
men. Histologically, infiltrative astrocytomas display a mod-
est increase in cellularity, disruption of the normal orderly
pattern of glial cells, and elongated nuclei (Fig. 1.1). There is
no endothelial proliferation or tissue necrosis as is commonly
seen in malignant gliomas. Oligodendrogliomas occur pre-
dominantly within the gray matter of the cerebral hemi-
spheres, are well-circumscribed, calcified, and have a slight
predominance for the frontal lobes. Histologically, oligoden-
drogliomas are characterized by uniform cell density and
round nuclei with perinuclear halos displaying a classic “fried

egg” appearance (Fig. 1.1). In 1994, a co-deletion in the long
arm of chromosome 1p36 and the short arm of chromosome
19q13 was shown to predict chemosensitivity and better
prognosis in patients with low-grade gliomas [57].
Meningiomas
Meningiomas are typically benign, slow-growing extra-axial

tumors arising from the arachnoid cap cells of the meninges.
They can originate wherever arachnoidal cells are present.
They are most commonly located along the falx, cerebral
convexity, or sphenoid wing regions. They can also be found
at the cerebellopontine angle, choroid plexus, or along the
optic nerve [96]. Meningiomas account for 20–37 % of pri-
mary brain tumors with an incidence of 7.5 per 100,000 [26,
44, 96]. Meningiomas have one of the largest gender inci-
dence differences, with a female to male ratio of 2:1. Unlike
gliomas, African Americans are more commonly affected
with meningiomas. Their incidence increases with age, with a
median age at diagnosis of 59 years [26].
The vast majority (95–98 %) of meningiomas are WHO
grade I or II [26]. Meningiomas are characterized by densely
packed sheets of cells, psammoma bodies (whorls of calcium
and collagen), intranuclear cytoplasmic pseudo-inclusions,
and “Orphan Annie” nuclei (nuclei with central clearing
from the peripheral migration of chromatin) (Fig. 1.2).
Risk Factors
The underlying cause of low-grade gliomas in adults is largely
unknown and thought to be multifactorial. Though infectious,
environmental, immunological, and genetic factors have been
implicated, the majority of studies lack large enough study
populations to establish causation [86]. The only known
modifiable risk factor for the development of low-grade
a b c
Figure 1.2 WHO grade II meningiomas show (a) densely packed

sheets of cells with whorls (arrows), (b) calcifications also known as
psammoma bodies (arrows), and (c) cytoplasmic inclusions (arrows)
gliomas is prior exposure to ionizing radiation [10]. Though

speculative, hereditary factors are not yet known to play a
role in low-grade glioma development, although patients with
Li-Fraumeni syndrome and neurofibromatosis type 1 have an
increased incidence of gliomas and form tumors at a younger
age. Genetic studies suggest that point mutations of the
tumor suppressor gene TP53 plays a role in the tumorigene-
sis of low-grade gliomas. An alteration in tumor metabolism
promoting a shift to aerobic glycolysis is a principal step in
the development of low-grade gliomas. Isocitrate dehydroge-
nase (IDH) 1 and 2 catalyze the decarboxylation of isocitrate
into alpha ketoglutarate. IDH1 and IDH2 mutations are
found in close to 70 % of low-grade gliomas [42, 81, 113]. The
impact of these mutations on low-grade diffuse gliomas
remains unclear; however, they offer an independent survival
benefit in glioma patients regardless of patient age or tumor
performance status.
Similar to low-grade gliomas, prior exposure to ionizing
radiation is the strongest known risk factor in patients with
meningioma [90]. Other modifiable factors that have been
studied with inconclusive results include cigarette smoking,
exogenous hormone use, personal hair dye use, microwave
exposure, prior head trauma, occupational exposures, lead
exposure, seasonal allergies, and cell phone use [2, 9, 12, 17,
19, 36, 37, 39, 43, 45, 48, 49, 69, 78, 82, 84, 86, 90, 96, 106].
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) caused by a mutation on
chromosome 22q12 is the most common genetic predisposi-
tion associated with meningiomas. Loss of one copy of the

NF2 gene occurs in up to 80 % of sporadic meningiomas and
all patients with NF2. NF2 patients develop meningiomas at
a higher frequency and present earlier in life [96].
Making the Diagnosis
Common Presenting Symptoms
Evaluating patients with non-malignant brain tumors begins

with a detailed history. The majority of patients lack symp-
toms even if there is mass effect. The most common present-
ing symptoms for patients with low-grade gliomas are seizures
(72 %), headaches (30 %), language (7 %), and sensorimotor
(32 %) changes [115]. Common presenting symptoms for
meningioma patients are seizures (45 %), headaches (34–
41 %), dizziness (29.3 %), tinnitus (14.6 %), syncope (9.8 %),
memory disturbance (4.9 %), visual disturbance (4.9 %), and
trigeminal neuralgia (2.4 %) [51, 68]. Classically, headaches
tend to be worse upon waking in the morning and may be
severe enough to wake one from sleep. It is not uncommon
for tumor-related headaches to initially be misdiagnosed as
sinus, tension, or migraine headaches. Headaches related to
obstructive hydrocephalus are relatively rare in non-
malignant brain tumors; however, this does require urgent
neurosurgical evaluation.
Seizures are the most common presenting symptom,
occurring in 72–80 % of patients with low-grade gliomas and
45 % of meningioma patients [51, 115]. Seizure control is
important for maintaining optimum quality of life. The use of
anticonvulsant medications such as levetiracetam, lacos-
amide, topiramate, or phenytoin in brain tumor patients is
somewhat controversial. Patients presenting with seizures
should be started on anticonvulsant therapy. However, there
is little data to suggest prophylactic use of anticonvulsants to
reduce the risk of new-onset seizures in patients with low-
grade gliomas or meningiomas [58]. Even so, it is common
practice to offer perioperative anticonvulsant medications to

patients with large tumors involving highly epileptogenic
areas. Gross total resection is the strongest predictor of
seizure freedom [30, 88]. Radiotherapy and chemotherapeu-
tic agents such as temozolomide and alkylating agents are
also effective in reducing seizure frequency in patients with
tumor-associated medication-resistant epilepsy [88].
Physical Findings
The majority of people with non-malignant brain tumors have

a normal neurological examination. Physical findings, when
evident, are variable depending on tumor location, size, and
scope of disease. Papilledema (swelling of the head of the optic
nerve associated with engorgement of retinal veins) and oculo-
motor palsy are due to tumor mass effect and elevated intracra-
nial pressure. Aphasia suggests involvement of cortical or
subcortical language centers of the dominant frontal, temporal,
or parietal lobes. Focal motor weakness can be caused by tumor
invasion of the corticospinal pathway or peritumoral edema,
which may be reversible with the administration of corticoste-
roids. The diagnosis of brain tumor should always be considered
in patients who develop a new psychiatric condition.
Symptomatic Versus Asymptomatic Tumors
Non-malignant brain tumors with no clinical symptoms have

a different natural history from those that are symptomatic.
Incidental low-grade gliomas tend to occur more frequently
in females, have smaller tumor volumes, and improved
patient outcomes [77, 80]. Incidental low-grade gliomas are
more likely to undergo gross total resection; however, if
untreated, they demonstrate consistent radiographic growth
eventually leading to symptoms over a median of 4 years [76,
77]. Incidental meningiomas fall into one of three growth pat-
terns: no growth, steady linear growth, or exponential growth
[68]. For this reason some advocate serial imaging and a brief
observation period, reserving surgical intervention for

patients with symptomatic lesions, documented tumor growth
over time, or imaging suspicious for other pathologic lesions
that mimic meningiomas [16].
Imaging
Due to its wide availability, speed, and affordability, non-

contrast computed tomography (CT) is commonly the initial
imaging modality for symptomatic patients with non-
malignant brain tumors. Brain magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) with and without gadolinium contrast is the definitive
imaging modality to assess tumor location, size, cellularity,
associated cystic components, associated edema or hemor-
rhage, necrosis, margins and invasion into surrounding struc-
tures, vascularity, and enhancement. Radiographically,
low-grade gliomas are isodense or hypodense when com-
pared to brain tissue on CT scan and do not enhance with
contrast administration. Calcifications are common in oligo-
dendrogliomas. On MRI, low-grade gliomas are isointense to
hypointense on T1-weighted imaging, hyperintense on
T2-weighted imaging, and are not contrast-enhancing
(Fig. 1.3). Meningiomas are hyperintense compared to brain
tissue and have a broad dural attachment. On T2-weighted
MRI, most meningiomas are hyperintense and are typically
contrast-enhancing on both CT and MRI (Fig. 1.4).
Radiographic imaging provides information about tumor
localization, proximity to functional areas, mass effect, and
associated edema [35]. Functional MRI and diffusion tensor
imaging (DTI) shows the integrity of white matter tracts and
can be used to create an operative corridor or plan for resec-
tion that minimizes risk to eloquent surrounding structures
(Fig. 1.5). Metabolic MRI or magnetic resonance spectros-
copy can be used to supplement information obtained from
traditional morphologic MRI, particularly for differentiating
radiation necrosis and residual tumor. Cerebral angiography
is used preoperatively to illustrate and embolize the vascular
supply to meningiomas and hemangiomas (Fig. 1.4c).
a b
Figure 1.3 FLAIR sequence axial MRIs show right frontal diffuse
astrocytoma (a) before and (b) after surgical resection. (c) Axial
non-contrast head CT shows hyperdensity consistent with calcifica-
tion typical in oligodendroglioma
Treatment
The decision to offer treatment to patients with non-malignant
brain tumors must balance operative risk with the natural his-
tory of the tumor and its propensity to transform and grow over
time. Mounting evidence places maximal safe surgical resection
a b
Figure 1.4 (a) Axial and (b) coronal brain MRIs show a broad,
contrast-enhancing dural-based lesion consistent with meningioma.
(c) Cerebral angiography reveals dural feeders to the tumor with a
“blush” of vascularity (arrows)
alongside patient age, tumor histology, tumor performance sta-

tus, and molecular markers as predictive of long-term outcome
[27, 51, 61, 62, 65, 68, 97, 113]. Corticosteroids such as dexa-
methasone are commonly used preoperatively to reduce symp-
toms of mass effect and edema caused by the tumor.
Figure 1.5 Axial MRI with DTI shows left frontal tumor. DTI imag-
ing helps identify motor (red) and language pathways (green and
blue) for both preoperative planning and intraoperative navigation
Surgical Considerations and the Value

of Extent of Resection
Maximum safe surgical resection is the best option to relieve
symptoms, improve functional outcome, and boost long-term
survival. Decisions regarding surgical approach require care-
ful consideration of a number of key factors including: tumor
size, proximity to presumed functional areas, imaging charac-
teristics, and patient age, health, and functional status. The
value of surgical resection for low-grade gliomas has been
validated by a number of studies illustrating a survival bene-
fit of 60–90 months with maximal resection [14, 38, 47, 91, 99,
105]. While some advocate initial tumor biopsy followed by

watchful waiting for low-grade gliomas, several studies have
suggested that this is not the best choice for long-term
survival. In a large population-based series of Norwegian
patients, early maximal resection was superior to biopsy and
watchful waiting with respective 5-year survival rates of 74
and 60 % [47]. Furthermore, maximal resection has also been
shown to delay malignant transformation with improved sur-
vival and less malignant transformation seen in patients
receiving greater than 90 % extent of resection [105]. Tumor-
associated epilepsy is also better managed after gross total
resection [30, 114]. A small meningioma with no documented
growth in an asymptomatic patient can be considered for
observation [35]. This however must be balanced with the
known fact that younger age at diagnosis and greater extent
of resection are strong predictors of improved outcome for
meningioma patients [65, 95].
The central goal of brain tumor surgery is maximizing the
removal of neoplastic tissue while minimizing collateral dam-
age to functional areas and vascular structures [29]. The tim-
ing of surgery is important in preoperative planning. The
majority of patients with non-malignant brain tumors can be
scheduled for elective surgery. However, patients who pres-
ent with rapid deterioration due to elevated intracranial pres-
sure or obstructive hydrocephalus require prompt
intervention. For low-grade gliomas, the goal is to safely
remove as much tumor as possible, as visualized by T2/
FLAIR signal. The goal for meningioma resection is to
remove both the tumor and its dural origin. A variety of tech-
nologies have been developed to improve surgical outcomes.
Stereotactic navigation (also known as neuronavigation) is
utilized to precisely localize tumor location and tailor focused
craniotomies, but there is little evidence that it can improve
extent of resection. Intraoperative MRI, an approach in
which brain tumor resection is performed in a highly special-
ized surgical suite containing MRI, is another technique used
to improve identification of residual tumor [59, 63, 71, 98].
The use of direct stimulation mapping to identify functional
a b
Naming site preserved

Naming site
Motor tongue
Figure 1.6 (a) Intraoperative stimulation testing allows for the

identification of language, sensory, and motor sites. Numbered
markers are placed 1 cm apart for testing of speech arrest, naming,
and reading. (b) After tumor removal, functional sites remain intact
pathways is the gold standard for preserving language and

sensorimotor function. Individual patient variability and
pathway distortion by mass lesions makes localization of
functional sites difficult by any other means [5, 18, 28, 40, 54,
72–74, 92, 102] (Fig. 1.6). Numerous studies have failed to
predict the specific location of language sites using anatomi-
cal locations and functional neuroimaging (DTI and func-
tional MRI) [1, 21, 31, 41, 60, 67, 83, 101, 110]. Using
specialized neuroanesthesia, awake brain tumor surgery has
proven both safe and effective, with an acceptable morbidity
and mortality compared with asleep procedures [6, 22, 34, 55,
56, 89, 92, 94, 109].
Following brain tumor surgery, patients are commonly
observed closely in an intensive care setting with hemody-
namic and neurological monitoring. Corticosteroid medica-
tions are tapered and anticonvulsants continued in patients
who have a seizure history. Given the prognostic significance
of extent of resection, it is standard practice for many sur-
geons to obtain an early postoperative MRI to evaluate for
residual tumor.
Adjuvant Therapies
Although surgical resection is the foundation of brain tumor

therapy, it is incapable of eliminating every tumor cell.
Adjuvant radiation and chemotherapeutic regimens have
been developed to treat remaining tumor cells.
Radiation
Radiation therapy can be used for select patients with recur-

rent low-grade gliomas to improve progression-free survival
[111]. Radiation causes damage to cellular structures, induc-
ing lethal mutations in cellular DNA and activating pathways
for programmed cell death. External beam radiation can be
delivered to a small precise location in a single treatment
(stereotactic radiosurgery [SRS]), or in an interrupted man-
ner (fractionated radiotherapy) that allows for repair of nor-
mal tissue between treatments. Factors that influence the use
of radiation therapy include patient age (often avoided in
younger patients given neurocognitive risks), speed of recur-
rence, volume of residual tumor after surgery, and a tumor’s
molecular markers such as chromosomal translations at 1p
and 19q (used to identify oligodendrogliomas, which are
more sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation) [20, 46]. There
is little benefit to higher doses of fractionated radiotherapy
for low-grade gliomas (>45 Gy) [53]. One must balance the
benefits of radiation therapy with potential late neurocogni-
tive toxicities [4].
For convexity meningiomas, complete surgical resection of
the tumor and dural attachment is often feasible. In contrast
however, complete resection is often not possible for large
skull-base meningiomas involving areas with high morbidity
(cavernous sinus, petroclival region, optic nerve sheath, etc.).
External beam radiotherapy should be considered as a safe
adjuvant to surgery [93]. Long-term studies comparing adju-
vant radiation with observation in patients with large skull-
base meningiomas have demonstrated better tumor control
after radiation therapy with 5-, 10-, and 15-year survival rates
of 79–98 %, 68–93 %, and 92 %, respectively, and low mor-

bidity (3.6 %) [24, 33, 64]. Intensity modulated radiation
therapy and SRS therapy are additional options to external
beam radiation for recurrent or partially resected meningio-
mas in patients for whom surgery is not an option.
Chemotherapy
The role of chemotherapy for non-malignant brain tumors

remains unclear. Several studies exploring the use of temo-
zolomide or procarbizine, carmustine, and vincristine (PCV)
immediately after surgical resection showed little clinical
efficacy [11, 13]. However, in select patients with 1p19q dele-
tions and oligodendroglial lineage, the evidence suggests bet-
ter seizure control, a progression-free survival benefit, and
improved quality of life with sensitivity to PCV and temo-
zolomide [11, 75, 77]. There is preliminary data proposing the
utility of neoadjuvant temozolomide to reduce tumor volume
before surgery, thereby allowing for maximal safe surgical
resection [7, 8]. Chemotherapeutic agents have thus far failed
to show clinical efficacy in recurrent meningioma [103].
Possible exceptions to this are currently under investigation
including hydroxyurea (71 % of patients with stable disease
after 2 years) and a multidrug regimen of cyclophosphamide,
doxorubicin, and vincristine [15, 70, 100]. Numerous clinical
trials are currently underway testing the efficacy of targeting
therapies against molecular signaling pathways known to be
up-regulated in non-malignant brain tumors. One promising
example of this involves the use of everolimus against the
AKT-mTOR pathway for patients with low-grade gliomas.
Prognosis and Long-Term Outcome

Several factors are known to be predictive of outcome for
patients with non-malignant brain tumors. Negative prognos-
tic factors for patients with low-grade gliomas include age
greater than 40 years, tumor diameter greater than 4 cm,
1.0
100 %
Cumulative survival 0.8
90–99 %
0.6
<40 %
0.4 41–89 %
0.2
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Survival (years)
Figure 1.7 Survival curves for total, subtotal, and partial resections
for low-grade gliomas (Adapted with permission [105])
astrocytoma or oligoastrocytoma histology, tumors crossing

the midline, and patients with greater than 1 cm3 of residual
tumor after surgery [52, 53, 91]. These patients have a higher
incidence of tumor recurrence. Patients with low-grade glio-
mas have a median survival ranging between 4.6 and 9.8 years
and median time to malignant progression of 8.8–11.4 years
when extent of resection is greater than 90 % [3, 14, 105].
Furthermore, patients with at least 90 % extent of resection
have 5- and 8-year survival rates of 76 and 60 %, respectively
[105] (Fig. 1.7).
The prognosis for meningioma patients is determined by
the extent of surgical resection, patient age at diagnosis, and
tumor grade (WHO grade I). The Simpson grading system
was developed as a predictive model of 10-year recurrence
based on extent of resection. Macroscopic gross total resec-
tion with excision of affected dura and bone (grade 1) offers
a 9 % 10-year recurrence rate. Macroscopic gross total resec-
tion with coagulation of attached dura (grade 2) offers a
10-year recurrence rate of 19 %. Macroscopic resection with-
out resection or coagulation of affected dura (grade 3) offers
a 10-year recurrence rate of 29 %. Subtotal resection and
biopsies (grades 4 and 5) offer 10-year recurrences of greater

than 40 % [96, 104]. Five-year survival rates of 70–92 % and
10-year survival rates of 80–86 % have been demonstrated in
patients with WHO grade I meningiomas [66, 95, 108].
Recurrence has been estimated to occur in approximately
20 % of patients with benign meningiomas but is much more
common in WHO grade II and III tumors.
Conclusions
Non-malignant brain tumors are a fairly common diagnosis,
and patients can live for decades after treatment. Low-grade
gliomas are slow-growing tumors originating from supporting
glial cells, while meningiomas grow attached to dural surfaces
outside of the brain. Prior radiation exposure is the only
known risk factor. Surgical resection plays a critical role.
Maximal safe resection using techniques such as neuronavi-
gation, functional MRI, DTI, and stimulation mapping allow
for preservation of neurological function while reducing
tumor burden. Subsequent radiotherapy can improve
progression-free survival for recurrent tumors and residual
disease. Targeted chemotherapeutic agents against specific
pathways necessary for tumor growth are currently being
investigated.
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Neuro Oncol. 2013;15(8):1102–10.
Chapter 2
Malignant Brain Tumors
Leonardo Rangel-Castilla and Robert F. Spetzler
Primary malignant tumors of the central nervous system

(CNS) are infrequent, occurring at a rate of about 4 per
100,000 persons. The cause of primary malignant brain
tumors is not yet well understood. They result from a combi-
nation of genetic predisposition and environmental factors
such as therapeutic brain radiation. However, secondary
malignant tumors—metastatic tumors—are by far the most
common type of malignant lesions in the CNS. The lung,
breast, colon, and skin are the most common sites of primary
origin, but metastatic tumors can develop from almost any-
where in the body [5].
In 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified
all benign and malignant brain tumors into nine groups.
Tumors of the neuroepithelial tissue, which are called glio-
mas, represent the largest group (50–60 %) [3]. They can be
divided into the subgroups astrocytic, oligodendroglial,
mixed, ependymal, choroid plexus, neuronal, mixed neuronal-
glial, neuroblastic, pineal, and embryonal tumors. The largest
of these subgroups is the astrocytic tumors, also called astro-
cytomas. In general, they are poorly demarcated and infiltrate
L. Rangel-Castilla, MD • R.F. Spetzler, MD ()

Division of Neurological Surgery, c/o Neuroscience Publications,
Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical
Center, 350 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
e-mail: neuropub@dignityhealth.org; robert.spetzler@bnaneuro.net

28 L. Rangel-Castilla and R.F. Spetzler
the adjacent brain tissue diffusely. Pilocytic astrocytomas

(WHO grade I) are seen mainly in children and have a rela-
tively good prognosis. Low-grade diffuse astrocytomas
(WHO grade II) are usually slow-growing tumors. Anaplastic
astrocytomas (WHO grade III) are also relatively slow-
growing tumors with greater cellularity. Glioblastoma multi-
forme tumors (WHO grade IV) are rapidly growing,
hypercellular tumors with areas of necrosis and increased
vascularization. Unfortunately, glioblastoma multiforme are
the most common type of astroblastoma and carry the worst
prognosis (Fig. 2.1) [3, 5].
Neuroepithelial Tumors (Gliomas)

Most gliomas arise from the functional tissue of the brain and
are associated with swelling (edema) and sometimes bleeding
(hemorrhage), which can also alter the structure and function
of the normal brain. The location, growth rate, and growth pat-
tern of the tumor determine its effects on brain function [3].
Mass effect, which is caused by the tumor compressing normal
brain tissue, or brain infiltration by these tumors can cause
depressive phenomenon (neurological deficits such as weak-
ness and blindness) and irritative phenomenon (seizures).
They can also occlude arteries or veins and cause strokes or
interfere with the flow and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF), causing hydrocephalus. The most malignant variants of
gliomas (glioblastoma multiforme) can create their own blood
supply and steal blood from normal brain [3, 5].
Clinical Presentation
The most common symptoms of brain tumors are headache,
seizures, and progressive neurological deficit. Headaches can
be caused by increased intracranial pressure, invasion or
Chapter 2. Malignant Brain Tumors 29
Figure 2.1 Artist’s illustration of a large malignant brain tumor

(green area) in the parietal region of the brain. The pressure over the
normal brain is so severe that is shifting the brain from left to right
(brain herniation). It is also infiltrating the surrounding brain tissue,
causing severe swelling and brain dysfunction (Reprinted with per-
mission from Barrow Neurological Institute)
Figure 2.2 Artist’s illustration of a malignant brain tumor (red

area) located at the left frontal lobe, causing mass effect and brain
herniation. Tumors in this locations can cause language problems
(aphasia) and personality problems, memory alterations, and in
cases of large tumors, weakness and sensation abnormalities over
the right side of the body (Reprinted with permission from Barrow
Neurological Institute)
compression of sensitive structures, and vision problems.

Other worrisome symptoms include double vision with
headaches, hearing loss with dizziness, and gradual onset of
speech difficulty. Changes in behavior, memory loss, loss of
concentration, and general confusion may all be subtle signs
(Fig. 2.2). Increased intracranial pressure due to large tumors

frequently causes nausea, vomiting, dizziness, vertigo, and
changes in mental status.Acute deterioration is not uncommon
and is caused by tumor swelling (Fig. 2.2), hemorrhage,
infarction, or hydrocephalus [3, 5].
Clinical Symptoms According to Location

Frontal Lobe Tumors can cause problems in cognition,
behavior, speech, and movement. Patients lose their energy
for intellectual, physical, and social activity. They are also
impulsive, lose social inhibition, and have fluctuating emo-
tions. Motor aphasia (difficulty speaking) and agraphia (dif-
ficulty writing) may also be present (Fig. 2.2).
Temporal Lobe Tumors cause alterations in hearing, lan-
guage, vision, behavior, and movement. Sounds are heard but
not appropriately interpreted. Tumors in this location may
cause auditory illusions or hallucinations. Patients sometimes
have difficulty understanding spoken language.
Parietal Lobe Tumors produce sensory problems. Other
symptoms are difficulty dressing oneself, denial of extremity
weakness, lack of awareness of objects, and constructional
apraxia, which is the inability to build or draw objects. Failure
to recognize familiar faces is also common.
Occipital Lobe Tumors cause vision problems, including
blindness in one or both eyes, visual hallucinations and illu-
sions, and abnormal or multiple images of a single object.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a brain tumor is based on a combination of
the patient’s clinical symptoms and a neurological examina-
tion performed by a neurologist or a neurosurgeon. In addi-
tion, a diagnostic imaging test is always necessary, usually
either computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) are used. MRI not only confirms the diagno-
sis but also gives valuable information regarding the charac-

teristics, size, and location of the tumor [1].
After diagnostic imaging has demonstrated the presence
of a brain tumor, the most accurate method for identifying
the type of tumor is with a biopsy. A biopsy is a surgical pro-
cedure in which a sample of the brain tumor is removed and
is then examined under the by a pathologist. Biopsy results
confirming the final diagnosis usually take 4–7 days.
Treatment
Treatment of a malignant brain tumor is complex and
requires the efforts of a multidisciplinary team of special-
ists. The team consists of a neuro-oncologist, neurosur-
geon, neuropathologist, neurologist, oncologist, radiation
oncologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and
speech pathologist. The role of the neurosurgeon includes
biopsy of the tumor for the purpose of diagnosis, reduction
of the tumor mass to the greatest extent possible with pres-
ervation of neurological function, and application of adju-
vant therapies on the basis of clinical and laboratory
observation [4].
Medical Therapy
In general, all patients with malignant brain tumors, regard-

less of whether they undergo a neurosurgical procedure,
should be prescribed a course of steroids after the diagnosis
has been confirmed on an MRI. Steroids decrease brain
swelling caused by the brain tumor, sometimes they also
diminish the mass effect and improve the clinical symptoms.
Usually, the preferred steroid for a malignant brain tumor is
dexamethasone. Depending on the location, brain tumors can
cause seizures, and for that reason patients should be on pro-
phylactic antiepileptic drugs.
Surgery
The role of surgery is to obtain a biopsy specimen and to

remove the tumor mass. Patients with malignant brain tumors
commonly undergo multiple surgeries in order to control
tumor recurrence. Oncological control is achieved with tumor
removal, which usually delays recurrence and enhances adju-
vant therapy. Unfortunately, surgery does not completely cure
a malignant brain tumor. Sometimes total removal of the
tumor is not possible because of the location or diffuse tumor
infiltration into brain tissue; however, partial resection may
still provide an advantage compared with a biopsy alone [4].
Complications and Risk of the Surgery
Patients undergoing surgical procedures should be aware of

the complications and risks and should have a clear under-
standing of the goals of the surgery. Potential complications
may include pain, infection, bleeding, cerebrospinal fluid
leak, blindness, deafness, stroke, paralysis, language problems,
coma, and even death.
Postoperative Phase
After surgery, patients are admitted to the neurointensive

care unit where they stay for 48–72 h. Usually, they are extu-
bated and awake; however, sometimes the surgeon and the
anesthesiologist will decide to keep the patient sedated and
intubated. Patients will have pain at the incision site, will be
nauseous and may experience vomiting, and will be mildly
confused for few hours. These symptoms are usually related
to the anesthesia. If possible, patients should get out of bed
and walk within 24 h after surgery. Doing so helps prevent
deep venous thrombosis (blood clots) in the legs. Patients are
maintained on steroids and antiepileptic drugs for a while
after surgery. An MRI is usually performed within 24–48 h to

evaluate postoperative inflammatory changes and residual
tumor. Restrictions on diet and activity are gradually lifted,
but patients should be back to a full diet and should be walk-
ing within 48–72 h after surgery [5].
Adjuvant Therapy
Adjuvant therapies are therapies used to forestall or treat

recurrences. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the
principal types of adjuvant therapy for patients with malig-
nant brain tumors [1, 2].
Radiation therapy is started within days after surgery and
after the diagnosis of malignant brain tumor has been histo-
logically confirmed and is continued for 2 or 3 weeks. Side
effects from radiation therapy include nausea, vomiting, gen-
eralized weakness, and hair loss. Complications can include
brain edema (swelling), demyelination (loss of myelin, a sub-
stance that helps preserve the integrity of nerve signals), and
necrosis. Demyelination is usually self-limited and does not
require treatment. Radiation necrosis occurs 4–40 months
after radiation; when present, it is progressive and irrevers-
ible [2].
Recent advances in chemotherapy have led to drugs with
fewer side effects and better tumor control. There are two
types of chemotherapy drugs: drugs that kill cancer cells
(cytotoxic) and drugs that prevent cells from reproducing
(cytostatic). Temozolomide is one of the most commonly
used drugs. It is an oral drug that kills malignant cells and
enhances the response of malignant gliomas to radiation. It
has a low toxicity profile with good penetration into the
brain. Other chemotherapy drugs include nitrosoureas, plati-
nums, procarbazine, vincristine, irinotecan and etoposide. The
common side effects include: nausea, vomiting, loss of hair,
diarrhea, constipation, neuropathy, low platelets, low white
cells, and anemia [5].
Prognosis
Factors that can affect a patient’s length of survival include
age, overall quality of life, tumor size and location, and even
marital status. Unfortunately, the prognosis for patients with
malignant brain tumors (high-grade glioma) is poor. The
median survival is less than 2 years. For patients with anaplas-
tic glioma (WHO Grade III) the median survive is 2–5 years.
Only a small number of patients with high-grade gliomas
have lived longer than 2 years. After extensive surgery and
treatment, recurrence is inevitable, and patients will eventu-
ally succumb to this disease [3, 5].
References
1. Binello E, Green S, Germano IM. Radiosurgery for high-grade
glioma. Surg Neurol Int. 2012;3:S118–26.
2. Bradley D, Rees J. Updates in the management of high-grade
glioma. J Neurol. 2014;261(4):651–4.
3. Greenberg MS. Handbook of neurosurgery. New York: Thieme;
2010.
4. Hart MG, Garside R, Rogers G, Stein K, Grant R. Temozolomide
for high grade glioma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(4),
CD007415.
5. Quinones-Hinojosa A. Malignant gliomas: anaplastic astrocy-
toma, glioblastoma multiforme, gliosarcoma. In: Winn HR, editor.
Youman’s neurological surgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2011.
Chapter 3
Pituitary Tumors
David S. Baskin
The Pituitary Gland

The pituitary gland is a small organ about the size of an acorn
located at the base of the brain. It is surrounded by a bony
saddle-like structure above the sinuses at the back of the
nose, called the sella turcica. The pituitary gland is sometimes
referred to as the “master gland of the body” because it
releases substances which control the basic functions of
growth, metabolism, and reproduction.
The pituitary gland is divided into two parts called lobes.
Each lobe releases special substances, or hormones, which
control basic activities within the body. The many influences
of the pituitary gland on body systems is seen in Fig. 3.1, and
listed in Table 3.1.
Understanding Your Symptoms

A tumor in the pituitary gland causes symptoms by either
releasing too much of a hormone or by pressing on the gland
causing it to release too little hormone. The symptoms one
D.S. Baskin, MD, FAANS

Department of Neurosurgery,
e-mail: dbaskin@tmhs.org

38 D.S. Baskin
Internal and external stimuli

Neurotransmitters
Hypothalamus
Blood levels exert regulatory influences upon the anterior pituitary gland and the hypothalamus
ADH and oxytocin
Releasing hormones
Nerve tracts
Portal system
Posterior pituitary
Anterior pituitary
one
horm
etic
diur ess
in)
Anti p r
aso
A D H, v
(
n
Prola
ci
ctin
to
FSH
xy
O
FS
and
H
Kidney
an
LH
d
LH
Breast
(ICS
H)
Uterus
Breast
TH
TSH
Corpus
AC
GH
luteurn
Ovary
Testes
Adrenal Thyroid
gland gland
Bone and Progesterone

solt tissues
Adrenocorticosteroids Thyroid Testoterone Estrogen

hormones
Figure 3.1 The pituitary gland and it effect and regulation of other
body tissues. The pituitary gland is responsible for regulating many
body tissues. Breast function in females, steroid production by adre-
nal glands, thyroid function, bone growth and health, sexual function
in men and women, fluid and electrolyte and water balance, and
contraction of the uterus during childbirth are just some of the func-
tions that it regulates. There is a complex balance of feedback loops
between the various body organs and the pituitary that enables the
body to function optimally
experiences from the pituitary tumor are determined by the

type of tumor. A pituitary tumor may also cause symptoms by
growing and pressing on the structures surrounding the pitu-
itary gland, like the nerves to the eyes.
Chapter 3. Pituitary Tumors 39
Table 3.1 Pituitary hormones and their functions and effects on the
body
Anterior lobe Function
Thyroid stimulating Causes the thyroid gland to grow and
hormone (TSH) release thyroid hormones (called T4
and T3)
Adrenocorticotropic Causes adrenal gland to release several
hormone (ACTH) hormones. The major one is cortisol.
Several others are also released
Growth hormones The main hormone for general body
(GH) growth. Growth hormone regulates many
metabolic functions including how the
body handles glucose
Follicle stimulating Stimulates ovulation in women and the
hormone (FSH) production of sperm in men.
Luteinizing hormone Stimulates ovulation in women and
(LH) testosterone production in men.
Prolactin (PRL) Causes breast enlargement and breast
milk. Too much causes infertility in women
and impotence in men
Posterior lobe Function
Antidiuretic Controls thirst and the amount fluid
hormone (ADH) reabsorbed into the bloodstream and the
amount of urine produced by the kidneys.
Oxytocin Stimulates uterine contractions in women.
Its function in men is unknown, if any.
This chart summarizes the effects of the hormone of the pituitary
gland on various bodily functions. Each hormone has a number of
very specialized effects, and this chart only summarizes these com-
plicated hormonal interactions. There is a delicate cycle of secretion
and regulation of these functions that varies by time of day and the
degree to which a person is physically and psychologically stressed.
Each of these hormones can be tested using a variety of different
types of studies. They can be tested by simply measuring the indi-
vidual hormone levels in the blood, but they can also be tested by
stimulation or suppression tests that tell the doctors how well the
body’s balance and regulation of these hormones is working
40 D.S. Baskin
A pituitary tumor can cause an increase in any of the

anterior pituitary hormones listed in Table 3.1. For example,
you may experience the following:
In a condition called acromegaly [1, 2], an increase in the
amount of growth hormone (GH), causes the body to grow at
an abnormally fast rate. Bones become thicker and the hands
and feet may appear wider or bigger, and the jaw may pro-
trude. Carpal tunnel syndrome and spinal problems may
develop due to excessive growth of bone and soft tissue.
Many patients develop diabetes, high blood pressure, and
cardiac problems. This tumor shortens life span.
In Cushing’s disease [2, 3], a tumor releases adrenocorti-
cotropic hormone (ACTH) which produces an increase in
the body’s own steroid called cortisol, which leads to fat
deposits, especially in the shoulders and face, and increased
growth of body hair. Brittle diabetes and severe high blood
pressure that can be difficult to control, even with many
medications, is common. Patients often develop softening of
the bones, called osteoporosis. Left untreated, this is a life
threatening problem.
With a tumor making too much prolactin called a prolacti-
noma [2, 4, 5], elevated levels of prolactin may cause secre-
tion of breast fluids and decreased sexual drive and breast
enlargement in men and women. It may also cause irregular
or absent menstrual periods in women, and difficulty in hav-
ing an erection or infertility in men. Many women note
weight gain and mood swings. Men may have a decrease in
testosterone levels because of this tumor.
For pituitary tumors that do not secrete hormones [2],
the initial symptoms may not occur until the tumor presses
on the structures surrounding the normal pituitary gland.
This is why such tumors are often quite large when they are
discovered.
Because the pituitary gland is located near the eyes, it
can press on the nerves to the eyes and cause loss of vision.
Loss of peripheral vision (See Fig. 3.2) may occur first and
be undetected. This may progress to eventual blindness if
the pressure is not removed from the nerves. Almost any
Visual Field of Left Eye Visual Field of Right Eye
Figure 3.2 Visual problems from pituitary tumors. There are many
different types of visual problems that can occur when a pituitary
tumor grows upwards and presses on the optic nerves or their connec-
tions. The most common problem is to lose vision in the outer fields,
called a bitemporal hemianopsia. Often patients do not notice this, as
they correct for the problem by moving their head back and forth.
Doctors perform an examination called a visual field test in order to
detect what quadrants of vision may not be functioning correctly
kind of visual problem can be seen with large pituitary

tumors. The tumor may also press on the nerves that move
the eye and cause double vision. If the tumor is very large
it may press on other parts of the brain and cause prob-
lems with memory, weakness, numbness, or increased pres-
sure in the brain because of impaired circulation of the
brain fluid.
Treatment Options
Most pituitary tumors can be cured or at least very well con-
trolled with the treatments that are available. Treatment
options include observation over a period of time to see if
treatment is needed, treatment with drugs, radiation therapy,
and surgery
42 D.S. Baskin
Observation Without Treatment

Since most pituitary tumors are usually benign, some tumors
may be observed without treatment because they may grow
very slowly. If a decision is made to observe the tumor, ongo-
ing evaluations with CT or MRI scans, and assessment by an
endocrinologist and possibly an ophthalmologist will be per-
formed. CT or MRI scans will be performed within 3–6
months after the initial diagnosis and every 6–12 months
thereafter until the situation has been clarified. This period of
observation without treatment provides information that
helps the doctors decide whether other treatments that have
more risks are needed.
Observation without treatment may also be recommended
if conditions are present that would seriously increase the risk
of surgical or other treatments. Because pituitary tumors are
slow growing, patients can often be observed without treat-
ment for long periods of time without the tumor causing seri-
ous problems. This can be the recommended form of treatment
for patients who are age 70 or above or who have a serious
medical illness such as heart disease. Close follow-up will be
necessary to monitor tumor growth and symptoms.
Treatment with Drugs

Only one type of pituitary tumor can be successfully treated
with drugs. This type of tumor, called a prolactinoma, secretes
a hormone called prolactin.
Prolactinomas can often by controlled by a drug called
Bromocriptine, or another newer drug called Cabergoline [5].
These drugs will often reduce the size of the tumor and at the
same time produce a decrease in the abnormally high prolactin
level in the blood. Although the drugs may control the tumor,
they will not cure it. Treatment in most cases must be continued
for many years. While these drugs are effective in many cases,
some patients develop nausea, headache, dizziness, and weak-
ness while taking them. Usually these symptoms can be reduced
by taking small doses of the drug at first and slowly increasing

the dosage up to the needed level over a period of several
weeks or months. These drugs will not control all prolactin-
secreting tumors. For approximately 20 % of patients with
prolactinomas, surgery or radiation therapy may be needed.
Focused Radiation Therapy/Stereotactic

Radiosurgery
Another treatment option for pituitary tumors is radiation
therapy. Radiation therapy is most commonly used after sur-
gery. Most people think of radiation therapy as a treatment for
malignant tumors. As previously mentioned, most pituitary
tumors are benign and not malignant. Even though most pitu-
itary tumors are benign, some tumors have roots in the bone or
coverings around the brain that involve vital nerves or blood
vessels in such a way that surgical removal would cause signifi-
cant damage to these important structures. In these cases it is
best to treat the main part of the tumor with surgery and to use
radiation therapy for the roots or remaining tissue.
Radiation therapy, given under the direction of specialist
called a radiation oncologist, is most effective when the size
of the tumor has been reduced by surgery. The greater the
amount of tumor at the time of radiation therapy, the less
effective the treatment will be.
A specialized form of radiation therapy called “stereotactic
radiosurgery” can be used in most cases. Radiosurgery involves a
highly focused radiation treatment. The patient can often return
home after a single treatment, which is done as an outpatient.
There are minimal to no side effect with this type of treatment.
Surgery
Surgery is the preferred method of treatment for most pitu-
itary tumors. Two types of operations are done for the
removal of pituitary tumors. One, called a craniotomy, is
44 D.S. Baskin
directed through the skull above the eye. The other, called a
transsphenoidal operation, is directed through the nose. The
craniotomy operation involves making an incision on the
scalp near the top of the head. A piece of bone is then lifted
out and the coverings over the brain are opened. The lower
part of the brain is gently lifted to expose and remove the
tumor. The piece of bone is then replaced and the scalp is
closed with stitches or staples. In most cases, the incision on
the head can be placed so that the hair hides the scar. This
type of operation is usually not needed for a pituitary tumor,
but it is sometimes necessary if the tumor is very large and/or
it cannot be reached through the nose by a transsphenoidal
operation.
The transsphenoidal operation is the most common opera-
tion for a pituitary tumor [6] (Fig. 3.3). The surgical approach
for this operation is through the nose. There is no incision on
the face. This surgical approach provides the best exposure of
the tumor at the lowest risk. The operation normally takes 2 or
3 h. Following the operation, most patients spend one day in
the intensive care unit before returning to their hospital room.
Patients usually stay in the hospital for 1 or 2 days following
the operation. In some cases, patients are sent home the day
after surgery. The best form of transsphenoidal surgery today
is called endoscopic endonasal surgery [6] (see Fig. 3.4)
Risks of Surgery
Certain risks exist with both the craniotomy and the transs-
phenoidal operation. With either operation there is a small
risk to life (less than 1 %) as occurs with any anesthesia and
major surgery. With either operation there is a risk to
developing problems with vision because the nerves to the
eyes are located in the area of the tumor. When there has
been a distinct loss of vision before the operation due to pres-
sure from the tumor, vision is often greatly improved by the
operation. The degree of recovery of vision after the opera-
tion depends on how much damage has been done to the
nerves of the eye by the tumor before the operation.
Pituitary Gland
Location of Tumor
Sella Turcica
Sphenoid Sinus
Figure 3.3 The transsphenoidal approach to the pituitary gland.

This surgical approach takes advantage of the fact that the pituitary
gland is located on top of a hollow air sinus at the base of the skull.
Using an approach through the nasal passages, one can enter into
the sinus, remove the bone separating the sinus from the pituitary,
and then remove the tumor without damaging any of the brain
structures. Advances and technology have provided very high reso-
lution pictures (1080 P or Blu-ray type definition) from the endo-
scopes that are now used to remove these tumors. The surgery has
been converted into a very high-risk procedure with a prolonged
recovery time to a minimally invasive operation with a very rapid
return to work and minimal side effects
There is some risk that surgery may damage the pituitary

gland. In many cases pressure by the tumor has already dam-
aged the gland. The chance of surgery damaging the gland is
small if the tumor is small, however the risk increases when
the tumor is large. In most cases, even with very large tumors,
the gland regains some function after a recovery period.
Another risk is a condition called Diabetes Insipidus,
which is caused by a decrease in antidiuretic hormone
(ADH). A lack of this hormone leads to increased thirst and
frequent urination. Diabetes Insipidus can be treated by
replacing the antidiuretic hormone with medication. This is
46 D.S. Baskin
Incision
A. Sublabial
B. Transseptal
C. Endonasal
Figure 3.4 Modern day surgical approaches to the pituitary gland.

In recent years, surgery to remove pituitary tumors has been primar-
ily through the nasal passages, rather than using more invasive
approaches in which the skull is opened. (a) The older and more
classical approach is to remove pituitary tumors is via an incision
underneath the lip, which provides access to the nasal passages. This
procedure produces numbness in the teeth and requires a more
extensive recovery, usually involving a prolonged period of sinusitis
and the use of nasal packs and splints. (b) A more recent develop-
ment is the use of the transseptal approach, where an incision was
made in the front of the nose to gain access to the pituitary region.
While this is an advance, it still involves an extensive nasal dissection
and a more prolonged recovery because of symptoms and complica-
tions relating to manipulation of the nasal structures. (c) Using the
endoscopic endonasal approach, there is no dissection through the
nasal structures. The sinuses are entered into in the very back of the
nose, with excellent exposure of the pituitary gland and its surround-
ing structures. This is the least invasive technology available for
removal of pituitary tumors today, and provides optimal surgical
exposure, the least number of nasal complications, and excellent
outcomes
usually given in the evening to reduce the frequency of urina-

tion during the night. Diabetes insipidus resolves in a few
days in most patients.
Other risks associated with surgical intervention include
double vision, numbness of the face, bleeding, infection,
stroke, or other neurological defects.
Transsphenoidal Operation
Most pituitary tumors are removed by the surgical procedure
called a transsphenoidal operation (See Fig. 3.3).Transsphenoidal
means the operation is directed through the sphenoid bone and
sinus. The sphenoid is a small bone in the back of your nose
located just below the pituitary gland. It often contains a large
air filled cavity called the sphenoid sinus. In the past the trans-
sphenoidal operation was begun by making a 1–2 in. incision
under your lip at the top of your upper gum in the sublabial
modification of the transsphenoidal approach (See Fig. 3.4a) or
within the nose in the transseptal modification. (See Fig. 3.4b).
In recent years the operation has been modified so that there is
no need for an incision under the lip or in the front part of the
nose in most patients. The new procedure is called an endonasal
procedure because the tumor is approached through the nasal
cavity without an incision under the lip or in the front part of
the nose. There is no incision on the face. The tumor is reached
by working through one nostril, and making a hole at the back
of the nose (See Fig. 3.4c) into the sphenoid sinus and then
exposing the pituitary gland. The tumor is then removed. The
endonasal endoscopic procedure reduces the time required in
the operating room by as much as 2 h. The newer approach has
proven to be as effective as the older approach in reaching the
pituitary gland, and the benefits are greater. Patients can resume
a normal diet sooner after surgery, and the swelling of the face
and risk of injury to the upper lip and teeth is markedly reduced.
Post-operative discomfort is decreased and hospitalization has
been shortened by as much as 2 days.
48 D.S. Baskin
A small piece of fat is often removed from just below the skin
on your abdomen to fill the cavity created by the tumor removal.
The bottom of the skull is closed with a piece of bone or bone
substitute. This will help to prevent leakage of cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF), a fluid that surrounds the brain, spinal cord, and
pituitary gland. At times a drain may be inserted into the spine
while you are asleep to keep the pressure low and prevent leak-
ing after surgery. The drain may also be used to push to tumor
down by injecting fluid into it while you are under anesthesia.
In the endoscopic procedure, there is no need for stitches
to close the area since no incision has been made in the nose
or mouth. There is no need for gauze packing in the nose as
is used when incisions have been made in the nose or mouth.
There is minimal swelling, usually not noticeable.
Monitoring Your Fluid Balance

The pituitary gland secretes a hormone called antidiuretic
hormone (ADH), which regulates the fluid in your body.
After surgery, the amount of ADH circulating in the body
may decrease. The decrease in ADH will cause the kidneys to
release water from the body, producing large quantities of
dilute urine. Also, the large loss of water from the body may
produce dehydration, and therefore, more fluids will be
needed. The deficiency of ADH is called Diabetes Insipidus.
In most cases the deficiency resolves by the time you leave
the hospital. The nursing and medical staff will be closely
measuring both fluid intake and output. Therefore, it is
important to keep an accurate count of everything you drink
as well as your urine output.
Nasal Drainage
As mentioned previously under the description of the opera-
tion, a small piece of fat is removed from just under the skin
over the abdomen to “plug” the opening in the back of your
nose. The medical and nursing staff will also be monitoring

the drainage from your nose. This is done by changing the pad
covering your nose and monitoring the drainage for cerebro-
spinal fluid (CSF), which would indicate a leak. You will also
have a small dressing on your abdomen where the “plug” of
fat was removed. The stitches from this incision will dissolve
by themselves and do not need to be removed. It is important
to note that there is always some draining from the nose. You
will be started on nasal decongestants and nasal saline the
day after surgery. Continued use of these items for the first 30
days after surgery is recommended.
Pain After Surgery

Usually the pain after surgery is mild. You may experience a
headache, which can be treated with medication. You may
have some bruising under your eyes and/or along the side of
your nose. This should resolve by itself within several weeks.
Your nose will be stuffy, and you may have to breathe
through your mouth for the first few days to weeks, as if you
had a bad cold (Fig. 3.5).
Recovering from Your Surgery

In most patients the body will adapt to the changing levels of
antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and maintain a reasonable bal-
ance of fluid. However, for a small number of patients urine
production remains too high. If this occurs, your doctors may
begin temporary treatment with an injection of synthetic
ADH. If the body continues to be unable to control urine
production, you may need to take the ADH hormone after
you leave the hospital. If this occurs, you will probably be
given a form of ADH, which can be taken as nose drops or
spray, or a tablet.
During the weeks or months after surgery repeat hormone
tests and eye exams are commonly needed. These tests will be
50 D.S. Baskin
Figure 3.5 Fluid and electrolyte balance. After surgery, doctors will
carefully monitor the amount of fluid going into your veins as well
as your urine output. A flexible plastic catheter called an intrave-
nous catheter or IV will be used to give you additional fluids. This is
because the pituitary gland regulates water balance in the body
through a hormone called antidiuretic hormone. This hormone bal-
ance can be temporarily disturbed, causing too high or too low levels
of sodium and other important minerals in the blood. Carefully
monitoring your fluid balance with periodic blood tests will enable
the doctors to ensure that your recovery is smooth and that there
are no problems with water balance
similar to the ones that were done before the surgery. Often
the doctors in your community can do these tests. The
endocrinologist will test how well the pituitary gland is func-
tioning by checking hormone levels in the blood. If the levels
are not high enough for everyday activities the doctor may
prescribe hormone replacement therapy. The ophthalmolo-
gist will evaluate any changes in your vision after the surgery.
Frequently, after the pressure from the tumor is relieved,

visual problems will improve.
Discharge Instructions
If your tumor is small you will probably not have to take any
hormone replacement after you are discharged from the hos-
pital. Patients with decreased pituitary gland function can still
lead a normal life by taking medication each day to replace
the normal hormones in the body. If your tumor is large you
may be given a medication called Hydrocortisone. This medi-
cation helps to protect your body from the effects of stress. If
you need hydrocortisone after discharge, you may be
instructed to increase the dose if you are stressed by fever,
infection, surgery, or other illness. Other medications that
may be needed for decreased pituitary function are thyroid
medications; estrogen or progesterone in the female; and
testosterone in the male.
Follow-Up Care
A follow-up appointment will be scheduled. Laboratory tests
may be done at that time to check the hormone levels in your
blood and urine. Some patients develop a low sodium level in
the blood during the first week or two after surgery because
the pituitary gland over compensates by producing too much
antidiuretic hormone (ADH). The excess ADH causes the
body to retain fluid thus diluting the serum sodium to low
levels. The treatment for this is fluid restriction and replace-
ment of sodium either by salt tablets or intravenously. For
that reason you may be asked to obtain several sodium or
electrolyte levels after leaving the
The decision to use radiation therapy is usually made at
the time of a MRI scan several months after surgery. In most
cases, a follow up appointment will be scheduled 4–6 months
after the first follow-up appointment done approximately 6
52 D.S. Baskin
week after surgery. The MRI scan is usually repeated at this

time. If there are any visual changes due to the tumor, you
should also see the ophthalmologist for studies of the visual
fields. Laboratory tests may be obtained at this time and your
medications will be reviewed.
Most patients with a pituitary tumor resume normal activi-
ties after treatment. Vision often improves if it was affected,
and fertility improves in a number of patients who were infer-
tile. Most individuals benefit tremendously from surgery, and
go on to live fruitful and productive lives, improved by
removing the tumor and eliminating its negative effects.
References
1. Melmed S. Medical progress: acromegaly. N Engl J Med.
2006;355:2558–73.
2. Lake MG, Krook LS, Cruz SV. Pituitary adenomas: an overview.
Am Fam Physician. 2013;5:319–27.
3. Newell-Price J. Diagnosis/differential diagnosis of Cushing’s syn-
drome: a review of best practice. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol
Metab. 2009;23 Suppl 1:S5–14.
4. Klibanski A. Clinical practice. Prolactinomas. N Engl J Med.
2010;362:1219–26.
5. Colao A, Savastano S. Medical treatment of prolactinomas. Nat
Rev Endocrinol. 2011;7(5):267–78.
6. Rotenberg B, Tam S, Ryu WHA, Duggal N. Microscopic versus
endoscopic pituitary surgery: a systematic review. Laryngoscope.
2010;120(7):1292–7.
Chapter 4
Pediatric Brain Tumors
Mihir Gupta and Gerald A. Grant
Background
How Common Are Brain Tumors in Children?
Brain tumors are the second most common kind of cancer in

childhood, but are still quite rare. Less than 4,000 new cases of
all brain and spinal cord tumors combined are diagnosed in the
United States each year. Brain tumors are roughly equally dis-
tributed across childhood age groups, but slightly more com-
mon among children between ages 1–4 and 15–19 years old.
What Causes Brain Tumors?

Can They Be Inherited?
There is no known cause for the vast majority of these
pediatric brain tumors. They are generally not inherited
M. Gupta, BA
Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine,
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
e-mail: gupta5@stanford.edu
G.A. Grant, MD, FACS ()
Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical Center/
Lucile Packard Children’ Hospital, Standord, CA, USA
e-mail: ggrant2@stanford.edu

54 M. Gupta and G.A. Grant
from parents, nor are they expected to appear in a sibling

of an affected child. In rare instances, a genetic syndrome
may run in the family and create higher risk for certain
brain tumors.
Symptoms
While each individual will experience different symptoms,
tumors often produce patterns of symptoms depending
upon their location in the brain. This is because each part
of the brain controls unique functions or parts of the body.
Common symptoms of tumors in each major area are
listed in Table 4.1. Symptoms may appear on the opposite
side of the body than the tumor is located, because some
parts of the brain control the opposite side of the body.
Speech and language is most often on the left side of the
brain.
Hydrocephalus: A Common Complication

of Many Brain Tumors
Normally, the brain contains several areas of fluid called
ventricles. Hydrocephalus occurs when a tumor blocks nor-
mal fluid drainage of the brain, causing the ventricles to
become dilated. The buildup of fluid and pressure can dam-
age the brain or cause symptoms including headache and
visual changes. A temporary solution for hydrocephalus is to
install an external ventricular drain (EVD) that drains fluid
from the ventricles to outside the body. In some cases, the
EVD may be removed after the plumbing is restored and the
hydrocephalus resolves. If long-term drainage is required,
the EVD may be converted to a device called a shunt that
diverts ventricular fluid to safe locations inside the body.
Sometimes an endoscopic third ventriculostomy may be
performed to avoid a shunt.
Chapter 4. Pediatric Brain Tumors 55
Table 4.1 Common symptoms of tumors located in different areas

of the brain
Tumor location Definition Common symptoms
Supratentorial Upper part of the Headache
brain
Seizure
Paralysis (opposite side
of body)
Speech and language
difficulty
Personality or memory
change
Posterior fossa Lower part of the Headache
brain
Nausea, vomiting
Eye movement changes
Gait, balance or
coordination difficulty
Brainstem ‘Highway’ for all Facial weakness, visual

signals between changes
the brain and the
body Gait or coordination
difficulty
Weakness
Headache
Diagnosing Brain Tumors

Several tests help doctors to diagnose brain tumors. A brain
scan with a computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic
resonance image (MRI) may help to establish tumor size
and location, as well as complications like bleeding or
hydrocephalus. Doctors may obtain a biopsy, meaning a
small sample of the tumor to examine in the laboratory.
Table 4.2 Common categories and subtypes of pediatric brain

tumors
Category Common subtypes
Glioma Astrocytoma
Grade I: pilocytic
Grade II: fibrillary
Grade III: anaplastic
Grade IV: glioblastoma
Ependymoma (Grade II or III)
Optic glioma
Embryonal Medulloblastoma
SHH (‘Sonic Hedgehog’)
WNT
Group 3
Group 4
PNET
Sellar region tumors Pituitary adenoma
Craniopharyngioma
Germ cell tumors and cysts Germinoma

Embryonal carcinoma
The laboratory examines tumors at the molecular level in

order to diagnose the specific tumor subtype. Each subtype
may require different treatment. A lumbar puncture, or
‘spinal tap,’ may reveal tumor cells in the fluid that sur-
rounds the brain and spinal cord.
Common Types of Pediatric Brain Tumors

The most common tumor categories and subtypes are listed
in Table 4.2, and described further below.
Gliomas
Gliomas are the most common brain tumors in childhood.

They are made up of a type of cells called glia. Normally, glial
cells provide support to neurons in the brain, but can form a
tumor if they start multiplying excessively. There are several
types of gliomas, each requiring different treatment:
• Astrocytomas: the most common type of glioma
– Grade I: generally slow growing and benign. May be
removed by surgery or in some cases radiation.
– Grade II: may be removed surgically, but often require
additional chemotherapy and radiation
– Grades III and IV: generally removed surgically with
additional chemotherapy and radiation
• Ependymomas: tumors that arise from glial cells that nor-
mally line the ventricles of the brain. Often slow growing
and benign, but may be higher grade. Generally removed
with surgery followed by radiation therapy, and in some
cases additional chemotherapy.
• Optic gliomas: tumors that affect the optic nerve, which car-
ries visual information from the eye. These tumors generally
cannot be removed by surgery, and are instead treated with
chemotherapy or radiation. In some cases, they may be
associated with a genetic syndrome called Neurofibromatosis.
Embryonal Tumors
These tumors arise from cells that normally help to form the
brain early on in development.
•Medulloblastoma: once thought to be a single type of tumor, but
molecular studies showed there are at least four distinct sub-
types based on molecular markers:SHH (or ‘Sonic Hedgehog’),
WNT, Group 3 and Group 4. Chemotherapy and surgery regi-
mens will likely be tailored specifically for each subtype.
• Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET): generally
removed with surgery, followed by radiation and chemo-
therapy in many instances.
Sellar Region Tumors
These tumors arise in a region of the brain called the pituitary

gland that contains important glands controlling the body’s
hormones. Long-term follow up may be required because of
the possible impacts on growth, hormone levels and vision.
Treatment generally involves a combination of surgery, radia-
tion and/or chemotherapy.
Germ Cell Tumors and Cysts
This family of tumors includes several subtypes that must be

distinguished by molecular tests in the laboratory; treatment
is tailored specifically to each subtype. A combination of
radiation and chemotherapy is used in many of these tumors,
and in some cases surgery will also be undertaken.
Other
There are also several other types of brain tumors that are
more rare than those outlined above. Your treatment team
will be able to provide information on the type of tumor as
well as the treatment plan.
The Treatment Process
Treatment Teams
Caring for patients with brain tumors is an integrative team

effort between several different professionals working together:
• Neurosurgeons: perform surgery to remove a tumor, care
for patients recovering from surgery, and follow up with
patients after they leave the hospital.
• Neurooncologists: specialists in the medical treatment of
pediatric brain tumors and who prescribe chemotherapy
and other medications, but do not perform surgery.

Neurooncologists also follow up with patients long-term.
• Endocrinologists: doctors who specialize in treating hor-
mone imbalances caused by certain brain tumors around
the pituitary gland.
• Radiologists: doctors who specialize in the imaging of
brain tumors.
• Radiation oncologists are doctors who help treat brain
tumors with radiation.
• Pathologists: doctors who examine tumors under the
microscope and with specialized molecular tests in order
to make a diagnosis or gauge tumor severity.
• Psychiatrists: doctors who specialize in mental and emo-
tional health for patients, siblings and family members.
• Nurses: care for patients who are in the hospital, and also
follow up with them in the clinic or by phone afterwards.
• Case manager/social worker: helps address financial,
school-related and other needs for patients and families.
• Child life specialist: supports developmental and emo-
tional needs for children and siblings.
• Chaplain: provides spiritual guidance and counseling for
patients and families.
Family Accommodations During Treatment
Hospital stays may last for several days. Many hospital sys-
tems will have resources available to provide families a place
to stay during that time. The case manager or social worker
on the team can work with families to arrange housing.
Surgery
Surgery may be required to remove some or all of a tumor, or

to obtain a small sample for diagnostic purposes. In some
cases, surgery is not required. In other cases, the need for
surgery will be evaluated after a period of close observation.
Surgery can help to reduce symptoms, but does not always

cure a tumor permanently. For some tumors, surgery will be
supplemented with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves using medications that target cancer

cells. Chemotherapy may be used alone, or alongside surgery
or radiation therapy. Some chemotherapy medications are
given through an IV into the bloodstream, while others are
given orally. Most chemotherapy regimens include more than
one medication, in order to target more cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is given one or more times per week, over a
period of several weeks; more than one cycle of medications
may be required. Chemotherapy medications may have side
effects including nausea, fatigue, muscle aches and hair loss.
In some cases, there may be additional medications available
to reduce these side effects.
Radiation Therapy
It is sometimes possible to use focused radiation such as
x-rays or gamma rays to target tumor cells. Radiation may be
given in small doses over a period of time, often alongside
chemotherapy or surgery. Side effects of radiation therapy
may include nausea, fatigue, hair loss and brain swelling.
Other Medications
Several additional medications may help with complications

of brain tumors or the side effects of therapy. Tumors may
cause swelling of the brain called edema, which can be
reduced with steroid medications; these medications are
gradually tapered off over a few days or weeks. Some tumors
can also cause seizures, and anti-seizure medications may
help to reduce this risk. Anti-nausea medications may reduce

the nausea and vomiting side effects of chemotherapy or
radiation.
After Treatment
After any form of treatment, it is important to keep monitor-

ing symptoms over a period of months or years. Regular fol-
low-up appointments may include repeating brain scans
every 3–6 months in order to gauge whether a tumor has
increased in size or spread elsewhere. Your doctor can also
discuss what symptoms may indicate that a tumor has
recurred after treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Nutrition or Dietary Requirements

for a Child with a Brain Tumor? Are Any Foods
Proven to Prevent Tumor Growth?
During chemotherapy or radiation, doctors may suggest cer-
tain foods to lower side effects like nausea, diarrhea or con-
stipation. However, these diets only help with treatment side
effects; there is no current evidence that any particular food
has an impact on tumor growth.
Do Brain Scans Contain Radiation?
MRI scans do not use any radiation. However, an MRI can

require a child to lie still for up to an hour, which may require
sedating medication. CT scans contain small doses of radia-
tion; they are much quicker than an MRI and often do not
require sedation. A CT scan is often required in emergencies,
or to rule out bleeding or fluid buildup.
Can Children Continue to Attend School?

Will Their Performance Be Affected?
Radiation or chemotherapy may require missing school.
Tumors may have short- or long-term impacts on cognitive
functioning, depending on the area of the brain they occupy.
Can Children Continue to Participate

in Physical Education Class or Sports?
The timeline for returning to these activities varies greatly
depending upon the kind of tumor and therapy. Following
surgery, the healing process may take 3–6 months or more.
Chemotherapy and radiation may also affect the ability to do
physical activity.
Do Brain Tumors Have Psychiatric Consequences?
Receiving the diagnosis of a brain tumor can have psychiatric

effects on children as well as siblings, parents and other fam-
ily members. For this reason, counselors and child life special-
ists are very important members of treatment teams.
Where Can I Learn About Clinical Trials

for New Therapies?
All federally approved clinical trials are listed on the website
www.clinicaltrials.gov. Your treatment team may also know
about ongoing trials.
Can I Get Copies of Test Results and Hospital

Records?
Every hospital has a department of records that can provide
patients and families with a copy of all medical documents.
Some hospitals may also have secure online systems that can
be used to view test results or communicate with the treat-
ment team. You may also be able to have digital copies of
imaging results loaded onto a CD.
Glossary of Common Terms

Benign A benign tumor ford not usually spread to other parts of
the body or invade surrounding tissue, though it may still cause
symptoms because of its size. Malignant tumors, however, can
spread to other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis.
Biopsy A small piece of tissue that can be examined in the labora-
tory to diagnose a tumor. This is different from resection, which is
an attempt to remove some or all of a tumor.
CT scan (“cat scan”) A common way to acquire images of the
brain. Another common way is the MRI scan. Sometimes a PET
scan may be used.
Cranial nerves These nerves start in the brainstem and control
many facial movements and sensation. They may be affected by
tumors in the brainstem region.
Cystic A tumor that contains fluid inside it.
Edema A tumor may make molecules that cause water to leak out
from blood vessels into brain tissue. Steroids may be given and
tapered off over a few days or weeks to reduce edema and pre-
vent symptoms from arising.
Grade A classification of how abnormal the cells of a tumor look
under a microscope. Tumor stage, on the other hand, describes
how large the tumor has become and how far it has spread to
other parts of the body.
Hydrocephalus Normal areas of brain fluid (called ventricles)
become overloaded with fluid, because a tumor is blocking drain-
age. An external ventricular drain (EVD) or a shunt may be
required for treatment.
Inpatient Treatment that requires staying overnight in the hospital.
Outpatient treatment requires visiting the hospital during the
day, and then returning home.
Lumbar Puncture (“spinal tap”) A procedure to collect fluid sur-
rounding the spinal cord in the lower back. The fluid can be ana-
lyzed in the laboratory. A lumbar puncture may also be used to
deliver medications directly to the fluid around the brain and spi-
nal cord.
Molecular Classification Tumors can be grouped into subtypes

based on their specific molecular ‘machinery,’ and how their cells
are ‘programmed’ by DNA. Each molecular subtype may have a
different prognosis or may require different treatment.
Pathology Looking at tissue under a microscope in order to help
make a diagnosis or determine the severity of a tumor.
Port A surgically implanted device under the skin in the chest that
helps deliver medication, including some kinds of chemotherapy,
to the bloodstream. This allows doctors to give medication or col-
lect blood samples without the need for repeated needle sticks.
Primary The first tumor to appear. The primary tumor may also
metastasize, or spread to other areas in the body.
Prognosis A ‘forecast’ of how a disease or symptoms are expected
to progress.
Remission A decrease in tumor size or symptoms. Partial remis-
sion means some decrease in symptoms, while complete remis-
sion means all symptoms have gone away and the tumor can no
longer be detected. However, even a tumor in complete remission
may reappear; this is called recurrence.
Chapter 5
Congenital Neurosurgical
Problems
Herbert Edgar Fuchs
Spina Bifida and Tethered Cord Syndrome

The most common spinal anomaly is spina bifida, which
occurs in several different forms varying in severity.
Myelomeningocele is the open form of spina bifida, where
the developing neural tube fails to close early in pregnancy,
resulting in a portion of the incompletely developed spinal
cord exposed through a skin defect on the back. Urgent sur-
gery shortly after birth restores tissue coverage to the spinal
cord, but cannot restore neurologic function. These infants
also frequently have associated hydrocephalus (fluid on the
brain), and Arnold-Chiari malformations (see below), requir-
ing ongoing neurosurgical evaluation and treatment. In addi-
tion, the failure of the lower portion of the spinal cord to
close results in bowel and bladder incontinence and orthope-
dic deformities, requiring other pediatric subspecialists often
in a multidisciplinary spina bifida clinic setting. Due to the
severity and life-altering nature of these deficits, there has
been considerable interest in fetal surgery for the repair of
myelomeningoceles in the uterus. A multi-center randomized
H.E. Fuchs, MD, PhD, FAANS, FAAP

Department of Surgery, Duke University
Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
e-mail: fuchs001@mc.duke.edu

66 H.E. Fuchs
trial (MOMS Trial) has shown encouraging results to this

approach, although with significant risk to both mother and
fetus.
Spina bifida occulta is a term that encompasses the closed
forms of spina bifida, where the skin over the spine is closed,
but a variety of malformations result in a tethered cord, in
which the bottom portion of the spinal cord is attached to
structures within the spinal canal or subcutaneous tissues.
The simplest of these is the fatty filum terminale, in which the
normal thin tail of the spinal cord is thicker and less elastic,
allowing tension on the spinal cord as the child grows. A lipo-
myelomeningocele is a fatty mass, similar to a mushroom
erupting from the bottom of the spinal cord, and blending
into the normal fat beneath the skin. A lumbar dermal sinus
tract is a dimple, which may indicate a tract extending, and
attaching to the bottom of the spinal cord. A split cord mal-
formation is a more complex malformation in which a spike
of bone may between two halves of the spinal cord. All of
these conditions may affect the function of the bottom por-
tion of the spinal cord, causing pain, numbness, and weakness
of the legs, as well as bowel and bladder incontinence. For this
reason, these patients are also ideally followed in a multi-
disciplinary spina bifida clinic.
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus, or fluid on the brain, may be associated with a
variety of conditions, including bleeding following premature
birth, infection, trauma, tumors, or from other congenital mal-
formations, such as myelomeningocele, as discussed above. The
infant head normally grows in response to the growing brain.
As fluid accumulates in hydrocephalus, the head size increases
more rapidly, and the head size is seen to rise above the normal
growth curve. The infant’s skull soft spot is fuller, and firm,
from increased pressure inside the skull. The infant may be
irritable, or lethargic. Vomiting may occur, and the eyes may be
seen to be looking down (sunsetting sign). The evaluation of
Chapter 5. Congenital Neurosurgical Problems 67
such infants may include imaging studies with ultrasound, com-

puterized tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) scans. Hydrocephalus may be treated with a shunt, in
which a tube is placed to drain fluid to the abdominal cavity or
to the heart to avoid the buildup of pressure. Cases in which
there is an obstruction to the flow of spinal fluid within the
brain may be amenable to endoscopic treatment to bypass the
obstruction, and avoid shunt placement. Recently, studies have
shown a potential benefit of combining an endoscopic third
ventriculostomy with choroid plexus (the tissue that makes
spinal fluid within the fluid chambers of the brain) cauteriza-
tion, in an effort to avoid lifelong shunting. These studies are
based on work done by Dr. Ben Warf during his time in Africa,
treating predominantly post-infection cases.
Chiari Malformations
Chiari malformations involve the inferior portion of the skull
and upper portion of the spine, along with the brainstem,
spinal cord, and cerebellum. In the Chiari 1 malformation, the
cerebellar tonsils protrude through the hole at the base of the
skull through which the brainstem exits. Since this portion of
the skull and spine is shaped like a funnel, the herniation of
the tonsils into the upper portion of the spine results in com-
pression of the junction of the brainstem and spinal cord, and
interference with the normal flow of spinal fluid across this
region. Symptoms of Chiari 1 malformation include headache
at the base of the skull, especially with coughing, sneezing, or
straining, numbness or weakness in the hands, and difficulty
swallowing. A syrinx, or fluid pocket, may develop in the
upper portion of the spinal cord. Evaluation of patients with
Chiari 1 malformation includes MRI scanning. A Chiari mal-
formation may cause, or be caused by, hydrocephalus. The
treatment of Chiari 1 malformation is surgical, most often
involving decompression.
Chiari 2 (or Arnold-Chiari) malformation is seen in
patients with myelomeningocele, and represents a more
68 H.E. Fuchs
severe form than Chiari 1 malformation, involving even

the upper portions of the brain and brainstem. Swallowing
and breathing difficulties are commonly seen, and this con-
dition may be life-threatening. Evaluation involves MRI
scanning, as well as evaluation of shunt function, as a shunt
malfunction may make Chiari symptoms worse. Surgery
for Chiari 2 decompression involves decompressing the
lower portion of the brainstem, which may lie well down in
the neck.
Arachnoid Cysts
Arachnoid cysts are fluid filled balloons occurring within
the arachnoid layer covering the brain. The normal arach-
noid is one of three covering layers of the brain and spinal
cord, and is the layer that encloses the spinal fluid spaces.
An arachnoid cyst arises early in development, when a sepa-
rate pocket containing fluid forms. This balloon may com-
press adjacent areas of the brain, or may not cause any
significant issues. For larger cysts causing neurologic prob-
lems, surgery is indicated. Such surgery may range from
shunting the cyst, to endoscopic approaches to communi-
cate the cyst space to the normal spinal fluid spaces, or to
open surgery for cyst removal.
Encephaloceles
Encephaloceles are congenital defects of the coverings of
the brain including the skull, which allow herniation of por-
tions of the brain anywhere between the nose and back of
the head. There may or may not be skin coverage of the
herniated brain. Hydrocephalus is associated more com-
monly with encephaloceles more at the back of the head.
Treatment of an encephalocele is surgical, with the intent to
repair the defects in the covering layers of the brain, includ-
ing the skull.
Chapter 5. Congenital Neurosurgical Problems 69
Craniosynostosis
The normal infant skull is composed of multiple plates of
bone. Where these plates come together, the joints are called
sutures. Where multiple sutures come together, are the soft
spots, the most well known of which is the anterior fontanelle,
just above the forehead. The sutures are the sites of skull
growth. When a suture closes too early, growth at this site is
lost, and the remainder of the skull must grow disproportion-
ally to allow enough room for the growing brain. This condi-
tion is called craniosynostosis, and closure of a suture results
in characteristic alterations in head shape, which may be
diagnosed visually or with x-ray or CT scans. Closure of a
single suture is associated with an 8–10 % chance of increased
pressure on the developing brain, due to lack of adequate
skull growth. Several genetic syndromes are associated with
closure of multiple cranial sutures, with more severe
deformities, and much greater chances of increased pressure
on the brain. The treatment of craniosynostosis is surgical.
For older infants, complex reconstructions of major portions
of the skull may be performed usually in conjunction with a
craniofacial team involving pediatric plastic surgery and neu-
rosurgery. For infants diagnosed prior to 3–6 months, less
invasive operations are possible. Over the last decade,
increased emphasis has been placed on the potential for
endoscopic surgeries to utilize much smaller incisions, fol-
lowed by the use of specialized molding helmets to modify
the abnormal head shape, with very encouraging results.
For Further Information

Spina Bifida Association: www.spinabifidaassociation.org – excel-
lent website with lots of information for patients and families,
sponsor an annual meeting.
Hydrocephalus Association: www.hydroassoc.org – excellent web-
site with lots of information for patients and families, local chap-
ters, and national conference.
Chapter 6
Hydrocephalus
Anthony M. Avellino
Introduction
Hydrocephalus is the abnormal accumulation of cerebrospi-
nal fluid (CSF) within the ventricles (i.e., the fluid filled cavi-
ties within the brain) and subarachnoid spaces (i.e., the fluid
filled space around the brain). It is often associated with dila-
tation of the ventricular system and increased intracranial
pressure (ICP; i.e., increased pressure within the brain). The
incidence of pediatric hydrocephalus as an isolated congeni-
tal disorder is approximately 1/1,000 live births. Pediatric
hydrocephalus is often associated with numerous other con-
ditions, such as myelomeningocele, tumors and infections.
Hydrocephalus is almost always a result of an interruption of
CSF flow and is rarely because of increased CSF production.
In this chapter, we will discuss the clinical features, diagnosis,
and treatment of pediatric hydrocephalus.
A.M. Avellino, MD, MBA

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington
School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
e-mail: anthony.m.avellino@osfhealthcare.org

72 A.M. Avellino
Clinical Features
Signs and symptoms of progressive hydrocephalus depend on
age. The following outlines the signs and symptoms of hydro-
cephalus in premature infants, full-term infants, and older
children.
Premature Infants
Hydrocephalus in premature infants is predominantly caused

by post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH), which occurs
due to malabsorption of the CSF within the brain. Infants
with PHH may have no symptoms or may exhibit increasing
spells of apnea and bradycardia. If ventriculomegaly pro-
gresses and ICP increases, the anterior fontanelle becomes
convex, tense, and nonpulsatile; and the cranial sutures splay
and the scalp veins distend (Table 6.1).
Full-Term Infants
The common causes of hydrocephalus in full-term infants
include aqueductal stenosis, Dandy-Walker syndrome, arach-
noid cysts, tumors, and cerebral malformations. Symptoms
include irritability, vomiting, and drowsiness. Signs include
macrocephaly, a convex and full anterior fontanelle, distended
scalp veins, cranial suture splaying, frontal bossing, cracked pot
sound on percussing over dilated ventricles (positive Macewen’s
sign), poor head control, and the “setting-sun” sign, in which
the eyes are inferiorly deviated (Table 6.1).
Older Children
Hydrocephalus after infancy is usually secondary to trauma

or tumors. The predominant symptom is usually a dull and
steady headache, which typically occurs upon awakening. It
may be associated with lethargy, and often improves after
vomiting. The headaches slowly increase in frequency and
Chapter 6. Hydrocephalus 73
Table 6.1 Signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus in children

Premature infants Full-term infants Older children
Apnea Irritability Headache
Bradycardia (i.e., Vomiting Vomiting
low heart rate)
Tense fontanelle Drowsiness Lethargy
Distended scalp Macrocephaly Diplopia
veins
Globoid head Distended scalp Papilledema
shape veins
Rapid head Frontal bossing Lateral rectus palsy

growth Macewen’s sign Hyperreflexia/clonus
Poor head control

Lateral rectus palsy
“Setting-sun” sign
severity over days or weeks. Other common complaints

include blurred or double vision, decreased school perfor-
mance and behavioral disturbances (Table 6.1).
Diagnosis
Hydrocephalus can be diagnosed by cranial ultrasonography in
infants with open scalp fontanelles, and by CT and MR imaging,
which will demonstrate increased ventricular size, as well as the
site of pathological obstruction if present (e.g., tumors that
obstruct the ventricles and produce ventriculomegaly).
Treatment
The treatment of hydrocephalus can be divided into non-
surgical approaches and surgical approaches, which in turn
can be divided into non-shunting or ventricular shunting
74 A.M. Avellino
procedures. The goals of any successful management of

hydrocephalus are: (1) optimal neurological outcome and (2)
preservation of cosmesis. The radiographic finding of normal-
sized ventricles should not be considered the goal of any
therapeutic modality.
Non-surgical Options
There is no non-surgical medical treatment that definitively

treats hydrocephalus effectively. Historically, acetazolamide
and furosemide have been used to treat hydrocephalus.
Although both agents can decrease CSF production for a few
days, they do not significantly reduce ventriculomegaly, and
can lead to potential side effects such as lethargy, poor feed-
ing, tachypnea, diarrhea, and electrolyte imbalances. While
acetazolamide has been used historically to treat premature
infants with PHH, recent studies have shown it to be ineffec-
tive in avoidance of ventricular shunt placement and to be
associated with increased neurological morbidity.
Surgical: Non-shunting Options
Whenever possible, the obstructing lesion that causes the

hydrocephalus should be surgically removed. For example,
the resection of a tumor that obstruct the ventricles often
treats the secondary hydrocephalus. Unfortunately, in most
cases of congenital hydrocephalus, the obstructive lesion is
not amenable to surgical resection.
For CSF obstruction at or distal to the aqueduct (e.g., tec-
tal plate tumors, acquired aqueductal stenosis, or posterior
fossa tumors), a potential surgical treatment is the endoscopic
third ventriculostomy. By surgically creating an opening at
the floor of the third ventricle, CSF can be diverted without
placing a ventricular shunt. Recent studies report a high suc-
cess rate for endoscopic third ventriculostomies among pedi-
atric patients with hydrocephalus secondary to aqueductal
stenosis.
Table 6.2 Common Congenital hydrocephalus

indications for ventricular
shunt placement Persistent post-hemorrhagic
hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus associated with
myelomeningocele
Dandy-Walker cyst
arachnoid cyst

posterior fossa tumor
Surgical: Ventricular Shunts
The following outlines the components of a ventricular shunt,

and the potential shunt complications. In addition, Table 6.2
lists some of the common indications for placement of a ven-
tricular shunt.
Components
CSF shunts are silicone rubber tubes that divert CSF from the
ventricles to other body cavities where normal physiologic
processes can absorb the CSF. Shunts typically have three
components: a proximal (ventricular) catheter, a one-way
valve that permits CSF flow out of the ventricular system, and
a distal catheter that diverts the CSF to its eventual destina-
tion (i.e., peritoneal, atrium or pleural space). The most com-
mon type of ventricular shunt in use today is the ventricular
to peritoneal shunt (i.e., shunt tubing from the ventricles to
the peritoneal cavity which is the potential space around the
organs in the abdomen).
Valves come in a variety of different pressure and flow set-
tings depending on the manufacturer. However, a recent
advance in shunt valve technology has been the introduction
76 A.M. Avellino
of programmable valves, which allows one to adjust the open-

ing pressure settings of the implanted shunt valve without the
need to subject the child to an additional surgical procedure
to change valves.
Shunt Complications
Shunt complications and failure remain a significant problem

in treating hydrocephalus. The goal in treatment of hydro-
cephalus with a ventricular shunt is to decrease intracranial
pressure and associated brain damage and simultaneously
prevent complications associated with the ventricular shunt-
ing procedure. Shunt complications fall into three major cat-
egories: (1) mechanical failure of the device, (2) functional
failure because of too much or too little flow of CSF, and (3)
infection of the CSF or the shunt device. However, the two
most common complications are infection and obstruction,
which are further explained below.
Shunt Infection
Despite the numerous measures used to decrease the risk of
infection, in general, approximately 1–15 % of all shunting
procedures are complicated by infection. Approximately
three-quarters of all shunt infections become evident within
1 month of placement. Nearly 90 % of all shunt infections are
recognized within 1 year of the last shunt manipulation, as it
is believed that most bacteria are introduced at the time of
surgery.
The most effective and widely used treatment of a shunt
infection is to remove the infected shunt hardware and place
an external ventriculostomy drain (i.e., placement of a tube
within the ventricles and connecting it to an external sterile
collection bag outside one’s body). The patient is then treated
with the appropriate intravenous antibiotics based on culture
and sensitivity results. When the infection is cleared, a new
ventricular shunt system is implanted, and the external ven-
triculostomy is removed.
Shunt Obstruction
Shunt obstruction is another common complication. Shunt

devices are to be viewed as mechanical devices that can
become obstructed or malfunction anywhere in their course
and anytime during their lifetime. The most common scenar-
ios occur weeks, months, or years after insertion, when cho-
roid plexus or debris has occluded the proximal ventricular
catheter tip. Another common shunt malfunction scenario is
the child who has obstructed his distal catheter or has out-
grown his peritoneal catheter, and presents with an obstruc-
tion after the distal catheter tip has slipped out of the
peritoneal cavity. In addition, shunt valves can malfunction,
and shunt tubing can break, disconnect or dislodge from its
previous location.
Common symptoms of shunt obstruction depend on the
age of the child. A child with a shunt malfunction often pres-
ents with signs and symptoms of increased brain pressure.
Infants with a shunt malfunction usually present with irrita-
bility, poor feeding, increased head circumference, and/or
inappropriate sleepiness. Children with a shunt malfunction
usually present with headache, irritability, lethargy, nausea,
and/or vomiting. However, it is important to inquire if the
signs and symptoms that the child is presenting with are
the same as those during a shunt malfunction in the past. The
child can present with waxing and waning symptoms, or can
alternatively present with a progressively worsening picture
that does not improve until the shunt is revised. A child com-
plaining of pain with a clinical picture consistent with shunt
obstruction should not be given narcotics because of possible
respiratory depression or arrest.
When a shunt malfunction is suspected, head imaging
studies should be obtained after a careful history and physi-
cal examination. A head CT/MRI and anteroposterior and
lateral skull, chest, and abdominal x-rays, are obtained to
evaluate for increased ventricular size and shunt hardware
continuity, respectively. Children who are diagnosed with a
shunt malfunction are taken promptly to the operating room
for shunt revision.
78 A.M. Avellino
Summary
Signs and symptoms of progressive hydrocephalus depend on
age. Symptomatic ventricular shunt malfunction should be
evaluated, recognized and treated promptly to avoid undue
morbidity. Ventricular shunt infection currently occurs in
1–15 % of children who have shunts placed or revised, and
the majority of infections are detected within the first
1–6 months after a shunt procedure. The prognosis of pediat-
ric hydrocephalus is dependent primarily on the underlying
brain morphology (i.e., a child with relatively normal brain
organization has a better outcome than a child with abnormal
morphology).
Suggested References
1. Avellino AM. Chapter 4. Hydrocephalus. In: Singer HS, Kossoff
EH, Hartman AL, Crawford TO, editors. Treatment of pediatric
neurologic disorders. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis Group; 2005.
p. 25–36 (Portions of this chapter were reprinted/republished
with permission of Taylor & Francis Group LLC Books; permis-
sion conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc).
2. Albright AL. Chapter 6. Hydrocephalus in children. In:
Rengachary SS, Wilkens RH, editors. Principles of neurosurgery.
1st ed. London: Wolfe Publishing; 1994. p. 6.1–6.23.
Chapter 7
Chiari Syndrome
Samuel Braydon Harris and Richard G. Ellenbogen
Chiari I Malformation and Syringomyelia

Chiari I malformation (CMI) is a congenital or acquired mal-
formation of the back of the brain. It involves the parts of the
brain called the cerebellum, brainstem and the upper spinal
cord. The cerebellum is a part of the brain that helps coordi-
nate movement and balance. The brainstem is the main path-
way for all signals from the brain to the spinal cord. There is
no cognitive or “thinking” function associated with the cere-
bellum or brainstem, so patients with CMI can have normal
cognitive function. A CMI is characterized by descent or
“escape” of the cerebellum into the spinal canal through an
opening at the base of the skull called the foramen magnum.
Normally, the cerebellum is fully contained within the skull;
however, in a CMI, a part of the cerebellum called the cere-
bellar tonsils, can be forced downward or escape into the
S.B. Harris
Columbia University,
116th St and Broadway,
New York, NY 10027, USA
R.G. Ellenbogen, MD, FACS ()

Department of Neurological Surgery,
University of Washington Medicine,
325 Ninth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
e-mail: rge@uw.edu

80 S.B. Harris and R.G. Ellenbogen
spinal canal and crowd the spinal cord and brainstem. This
part of the cerebellum, the tonsils, can block the normal flow
of fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) around the brain. At
the same time the tonsils can compress the cervical spinal
cord and brainstem, which are essential for normal brain
function.
Chiari II malformation is associated with the birth defects,
spina bifida (myelomeningocele) and hydrocephalus. Chiari II
malformation (CMII) involves descent the middle structure of
the cerebellum, the vermis, with descent of the brainstem
below the foramen magnum. Chiari type III (and IV) malfor-
mations are severe and exceedingly rare varieties of the Chiari
malformation. Only the more common CMI malformation will
be discussed in this chapter, as its treatment is much different
than the treatment for the other Chiari malformations.
The cause of the CMI brain malformation is unknown and
is discovered in a wide range of ages from under 3 years of
age to those over 60 years of age. The increased availability of
MRI has increased the diagnosis of this condition, which was
once thought to be rare. CMI is not as rare as once thought.
If the cerebellum escapes more than 5 mm below the fora-
men magnum and the patient has typical clinical symptoms,
than the patient may fit the diagnostic criteria for CMI. The
exact incidence of the malformation is unknown, but in one
hospital based study perhaps, 1/1,280 people or more had
CMI based on MRI. We still do not know whether or not any
person affected with CMI will pass it to their child. Although
some cases have a genetic basis with more than on family
member affected with CMI, this occurrence is quite rare.
Thus siblings of CMI patients do not need an MRI unless
they are suffering the same symptoms of CMI.
A simplified way of explaining the CMI to young
patients is to describe it as a “size 10 brain stuck in a size 9
skull, ” even though most of the patients do not suffer from
a misshapen or small skull. There are two main pathological
or abnormal events that are observed in each patient who
has a CMI. There is 1) “escape” or herniation of the cere-
Chapter 7. Chiari Syndrome 81
bellar tonsils into the spinal canal more than 5 mm and

2) blockage in the flow or circulation of CSF around the
cerebellum. The herniation of the cerebellar tonsils through
the foramen magnum can cause further problems by push-
ing on the spinal cord and brainstem. Normally, CSF pulses
throughout the cranial vault and around the spinal canal in
rhythm with the heartbeat of the patient. The altered CSF
flow seen in patients with a CMI can result in some patients
(from 10 to 60 %) developing a fluid collection within the
spinal cord known as syringomyelia [1]. Syringomyelia is a
cyst (syrinx) in the spinal cord that contains CSF that is
trapped in the spinal cord (Photo I). A syrinx can expand
the cord and cause damage to the normal nerve units as
more CSF gets trapped. There are many theories of why
this happens in some patients, but it does not happen in
everyone. Syringomyelia, though not found in all patients
with CMI, can lead to yet further neurological issues such
as progressive motor, sensory and sphincter deficits and
should be treated.
Table 7.1 Symptoms related to chiari I malformation

Headaches, “tussive”: precipitated by coughing, straining,
sneezing, etc.
General malaise, fatigue
Dizziness or “room spinning”
Eye symptoms- “to and fro” jerky movement, nystagmus
Change in gait or walking, balance issues
Swallowing problems
Sleep disturbances
Common Symptoms of CMI

and Syringomyelia
CMI may cause specific symptoms related to CMI, and gen-
eralized symptoms that are often hard to associate only with
CMI. Headaches and or neck pain, particularly precipitated
by and exacerbated by coughing, straining, sneezing, are a
very classic, specific symptom of CMI [2]. These headaches
are called “tussive” headaches and can easily be distin-
guished from migraine headaches, which are unilateral and
aggravated by light or noise. Frontal headaches occur in
people without CMI and headaches associated with stress are
not usual the result of this condition. Millions of Americans
get headaches more than once a month, so physicians are
cautious to avoid over diagnosing CMI based on headache
symptoms that are not specifically tussive or in a person
whose MRI that is not diagnostic for CMI but suffers head-
aches. Another less common symptom is a problem with bal-
ance and coordination, which may affect walking or other
activities (See Table 7.1). CMI patients may complain about
dizziness or vertigo (the room is spinning). Eye symptoms,
most commonly jerky to-and-fro movements of the eyes,
called nystagmus can be a complaint of CMI patients or be
discovered on exam. CMI patients may complain about swal-
lowing issues, sleep disturbances and general malaise in
which they feel fatigued all the time. Some of that fatigue
may be attributed from the incessant pain associated with
headaches that start whenever the patient strains. It is impor-
tant to note that a significant percentage of people with CMI
suffer no symptoms and are diagnosed following an MRI for
an unrelated clinical reason. These patients may remain
asymptomatic for much of their life and the “natural history”
(i.e., do they get symptoms later) of patients who do not
receive treatment is still being studied.
Patients with syringomyelia associated with CMI can have
severe symptoms, which include motor, sensory, pain and
major dysfunction of their nervous system (See Table 7.2).
The motor symptoms range from mild weakness to wasting of
muscles. It is common for children with syringomyelia to have
scoliosis as well. Syringomyelia can cause loss of feeling in the
hands and feet or even the opposite. Patients can suffer exag-
gerated, hypersensitivity to touch, which is painful. The pain
quality may be burning and occur in the arms and trunk.
There may be joint pain in the shoulders that occurs from
slow destruction of the joint. The major dysfunction of the
nervous system may include incontinence of the bladder or
bowel. There may be “autonomic” symptoms, which include
wide swings in blood pressure, fainting or sweating. CMI
patients with associated syringomyelia are rarely asymptom-
atic but their natural history is often one of progressively
worse symptoms slowly over time.
Diagnosis
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) diagnosis of CMI sets
the threshold for diagnosis by measuring the amount the cer-
ebellar tonsils escape below the foramen magnum. Descent
of 5 mm or greater is consistent with CMI. The MRI uses the
interaction between strong magnetic fields produced by the
machine and molecules in the body to produce high defini-
tion images of the body’s internal structure. The advantage to
using this technique is that in addition to the high resolution
84
Table 7.2 Neurologic signs in syringomyelia associated with chiari malformation [3]
Motor Sensory Pain Sphincter Autonomic
Weakness of hands and Decreased feeling Midline pain Urinary Wide swings in blood pressure
upper extremities in hands and arms incontinence
Atrophy of hands or Decreased Burning pain in Bowel Syncope of fainting
arms sensation in torso arms and torso incontinence
Increased tone or upper Hypersensitivity Joint pain Male Profuse sweating
S.B. Harris and R.G. Ellenbogen
and lower extremities to touch impotence

Scoliosis Decreased Joint pain Bladder Dysreflexia
position sense spasticity
of the brain and spinal cord it provides, it does not require the
use of X-ray radiation that in large or cumulative doses can
cause harm. To this date we do not have scientific proof that
MRI can cause damage to the brain or spinal cord.
An MRI of the brain and spinal cord will be ordered if a
CMI and syringomyelia are suspected based on symptoms.
Some centers will add a CSF flow study in which the MRI
evaluates the flow of CSF above and below the foramen mag-
num. A “CSF flow” study is not essential. Surgeons use it to
obtain a baseline and gauge the amount obstruction of CSF
flow by the tonsils. If a CMI/syringomyelia patient does not
improve their symptoms after surgery, and the CSF flow is
not improved it may change the management of that patient.
Flow studies are also helpful for an uncommon entity called
Chiari 0 malformation. These are patients with a syringomy-
elia but no cerebellum below the foramen magnum. The flow
studies may demonstrate and obstruction of flow across the
foramen magnum from something other than the tonsils,
which causes the syringomyelia. Those patients can be
improved with surgery.
Treatment
Treatment of CMI is primarily surgical as there is no effective
medical treatment for this malformation [4]. However, the
first and most important question is to determine whether or
not surgery is required. In asymptomatic patients who may
have borderline descent of their cerebellum (less than 5 mm),
surgery may not be indicated for three reasons. The first rea-
son is the patient’s natural history may be one in which they
stay asymptomatic throughout their life. Second, the MRI is a
safe and cost effective tool to follow asymptomatic patients.
And three, even in the most experienced and skilled neuro-
logical surgeons hands, the CMI operation is not without risks,
albeit the risks may be low. So, who should get the surgery?
The surgery is indicated for patients who have, (1) lifestyle
limiting symptoms such as tussive headaches with a CMI on
MRI, (2) patients with neurological deficits attributed to their

CMI and/or syringomyelia and (3) the CMI patient who has
an expanding syringomyelia, as that is often correlated with
neurological deterioration, (4) patients who have congenital
skull base and cervical issue with resultant spinal instability or
(5) hydrocephalus which is the cause of the downward hernia-
tion of the tonsils. The rare patients with spinal instability
often require spinal fusion procedures and the rare patients
with hydrocephalus often require a shunt procedure.
There are a wide variety of techniques that neurological
surgeons perform CMI decompression surgery in the over-
whelming majority of patients who do not have (4) or (5). The
surgery rarely has to be performed in an emergency or urgent
fashion unless the patient is experiencing progressive neuro-
logical deficits such as an expanding syringomyelia. However,
the principles of the surgery are quite similar despite nuances
in techniques between surgeons.
The two main goals of surgery for CMI is to (1) give the
cerebellum, brainstem and spinal cord more room and (2)
return the CSF flow in the back of the brain to as normal as
possible. The surgery consists of removing a piece of bone in
the back of the skull and upper spinal canal to increase the
space, which in turn permits more normal CSF flow above
and below the foramen magnum. To increase the space the
neurological surgeon will usually remove a portion of the C1
vertebra (the lamina), the uppermost bone in the spine and
remove a small piece of bone at the base of the skull in the
back of the head to include the rim of the foramen magnum.
Removing the rim of the foramen magnum and C-1 lamina
permits the cerebellum to sit more comfortably in that space
and facilitates more normal CSF flow around the cerebellum.
This does not cause spinal instability. Often the dura, which is
the covering of the cerebellum and brain, is opened and a
patch of tissue is sewn in to expand the space which helps
restore more normal CSF flow. The patch of tissue sewn into
the dura to expand the space can be taken from the patient’s
native tissue under the scalp or sterile synthetic material.
Sometimes the surgeon has to remove scar or shrink the ton-
sils with electro cautery to facilitate more CSF flow before

the patch is sewn in place. The surgical manipulation of the
tonsils does not cause any brain dysfunction; it alleviates and
pre-empts adverse symptoms related to the cerebellar mal-
formation. Additionally, this surgery when successful, also
leads to the shrinkage of syringomyelia when present. The
decrease in the diameter of a syringomyelia cystic dilation is
essential to improve the function of the spinal cord. The CMI
surgery is considered successful with most of the tussive
headache symptoms improve and the neurological symptoms
from the CMI and syringomyelia (when present) lessen
because the syrinx cyst starts to collapse. When the correct
surgical indications are applied by an experienced surgeon to
a patient with a CMI or a CMI with syringomyelia, the over-
whelming majority of the patients improve to some degree.
Immediately post-operatively, the patient requires pain
medications because to access the skull in the back of the
head the surgeons must dissect through the very well devel-
oped muscles that hold up the skull. Patients are out of bed
walking the day after surgery and home several days after
that. Patients should not return to vigorous athletic activity
for 3 months after the surgery in order to permit the wound
to heal and the patient to rebuild their endurance. Patients
who undergo placement of a dura patch can suffer a leak of
CSF for a host of reasons, which include over vigorous activ-
ity, which raise the pressure in the brain, but that complica-
tion is fortunately not common. There will be considerable
discomfort for the patient initially but that slowly disappears
as the patient heals. In the first month following the opera-
tion light activity is encouraged, however the patient is to
avoid heavy lifting or similar strenuous activity so that they
do not risk a CSF leak. The patient may also be prescribed a
laxative to avoid strenuous bowel movements following sur-
gery, as narcotic medications have been known to cause con-
stipation. Any sign of infection around the surgical wound
such as redness, tenderness, or purulence (presence of pus), is
cause for immediate concern and should be reported to the
treating physician as soon as possible.
In summary the CMI with or without syringomyelia is a

surgically treatable disease. The outcome is usually quite
good in experienced surgeons hands, and in patients who
truly require the surgery because of lifestyle limiting pain,
syringomyelia and/or neurological dysfunction.
References
1. Armonda RA, Citrin CM, Foley KT, Ellenbogen RG. Quantitative
cine-mode MRI of chiari I malformations: an analysis of CSF
dynamics. Neurosurgery. 1994;35(2):214–24. PMID: 7969828.
2. Toldo I, Tangari M, Mardari R, Perissinotto E, Sartori S, Gatta M,
Calderone M, Battistella PA. Headache in children with chiari I
malformation. Headache. 2014;54:899–908. doi:10.1111/head.12341.
3. Milhorat TH, Chou MW, Trinidad EM, Kula RW, Mandell M,
Wolpert C, Speer MC. Chiari I malformation redefined: clinical
and radiographic findings for 364 symptomatic patients.
Neurosurgery. 1999;44:1005–17.
4. Ulrich B, editor. Chiari malformation and syringomyelia. American
Syringomyelia and Chiari Alliance Project. Web. 26 June 2014. -
http://asap.org/index.php/disorders/patient-handbook/.
Chapter 8
Brain Aneurysms
Yi Jonathan Zhang, Virendra Desai, Orlando Diaz,
Richard P. Klucznik, and Gavin Britz
Introduction
Aneurysms are focal, weakened dilations of blood vessel
walls. Most common aneurysms occur in the brain or along
the aorta, where aneurysms affecting those vessels supplying
the brain are called cerebral aneurysms. These dangerous
dilations can cause life threatening bleeding from aneurysmal
rupture and occasionally lead to symptoms by compressing
adjacent neural structures. Many times, the very first bleeding
from a brain aneurysm may lead to death. After rupturing
once, aneurysms have a very high chance of rerupturing and
rebleeding. Therefore, urgent treatment is of paramount
importance in saving a salvageable patient’s life. When a
brain aneurysm is detected before any bleeding, careful
evaluation should be made to determine whether and how to
treat the potentially devastating abnormality.
Y.J. Zhang, MD
Department of Neurosurgery, Methodist Neurological Institute,
Houston, TX, USA
V. Desai, MD • O. Diaz, MD • R.P. Klucznik, MD • G. Britz, MD ()
Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Hospital,
Houston, TX, USA
e-mail: gbritz@houstonmethodist.org

90 Y.J. Zhang et al.
Epidemiology
Before any symptom onset, most patients are not aware that
they have an aneurysm. The prevalence of unruptured
cerebral aneurysms in the general adult population ranges
from 1.8 to 3.2 % [1, 2]. Of these, the overall risk of rupture
is 1 % per year, although this risk depends significantly on
age, type of aneurysm (symptomatic versus asymptomatic),
size and location of the aneurysm [3]. In the U.S., there
are approximately 30,000 cases of aneurysmal bleeding
annually [4].
Pathophysiology
Much research has been devoted to the causes of brain aneu-

rysm genesis. Currently, aneurysms are believed to form by a
combination of weakness in the blood vessel wall and exces-
sive pressure from within pushing outward on the wall. The
primary cause of vessel wall weakness is atherosclerosis,
although other causes such as infection and genetics exist [5].
Excessive pressure from within the vessel wall occurs in
hypertensive patients, and generally, branching points of
blood vessels are exposed to the highest blood pressures,
predisposing these areas to aneurysm formation.
Unusual “mycotic aneurysms” can form when the blood
vessel wall is weakened from ongoing infection or inflamma-
tion. This typically occurs in the setting of bacterial infection
of the heart valves. Small packets of bacteria, called “septic
emboli”, arise from the heart and lodge in the blood vessel
wall, leading to formation of an aneurysm [6].
Risk Factors
Risk factors for cerebral aneurysms can be divided into those

that are modifiable and non-modifiable. Modifiable risk fac-
tors include cigarette smoking, certain medications, heavy
Chapter 8. Brain Aneurysms 91
alcohol consumption, and hypertension. Nonmodifiable risk

factors include age, female sex, family history and hereditary
disorders such as polycystic kidney disease and Ehlers
Danlos syndrome [2, 7]. For instance, while a patient has the
power to reduce or cease smoking cigarettes, they cannot
change their age or gender.
Symptoms of Compression
Some aneurysms cause symptoms by compressing adjacent

structures. Most commonly, this occurs with compression of
the third cranial nerve, which controls the pupil as well as
some eye muscles. This can cause double vision, a droopy
eyelid and restricted eye movement [6]. Sometimes, aneu-
rysms can grow very large, causing local swelling of the
brain.
Symptoms of Rupture and Bleeding
When an aneurysm ruptures, it bleeds into a certain location

within the skull known as the subarachnoid space, causing a
“subarachnoid hemorrhage”. When this occurs, patients pres-
ent with headache, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, loss of
consciousness or coma [6]. At times, before a catastrophic
hemorrhage occurs, aneurysms leak a tiny amount, called a
“sentinel bleed”, causing headache, dizziness and vision
changes [6]. After aneurysmal rupture, the patient’s neuro-
logic status can decline secondary to two processes: hydro-
cephalus or vasospasm. Hydrocephalus, literally “water in the
head”, occurs when the blood obstructs the flow and absorp-
tion of cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain and
serves mainly as structural support. Vasospasm is a state of
contraction and narrowing of blood vessels. The blood break-
down products from aneurysmal rupture can irritate the
blood vessel wall, causing it to constrict. This obstructs blood
flow downstream and can lead to stroke [6].
a b
Figure 8.1 (a) This image depicts a gross, intra-operative view of a

cerebral aneurysm in the center of the picture. At the sides of the
aneurysms (red color) is the brain tissue. (b) This image shows a
metallic clip about to be placed around the aneurysm (surgical clip-
ping), sealing it off from the circulation
Diagnosis
Aneurysms are diagnosed by imaging studies. The best

imaging modality is cerebral angiogram, which involves
placement of a catheter into an artery in the groin and guid-
ing it up to blood vessels in the neck that supply the brain.
Then contrast is injected, allowing visualization of the blood
vessels and any associated abnormalities, such as aneurysms
(Figs. 8.2, 8.3, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 8.10 and 8.11). Other imaging
techniques include computed tomography angiography
(CTA) (Figs. 8.4 and 8.5) and magnetic resonance angiogra-
phy (MRA), which are essentially CT and MRI scans focused
on blood vessel anatomy. The advantage of CTA and MRA
over catheter-guided angiography is that they are not inva-
sive; however, they are less sensitive in detecting smaller
aneurysms [8] and only provide static information.
Conventional Treatment
To prevent an aneurysm from rupturing, either primarily or

secondarily after initial bleeding, surgeons may occlude the
aneurysm either via open brain surgery or catheter-guided
a b
Figure 8.2 (a) 65 year-old with a large anterior communicating

artery aneurysm with a cerebral angiogram of cerebral arteries
when viewed from the front, showing a large aneurysm in the ante-
rior communicating portion of the anterior cerebral arteries. (b) 3D
reconstruction software takes pictures from a cerebral angiogram
and creates an image similar to this, to better characterize the size
and location of the aneurysm
a b
Figure 8.3 (a) The aneurysm depicted in Fig. 8.2 has now been coil
embolized – note the dark coils placed inside the aneurysm. (b)
Another view of the aneurysm in Fig. 8.2 after coil embolization
therapy. The former is referred to as “clipping” of an

aneurysm while the latter is termed “endovascular coiling” or
“embolization” [9].
Clipping involves placing a metallic clip at the base of the
aneurysm, sealing it off from normal circulation so that
blood cannot enter it and leak out (Figs. 8.1 and 8.5).
Endovascular coiling involves placing platinum coils inside
a b
Figure 8.4 (a) 61 year-old female with subarachnoid hemorrhage

secondary to ruptured anterior communicating aneurysm. 3D recon-
struction of large anterior communicating artery aneurysm when
viewed from the right side. (b) 3D reconstruction of large anterior
communicating artery aneurysm when viewed from the left side
a b
Figure 8.5 (a) The aneurysm in Fig. 8.4 has now been treated with
a clip (front view). Note the jaws of the clip have an “open” portion
that allows it to wrap around one of the anterior cerebral arteries
without occluding it and still seal off the aneurysm (***keep image
aspect ratio when enlarge***). (b) Same aneurysm after clip ligation
when viewed from the side
the aneurysm pouch which promote the formation of blood

clots, obliterating the aneurysm [9] (Fig. 8.3). Choosing the
optimal therapy depends on many factors, including the
patient’s age and presenting symptoms, location, size and
configuration of the aneurysm [9] and available expertise.
Endovascular coiling was recently shown to have lower pro-
a b
c d
Figure 8.6 (a) 28 year-old male with subarachnoid hemorrhage

found to have multiple left internal carotid artery aneurysms.
Cerebral angiogram (front view) showing bilobed aneurysm at the
very end of the internal carotid artery where it bifurcates into the
anterior and middle cerebral arteries as well as a more proximal
aneurysm projecting backwards off the internal carotid artery.
(b) 3D reconstruction of the cerebral angiogram again showing the
bilobed aneurysm at the end of the internal carotid artery. The aneu-
rysm projecting backwards is not easily seen in this view.
(c) Cerebral angiogram (side view) showing more clearly the aneu-
rysm that projects backwards off the internal carotid artery. (d) 3D
reconstruction of the cerebral angiogram (side view) showing both
the bilobed aneurysm at the end of the internal carotid artery and
the more proximal aneurysm that projects backwards off the inter-
nal carotid artery
a b
Figure 8.7 (a) Cerebral angiogram of the images in Fig. 8.6 after
coil embolization of the aneurysms (front view). (b) Cerebral angio-
gram of the images in Fig. 8.6 after coil embolization of the aneu-
rysms (side view)
cedural morbidity and mortality relative to surgical clipping.

However, coiling also has a significantly higher rate of aneu-
rysm recurrence. These facts play into the decision-making
process, and each patient benefits from individualized assess-
ment [8, 10].
Advanced Treatments: Stent Reconstruction, Flow

Diversion, and Surgical Bypass
Some aneurysms are very complex due to their geometry and
location, such that neither direct clipping nor endovascular
coiling can be safely and/or effectively performed. Many new
techniques and technologies have been developed in the past
decade to address these challenges.
On the endovascular front, devices like balloons (Figs. 8.3
and 8.7) and stents (Figs. 8.10 and 8.11) can temporarily or
permanently reconstruct the vessel wall at the inlet of an
aneurysm, facilitating coiling of the defect. Most recently, a
new class of stent, called flow diverters, can significantly
change the blood flow pattern of the aneurysm, leading to
a b
Figure 8.8 (a) 63 year-old woman suffered ruptured giant carotid

aneurysm, angiogram in lateral view. This aneurysm cannot be
treated with either coiling or direct clipping. (b) Intra-operative
photo of bypass (pink tubular structure in right corner) to provide
alternate blood flow into the brain from neck; followed with perma-
nent aneurysm occlusion. (c) Intra-operative angiogram to show the
bypass (dark lower center vessel) supplying the whole left brain.
(d) Intra-operative angiogram to show complete occlusion of the
aneurysm
promises of more durable endovascular occlusion. When

using stents or flow diverters, patients have to take blood
thinners, particularly clopidogrel (Plavix), to prevent clot
formation on the devices. Hence, their use in the setting of
acute bleeding may be limited.
a b
c
d
Figure 8.9 (a) 62 year-old suffered vision loss and was found to have
a right ophthalmic artery aneurysm. 3D reconstruction of a giant
ophthalmic artery aneurysm (front view). (b) Cerebral angiogram of
a giant ophthalmic artery aneurysm (front view). (c) 3D reconstruc-
tion of a giant ophthalmic artery aneurysm (side view). (d) Cerebral
angiogram of a giant ophthalmic artery aneurysm (side view)
On the surgical front, a technique to re-route blood flow to

or within the brain can be used to manage very difficult, usu-
ally very large, aneurysms. This is called bypass surgery
(Fig. 8.8a–d). It has been increasingly used as a tool to mini-
mize the risks of stroke during aneurysm surgery. With this
method, the newly-built vessel connection can allow
prolonged or permanent occlusion of the artery on which the
aneurysm resides, while the downstream brain tissue
a b
Figure 8.10 (a) Cerebral angiogram of the images in Fig. 8.9 after
coil embolization of the aneurysm with the help of a pipeline stent,
which can be noted as the smaller c-shaped structure contained
within the internal carotid artery below the aneurysm (close-up
view). (b) Cerebral angiogram of the images in Fig. 8.9 after coil
embolization of the aneurysm with the help of a pipeline stent,
which can be noted as the smaller c-shaped structure contained
within the internal carotid artery below the aneurysm (close-up
view)
a b
Figure 8.11 (a) Cerebral angiogram frontal view of Pipeline-

treated giant aneurysm, 6-month after the treatment, which showed
complete healing of the vessel and “disappearance of aneurysm”.
(b) Cerebral angiogram lateral view of the same complete treatment
result of the giant aneurysm
continues receiving blood flow via the bypass. Bypass surgery

can be performed by connecting either a large artery outside
the skull to another artery within the skull or by connecting
two arteries within the skull to each other. Bypass surgery is
technically highly challenging and requires neurosurgeons
with special training and experience [11]. Use of these

technologies and techniques complicates aneurysm treat-
ment, and they are generally only offered in large academic
medical centers for the most difficult aneurysms.
Prognosis
Before 1995 [5], after subarachnoid hemorrhage from a
ruptured aneurysm, 50 % of patients died with another 20 %
dependent on others for activities of daily living (such as
cooking, cleaning, dressing oneself, etc.). Over the last decade,
the outcome has improved significantly, although brain aneu-
rysm rupture continues to be a devastating condition. The
most important factors in predicting outcome is the patient’s
age and condition prior to treatment.
References
1. Vernooij MW, Ikram MA, Tanghe HL, Vincent AJPE, Hofman
A, Krestin GP, Niessen WJ, Breteler MMB, van der Lugt A.
Incidental findings on brain MRI in the general population. N
Engl J Med. 2007;357:1821–8.
2. Vlak MHM, Algra A, Brandenburg R, Rinkel GJE. Prevalence
of unruptured intracranial aneurysms, with emphasis on sex, age,
comorbidity, country, and time period: a systematic review and
meta-analysis. Lancet Neurol. 2011;10:626–36.
3. Rinkel GJE, Djibuti M, Algra A, van Gijn J. Prevalence and risk
of rupture of intracranial aneurysms: a systematic review. Stroke.
1998;29:251–6.
4. Singer RJ, Ogilvy CS, Rordorf G. Etiology, clinical manifesta-
tions, and diagnosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
UpToDate.com. Wolters Kluwer; 2012.
5. Ruigrok YM, Rinkel GJE. Genetics of intracranial aneurysms.
Stroke. 2008;39:1049–55.
6. Moore SP, Psarros TG. The definitive neurological surgery board
review. Marceline: Walsworth Publishing; 2005. Print.
7. Krex D, Schackert HK, Schackert G. Genesis of cerebral aneu-
rysms – an update. Acta Neurochir. 2001;143:429–49.
8. Hacein-Bey L, Provenzale JM. Current imaging assessment and

treatment of intracranial aneurysms. AJR Am J Roentgenol.
2011;196:32–44.
9. Greenberg MS. Handbook of neurosurgery. 7th ed. Tampa:
Thieme; 2010. Print.
10. Molyneux A, Kerr R, Stratton I, et al. International Subarachnoid
Aneurysm Trial (ISAT) of neurosurgical clipping versus endo-
vascular coiling in 2143 patients with ruptured intracranial aneu-
rysms: a randomized trial. Lancet. 2003;360:1267–74.
11. Chen L, Lang L, Zhou L, Song D, Mao Y. Bypass or not?
Adjustment of surgical strategies according to motor evoked
potential changes in large middle cerebral artery aneurysm sur-
gery. World Neurosurg. 2012;77(2):398e1-6.
Chapter 9
Brain Arteriovenous
Malformations
Andrew B. Shaw, Daniel S. Ikeda, Evan S. Marlin,
and Ciarán J. Powers
Abbreviations
AVM Arteriovenous malformation
CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CT Computed tomography
CTa Computed tomography angiography
DCA Diagnostic cerebral angiography
MRa Magnetic resonance angiography
MRI Magnetic resonance imaging
Introduction
Arteries and veins are pipes, or blood vessels, by which blood
is circulated throughout the body. Blood serves to carry nutri-
ents to tissues and organs and takes waste products away
from them. The heart serves as the pump that circulates blood
A.B. Shaw, MD • D.S. Ikeda, MD • E.S. Marlin, MD

C.J. Powers, MD, PhD ()
Department of Neurological Surgery,
N-1018 Doan Hall 410 West 10th Avenue,
Columbus, OH 43210, USA
e-mail: Andrew.shaw@osumc.edu; Daniel.ikeda@osumc.edu;
evan.marlin@osumc.edu; ciaran.powers@osumc.edu

104 A.B. Shaw et al.
through this complex system of pipes. Arteries are charged

with carrying blood away from the heart to the body. These
vessels have thicker walls with multiple layers of muscle and
collagen. This layered system allows the vessels to tolerate
higher pressures. In contrast, veins have thinner walls and are
under lower pressure. As arteries approach the level of tis-
sues their diameters progressively decrease in size until they
become capillaries. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels
and connect arteries to veins. Their thin walls allow water,
oxygen, nutrients, and waste to cross easily to and from the
surrounding tissues.
An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal
tangle of blood vessels where arteries connect directly to
veins without this intervening bed of capillaries (Fig. 9.1).
This results in a direct connection from a high-pressure sys-
tem to a low-pressure system. AVMs can be found through-
out the body, including the brain. Brain AVMs typically have
a nidus, or compact tangle of abnormal vessels. There is no
normal brain tissue within the nidus. AVMs are spontaneous
lesions that tend to enlarge with age. A little more than 1 in
1,000 people harbors these lesions [1]. They occur slightly
more frequently in males than females and are usually diag-
nosed in an individual’s 30s. This chapter will focus on the
symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of brain AVMs.
Symptoms and Presenting Features

AVMs can present with a variety of symptoms depending on
size, location, and if they have bled before. AVMs bleed, or
hemorrhage, because of the abnormal vessels contained
Figure 9.1 In these side (a) and front (b) views of an artist’s impres-
sion of a brain AVM, note the abnormal tangle of vessels, nidus, with
feeding arterial vessels and draining veins (Courtesy, The Aneurysm
and AVM Foundation. © 2013 The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation.
All Rights Reserved)
Chapter 9. Brain Arteriovenous Malformations 105
b
Figure 9.2 A CT scan of the head demonstrates hemorrhage from

a brain AVM. The white arrows identify hemorrhage
within the nidus (Fig. 9.2). These vessels cannot tolerate the
high-pressure of blood flow from arterial feeding vessels and
can rupture. Brain hemorrhage is the most common reason
for patients with AVMs to seek medical attention. The most
common age to bleed is between 15 and 20 years [2]. AVM
hemorrhages can cause seizures, headache, neck stiffness, and
symptoms of a stroke, such as weakness, numbness, and prob-
lems speaking, depending on the location within the brain
(Fig. 9.3). In the worst scenarios, hemorrhages can cause
Parietal
Frontal
Temporal
Cerebellum
Figure 9.3 An illustration demonstrating the multiple locations

brain AVMs can be found. AVM location is a critical factor in deter-
mining the possible risks of hemorrhage and risks from surgical
removal (Courtesy, The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation. © 2013
The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation. All Rights Reserved)
coma or death. The exact risk of bleeding of brain AVMs is

unknown, but believed to be between 2 and 4 % per year
[3, 4]. The risk of bleeding may vary, depending on size and
other features of the AVM [4, 5].
Seizure without hemorrhage is the second most common
symptom leading to medical evaluation. A seizure results
from abnormal electrical activity in the brain. A seizure can
take a variety of forms including involuntary movements,
altered level of consciousness, or muscle stiffness. Following a
seizure the patient may be confused or sleepy. This is typically
transient and will improve with time. The younger a patient is

at diagnosis of the AVM, the more likely they will go on to
develop seizures [3]. As many as 30 % of patients with AVMs
may require treatment for seizures.
Individuals with these lesions may seek medical attention
for a variety of other symptoms. Symptoms of increased brain
pressure may develop including nausea, vomiting, headaches,
and coma. Other patients may experience symptoms of
stroke, or brain ischemia. This typically results from the AVM
“stealing” or shunting blood away from normal brain tissue.
This is often reversible. A more benign presenting symptom
is a bruit caused by increased blood flow. In these cases,
patients may complain of hearing a “whooshing” sound.
Diagnosis
Initially, emphasis is placed on previous medical history and
physical examination in those seeking medical attention. This
will guide the clinician to order the appropriate studies. In an
emergency setting a computed tomography (CT) scan of the
brain is obtained to look for evidence of bleeding. This tech-
nology utilizes “x-rays” to take snapshots of the body in cross
sections. CT scans can be used to provide information about
the vasculature by means of an intravenous dye called CT
angiography (CTa) (Fig. 9.4). CT scans do have limitations in
revealing details of the brain and requires exposure to radia-
tion. In the setting of an AVM, it will allow doctors to identify
bleeding, its source, and location, and it can be performed in
conjunction with a CTa. Depending on the results, further
diagnostic imaging studies may be obtained. This includes a
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain (Fig. 9.5).
This imaging modality has the benefit of avoiding radiation
and providing greater detail of the brain. This technology
uses magnetic fields to differentiate different aspects of tis-
sues. MRI has acquired new applications since its inception,
and magnetic resonance angiography (MRa) can be
performed. Similar to CTa, MRa provides information about
Figure 9.4 A CTa of the head demonstrates an AVM nidus (within

the white circle) that is found as it takes up the contrast dye given
intravenously and appears white on CTa
the blood vessels of the brain (Fig. 9.6). Information obtained

from these studies will guide your physician in determining
further evaluation or treatment.
Both CT and MRI technology are useful imaging studies
to identify AVMs, however, the “gold standard” diagnostic
study is a catheter-based diagnostic cerebral arteriogram
(DCA). Typically, DCA is performed by making a small
puncture in the femoral artery found in the groin. Through
this puncture, a long, thin tube, or catheter, is navigated
through blood vessels to the base of the brain. The arteries,
carotid and vertebral, that travel to the brain are then injected
with dye seen on x-ray as it flows through the blood vessels
Figure 9.5 MR images (a–c) of three different patients with brain

AVMs in different locations and sizes. The AVM nidus is demar-
cated by a white arrow
Figure 9.5 (continued)
and AVM (Fig. 9.7). The DCA can provide information about
the AVM size, arterial inflow to the nidus, and venous out-
flow. This is an invasive study with risks of radiation, kidney
injury from the dye, and blood vessel injury from the cathe-
ters, and is reserved for cases where the AVM needs to be
better characterized after CT or MRI.
Treatment
A definitive measure to “cure” an individual of their AVM is
surgical removal. Patients are put under general anesthesia
and an incision in the scalp overlaying the brain AVM is
made. After a “bone window”, or craniotomy, is made to
expose the underlying brain, the AVM is delicately
Figure 9.6 A MRa of a patient with a brain AVM demonstrates the

feeding arteries (white arrow), the AVM nidus (white ellipse), and
the draining vein (white arrowhead)
disconnected from the abnormal arterial and venous

connections and removed. Care is taken not to injure
surrounding brain structures (Fig. 9.8). Although surgery for
AVMs offers the benefit of immediate cure, there are risks
because of the invasive nature of surgery.
The treatment of AVMs has evolved over the last 20 years
with new modalities that may decrease the risk of surgery or
avoid it all together. Similar to the previously described
DCA, a catheter-based treatment to decrease the blood flow
through the AVM is often utilized as an adjunct to lessen
blood loss during surgery and in rare cases is curative
Figure 9.7 Images from side (a) and front (b) projections of a DCA
demonstrate the feeding arteries (white arrow), the AVM nidus
(encircled), and the draining vein (white arrowhead). This remains
the “gold standard” diagnostic study
Figure 9.8 A DCA (a) performed before surgery demonstrates the

AVM of a patient with significant uncontrolled seizures. A CT scan
(b) performed immediately after surgery demonstrates the defect
(encircled) from removing the AVM and evidence of a “bone win-
dow” or craniotomy repaired with small titanium plates (black arrows
with white trim). (c) A DCA performed 6 months after surgery dem-
onstrates complete resection and “cure” of the previously seen AVM
Figure 9.8 (continued)
(Fig. 9.9). Briefly, a catheter is brought into an abnormal feed-

ing artery of the AVM nidus, and agents, similar to liquid
cement, can be used to stop blood flow through embolization
or plugging of the blood vessel [6]. Another modality that
continues to evolve is radiation or stereotactic radiosurgery
(Fig. 9.10), which uses concentrated x-rays to induce changes
within the AVM, ultimately leading to closure of the abnor-
mal vessels [7]. The benefit of this treatment includes its rela-
tive noninvasiveness. However, just as in the other modalities,
there are risks associated with radiation therapy and may
take 3 years to achieve a cure.
Seizures caused by the AVM are often treated with
medications. Seizure frequency may change after treatment
and the need for medications may change. A clinician may
decide to treat an individual with any one or combination
of these treatments. Some AVMs are not amenable to these
treatments and continued observation may be the best
option.
Figure 9.9 A DCA (a) demonstrates the classic appearance of an

AVM nidus. A repeat DCA after embolization (b) demonstrates
complete absence of filling of the nidus. Note the substance used to
“plug” or embolize the AVM (encircled). This embolization agent,
similar to liquid cement, is delivered to the AVM by a long, thin tube
or catheter (arrowheads)
Figure 9.10 A DCA (a) demonstrates a fairly large AVM in the

cerebellum, or hindbrain. This was treated with stereotactic radiosur-
gery. A repeat DCA (b) performed approximately 3 years later
demonstrates complete absence of the AVM
Medical Emergencies Associated with

Brain AVMS
Hemorrhage from an AVM is a medical emergency. If
symptoms of bleeding present such as a worsening, atypical
headache, altered mental status, or signs of stroke develop,
emergency services should be contacted immediately. If the
individual is unresponsive, someone trained in cardiopulmo-
nary resuscitation (CPR) should assess the patient’s level of
consciousness, pulse rate, and ability to breathe. If no pulse or
spontaneous breathing is found, CPR should be commenced
until emergency services arrive.
Individuals known to harbor AVMs may have frequent
seizures and families should be aware of this symptom. If
someone is having a seizure you should first ensure that the
patient is safe by removing objects that may be harmful. Do
not attempt to put anything in their mouth. If a seizure lasts
longer than 5 min, emergency services should be contacted.
When someone “awakens” from a seizure, they are often
confused. This is usually transient. Ensure the medication the
individual takes for seizures is given to the emergency ser-
vices or the clinician.
Conclusion
AVMs are rare lesions composed of abnormal connections
between arteries and veins. Individuals with these lesions
have variable symptoms and the prognosis varies depending
on characteristics of the AVM. Diagnostic and therapeutic
options continue to evolve, and treatment is individualized
based on several factors. Patients with AVMs and their fami-
lies should be aware of common symptoms and previous
treatment in case of an emergency. This information is
extremely useful in the emergency setting.
References
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of symptomatic arteriovenous malformations of the brain: a
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cerebral arteriovenous malformations and fistulae reported to
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malformations of the brain: natural history in unoperated
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Flom RA, Zimmerman RS. Relationship of perfusion pressure
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tions. J Neurosurg. 1992;76:918–23.
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et al. Predictors of hemorrhage in patients with untreated brain
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6. Amar AP, Teitelbaum GP, Larsen DW. A novel technique and
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formations. Neurosurgery. 2006;59:S158–62; discussion S3–13.
7. Lunsford LD, Niranjan A, Kano H, Kondziolka D. The technical
evolution of gamma knife radiosurgery for arteriovenous malfor-
mations. Prog Neurol Surg. 2013;27:22–34.
Chapter 10
Moyamoya Disease
Teresa E. Bell-Stephens and Gary K. Steinberg
Moyamoya Disease
Moyamoya causes progressive narrowing and closure in the
intracranial ICAs and their branches (anterior and middle
cerebral arteries). It usually affects both sides, but is sometimes
unilateral [14, 24, 26]. The result is often temporary or perma-
nent neurological symptoms including transient ischemic
attacks (TIAs), strokes, headaches, seizures, abnormal uncon-
trolled movements and/or various other symptoms [23, 24, 31]
(Table 10.1). Adults have a greater risk of stroke from bleeding
than do children. Initially thought to be limited to those of
Asian heritage, moyamoya is now recognized as affecting all
ethnicities (Fig. 10.1). Once considered extremely rare, moy-
amoya diagnoses in the United States have increased with
improved awareness. One study showed that 1 of every 200,000
hospital admissions in the United States was due to moyam-
oya, and this number has increased over time [27]. Symptoms
can start at any age, but there are peaks in childhood around
age 5 and in the fourth decade of life [26]. Some associated
T.E. Bell-Stephens, RN, BSN, CNRN • G.K. Steinberg, MD, PhD ()
Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School
of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5327, USA
e-mail: tbell-stephens@stanfordhealthcare.org;
gsteinberg@stanford.edu

122 T.E. Bell-Stephens and G.K. Steinberg
Table 10.1 Presenting symptoms of moyamoya patients at Stanford

Adults Pediatric (<18 years)
TIA 55 % TIA 38 %
Stroke 59 % Stroke 40 %
Hemorrhage 16 % Hemorrhage 6%
Seizure 14 % Seizure 11 %
Headache 49 % Headache 22 %
Figure 10.1 Ethnicity of the 703 moyamoya patients (1,132 revascu-

larization procedures) treated at Stanford 1990–Feb 1, 2013
disorders also put patients at increased risk for developing

moyamoya [8, 24, 26] (Table 10.2). Moyamoya occurs more
commonly in females (Fig. 10.2) and they are more likely to
have preoperative TIAs then men [15]. The reason for this is
unknown, but it is not related to high cholesterol or other com-
mon stroke risk factors. Some cases are familial, and recently
novel genes have been identified that predispose to developing
moyamoya [2, 3, 11, 21].
Chapter 10. Moyamoya Disease 123
Table 10.2 Disorders associated with moyamoya at Stanford

Disorder Number of patients
Down syndrome 23
Neurofibromatosis 18
Graves’ disease (hyperthyroid) 11
Sickle cell disease 6
Primordial dwarfism 6
Coarctation of the aorta 5
Post-radiation 5
Thalassemia 4
Morning Glory syndrome 2
Optic glioma 2
Alagille syndrome 1
G6PD deficiency 1
Glycogen storage disease 1
Hurler’s disease 1
Lysosomal storage disease 1
MELAS syndrome 1
Noonan syndrome 1
Russell Silver syndrome 1
Systemic autoimmune disease 1
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome 1
Natural History
The natural history of moyamoya is not completely
understood, although there is inevitable progression in the
majority of patients. The rate of progression, however, is
unpredictable. Two-thirds of patient have symptomatic pro-
gression over 5 years and the outcome is poor without treat-
ment [6, 19, 20]. Those with unilateral presentation often
Figure 10.2 Gender of the 703 moyamoya patients (1,132 revascu-

larization procedures) treated at Stanford 1990–Feb 1, 2013
develop moyamoya on the other side [14] and medical

therapy alone is not effective in preventing progression. The
5-year stroke rate is 20–65 % with medical treatment only
[5, 10, 28]. “Asymptomatic” moyamoya may not be entirely
accurate [18], as 20 % of patients have silent infarcts (magnetic
resonance imaging [MRI]-positive) and a 3.2 %/year stroke
risk.
Diagnosis
Moyamoya diagnosis involves taking careful histories and
evaluating several radiology studies. Patients are asked in-
depth questions about the onset, frequency, location, duration
and severity of any neurological symptoms in order to deter-
mine if they are related to moyamoya and which side of the
brain might be affected. Moyamoya can initially be confused
with other neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis [7],
Figure 10.3 Preoperative MRI head scan showing strokes (arrows)

on both sides of the brain secondary to moyamoya
until radiological studies confirm findings consistent with

narrowing or closure of brain arteries.
MRI scans reveal brain structures and identify locations of
infarcts or areas of bleeding (Fig. 10.3), MRI or computed
tomography (CT) angiograms noninvasively screen blood
vessels of the brain (Figs. 10.4 and 10.5) and cerebral angio-
grams show the structure of brain arteries (Fig. 10.6). Most
common findings include narrowing or closure of the ICA or
its branches. In addition, compensatory thin-walled arteries
Figure 10.4 NOVA MRI shows flow through right STA-MCA

bypass (arrows) filling the brain on the right side. Note the absence
of the MCA on the right side (white arrow head) and mild narrowing
of the MCA on left side (yellow arrow)
that develop over time may be present. These fragile “moy-

amoya” vessels, which led Japanese doctors to initially
describe the “puff of smoke” appearance on angiograms [29],
can bleed. If treatment is indicated, external carotid (scalp)
arteries are examined to choose the best donor artery and the
optimal technique for surgery.
Several different brain perfusion studies help determine
how well blood vessels deliver oxygen to tissues of the brain.
Patients may undergo one or more of these studies to evalu-
ate brain perfusion, such as MRI, CT, PET and Xenon CT
(Fig. 10.7) which, when combined with clinical history and
physical evaluation, help guide treatment recommendations.
Cognitive evaluation is also frequently done to assess for
executive dysfunction (disorganization and impaired focus),
which has been shown to be present at higher rates in adult
moyamoya patients even without prior stroke [4, 12, 13].
Figure 10.5 CT angiogram shows moyamoya on the right with clo-

sure of the ICA (red arrow) and a normal blood vessel on the left
(yellow arrow)
a b
Figure 10.6 Cerebral angiogram. (a) Front view of a normal angio-

gram. (b) Front view of an angiogram showing moyamoya disease.
Note the narrowing of the ICA and presence of moyamoya vessels.
Also note the absence of the MCA and ACA. ICA internal carotid
artery, ACA anterior carotid artery, MCA middle cerebral artery,
MM moyamoya collateral arteries
Figure 10.7 Xenon CT scan: This perfusion study shows reduced

blood flow (higher area of blue) on the left side compared with nor-
mal perfusion on right side (higher area of red)
Treatment
Moyamoya is sometimes treated with antiplatelet or antico-
agulation therapy in an attempt to improve blood flow to the
brain. However, as previously mentioned, medical therapy
alone is ineffective. The goal of treatment is to improve blood
flow to the brain and prevent future stroke. Placement of
stents, often effective against intracranial atherosclerosis, are
ineffective against moyamoya long-term due to its lack of
atherosclerotic etiology and progressive nature [16]. As most
patients are young when moyamoya is diagnosed, surgery is
usually recommended when symptomatic.
Surgical procedures include direct and indirect revascular-
ization techniques. The direct bypass is known as the
superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-
MCA) bypass. This involves attaching a scalp artery (STA)
directly into a brain artery (MCA) on the outer surface of the
brain. Patients benefit from an immediate improvement in
their blood flow when the bypass is completed as well as
reduced risks of stroke. Indirect bypasses (encephalo-duro-
synangiosis [EDAS], encephalo-duro-arterio-myo-synangiosis
[EDAMS], pial synangiosis) involve placing a scalp artery or
vascular muscle or tissue on the outer surface of the brain for
gradual growth of blood supply inwards to areas in need. At
least several months are required for ingrowth of new blood
supply as well as stroke risk reduction using this method
alone.
Determining which procedure to use at our institution is
based on artery size at the time of surgery. Since 1990 Dr.
Steinberg has performed 1,132 revascularization procedures
in 703 moyamoya disease patients. Direct bypass is always the
first option considered and, when possible, our preference is
to perform a combined direct and indirect during the same
surgery (Fig. 10.8). We reserve indirect revascularization pro-
cedures for young children (<5 years old) whose arteries are
generally less than 7 mm in diameter or too fragile, making
direct bypass less feasible [9].
a b
c d
e f
Figure 10.8 Diagram shows combined direct (STA-MCA) and indi-

rect (EDAS) bypass: (a, b) STA (scalp) artery identified. (c, d) Small
skull opening near bypass area and MCA (brain artery) identified.
(e) STA sewn to MCA with soft tissue left on surrounding vessel for
indirect bypass onlay of brain. (f) STA-MCA bypass in place with
indirect bypass ready for onlay to surface of the brain (Reprinted
from Guzman and Steinberg [9], Copyright (2010), with permission
from Elsevier)
Patients with prior brain surgery may have no viable scalp

arteries or temporalis muscle for bypass. In this case, indirect
revascularization using omentum can be performed. Omental
revascularization uses a rich vascular supply of tissue from
the abdomen tunneled upwards and laid on the outer surface
of the brain [22]. Microsurgical techniques, such as
laparoscopic omental harvesting and tunneling, have substan-
tially reduced the risks of this procedure.
What to Expect with Surgery

Each surgery lasts several hours, and patients are asleep for
the entire procedure. After surgery, patients stay in the inten-
sive care unit (ICU) overnight for close observation. Hospital
stays vary, but are generally 2–3 days, during which time
patients are expected to be as ambulatory as possible. Pain
medication is given intravenously at first, and then given
orally once patients are eating. After discharge, patients may
tire more easily than usual for several weeks and often do not
return to work or school for about 4 weeks. Specific instruc-
tions for activities are discussed with each individual patient.
Skin staples or sutures remain for 7–10 days, and incision care
is minimal and discussed at hospital discharge (Fig. 10.9).
Dissolvable skin sutures are used in children. We recommend
that patients avoid strenuous physical exercise for 4 weeks
after surgery, but strongly encourage frequent walking.
Moyamoya and Lifestyle Implications

Moyamoya patients have very few lifestyle limitations.
Lifelong antiplatelet medication, such as daily aspirin, is
recommended to optimize flow through the bypass. Side
effects from aspirin can include excessive bruising, bleeding
and stomach irritation. Your doctor should be notified if this
occurs. Artificial hormones, including birth control pills and
hormone replacement therapy, should be avoided. These
Figure 10.9 Postoperative incision with staples in patient a with

recent left-sided bypass
hormones, especially those with estrogen, increase stroke

risk. Barrier methods are safest for birth control. Pregnancy
is well tolerated after recovery from moyamoya surgery, and
no special precautions are necessary, such as cesarean deliv-
ery. We recommend continuation of aspirin therapy during
pregnancy. Patients should avoid wearing tight eyeglasses or
anything that compresses the skin in front of the ear where
a b c
Figure 10.10 Superficial temporal (scalp) artery (STA) angiogram.

(a) Preoperative parietal branch of the ECA (arrow). (b) Postoperative
6 month angiogram shows enlarging bypass filling the brain through
the STA (arrow). (c) Three year postoperative angiogram shows fur-
ther enlargement of the STA bypass filling brain (arrow)
the donor artery is close to the surface. Otherwise, helmets

and headgear are fine. Maintaining adequate hydration is
important, and we recommend drinking 2 l of non-caffein-
ated liquids daily. Caffeinated drinks are fine, but should not
be counted as part of the 2 l. Patients should refrain from
donating blood to prevent loss of overall blood volume.
Maintaining a healthy blood pressure (110–140/70–90) is
recommended, and we always advise our patients to contact
us before starting any medication for blood pressure
reduction.
Long Term Outcome

We recommend that patients return for follow-up at 6 months,
and 3, 10 and 20 years after surgery (Fig. 10.10). Our overall
patient clinical and radiological outcomes are excellent. The
long-term incidence of stroke after bypass is exceptionally
low, and TIAs are significantly reduced [8]. Unilateral patients
are at risk for progressing to the other side, and we therefore
recommend a yearly MRI or CT angiogram to monitor for
progression [14].
Summary
Increasing awareness over the past 20 years of moyamoya
symptoms and diagnosis has improved access to care for
patients. Excellent surgical options are available to treat moy-
amoya, and surgery has been shown to be superior to medical
therapy alone at preventing strokes, with excellent overall
long term outcomes and minimal interruptions in lifestyle. We
strongly advocate increased patient education and awareness
of moyamoya, and encourage patients to be actively engaged
with the treatment team to optimize long-term outcomes.
Funding Sources Josef Huber Family Moyamoya Fund, Stanley and
Alexis Shin, Reddy Lee Moyamoya Fund, William Randolph Hearst
Foundation, Bernard and Ronni Lacroute, Russell and Elizabeth
Siegelman.
References
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154 revascularization surgeries in 140 affected hemispheres.
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13. Karzmark P, et al. Effect of moyamoya disease on neuropsycho-
logical functioning in adults. Neurosurgery. 2008;62(5):1048–51.
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14. Kelly ME, et al. Progression of unilateral moyamoya disease:
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29. Suzuki J, et al. Cerebrovascular “moyamoya” disease. Disease
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Chapter 11
Medical Management
of a Stroke
Mary Guhwe, Kelly Blessing, Susan Chioffi,
and Carmelo Graffagnino
What Is a Stroke?
The two major types of stroke are classified as ischemic stroke
or hemorrhagic stroke. An ischemic stroke happens when the
blood flow to the brain is stopped by narrowing or blockage of
an artery by a blood clot or by cholesterol. As a result, the
brain does not get blood or oxygen and some parts of the brain
M. Guhwe, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, SCRN ()

Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center,
Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710, USA
e-mail: Mary.guhwe@duke.edu
K. Blessing, FNP
2900 Bryan Research Building Research Drive,
Durham, NC 27710, USA
e-mail: Kelly.blessing@duke.edu
S. Chioffi, RN, MSN, ACNP-BC
Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710, USA
e-mail: Susan.chioffi@duke.edu
C. Graffagnino, MD
2900 Bryan Research Building Research Drive, Durham,
NC 27710, USA
e-mail: Carmelo.graffagnino@duke.edu

138 M. Guhwe et al.
die [1]. A hemorrhagic stroke happens when bleeding occurs in

the brain. This can happen because of bleeding from a blood
vessel which breaks or due to a recent ischemic stroke [1].
Signs and Symptoms of Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency. Once symptoms of stroke
are noted, call 911 without delay. This is because it activates
specific steps related to the treatment of stroke for Emergency
Medical Services personnel (EMS) and for the emergency
room. Signs of a stroke include:
Sudden face drooping
Sudden weakness on one side of the body
Sudden numbness on one side of the body
Sudden change in vision or vision loss
Sudden confusion
Sudden speech or language difficulty (slurred speech, dif-
ficulty understanding or difficulty reading and writing)
Sudden onset of headache from unknown cause
New sudden coordination difficulties
Sudden new difficulties with balance or walking
Most stroke symptoms are sudden and obvious. However
at times they can be subtle and progress over hours to days.
Even if symptoms go away, still call 911 as this may be a warn-
ing of a bigger problem if left untreated. Figure 11.1 shows
the key events in the treatment and recovery of stroke.
Treatment of Ischemic (Clotting) Stroke

In the event of an ischemic stroke, the first goal is to get
blood flowing to the affected area of the brain quickly to
prevent brain cells from dying. This is why calling 911 at the
first sign of symptoms is especially important for possible
treatment with alteplace (tPA). This medication dissolves
clots that block arteries within the brain. The quicker tPA
is given, the more effective it is [2]. Studies have shown that
Chapter 11. Medical Management of a Stroke 139
Paent is taken by EMS Emergency medical providers

Paent or family recognize (emergency medical services) evaluate your for apporpriate
stroke symptoms and call 911 to the nearest Emergency scans, tests and medicaons
rooma
Stroke specialists try to Once inial evaluaon and

Paent gets treated for any
determine the cause of the treatment completed, paent
risk factors for stroke including
paent's stroke. Iniaaon of is admied into the hospital
high blood pressure, high
cholesterol rehabillitaon servicesb for further observaon and
tests
Paent may need assistance

adjusng to new level of
Once this is done then the
ability/independence
paent is dischargedc
signiﬁcant eﬀects from the
stroke
Figure 11.1 Summary of evaluation and treatment of stroke.

a
Patients and family should call 911 and let EMS transport patient
to the emergency room as this triggers certain protocols and treat-
ment guidelines that allow timely management and treatment. bDe-
termining the cause of a stroke is important to prevent future
strokes or reduce risk of future strokes. However sometimes a defi-
nite cause is not found even with a complete workup. cPatients may
be discharged home, to sub-acute rehabilitation facility or to acute
rehabilitation facility depending on their level of symptoms and
ability to participate in the different therapies
patients that receive tPA often have a better recovery com-

pared to those that did not receive treatment with tPA.
However, tPA does not come without risk. There is a 6 %
chance of bleeding into the area of stroke associated with
this treatment [2]. The important thing to remember is that
patients receiving tPA have the same risk of dying com-
pared to those that did not receive tPA. Thus, despite the
bleeding risk, receiving tPA does not increase your risk of
dying when compared to not receiving tPA. Another treat-
ment option is an endovascular procedure. This is when
doctors with advanced training try removing the blood clot
140 M. Guhwe et al.
directly from the blood vessel using special devices.

Researchers are still trying to determine the best situations
for this procedure [3]. Once initial treatment is completed,
the medical team will continue to closely monitor the per-
son. In the first few days after a large stroke, there is a risk
of swelling in the brain due to the injury caused by the
stroke. The person can become sick enough to need a
breathing tube and breathing machine because they become
too sleepy to breathe properly. Should swelling occur, the
medical team can use medicines to try to decrease the
amount of swelling. In severe cases, when the patient meets
strict criteria, an operation called a hemicraniectomy can
be done. When this is done, a neurosurgeon takes part of
the person’s skull off giving the brain more space to swell
outwards. The piece of skull is saved and will be put back in
place several months later. In the mean time, the person’s
head is protected by a special helmet until the skull can be
put back on [6].
Immediately after the stroke, the stroke patient will not
be allowed to eat or drink until their swallowing is tested.
A stroke often affects the swallowing muscles which could
result in food going into the lungs and causing pneumonia
which would prolong recovery or in some cases could
result in death [3]. Stroke patients with swallowing prob-
lems will work with Speech Therapists to learn to swallow
safely.
The stroke patient’s blood pressure will be left high for
several days after the stroke to maximize blood flow to the
affected area of the brain. This prevents death of brain
cells around the area of the stroke [3]. Their heart will be
checked for an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrilla-
tion. This heart rhythm poses significant risk of stroke and
the patient may need to be on lifelong blood thinners if
found to have this rhythm. There will be other scans and
blood tests ordered depending on medical and family
history.
Treatment of Hemorrhagic (Bleeding) Stroke

In a hemorrhagic stroke, a blood vessel in the head breaks
and blood leaks out into the brain and sometimes the spinal
fluid. There is very little room in a person’s head for anything
extra such as blood which is no longer contained in a blood
vessel so this kind of stroke often makes a person very ill
immediately and they have to go to an Intensive Care Unit
[4]. With this kind of stroke people may immediately become
unconscious and require a breathing tube and ventilator
(breathing machine) while being treated. The blood which
has leaked out can cause the pressure inside the person’s
head to become very high causing brain damage and even
death. Special monitors are often used to monitor the pres-
sure inside the brain. Specific medicines can be used to try to
control the high pressure. Sometimes the person has to be
sedated(made very sleepy) or kept very cold to allow the
brain time to heal from the effects of the high pressure [4, 5].
The blood from bleeding into the brain is mixed in with brain
tissue so surgery to try to remove the clot is usually not help-
ful. Just like with ischemic strokes, sometimes an operation
called a hemicraniectomy might be done to relieve the high
pressure by giving the brain room to swell outwards and have
time to heal [7]. Sometimes people may have seizures from
the blood irritating the brain. They will get medicine to treat
the seizures and prevent future seizures. Seizures can affect
recovery from the initial stroke and change how someone
functions in their day to day activities. The person needs to be
extra careful about activities in which they or people around
them could be seriously hurt if they were to have a seizure. In
the United States as a safety measure, after a person has a
seizure, he or she is not allowed to drive until a certain
amount of time has passed in which they do not have seizures.
This time frame varies from state to state [4]. Sometimes, the
bleeding that happens is very small and while someone
becomes sick enough to come to the hospital, they do not
142 M. Guhwe et al.
become sick enough to go to the ICU. They still have to stay

in the hospital while their medical team finds out why the
bleeding occurred. Often it is because a person’s blood pres-
sure is too high and needs to be controlled better. If the per-
son was taking any kind of blood thinner, this will be stopped
to give the brain time to heal. When they leave the hospital,
they will usually be asked not to take any over-the-counter
pain medication besides acetaminophen. Other widely avail-
able pain medicines can increase the risk of bleeding. When
the person is seen in clinic for follow up by a neurologist, they
may need to get follow up brain scans. Sometimes bleeding in
the brain is caused by a tumor or a malformed vessel that was
not seen initially because the blood in the brain made it hard
to see. It takes several weeks for the blood to resolve and
allow anything that might be there to be seen properly [5].
Recovery from Stroke

Stroke recovery and rehabilitation often starts as soon as
the survivor is treated for the stroke. Depending on the
location and amount of brain tissue affected by the stroke,
the ability of a person to recover and benefit from rehabili-
tation varies. After the acute phase of either kind of stroke,
the brain and body may be able to recover some, if not all,
of the function that was lost. This time period of recovery
may last days, months, and even years. Generally, the pro-
cess of recovery is most rapid in the first few weeks and this
often sets the rate for further improvement. Rehabilitation
is begun as soon as possible, often while the patient is still in
the hospital. Rehabilitation focuses both on maintaining the
person’s current abilities as well as the regaining of func-
tions affected by the stroke. Stroke rehabilitation involves
the patient, family, caregivers, and a variety of healthcare
specialists. As every patient and stroke is different, the
healthcare specialists needed to assist in the patient’s reha-
bilitation may vary as outlined in Table 11.1. The number of
specialties involved in the process may be overwhelming to
Table 11.1 Members of the medical team and rehabilitation team

Physicians/ These include primary care providers that
advanced practice are essential in the management of stroke
providers risk factors such as blood pressure, diabetes
and cholesterol. Neurologists are doctors
who specialize in problems of the brain and
nerves. Neurosurgeons are doctors who
specialize in surgery of the brain, spine, and
nerves
Physical therapist Specializes in physical activities such
as balance and walking as well as
strengthening and maintaining mobility in
the body. If required, they help patients
learn to properly use a walker or cane
Occupational Works to help regain function in affected
therapist limbs or help the person learn new ways of
doing things so that the patient may regain
the ability to perform daily tasks such as
feeding, dressing, bathing. They may also
help evaluate safety needs such as special
equipment needed for the home
Speech therapist They evaluate the person’s ability to
and pathologist swallow and recommend the types of foods
that are safe while working with the person
to improve impaired swallowing abilities.
Help patients to improve language skills
such as speech, reading and writing. Also
they may assist with learning to manage
memory and thinking problems
Social worker Help to identify resources needed for
persons in the community. These may
include assistance with financial decisions,
living arrangements, and transportation
Dieticians Assist with identifying healthy diets that
will give the patient the most optimal
nutrition
Psychologist May be needed to assess thinking skills and
behavioral needs after strokes
144 M. Guhwe et al.
both patients and their families. It is important to under-

stand their roles as they will be working with the patient and
families through recovery and rehabilitation. In some cases,
the patient can be discharged to their home with outpatient
therapy, done through a community center or hospital. For
patients with debilities that make travel difficult, home
therapy may be available. In other cases, a patient may leave
the hospital to go to an inpatient rehabilitation facility for
several weeks before they are able to return home. It is
important to remember that some patients are too sick or
disabled after a stroke to be able to participate in rehabilita-
tive therapies. In these cases, therapy may be deferred.
Occasionally, when a person’s disabilities require a large
amount of nursing care, the best option for the patient and
their family is discharge from the hospital to a skilled nurs-
ing facility or nursing home.
Complications of Strokes
Depending on the parts of the brain affected by the patient’s
stroke, the stroke survivor may experience ongoing effects
that limit their ability to bathe, dress, eat, walk, and toilet
without assistance. Table 11.2 provides a brief summary of
common terms used to describe problems that stroke survi-
vors may encounter. Problems with communication may
also occur as a result of strokes. Communication problems
may involve trouble saying the right words or being able to
write or read. Often the person knows what they want to
communicate but simply “cannot get the words out”. This
can be very frustrating for the person as well as their loved
ones. In can also involve slurring or unclear speech. The
person may say the right words but the speech can be hard
to understand. Sometimes the muscles used to swallow cor-
rectly are affected by strokes, making choking a very real
concern. If a person has difficulty swallowing, he or she may
not be able to eat a normal diet. Sometimes the person may
require thickened fluids and soft foods so that they do not
Table 11.2 Common problems after stroke

Aphasia A disturbance in which ability to comprehend,
formulate, read, or write is impaired
Dysarthria The inability to clearly speak due to muscle
weakness of the face, mouth, or respiratory system
Dysphagia Difficulty swallowing
Paresis Weakness of the muscles used to move a body
part
Paralysis The inability to move a body part
Incontinence The involuntary loss or urine or feces
inhale food into their lungs. If the swallowing difficulties are

severe, it may require special feeding tubes so that the per-
son is able to have adequate nutrition while they recover.
Some strokes cause odd sensations, pain, and numbness that
can be frustrating for patients and their caregivers. The
patient and caregivers can work with the patient’s provider
to see if medication can help with these kinds of discomfort.
Urinary problems such as incontinence (leaking or acci-
dents) may be related to weakness or damage to certain
areas of the brain. Fortunately, many of the effects of
strokes may continue to improve with time and intensive
rehabilitative therapy. The stroke survivor may have also
have problems with memory, attention, and depression.
Depression after a stroke can be serious, even in people who
have never had depression before. Family members, friends,
and caregivers can assist in watching for symptoms of
depression. Depression can interfere with a person’s ability
to adequately participate in their rehabilitation program.
Medications and specialized therapy can often assist with
reducing depression. Also, patients may find that physical
intimacy and sexual relations have been impacted after a
stroke. This may be due to both physical and emotional
changes. Physical changes may be due to the stroke itself as
well as medications. Emotionally, patients may have a fear
of causing another stroke or may feel less desire because of
146 M. Guhwe et al.
depression and stress. Most survivors can return to active

healthy intimacy as soon as they desire. However, the per-
son’s doctor can provide guidance in returning to sexual
intimacy if there is a concern.
Preventing Another Stroke

Controlling hypertension (high blood pressure) is very impor-
tant after a stroke. High blood pressure damages arteries and
the organs, including the brain, supplied by those arteries.
Blood pressure medicines reduce the high pressure and assist
in keeping the arteries from getting more damage. Patients
with strokes are often started on blood pressure medication or
they may have their previous medications changed. Blood
pressure medicines work in different ways and often patients
will need more than one medication to get the best results.
Caregivers and family members are encouraged to ask the
patient’s doctors or nurses what the patient’s “goal” blood
pressure is and help the person with monitoring their blood
pressure at home. This lets their doctors know how well the
medicines are working and if more adjustments need to be
made. People with diabetes or high blood sugars are more
likely to have recurrent strokes [8]. High blood sugars change
the lining of the blood vessels, causing them to be more likely
to become blocked. Various members of the health care team
can work with the patient and family to achieve proper con-
trol of blood sugars through a combination of diet, medicine,
and exercise. High cholesterol is also a risk factor for more
strokes and is often treated with medication. Sometimes peo-
ple only learn they have high cholesterol when they have a
stroke and will need to start medicine. Sometimes people
were already on cholesterol lowering medicines and will have
the doses or medicines changed because of a stroke. After an
ischemic (blocked artery) stroke, the goal will be to get the
cholesterol levels much lower than those set for most people
[9]. The treatment of cholesterol most often involves medications
known as “statins”. These potent cholesterol medications have
been shown to improve outcomes in certain stroke survivors

[10]. For survivors of ischemic stroke, their medications will
often include aspirin or medications like aspirin, known as
antiplatelet agents. Antiplatelet agents have been shown to
reduce the risk of ischemic stroke [11]. These medications
keep parts of the blood from sticking together inside the
arteries. Blood thinners or anticoagulation is different from
antiplatelet agents. These medications are most frequently
used for patients who have had abnormal heart rhythms that
cause blood clots to form in the heart. Patients with bleeding
types of stroke may be advised to never take antiplatelet
agents or anticoagulants as they may interfere with the ability
to seal off ruptured blood vessels. Stopping smoking is one of
the most effective ways to reduce a person’s risk for stroke.
Smoking is a strong risk factor for ischemic stroke [12–14].
There are many resources available to assist patients to quit
even if they have been unsuccessful in their attempts before.
The patient’s doctor and health care team can assist in locat-
ing good resources to make the process easier.
Maintaining healthy weight, healthy diet, and exercise as
well as reduction in heavy alcohol intake play a vital role in
reduction of stroke risk but also in general health.
Resources
National Stroke Association
9707 East Easter Lane
Suite B
Centennial, CO 80112-3747
info@stroke.org
http://www.stroke.org
Tel: 303-649-9299 800-STROKES (787–6537)
American Stroke Association: A Division of American
Heart Association
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX 75231-4596
strokeassociation@heart.org
148 M. Guhwe et al.
http://www.strokeassociation.org
Tel: 1-888-4 STROKE (478–7653)
Brain Aneurysm Foundation
269 Hanover Street, Building 3
Hanover, MA 02339
office@bafound.org
http://www.bafound.org
Tel: 781-826-5556 888-BRAIN02 (272–4602)
National Aphasia Association
350 Seventh Ave.
Suite 902
New York, NY 10001
naa@aphasia.org
http://www.aphasia.org
Tel: 212-267-2814 800-922-4NAA (4622)
References
1. Caplan LR. Caplan’s stroke: a clinical approach. 4th ed.
Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2009.
2. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
rt-PA Stroke Study Group. Tissue plasminogen activator for
acute ischemic stroke. N Engl J Med. 1995;333(24):1581–7.
3. Jauch EC, Saver JL, Adams HP, Bruno A, Connors JJ,
Demaerschalk BM, et al. On behalf of the American Heart
Association Stroke Council, Council on Cardiovascular Nursing,
Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease, and Council on Clinical
Cardiology Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients
With Acute Ischemic Stroke. A guideline for healthcare profes-
sionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke
Association. Stroke. 2013;44:870–947.
4. Hickey JV. The clinical practice of neurological and neurosurgi-
cal nursing. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins; 2009.
5. Baird MS, Bethel S. Manual of critical care nursing: nursing
interventions and collaborative management. 6th ed. St. Louis:
Elsevier Mosby; 2011.
6. Vahedi K, Vicaut E, Mateo J, Kurtz A, Orabi M, Guichard J-P,
Boutron C, Couvreur G, Rouanet F, Touze E, Guillon B,
Carpentier A, Yelnik A, Georg B, Payen D, Bousser M-G. A
sequential design, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of

early decompressive craniectomy in malignant middle cere-
bral artery infarction (DECIMAL trial). Stroke.
2007;38:2506–17.
7. Fung C, Murek M, Z’Graggen WJ, et al. Decompressive hemicra-
niectomy in patients with supratentorial intracerebral hemor-
rhage. Stroke. 2012;43(12):3207–11.
8. Callahan A, Amerenco P, Goldstein L, Sillesen H, Messig M,
Samsa G, Altafullah I, Ledbetter L, MacLeod M, Scott R,
Hennerici M, Zivin J, Welch M. Risk of stroke and cardiovascu-
lar events after ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack in
patients with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome: secondary
analysis of the stroke prevention by Aggressive Reduction in
Cholesterol Levels (SPARCL) trial. Arch Neurol.
2011;68(10):1245–51.
9. Furie K, Kasner S, Adams R, Albers G, Busch R, Fagan S,
Halperin J, Claiborne Johnston S, Katzan I, Kernan W, Mitchell
P, Ovbiagele B, Schwamm L, Wassertheil-Smoller S, Turan T,
Wentworth D, American Heart Association/American Stroke
Association. Guidelines of the prevention of stroke in patients
with stroke or transient ischemic attack. Stroke. 2011;42:227–76.
doi:10.1161/STR.0b013e3181f7d043. Published online before
print. October 21, 2010.
10. Amarenco P, Beavente O, Goldstein L, Callahan A, Sillesen
H, Hennerici M, Gilbert S, Rudolph A, Simunovic L, Zivin
JA, Welch M, on behalf of the SPARCL Investigators. Results
of the stroke prevention by Aggressive Reduction in
Cholesterol Level (SPARCL) trial by stroke subtypes. Stroke.
2009;40:1409.
11. Antithrombotic Trialist’ Collaboration. Collaborative meta-
analysis of randomized trials of anti-platelet therapy for the
prevention of death myocardial infarction, and stroke in high
risk patients [published correction appears in BMJ 2002; 324:1].
BMJ. 2002;324(7329):71–86.
12. Shinton R, Beevers G. Meta-analysis of relation between ciga-
rette smoking and stroke. BMJ. 1989;298(6676):789–94.
13. Gill J, Shipley M, Tsementzi S, Hornby R, Gill S, Hitchcock E,
Beevers D. Cigarette smoking. A risk factor for hemorrhagic
and nonhemorrhagic stroke. Arch Intern Med.
1989;149(9):2053–7.
14. Wolf P, D’Agostino R, Kannel W, Bonita R, Belanger A.
Cigarette smoking as a risk factor for stroke: the Framingham
Study. JAMA. 1988;259:1025–9.
Chapter 12
Neuro-Interventional
Management of a Stroke
Jan Vargas, Alejandro M. Spiotta, Raymond Turner,
Imran Chaudry, and Aquilla S. Turk
Incidence of Stroke
Each year almost 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent
stroke. Of these, 87 % ischemic strokes, due to a blockage of
vessels going into the brain. About 55,000 more women suffer
from strokes a year, and in general women are more likely to
have a stroke [1]. Ischemic strokes are most commonly caused
by either a rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque, or by a blood
clot that forms in another part of the body (most commonly
the heart) and travels into the blood vessels of the brain.
J. Vargas, MD () • A.S. Turk, DO

Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences,
e-mail: jav8@musc.edu; turk@musc.edu
A.M. Spiotta, MD
Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of South
Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
R. Turner, MD
Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of South Carolina,
Charleston, SC, USA
I. Chaudry, MD
Department of Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina,
Charleston, SC, USA

152 J. Vargas et al.
Symptoms of Stroke
Ischemic strokes can occur suddenly and can lead to devas-
tating consequences. Timely recognition and response is criti-
cal. The American Stroke Association has created the F.A.S.T.
mnemonic to aid the diagnosis of an ischemic stroke and to
facilitate delivery of patients to the hospital. F.A.S.T stands
for “(F)acial droop, (A)rm weakness, (S)peech difficulty, (T)
ime to call 911.”The first three letters represent some of the
most common symptoms of an ischemic stroke, and stress the
urgency of quickly transporting patients to the nearest hospi-
tal for evaluation and possible transfer to a stroke center.
How Will My Family Member Be Evaluated

for My Stroke?
Once at a stroke center, the patient is evaluated by stroke
neurologists. If warranted, the next step in work up will usu-
ally include specialized imaging, such as computed tomogra-
phy (CT) of the head with or without perfusion. If there is no
evidence of a bleed found on the head CT, and if there is a
strong suspicion for an ischemic stroke, the patient will be
evaluated for treatment.
What Treatment Options Are There for a

Stroke?
Currently, the only FDA approved treatment for ischemic
strokes is the administration of intravenous tissue plasminogen
activator (IV tPA), known more colloquially as a “clot buster.”
Current guidelines state that IV tPA must be administered
within 4.5 h after the onset of symptoms [2]. Patients who are
candidates for receiving IV tPA include patients who are more
than 18 years of age and have a clinical diagnosis of an isch-
emic stroke. Some patients are not eligible for IV tPA, such as
those with active or recent bleeding (including intracranial
Chapter 12. Neuro-Interventional Management 153
hemorrhage), major surgery or trauma in the previous 2 weeks,

GI or urinary bleeding within 3 weeks, or a systolic blood pres-
sure of greater than 185 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure of
more than 110 mmHg.
For those patients who are ineligible for IV tPA, one
option includes intra arterial (IA) treatment. In order to
qualify for this type of treatment, a patient must have a sig-
nificant amount of brain tissue that has not been irreversibly
damaged by the interruption of blood flow. This area of sal-
vageable brain is termed the “ischemic penumbra,” and rep-
resents brain cells that have been momentarily stunned by
the interruption of oxygen.
Intra arterial (IA) therapy takes place in an angiography
suite, which is similar to a surgical operating room but is
equipped with specialized machines to provide the necessary
imaging to perform these procedures safely. The procedure can
be done with the patient either asleep under general anesthesia
as they would for a surgical operation or with some relaxing
medication. At some centers, the preference is to perform these
procedures with the patient awake but comfortable, so that the
treating physicians can evaluate how the patient is doing and if
the stroke symptoms are responding to the therapy, in other
words if the patient is now able to move his or her arms or legs
when before they were unable to. In some instances, the results
can be very dramatic with the patient becoming completely
normal on the table at the conclusion of the procedure.
IA therapy consists of puncturing a large artery, usually
the femoral artery, and then placing catheters and wires to
access the blood vessels supplying oxygen to the brain, simi-
lar to a heart catheterization for heart attacks. Navigation of
the catheters takes place under direct visualization with fluo-
roscopy, which is a form of radiation like an xray. Gaining
access to the cerebral blood vessels provides a platform for a
variety of treatment strategies to restore blood flow to the
brain. There are risks to such a procedure, the most common
being post procedural bleeding from the catheter insertion
site in the groin, to damage to blood vessel walls (also known
as a dissection), to more serious complications such as blood
154 J. Vargas et al.
vessel perforation and subsequent bleeding in the head, as

well as worsening stroke.
Beginning in the late 1990s with the administration of intra
arterial prourokinase, another “clot buster,” the field of intra
arterial therapy has rapidly evolved. The first generation of
devices were aspiration catheters with maceration wires that
were positioned next to intra arterial clots and used to macer-
ate and restore blood flow. These systems were replaced by
newer devices, called “stent retrievers,” which have been shown
in studies to be effective at restoring blood flow [3–5]. Stent
retrievers differ from their predecessors in that they engage
the clot and the physician removes it from within the blood
vessel. More recently, physicians have begun directly aspirating
blood clots, which allows for restoration of blood flow to occur
in minutes [6]. While it may seem that these different technolo-
gies have replaced older methods, in practice many physicians
use combinations of these techniques to restore blood flow to
the brain. In some cases direct aspiration will be attempted as
a first line treatment, but if that fails some practitioners may
employ stent retrievers. Concomitantly, intra arterial tPA can
be given at the same time for smaller showered clots that are
not amenable to mechanical clot removal. While intra arterial
methods of mechanically disrupting or removing the clot hold
a lot of promise, they are as of yet unproven in a scientific
study, although several studies are ongoing at this time.
What Can I Expect from My Family Member

Following a Stroke?
The importance of quickly treating patients with acute ischemic
stroke has been borne out in several studies, demonstrating the
fact that the faster a patient’s blood flow to the brain is restored,
the faster they will recover [7, 8]. In about 50 % of cases, physi-
cians can restore blood flow to the brain in a matter of minutes.
It is important to realize that ischemic strokes can be devastat-
ing, and it may take up to a year of intensive physical therapy
and rehabilitation for a patient to recovery. Additionally, while
Chapter 12. Neuro-Interventional Management 155
many patients can make significant progress, ischemic strokes

can be debilitating and many people will not fully recover. The
goal of quickly restoring blood flow to the brain is to provide
patients with the best chance at a good recovery.
References
1. Go AS, Mozaffarian D, Roger VL, Benjamin EJ, Berry JD, Blaha
MJ, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics–2014 update: a report
from the American Heart Association. Circulation.
2014;129(3):e28–292. PubMed PMID: 24352519.
2. Hacke W, Kaste M, Bluhmki E, Brozman M, Davalos A, Guidetti
D, et al. Thrombolysis with alteplase 3 to 4.5 hours after acute
ischemic stroke. N Engl J Med. 2008;359(13):1317–29.
3. Levy EI, Ecker RD, Horowitz MB, Gupta R, Hanel RA,
Sauvageau E, et al. Stent-assisted intracranial recanalization for
acute stroke: early results. Neurosurgery. 2006;58(3):458–63; dis-
cussion −463. PubMed PMID: 16528185.
4. Nogueira RG, Lutsep HL, Gupta R, Jovin TG, Albers GW, Walker
GA, et al. Trevo versus Merci retrievers for thrombectomy revas-
cularisation of large vessel occlusions in acute ischaemic stroke
(TREVO 2): a randomised trial. Lancet. 2012;380(9849):1231–40.
PubMed PMID: 22932714.
5. Saver JL, Jahan R, Levy EI, Jovin TG, Baxter B, Nogueira RG,
et al. Solitaire flow restoration device versus the Merci Retriever
in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (SWIFT): a randomised,
parallel-group, non-inferiority trial. Lancet. 2012;380(9849):1241–
9. PubMed PMID: 22932715.
6. Turk AS, Spiotta A, Frei D, Mocco J, Baxter B, Fiorella D, et al.
Initial clinical experience with the ADAPT technique: a direct
aspiration first pass technique for stroke thrombectomy.
J Neurointervent Surg. 2014;6(3):231–7. PubMed PMID: 23624315.
7. Rha JH, Saver JL. The impact of recanalization on ischemic
stroke outcome: a meta-analysis. Stroke. 2007;38(3):967–73.
PubMed PMID: 17272772.
8. Sun CH, Nogueira RG, Glenn BA, Connelly K, Zimmermann S,
Anda K, et al. “Picture to puncture”: a novel time metric to
enhance outcomes in patients transferred for endovascular reper-
fusion in acute ischemic stroke. Circulation. 2013;127(10):1139–
48. PubMed PMID: 23393011.
Chapter 13
Symptoms and Signs to Look
for After a Spinal Cord Injury
Graham H. Creasey
At the Scene of an Accident

Look for loss of movement and ask about loss of feeling in
the arms and legs, which may indicate a spinal cord injury
(SCI). This loss of function may be at any level from the
shoulders down. Loss of movement or feeling in the arms or
hands suggests an injury in the neck; loss of movement or
feeling from the chest down suggests an injury in the back.
Pain in the spine may or may not be present.
If there is any suspicion of a spinal cord injury, even if
there is no loss of movement or feeling, treat the person as if
they have a spinal cord injury until proved otherwise.
The neck and spine should be kept still while waiting for
ambulance personnel, who should have special collars to
immobilize the neck. The person should be transported with
their spine immobilized on a firm stretcher or backboard to
an acute hospital capable of treating major trauma.
G.H. Creasey, MB, ChB, FRCSEd

Stanford University School of Medicine,
VA Palo Alto Health Care System,
3801 Miranda Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
e-mail: gcreasey@stanford.edu

158 G.H. Creasey
At an Acute Hospital
The person will be assessed first in an emergency room to
determine whether they have any other injuries. They will
then be admitted to the hospital and may have an operation
to stabilize their spine. Their breathing and blood pressure
will also be stabilized. Their bladder will probably be drained
by a catheter initially, and their bowels should be emptied
regularly to avoid constipation. It is important for them to be
turned or moved every couple of hours to avoid prolonged
pressure on the skin over bony areas.
After being stabilized medical and surgically it is impor-
tant to go through comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation to
learn the skills of living with a SCI and to improve the pros-
pects of a good quality of life. Look for a SCI Unit or Center
specializing in this type of rehabilitation as described below.
Lists of such centers are available at the websites below [1, 2].
At a Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center

Inpatient SCI rehabilitation requires a specialized team of
physicians, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, psy-
chologists, social workers and other staff, with appropriate
experience and equipment. They provide specialized train-
ing in learning to live with loss of movement or feeling and
managing the many other consequences of spinal cord
injury such as altered bladder and bowel function, and
restoring sexual function such as erection and the ability to
have children. They provide information about control of
blood pressure and temperature, pain, and spasticity that
can produce involuntary contractions of muscle and jerking
of the limbs. They also provide specialized training in learn-
ing to prevent complications such as pneumonia, urine
infection and pressure ulcers. They also assist with emo-
tional adjustment of the person injured and their family, and
social adaptations such as housing, driving, education and
employment.
Chapter 13. What to Look for After SCI 159
During and after inpatient rehabilitation, look for a team

of health care providers who can work together to provide
both specialist care for the effects of SCI and primary care for
other general health issues. The way to maximize quality of
life after SCI is to have such a team that can offer compre-
hensive care and regular follow-up for life. Also look for role
models who are living well with a spinal cord injury and who
can be mentors and friends.
At Home
Maintaining health and maximizing function and quality of
life requires consistent attention to prevent complications of
SCI, such as the following.
Skin Breakdown
If a person does not have sensation they do not realize when

the circulation has been cut off from a part of their skin on
which they have been lying or sitting for too long. This can
result in severe damage to the skin and underlying tissues,
which can be followed by infection of these tissues and large
pressure ulcers. At least twice a day look for red marks on the
skin, particularly over bony areas such as the tailbone, hip
bones and buttocks. If such red marks are found, avoid lying
or sitting on that area of skin until the marks have faded.
Urine Infection
The bladder often does not empty properly after SCI. The
urine in the bladder can become infected and this infection
can spread to the kidneys and the bloodstream and be seri-
ous. If a person has impaired sensation, they may not realize
this. Symptoms and signs of urine infection include feeling
generally unwell, urine that smells different or is cloudy, and
a raised temperature or pulse rate.
160 G.H. Creasey
Sometimes the infection spreads down to the testes, and this

can damage fertility. Initially this infection may have no symp-
toms but signs include a swollen testis, which may also be warm.
If a person has a catheter in the bladder, this can become
blocked. If this happens, the pressure in the bladder can rise,
causing a dangerous rise in blood pressure called autonomic
dysreflexia. Symptoms and signs of this include a pounding
headache, often with a low pulse rate, flushing of the face, and
a stuffy nose. It is urgent to relieve the pressure in the bladder
by unblocking or changing the catheter. This rise in blood
pressure can also be caused by distended bowel or rectum, or
any other conditions that would be painful in a person with
sensation. Temporary relief may be gained by sitting up, and
medications to lower the blood pressure can be made avail-
able for first aid.
Pneumonia
People with SCI find it difficult to cough and breathe deeply,

particularly if the injury is in their upper spine, and are prone
to pneumonia. They may be aware of increased secretions in
their chest and breathlessness, in addition to other signs of
infection such as a temperature and rapid pulse. It is impor-
tant to get prompt medical attention, probably with antibiot-
ics and respiratory therapy.
Constipation
This may initially be evident as feeling generally unwell or

bloated. A combination of high fiber diet, laxatives, and sup-
positories or enemas can be used to prevent or treat it.
Fractures
After SCI the bones below the level of the injury become
weaker because of disuse. Fractures of the leg can occur with
Chapter 13. What to Look for After SCI 161
minor injuries, and may not be noticed for some time because
of the lack of sensation. Signs of such a fracture include swell-
ing around the knee or ankle, abnormal mobility or position
of the limb, and sometimes increased spasticity. In time the
skin may become bruised or red and may break down because
of pressure from the broken bones. It is important to immobi-
lize the limb with plenty of padding to protect the skin.
Further Spinal Cord Damage
Loss of feeling and movement may improve slightly during

the first year or two after a SCI, but then usually remains
stable. If there is further loss after this time, or new symptoms
such as pain or tingling, it is important to have this investigated
medically to search for any new problems.
At Other Hospitals or Emergency Rooms

If you become ill and need treatment at a hospital or emer-
gency room that is not familiar with spinal cord injury, the
staff may need to be reminded of some of the complications
of SCI, such as autonomic dysreflexia, as well as the impor-
tance of regular turning to prevent pressure ulcers, and regu-
lar emptying of the bladder and bowels. It can be useful to
put them in touch with a specialized Spinal Cord Injury
Center for consultation or a second opinion [3, 4].
When Evaluating Research

Spinal cord injury has historically caused permanent paralysis,
but research is being carried out into ways of restoring function
using technology and, perhaps in the future, with stem cells. In
evaluating this research it is important to look for features of
high quality ethical clinical trials using the principles described
by the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries [5].
162 G.H. Creasey
When Traveling
Look for seating that will not cause pressure ulcers and
relieve pressure regularly. Inform airlines or travel agencies
of any special needs, including transport of wheelchairs, and
allow extra time for boarding and transfers. Spinal cord injury
need not prevent you from traveling widely and having an
adventurous life! [6]
References
1. Spinal Cord Injury Model System Information Network. https://
www.uab.edu/medicine/sci/uab-scims-information.
2. Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders, US Department of Veterans
Affairs. www.sci.va.gov/index.asp.
3. Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems. http://www.msktc.org/sci/
model-system-centers.
4. VA Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Centers. http://www.sci.
va.gov/SCI_Centers.asp.
5. International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries. www.icord.
org/research/iccp-clinical-trials-information/.
6. Walsh A, editor. Able to travel: true stories by and for people with
disabilities. London: Rough Guides Ltd; 1994.
Chapter 14
Evaluation of Spinal
Alignment
G. Alexander West
The human spine is divided into three major segments:

cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral regions. Each spinal
segment is made of vertebra and discs. The cervical segment
has 7, thoracic 12 and lumbar 5 segments. The sacrum has 5
segments which are usually fused together with the lumbar
and sacrum often considered together. The vertebral seg-
ments contain the spinal cord, surrounding the spinal canal as
bony elements to protect the spinal cord within the canal.
Each segment is separated by discs that act as a cushion
between each bony segment. The skull rests on the top cervi-
cal vertebra, C1 or the Atlas. The spinal nerves exit each level
of the spine from the spinal cord from the cervical region all
the way to the sacrum. The solid spinal cord usually ends at
L1 level, with the nerves continuing within the spinal canal to
the scarum.
G.A. West, MD, PhD

e-mail: gawest@houstonmethodist.org

164 G.A. West
In the erect spine with the person standing the spine has
a specific alignment. From the front, the coronal plane, the
skull and spine should be straight. From the side, sagittal
plane, the spine has three main curves, with the shape of
two “S’s”. The top S curve in the cervical spine is lordotic.
The thoracic spine and sacrum are lordotic. The lumbar
spine is kyphotic. With normal posture and alignment the
curves should balance each other out such that the head is
in alignment with the pelvis, “normal sagittal” alignment
exists. Spinal alignment is important for humans for walk-
ing and standing. Efficient use of energy in walking
depends on good spinal alignment. In addition, when there
is normal alignment there is usually no pain with upright
posture and the muscles around the spine are less likely to
fatigue. When the head is aligned over the pelvis no extra
energy is needed in walking and the spine is considered
“balanced”.
Chapter 14. Evaluation of Spinal Alignment 165
Lateral (Side) Posterior (Back)

Spinal Column Spinal Column
Cervical Cervical
Thoracic Thoracic
Lumbar Lumbar
Sacrum Sacrum
Coccyx Coccyx
When there is malalignment of the spine often this may

reflect problems. Acute change in alignment most often
results from trauma. Traumatic injuries can cause minor
injury to the muscle and soft tissue around the spine and may
cause mild changes in alignment. Most of these minor
changes in alignment can be managed conservatively with
medication for pain or muscle spasms, application of heat/
cold, physical therapy and other modalities. Moderate or
severe injuries to the spine may cause injuries to the liga-
ments which connect to the vertebra to each other or frac-
tures of the bony elements of the spine. The injury may cause
166 G.A. West
a direct injury to the spinal cord or nerve roots resulting in

neurological deficits. If there is a change in alignment that
creates instability of the spine, either an external brace or
surgery is needed to stabilize the spine.
Types of Scoliosis
Thoracic Lumbar
Normal Osteoporosis
In addition to trauma which usually can cause an acute

change in spinal alignment, other conditions can cause
changes in a very gradual fashion. As we age the disc between
the vertebra degenerate, losing water. Sometimes with degen-
erative disc there can be a significant loss of height in the
thoracic spine that may result in kyphosis which may be mild
or sometimes progress enough to need treatment. Other con-
ditions may cause a change in the coronal alignment, devel-
oping a curve when looking at the spine in the front to back
view is called scoliosis. Scoliosis is common and can be
asymptomatic in may cases when the curve is not severe.
Often scoliosis is balanced, with a “compensatory curve”.
When scoliosis is progressive it may cause symptoms that
require surgery.
Changes in the sagittal alignment can also reflect progres-
sive degenerative disease or a pathological problem. When
the spine angles forward, it is called kyphosis, or forward
bending of the spine. With kyphosis it may result in the head
positioned forward of the pelvis and sagittal imbalance. If
kyphosis progresses and there is sagittal imbalance this can
result in several issues for patients that require treatment
Chapter 14. Evaluation of Spinal Alignment 167
with either bracing or surgical treatment. Surgery can be

effective is correcting alignment in the spine, either scoliosis
or kyphosis when there is both scoliosis and kyphosis. The
malalignment can involve on segments of the spine, cervical,
thoracic or lumbar or combinations of the different levels of
the spine. The greater number of vertebra, the more complex
can be the problem and the surgery to correct it.
Making the diagnosis of abnormal spinal alignment is very
important in patients. In the setting of trauma, diagnosing
instability is critical for proper management of the patient
after an acute injury. If the patient has normal neurological
function but an injury to the ligaments or vertebra, stabilizing
the spine is critical to prevent secondary injury to the spinal
cord and nerves. After an injury most patients are placed in a
C-collar and on a backboard to temporarily hold the spine in
alignment. Usually CT scans of the spine, MRI or plain x-rays
are done to assess the patient’s spine. The imaging studies
usually can assess the injury and allow proper management
decisions on treating the patient.
For degenerative disease imaging studies are also used to
make a diagnosis of spinal alignment. Usually MRI and
standing x-rays are done to assess the patient’s condition. A
CT scan may be needed as well since the CT can give more
detailed images of the bony anatomy. MRI’s can give images
of the spinal cord and nerves but like the CT scan is obtained
with patient lying down. Upright x-rays can show both the
coronal views, front to back view, and sagittal, lateral, view.
X-rays can also be obtained with the patient bending for-
ward, back and sideways which can show if there is abnormal
movement of the spine. Thus, imaging studies are tools used
to assess the patient’s problem and along with the patient’s
symptoms and history determine appropriate treatment. In
the acute setting when there is a traumatic injury of the
spine, usually a CT scan is sufficient to evaluate the spine
and establish whether instability is present. MRI may be
needed to better evaluate whether the spinal cord is injured
or there is possible ligament injury which can cause
instability.
168 G.A. West
In summary, evaluation of spinal alignment is very impor-

tant in assessing acute spinal injury as well degenerative
disease. With an acute injury, it is critical to establish whether
there is malalignment and instability of the spine. Treatment
is dictated by the type and amount of injury. In degenerative
disease, abnormal alignment of the spine is usually a slowly
progressive problem that can lead to pain, neurological defi-
cits and other symptoms. In some cases malalignment in
degenerative disease is chronic and maybe stable and not
cause symptoms or require treatment. Imaging, including
plain x-rays, CT scan and MRI are important studies that
allow assessment of spinal alignment. Treatment recommen-
dations for patients should include awareness of the spinal
alignment as well as other factors in order to provide good
treatment.
Chapter 15
Herniated Discs of the Spine
Brandon D. Liebelt and J. Bob Blacklock
Anatomy
Discs are named based upon their adjacent vertebrae. For
instance, the L4-L5 disc is the disc that lies between the
fourth lumbar and fifth lumbar vertebrae. They are up to
3/8 in. thick and 1 and 5/8 in. wide in the lumbar spine, but are
smaller in the cervical and thoracic regions [1]. The disc is
composed of an outer layer, the annulus fibrosis, and an inner
region, the nucleus pulposus. The annulus fibrosis is a leather-
like outer covering of the disc. The nucleus pulposus is the
gelatin like material within the disc which aids in cushioning
and distributing forces placed on the spine. If a tear occurs in
the annulus fibrosis and nucleus pulposus protrudes through
the tear, a herniation of the disc occurs.
B.D. Liebelt, MD () • J.B. Blacklock, MD

e-mail: bdliebelt@tmhs.org; bblacklock@tmhs.org

170 B.D. Liebelt and J.B. Blacklock
Cervical Spine
The cervical spine is composed of seven vertebrae, and eight
paired cervical nerves exit at each level. The cervical spinal
cord occupies the spinal canal just behind the vertebrae and
discs. Herniated discs in this region can cause compression of
not only the nerve roots, but also of the spinal cord itself.
Symptoms of herniated cervical discs can cause cervical
radiculopathy, from compression of nerve roots, or myelopa-
thy, from compression of the spinal cord.
Cervical Radiculopathy
Radiculopathy refers to damage or irritation of a specific

nerve root with symptoms occurring in one or both arms. A
disc herniation compressing a nerve root can be the cause.
The two most commonly involved levels are C5-C6 and
C6-C7, with C6-7 occurring in nearly 70 % of cases [2].
Cervical Myelopathy
Cervical myelopathy occurs when there is compression of the
spinal cord. This can result from herniated discs, bone spurs,
or from traumatic fractures with dislocation of the spine.
Symptoms of myelopathy include hand weakness, gait insta-
bility, and balance issues.
Treatment
Conservative treatment options include the use of nonste-

roidal anti-inflammatory medications, oral steroids, epidural
steroid injections, physical therapy, and activity modifica-
tions. However, surgery may be needed when conservative
measures have failed to solve the symptoms. Surgical
options include anterior cervical discectomy and fusion or
Chapter 15. Herniated Discs of the Spine 171
posterior approaches (laminectomy or foraminotomy). The

anterior approach involves an incision in the front of the
neck and removal of the intervertebral disc at the involved
levels. A fusion is performed in this procedure to stabilize
the spine since the disc has been removed. A graft is placed
between the adjacent vertebrae and a metal plate and
screws are used to connect the two vertebrae. Posterior
approaches involve an incision in the back of the neck and
removal of either the entire lamina (laminectomy) to
decompress the spinal cord or removal of only a small por-
tion of bone to decompress individual nerve roots (forami-
notomy). Each procedure has its own advantages and
disadvantages depending on the individual patient’s pathol-
ogy. These procedures can often be performed as an outpa-
tient operation.
Thoracic Spine
The thoracic spine is composed of 12 vertebrae and 12 spinal
nerves. Each thoracic vertebrae has a corresponding rib
attached. This confers additional stability and less mobility to
the thoracic spine and is the reason disc herniations occur
much less frequently in this region. Thoracic disc herniations
comprise only 0.25 % of all herniated discs [3]. Herniated
discs usually occur at levels at or below T8 [4]. The first seven
ribs are directly attached to the sternum and therefore is the
more stable portion of the thoracic spine. Herniated thoracic
discs most commonly cause radiculopathy but can also cause
myelopathy.
Thoracic radiculopathy is typically experienced as pain
radiating from the mid back around the ribcage. Sensory
changes, such as numbness and parasthesias (pins and nee-
dles sensation) can also occur. Muscle weakness is typically
not present as the thoracic nerves do not innervate muscles
of the arms or legs. Symptoms from myelopathy in the tho-
racic spine are similar to the symptoms from cervical myelop-
athy but affect only the legs.
Treatment
Indications for surgical treatment of herniated thoracic discs

include refractory pain or progressive myelopathy. Surgery
for herniated thoracic discs is more complicated than in the
cervical or lumbar spine. Thoracic herniated discs are calci-
fied in 65 % of cases that present for surgery [4]. This makes
them less mobile and more difficult to remove. For this rea-
son a direct midline approach through the back is typically
not used as the spinal cord would lie directly between the
surgeon and the herniated disc. Lateral approaches through
the side are typically used and often require partial removal
of a rib in order to access the disc. While more invasive, this
angle will allow the easiest access to the herniated disc with
the least risk of damage to the spinal cord.
Lumbar Spine
The lumbar spine is composed of five vertebrae and five
corresponding lumbar spinal nerves exit at each level. The
first sacral nerve root traverses the L5-S1 disc space and can
be compressed by a herniated disc at this level. Disc hernia-
tions in this region can result in symptoms of radiculopathy,
neurogenic pseudoclaudication, or cauda equina syndrome
depending on the size and location of the herniation.
Lumbar Radiculopathy
Lumbar radiculopathy is the most common form of radicu-

lopathy. Disc herniations occur in this region most frequently
as a result of the added stress and weight the lumbar spine is
exposed to. Sciatica is radiculopathy that involves either the
L5 or S1 nerve roots and is felt as pain that radiates down the
back or outside of the leg down to the foot. L5 and S1 radicu-
lopathy are the most common forms, accounting for around
90–95 % of lumbar radiculopathy. L3 and L4 radiculopathy
Chapter 15. Herniated Discs of the Spine 173
are typically felt in the front of the thigh. L2 radiculopathy is

felt in the groin, and L1 radiculopathy is felt just above the
groin. In addition to pain, numbness and weakness in the leg
can also be experienced.
Neurogenic Pseudoclaudication
Neurogenic pseudoclaudication is the result of lumbar

stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal). Disc herniations can
contribute to lumbar stenosis but there are typically multiple
factors involved. Other contributing factors include thick-
ened ligaments around the spine and arthritic changes of the
vertebrae. The symptoms of neurogenic pseudoclaudication
are experienced as leg fatigue, heaviness, and weakness when
walking. This is usually relieved by sitting down, resting, or
leaning forward.
Cauda Equina Syndrome
The cauda equina is the collection of nerve roots within the

spinal canal below the end of the spinal cord. A very large
disc herniation which compresses multiple nerve roots can
lead to cauda equina syndrome. Symptoms may include uri-
nary retention or incontinence, bowel incontinence, numb-
ness in the genital region, leg weakness or paralysis, low back
pain, and leg pain.
Treatment
Conservative options are similar to the nonsurgical treatments

in the cervical spine. Indications for surgery are refractory
pain, progressive weakness, and cauda equina syndrome.
A discectomy is performed to remove the herniated disc and
relieve the pressure on the nerve root(s). The patient is
placed in the facedown, or prone, position for surgery. A mid-
line incision is made in the lower back and the lamina of the
involved level is exposed. A small laminotomy, or opening in
the lamina, is made to allow enough room to access the
intervertebral disc. An operating microscope is often used to
allow for better visualization. The herniated disc fragment is
then removed, leaving the remainder of the disc in its ana-
tomic position between the vertebral bodies. Many times this
can be accomplished with a minimally invasive, outpatient
procedure.
References
1. Raj PP. Intervertebral disc: anatomy-physiology-pathophysiology-
treatment. Pain Pract. 2008;8(1):18–44.
2. Mayfield FH. Cervical spondylosis: a comparison of the anterior
and posterior approaches. Clin Neurosurg. 1965;13:181–8.
3. El-Kalliny M, Tew Jr JM, van Loveren H, Dunsker S. Surgical
approaches to thoracic disc herniations. Acta Neurochir (Wien).
1991;111(1–2):22–32.
4. Stillerman CB, Chen TC, Couldwell WT, Zhang W, Weiss MH.
Experience in the surgical management of 82 symptomatic herni-
ated thoracic discs and review of the literature. J Neurosurg.
1998;88(4):623–33.
Chapter 16
Spinal Fusion
Paul J. Holman, Blake Staub, and Matthew McLaurin
Indications
Fusion surgery is indicated in a variety spine conditions
including degeneration, deformity, tumors, and trauma.
Degenerative conditions are the most common indication for
fusion surgery. Examples include degenerative disc disease,
spondylolisthesis (misaligned bones), and facet syndrome
(pain due to arthritis in spinal joints).
Surgical Techniques
The specific techniques used by surgeons to achieve a suc-
cessful spinal fusion have evolved significantly over the past
several years. Newer implants, minimally (MIS) invasive sur-
gery, and new bone grafting materials all continue to be
refined to give more consistent results and a quicker recovery
than in the past.
P.J. Holman, MD () • B. Staub, MD

Department of Neurosurgery, Methodist Neurological Institute,
6560 Fannin, Suite 944, Houston, TX 77030, USA
e-mail: pjholman@tmhs.org; bnstaub@houstonmethodist.org
M. McLaurin
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA

176 P.J. Holman et al.
There are two parts of a fusion: spinal hardware and bone

graft. The fusion ultimately occurs because bone grafts help
the patient’s own bone to build a bridge linking the vertebrae
together. For many years the gold standard for bone graft was
bone harvested from the hipbone. Because this graft is har-
vested from the patient’s own body, it is referred to as auto-
graft. Unfortunately, as many as 15 % of patients noted
chronic hip pain at the site of bone removal. Many alterna-
tives to hip bone grafting have been developed to avoid this
potential complication. The most common alternative is
allograft – human bone taken from a cadaver. Newer allograft
products include cadaver bone that is specifically engineered
to include a higher concentration of adult stem cells – cells
known to encourage new bone formation. The cadaver bone
is tested and processed to minimize the chance for disease
transmission or rejection by the recipient.
Two more recently popularized alternative bone-grafting
materials are bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) and bone
marrow aspirate (BMA). BMA is taken by inserting a small
needle into the hip during surgery. Only the liquid bone mar-
row is removed providing a rich source of bone growth pro-
moting substances. BMPs are genetically engineered proteins
that stimulate bone formation. BMP is a very powerful bone
growth tool, but as with any new technology, it can occasion-
ally create unwanted side effects. It is important to know that
most spinal surgeons use BMPs in an “off-label” manner.
This means that they are used in areas of the spine not
approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Using medications off-label is quite common in many fields
of medicine and it is the responsibility of the surgeon to dis-
cuss the expected outcomes and possible complications with
the patient.
The second major component of a typical spinal fusion
surgery is the spinal hardware – “rods and screws”. For bone
to heal it must be fixated in one spot. Spine surgeons use
specialized tools to fix the spine in place around the bone
graft to allow a bony bridge to form between the two bones
to be fused. No, the hardware will not set off the metal
Chapter 16. Spinal Fusion 177
detector in the airport. And no, it does not ever need to come
out unless there is a complication.
Preoperative Considerations
Prior to any type of spinal fusion a patient should undergo a
full medical work-up to rule out or treat any potential under-
lying medical issue.
In addition, it is imperative that there is good communica-
tion between the patient and the surgeon in regard to both
the risks and benefits of the surgical procedure. No surgery
will be successful unless the patient and the surgeon expect
the same result.
Recovery from a spinal fusion does not happen overnight.
Patients must consider their social situation before undergo-
ing any surgical procedure. Large fusion operations can keep
a person out of work for months at a time and can take a
significant physical and emotional toll on families.
Postoperative Considerations
After the surgery has been completed, patients will be taken to
the post-anesthesia recovery unit to begin recuperating. Here
they are monitored for a safe recovery from anesthesia with
frequent assessment of vital signs and administration of pain
medication. Fusions done through a “posterior” approach
involve incisions in the rear of the neck or lower spine and
typically cause the most postoperative pain because of the
manipulation of the spinal muscles. Many surgeons choose
to initially treat the patient’s pain with a “PCA”, or Patient
Controlled Anesthesia system where safe doses of narcotics
are delivered into the bloodstream only when the patient
chooses to push a button. This helps patients to actively
participate in their recovery. Additional medications admin-
istered after surgery include muscle relaxers and sometimes
anti-inflammatory agents. The PCA is generally discontinued
within 1–2 days after surgery as the patient’s pain becomes

easier to control with oral medications. Anterior cervical
fusions require less muscle manipulation and are generally
much less painful.
After surgery it is normal to have pain at the site of the
incision. In addition, it is not uncommon to have some resid-
ual leg or arm pain. Generally, this is due to swelling around
the nerves or manipulation of the nerves during surgery. This
routinely improves within the first 1–2 post-operative days
and should not be a major cause for concern unless the symp-
toms are severe or progressive. Any weakness or numbness
that was present before surgery will likely be present imme-
diately after the surgery. Muscle weakness can also be new or
slightly worse postoperatively and should be assessed by the
surgeon. Nerve damage can take up to 12–15 months for a
maximum recovery. Some degree of weakness can be perma-
nent if preoperative deficits are severe. The exact degree of
nerve recovery is unpredictable. As a general rule, the longer
the symptoms exist prior to surgery, the less likely they are to
fully recover.
In the days to weeks following surgery, patients are given
specific activity guidelines. Although a modest amount of
walking is encouraged to prevent complications, more is not
necessarily better. A restriction on how much weight to lift
will be set by the surgeon to avoid stress on the muscles,
joints, and nerves that are in the healing process. Patients who
undergo lumbar procedures should avoid bending, twisting,
and leaning forward at the waist. Depending on the area of
the spine fused and surgeon preference, the surgeon may
recommend use of a postoperative brace.
Most fusion surgeries still require a variable period of
inpatient hospitalization. Cervical fusions performed thru the
front of the neck are typically the least painful and patients
are usually discharged the morning after surgery. Fusions
performed through the back muscles typically require inpa-
tient recovery. Although minimally invasive approaches aim
to minimize muscle trauma, patients can still expect to be
hospitalized 2–3 days. Complex fusions of multiple vertebral
Chapter 16. Spinal Fusion 179
levels require bigger incisions and longer hospitalization,

particularly if surgery is “staged” –performed on more than
1 day to minimize the risk associated with very long
surgeries.
A physical therapist may be consulted in the hospital to
help in your recuperation. The patient’s pain level should
improve each day after surgery although some day-to-day
variation in pain is not uncommon. In general, a patient is
ready for discharge once they can manage surgical pain with-
out intravenous narcotics, urinate, address constipation, and
walk safely with minimal assistance (or with a walker or
cane). Patients that live alone or who do not have a family
member that is capable of providing enough support may
benefit from an additional week or longer in a rehabilitation
unit.
The need for outpatient, postoperative, physical therapy
can be helpful to strengthen specific muscles that were weak
prior to surgery due to nerve damage. Therapy can also
improve the collection of “core” muscles that support the
global function and alignment of the spine.
Determining Success
The success of a spinal fusion operation can be assessed by
both clinical and radiographic markers. The criteria for radio-
graphic success include formation of a solid bridge of bone
between the vertebrae included in the operation. This can
take 3–12 months to occur. This is typically confirmed by spi-
nal x-rays and a CT scan. A failure of fusion is referred to as
a “pseudoarthrosis” and can be identified by persistent
motion between the vertebral bones, loosening or breakage
of the hardware, and absence of new bone formation on post-
operative radiographs.
Clinical success for spinal fusion is determined by the
degree of improvement in both the symptoms affecting the
patient prior to surgery and in the improvement in quality of
life and function.
Conclusion
Spinal fusion surgery is a safe and effective medical treat-
ment for a variety of spine conditions. New technology
emerges every year to make these procedures safer and less
painful.
A successful fusion requires not only the skill and knowl-
edge of the surgeon but also patient participation in the
recovery.
Chapter 17
Spinal Cord Tumors
Robert E. Isaacs and Vijay Agarwal
Introduction
A spine tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue from, or
surrounding, the spine. The cells of the tumor multiply in an
uncontrolled fashion. Tumors of the spine can involve either
the spinal cord or the vertebral bodies, the stacked bones in
the back that protect the spinal cord. Included in this cate-
gory are tumors of the layer covering the spinal cord, or the
meninges, and the cauda equina (latin for “horse’s tail”), or
the loose bundle of nerves as they progress downward from
the tip of the spinal cord. They can occur in the cervical
region (neck), the thoracic region (middle back), or the lum-
bosacral region (lower back). In addition, they are classified
according to whether they are in the front (anterior) or back
(posterior) of the spine. These types of tumors account for
2–4 % of all tumors of the central nervous system [1]. Even
though the spine is part of the central nervous system that
includes the brain, tumors in the spine are unique and have
their own diagnostic and treatment characteristics. However,
just as in the brain, tumors in the spine can be benign or
R.E. Isaacs, MD () • V. Agarwal, MD

Division of Neurological Surgery, Department of Surgery,
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
e-mail: Robert.isaacs@duke.edu; vjagarwal@gmail.com

182 R.E. Isaacs and V. Agarwal
malignant (cancerous). The three categories that spinal cord

tumors are classified in are the following: (1) intramedullary,
arising from the actual spinal cord itself, (2) intradural-
extramedullary, arising from the dura (the layer covering the
spinal cord) but outside the actual spinal cord, and (3) extra-
dural, arising most often from the vertebral bodies.
Extramedullary tumors comprise the vast majority of tumors
(~90 %). Metastatic tumors from elsewhere in the body can
occur in any of these three categories, but the overwhelming
majority are extradural.
Symptoms
Tumors in the spine cause symptoms because of the impor-
tant and abundant nerves and nerve pathways that course
through the area. These nerves relay information to and
from peripheral parts of the body and the brain, and affect
movement, sensation, balance, and pain. One of the most
common symptoms is pain that causes the patient to
awaken from sleep; it is a gnawing and unremitting sensa-
tion, and may be able to indicate where the tumor actually
is [2]. However, pain can truly originate anywhere along the
long nerve pathways. Other symptoms include problems
with sensation, weakness of muscles, decreased sensitivity
to pain, heat, and cold, loss of bowel or bladder function, or
paralysis of various degrees. Difficulty with basic functions
that use these muscles, such as walking and lifting objects,
is often times affected. This is particularly dangerous
because it can lead to falls. Interestingly, these symptoms
may start on one side of the body, but as both sides of the
spinal cord become affected bilateral symptoms result.
Using broad categories, symptoms can be divided into pain
or neurologic deficits. Pain can be persistent or intermit-
tent, and is often not relieved by rest or medication.
Neurologic deficits are caused by nerve root compression
and/or spinal cord compression, and frequently include
altered gait. Classically, tumors in the cervical (neck)
Chapter 17. Spinal Cord Tumors 183
region may cause numbness or weakness in the arms or

legs, while thoracic or lumbosacral tumors may cause
numbness or weakness in the chest or leg area. Difficulty
walking can occur with tumors anywhere along this axis. As
back pain is common, and because there are many causes
for it, knowing when to see a doctor is difficult to deter-
mine. Since early detection and treatment of these tumors
is very important, a person would be advised to see their
doctor if they experience the following symptoms: persis-
tent or worsening pain, pain that is not related to specific
activities, pain that is worse at night (especially when
attempting to sleep), and a history of cancer [3]. The spine
is a common place for other cancers to spread to, or metas-
tasize, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, and lung can-
cer [4, 5]. Urgent medical attention should be given to
worsening muscle weakness or numbness or problems with
bowel or bladder function. For this reason, a very complete
physical examination by a doctor is required to check for
probable sites of where the tumor is, checking baseline pre-
operative function, and the check the status of gait.
Risk Factors
Most spinal tumors have no known cause. Rarely, they can be
caused by exposure to certain cancer causing agents or chem-
icals. Lymphoma may occur in patients whose immune sys-
tem is compromised. There are two known genetic diseases
that can lead to spinal cord tumors. Neurofibromatosis Type
2 causes noncancerous growths to develop on or near nerves.
Some people with this disease may develop tumors in the
spinal cord. Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a rare disorder of
noncancerous blood vessel tumors known as hemangioblas-
tomas in the brain, retina, and spinal cord. A prior history of
cancer, of any type, can put a person at risk for spread to the
spine. However, the cancers with the highest rates of spread
to the spine include breast, lung, prostate, and multiple
myeloma.
Laboratory Findings
Most often, laboratory findings in patients with spinal cord
tumors do not show specific abnormalities. However, there
are some specific types of tumors that are exceptions to this.
These would include a high protein content in the blood in
multiple myeloma, an increase in the enzyme acid phospha-
tase in prostate cancer metastasis, an increase in the catechol-
amine metabolite vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) in the urine
in neuroblastoma, an increase in the enzyme alkaline phos-
phatase in osteosarcoma, and increased blood counts in
lymphoma.
Intramedullary Tumors
Tumors in this category arise from the spinal cord itself
(Fig. 17.1). As mentioned, these tumors only make up ~10 %
of the total number. The majority of tumors in this location
are “gliomas”. They are called this because under a micro-
scope they resemble a type of cell called the glial cell. These
cells form the outer coat of neurons in the nervous system,
and provide support and protection. The types of glial tumors
Figure 17.1 MRI scan showing intramedullary spinal cord tumor

(blue arrows) on side view (sagittal, left image) and top view (axial,
right image) of spine
common here are ependymomas, astrocytomas, and

oligodendrogliomas. Ependymomas are the most common in
adults, with usual age between 30 and 40 years. Ependymal
tumors are split into four major groups: ependymoma, myxo-
papillary ependymoma (mostly in the lumbosacral area),
subependymoma, and anaplastic ependymoma. Further sub-
divisions of ependymomas are cellular (most common), papil-
lary, clear cell, and tancytic types. The reason intramedullary
tumors are generally so uncommon, is because the amount of
glial tissue is significantly less in the spinal cord than the brain.
Intradural Extramedullary Tumors

Tumors in this category arise from, or under, the outer layer
of the spinal cord (dura), but external to the actual spinal
cord (Fig. 17.2). Meningiomas and nerve sheath tumors (from
the covering of the nerves) can develop in this compartment.
Nerve sheath tumors include schwannomas and neurofibro-
mas. Spinal meningiomas are most commonly in the thoracic
spine, and grow very slow. Often times, they also have high
calcium content [6]. Schwannomas and neurofibromas are
benign nerve sheath tumors, but neurofibromas have the
potential to become cancerous.
Figure 17.2 MRI scan showing intradural extramedullary spinal

cord tumor (blue arrows) on side view (sagittal, left image) and top
view (axial, right image) of spine
Extradural Tumors
Tumors in this category most often arise from the vertebral
bodies (Fig. 17.3). As discussed, metastasis can occur any-
where in the spine, but will most often arise here, and are the
most common extradural spine tumor. The most common
metastasis in this area include prostate cancer, breast cancer,
and lung cancer. This location is also home to several uncom-
mon primary tumors. Tumors found here include: chordomas
(rare bone tumors), sarcomas (usually in younger patients),
lymphoma, plasmacytomas and multiple myeloma, and eosin-
ophilic granuloma (Langerhans cell histiocytosis). Benign
(nonmalignant) tumors in this category include: osteoid
osteomas (found in long bones, <2 cm in size), osteoblasto-
mas (>2 cm in size), osteochondromas (which has both bone
and cartilage), chondroblastomas (arises from immature car-
tilage), giant-cell tumors, vertebral hemangiomas (composed
of thing-walled blood vessels, and rarely cause symptoms),
and aneurysmal bone cysts.
Figure 17.3 MRI scan showing extradural spinal cord tumor (blue
arrows) on side view (sagittal, left image) and top view (axial, right
image) of spine
Imaging
An x-ray can show the basic bony structure of the spine, and
the outline of the joints. It is often a good way to eliminate
causes other than tumors for back pain, such as fractures.
However, x-rays are not a very reliable way to diagnose spine
tumors. Computed Tomography (CT scan) is used to create an
image of the spine to show the general shape and size of the
spinal canal and the structures around it. A CT scan is often
the best modality to visualize bony structures. Magnetic reso-
nance imaging (MRI) uses magnetics to produce 3-D images of
the spine. An MRI can show the spinal cord, nerve roots, spinal
degeneration, and a higher level of details than a CT scan. It is
the best imaging to obtain to diagnose a spinal cord tumor.
Management
Treatment for these spine tumors depends on what the pre-
liminary diagnosis is. Often, after confirmation of tumor with
an MRI, it is necessary to obtain a small piece to test, known
as a biopsy. This can be done through a very small hole to
obtain a small piece of tissue to determine benign versus
malignant, and the exact type. The treatment your doctor will
choose depends on multiple factors, such as the location and
specific type of the tumor. Sometimes, surgery can be cura-
tive. Other times, options may include a combination of sur-
gery and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is much less
commonly used.
References
1. Chamberlain MC, Tredway TL. Adult primary intradural spinal
cord tumors: a review. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2011;11(3):
320–8.
2. Welch WC, Jacobs GB. Surgery for metastatic spinal disease.

J Neurooncol. 1995;23(2):163–70.
3. Welch WC, et al. Systemic malignancy presenting as neck and
shoulder pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1994;75(8):918–20.
4. Black P. Spinal metastasis: current status and recommended
guidelines for management. Neurosurgery. 1979;5(6):726–46.
5. Posner JB. Neurologic complications of cancer, Contemporary
neurology series. Philadelphia: Oxford University Press; 1995.
6. Lee JW, et al. CT and MRI findings of calcified spinal meningio-
mas: correlation with pathological findings. Skeletal Radiol.
2010;39(4):345–52.
Chapter 18
Surgical Treatment
of Epilepsy
Todd S. Trask and Videndra Desai
Epilepsy is broadly defined as recurrent (two or more),

unprovoked seizures [1, 2]. More specifically, epilepsy is a
disorder characterized by a predisposition to epileptic sei-
zures and by the neurobiologic, cognitive, psychological and
social consequences of this disorder [2]. Epilepsy is the most
common serious neurological condition, affecting over 60
million people worldwide [3]. Causes of epilepsy are consid-
ered multi-factorial, including genetic, acquired influence and
provoking factors [4]. Shorvon et al. classifies causes of epi-
lepsy into the following four groups and subgroups [4]:
1. Idiopathic
(a) Single gene disorders
(b) Complex inheritance
T.S. Trask, MD ()

Methodist Neurological Institute,
6560 Fannin St, Suite 944, Houston, TX 77030, USA
e-mail: ttrask@tmhs.org
V. Desai, MD
Houston Methodist Hospital,
6565 Fannin, Houston, TX 77030, USA

190 T.S. Trask and V. Desai
2. Symptomatic
(a) Genetic or developmental conditions
(i) Childhood epilepsy syndromes
(ii) Progressive myoclonic epilepsies
(iii) Neurocutaneous syndromes
(iv) Single gene or chromosomal disorders
(v) Developmental cerebral structural anomalies
(b) Acquired conditions
(i) Hippocampal sclerosis
(ii) Trauma
(iii) Tumor
(iv) Infection
(v) Vascular insult
(vi) Immunological disorders
(vii) Psychiatric disorders or dementias
3. Provoked
(a) Provoking factors
(i) Fever
(ii) Menstrual disorders
(iii) Metabolic or endocrine disturbances
(b) Reflex epilepsies
(i) Photosensitive epilepsy
(ii) Startle-induced epilepsy
(iii) Reading/auditory/eating or hot water-induced
epilepsies
4. Cryptogenic, i.e. unknown causes
The consequences of epilepsy include seizures, cognitive
deficits, psychological issues and social/economic issues.
Epilepsy patients have poorer self-esteem and higher levels
of anxiety and depression, lower rates of marriage and
greater rates of social isolation [5]. Some, but not all, epilepsy
patients feel stigmatized by their condition [5]. Additionally,
epilepsy patients have lower employment rates (one half),
Chapter 18. Surgical Treatment of Epilepsy 191
higher rates of welfare payments and of those that are

employed, incomes are lower relative to people without epi-
lepsy (one half) [5, 6]. Hospital and medication costs are
more than double for epileptic patients than non-epileptic
patients [6]. They also have a reduced quality of life [6].
There are many antiepileptic medications, and for nearly
80 % of patients, seizures can be controlled with one medica-
tion [1]. If treatment with a single medication fails, only about
10 % will benefit from taking multiple medications simulta-
neously [1]. There are also many side effects of these medica-
tions, including drowsiness, confusion, diplopia, liver failure,
anemia, thrombocytopenia and more [1].
When medications don’t work, which occurs in 1/3 of
patients, or when they are associated with too many side
effects, surgery may be indicated [7]. The benefit of surgery
could be freedom from seizures, but it incurs the risk of losing
language function or memory impairment. When choosing
patients surgery, the following two criteria are required [7]:
1. Seizures are medically refractory
2. Electrophysiologic, neurologic, neuropsychological and
imaging data are concordant with a specific site of seizure
origin
(a) Must demonstrate localization of this site in three or
more seizures
(b) Resection of the site must not cause unacceptable
neuro deficit
(i) Can prognosticate the speech/memory deficit a
patient will have with intracarotid amobarbital
(Amytal) testing (Wada test)
(ii) Thus patients who have seizures arising from elo-
quent cortex, or are multifocal, bilateral or gener-
alized, are not candidates for surgical resection [8].
Planning surgical resection requires many different diag-
nostic modalities. It includes structural testing, such as MRI,
and functional testing, such as the Wada test, functional MRI
and electroencephalography (EEG). Structural testing
includes MRI, which can be used to depict macroscopic

structural abnormalities that can be the source of seizures. It
allows the clinician to identify the location of the lesion
relative to surrounding structures, which aids the planning of
surgical resection. The Wada test, also known as the intra-
carotid sodium amobarbital procedure (ISAP), is named
after Juhn Atsushi Wada, a Japanese Canadian neurologist
who first used it to anesthetize a hemisphere to decrease cog-
nitive side effects associated with bilateral electro-convulsive
therapy (ECT). IASP is one of oldest procedures used to
prognosticate memory function after temporal lobe resec-
tion. IASP results relate to verbal memory changes after
surgery but not visuospatial memory changes [9]. IASP is
used to assess language dominance and memory competence
of each hemisphere in a surgical candidate [10]. The draw-
backs of IASP include being invasive, with complications
reaching 3 %, as well as only being able to measure the rela-
tive distribution of language across two hemispheres (mean-
ing, it only tells how much of language is dominated by one
hemisphere relative to other one, not exactly where the lan-
guage function occurs) [11]. More specific information about
localization within one hemisphere must be obtained by
intraoperative cortical mapping [11]. It also depends on
relatively symmetric and separate arterial supplies for each
hemisphere [11].
Because of the drawbacks of IASP, fMRI is steadily
replacing it. fMRI has been shown to have good correlation
with Wada in lateralizing language function and is non-
invasive, has no significant health risks, is not affected by
underlying arterial patterns, can be easily repeated without
additional risk, affords the examiner sufficient time to test a
range of cortical functions and also provides detailed infor-
mation about spatial localization of functions within each
hemisphere [11]. Its limitations include the inability to per-
form the study in patients with claustrophobia, pacemakers,
or those unable to hold still (cognitive or attentional deficits,
which may be common in epilepsy patients) [11].
An EEG is also non-invasive, is usually first step in seizure

localization, and stratifies patients into the following four
groups [7]:
1. Origin of seizure can be lateralized to right or left anterior
temporal lobe
2. Bilateral localization
3. Posterior temporal or extra-temporal
4. Unable to localize
Group I patients are candidates for anterior temporal
lobectomy while group four patients are candidates for inva-
sive EEG [7]. Invasive EEG involves strip electrodes that are
placed through small holes in the temporal bone of the skull
into a space just beneath the skull called the subdural space.
These electrodes are disc electrodes embedded in silastic (see
image below) [7].
Fluoroscopy is used to confirm adequate placement. The

surgeon can also place foramen ovale electrodes through the
skin into the “foramen ovale” – a hole at the base of the skull,
penetrating dura mater (the tough covering of the cerebral
nervous system) and lying adjacent to the mesial temporal
lobe (a common site of epileptogenesis) [7]. Subdural strip
electrodes are left in place for 4–7 days for seizure recording,
depending on surgeon preference, and can be removed under
deep conscious sedation with gentle/constant traction (no
surgery required) [7].
Depth electrodes are tubular, rigid or semi-rigid electrodes

that penetrate brain tissue and are inserted stereotactically
into the hippocampus (see image below).
These electrodes are placed with frameless or framed MRI

stereotaxy using a route through the back of the head near
the midline, in medical jargon an occipital, parasagittal route,
so that one electrode can be placed to simultaneously record
from both the amygdala and the anterior and posterior parts
of the hippocampus [7]. Multimodality imaging of anatomic
and angiographic studies can be combined to allow planning
of trajectories to avoid vessels and improve safety of place-
ment [7]. For instance, depth electrodes can also be placed
orthogonally using an approach through the temporal bone.
But blood vessels off the middle cerebral artery can travel
inferiorly in the temporal lobe and be at risk of injury with
this approach, so many use stereotactic angiography or mag-
netic resonance angiography or magnetic resonance venogra-
phy (MRA/MRV). Depth electrodes can also be placed
straight down, vertically with a coronal approach, but this is
uncommonly used because it requires traversing the internal
capsule, the nerve fibers controlling muscular function, to
reach the hippocampus. Both subdural and depth electrode
types are MRI-compatible [7].
In addition to defining the epileptogenic zone, the surgeon

must identify functional cortex, which can be done by
mapping the cortex under a grid electrode. Two electrodes in
the grid are selected and stimulated with enough current to
produce an effect but not so much that there are
after-discharges (amount of current varies between different
patients and different cortical regions) [7]. If the ictal onset
zone (area where seizures initiate) is close to a crucial func-
tional area such as motor speech, one can do an operation
with the patient awake in order to map language function and
to better identify the boundaries of these two (extra-operative
cortical mapping is limited to an accuracy of 1 cm, which is
the space between two electrodes) [7].
The most common complication of electrodes is infection
−0.85 % if antibiotics are given just prior to surgery. Morbidity
is highest with intracranial grids and lowest with strips. Other
complications of strip electrodes include cortical contusion,
cerebral edema, brain abscess, subdural empyema and
subdural hematoma, placement of electrodes into brain
parenchyma, accidental extraction of electrodes, superficial
wound infection, and permanent neurologic deficit in <1 %
[7]. Complications of grid placement are infection, transient
neurologic deficit, hematoma, cerebral edema with increased
intracranial pressure, and infarction. Transient neurologic
deficits occur secondary to edema, hematoma or mass effect
from grid, in which case the grid is removed immediately.
Complications of depth electrodes are intraparenchymal
hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, vasospasm and mis-
placement of the electrode. The electrode can hit the brain
stem or posterior cerebral artery, which can be avoided by
targeting tip placement in the lateral amygdala and lateral
hippocampus, making sure the hole through the occipital
bone is not too close to the midline, and confirming the tra-
jectory with an image guidance system before placing the
electrode. Alternatively, the electrode can be placed in the
temporal horn of the lateral ventricle (adjacent to the hip-
pocampus) with the tip in the amygdala. The risk of perma-
nent neurologic deficit with an occipital approach is <1 % [7].
There are many options for surgical treatment including

neuroablation, neuromodulation, and surgical resection.
Neuroablation can be performed via radiofrequency thermo-
coagulation, magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound
surgery, laser ablation and stereotactic radiosurgery. In radio-
frequency (RF) thermocoagulation, a radiofrequency genera-
tor is attached to depth electrodes that are placed deep
within the brain to the presumed site of epileptogenesis. The
generator creates heat by generating a current and thus
induces cell death via thermocoagulation. Results are modest
with only about 50 % benefiting from surgery, but this may be
considered a first-line option for minimally invasive treat-
ment [12]. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound
surgery uses MRI to localize the area of interest, and then
ultrasound energy is used to cause a lesion to it. Its strengths
include no radiation, currently being non-invasive as no sur-
gery is necessary (previously an opening in the skull was
necessary to reduce “defocusing” caused by the skull), no
trajectory restrictions and nearly real-time feedback on the
lesioning effect via MR thermometry. The main drawback is
inadvertent heating of the skull base resulting in injury to
cranial nerves [12]. Laser ablation involves MRI-guided laser
therapy that uses stereotaxy to guide thermal ablation via a
laser. Advantages are that it is more precise than RF thermo-
coagulation, provides reliable real-time feedback and avoids
skull base heating seen in ultrasound energy. The only draw-
back is that it is invasive, and thus incurs standard surgical
risks of infection, hemorrhage, etc. [12]. Stereotactic radiosur-
gery focuses ionizing radiation to deep lesions with the
advantage of being non-invasive but having the drawbacks of
radiation (collateral tissue injury and increased risk of future
malignancy) and a latent period of efficacy [12].
Within the realm of neuromodulation there is vagal nerve
stimulation and deep brain stimulation. Left-sided vagal
nerve stimulation (VNS) has been approved for treatment of
medically refractory epilepsy as well as treatment-resistant
depression, while right-sided VNS has been effective in treat-
ing heart failure. The vagus nerve is a mixed cranial nerve
that is about 20 % “efferent” (in that it sends signals from the

brain to the body) and 80 % “afferent” (relaying information
from the body to the brain) [13]. The vagus nerve travels from
the brainstem through the neck and chest and into the
abdominal cavity, innervating various structures along its
route. “Vagus nerve stimulation” describes any technique
used to stimulate the vagus nerve – it was first discovered in
the 1880s that manual massage/compression of the carotid
artery in the neck could suppress seizures, theoretically by
stimulating the vagus nerve. Then in the 1930s and 1940s,
electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve was shown to affect
brain electrical activity in cats and monkeys, and subsequent
studies showed anticonvulsant effects on experimentally-
induced seizures in dogs. In 1997, the FDA approved surgical
implantation of a device to electrically stimulate the vagus
nerve for treatment of epilepsy [13].
VNS surgery involves general anesthesia and a program-
mable pulse generator is implanted in the subcutaneous
tissue of the left chest typically. An electrical lead wire is
attached to the left vagus nerve in the neck through a second
incision. The wire is then tunneled underneath the skin and
attached to the generator, and both incisions are sutured
closed. Complications include infection and hoarseness due
to temporary or permanent left vocal cord paralysis [13]. A
small handheld computer is used to program the generator
by placing it on the patient’s skin over the device and setting
certain parameters such as current charge (electrical stimulus
intensity measured in milliamperes, mA), pulse width (elec-
trical pulse duration, measured in microseconds), pulse fre-
quency (measured in Hertz, Hz), and the on/off duty cycle
(the stimulus on-time and off-time, measured in seconds or
minutes). Typically the generator runs continuously, but it can
be turned off temporarily by the patient by holding a magnet
over the device. It can also be turned on or off by the pro-
grammer. The battery life depends on the usage parameters
and typically needs replacement every few years via a simple
surgical procedure. Side effects of VNS include voice altera-
tion, cough, dyspnea, dysphagia, and neck pain or paresthesia.
Stimulation of only the left vagus nerve is performed because

it theoretically reduces effects on the heart such as bradycar-
dia or asystole, since the heart is mainly innervated by the
right vagus nerve. These side effects can be minimized by
adjusting the parameters of the generator, but tolerance usu-
ally occurs via chronic stimulation. Metal detectors, cell
phones, microwave ovens and other electronic devices do not
affect the generator [13].
Deep brain stimulation involves electrodes placed in dif-
ferent, deep locations within the brain, and they theoretically
work by interrupting the propagation of seizures or by
increasing overall seizure threshold. Deep brain stimulation
(DBS) has also been used for surgical treatment of movement-
related disorders such as essential tremor and Parkinson’s
disease with remarkable success, propelling investigators to
apply DBS to epilepsy treatment [14]. Multiple different tar-
gets for treating epilepsy with DBS have been studied,
including the cerebellum, caudate nucleus, centromedian
thalamus, anterior thalamus, subthalamic nucleus and the
hippocampus, but only stimulation of the anterior thalamus
has thus far received class I evidence for efficacy [14]. Results
are modest and stimulation-related side effects such as
depression and other psychiatric issues can occur [12].
Epilepsy surgery includes temporal lobectomy, hemispher-
ectomy, and corpus callosotomy. In a temporal lobectomy, the
patient is placed in three-point fixation with a Mayfield head
holder and fixed to the table with head slightly extended and
turned to the side. The scalp is then shaved and cleaned. The
incision is made in a question-mark form starting just ante-
rior to the ear, curving over the top of the ear posteriorly and
then curving back anteriorly, and stopping just behind the
hairline. The scalp is flapped down as well as the temporalis
muscle and a large craniotomy is made with the drill. After
this, the covering around the brain, the dura mater, is opened
and the temporal lobe is identified. Using the microscope, the
anterior temporal lobe is resected as planned pre-operatively.
One must be cognizant of the structures medial to the tempo-
ral lobe including the brain stem, internal carotid artery and
several of its important branches, and the third and fourth
cranial nerves. Once the resection is complete, hemostasis is

achieved and closure is performed [15].
Hemispherectomy was first developed in late 1920s and
early 1930s for treatment of large tumors confined to a single
hemisphere, but because of the surgical morbidity, it was
abandoned. However, it was revived and applied to epilepsy
in 1938 till 1960, when again it was less favored secondary to
a report showing that after this procedure, superficial coating
of the cortex with iron deposits led to mortality.
Hemispherectomy should only be performed when the sei-
zures are limited to one hemisphere and multifocal resections
in one hemisphere would not be effective [16]. It provides
good seizure control (80–90 %) with the risk of iron deposits
along the superficial cortex. Because of this, “functional”
hemispherectomies began to grow favor [16].
When “eloquent” brain (in other words, tissue with signifi-
cant function such as motor control or speech function) is
involved, resection of the tissue would be disabling. In these
cases, or when seizures are caused by multiple bilateral foci,
“corpus callosotomy” can be performed. In this procedure,
the fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres are cut.
This procedure is also effective for “drop attacks”, where loss
of postural tone leads to falling and injury [1].
In summary, epilepsy is a common disorder with many dif-
ferent treatment modalities. Choosing the correct surgical
treatment modality involves a careful examination of each
case and a multitude of diagnostic tests. Nevertheless, the
outcomes after epilepsy surgery have been strong, and we
hope that they continue to improve.
References
1. Greenberg MS. Handbook of neurosurgery. 7th ed. Thieme;
2010. Print.
2. Fisher RS, Boas WVE, Blume W, Elger C, Genton P, Lee P, Engel Jr
J. Epileptic seizures and epilepsy: definitions proposed by the
International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the International
Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE). Epilepsia. 2005;46(4):470–2.
3. Neligan A, Sander JW. Epidemiology of seizures and epilepsy.

In: Miller JW, Goodkin HP, editors, Epilepsy. 2013. Print.
4. Shorvon SD, Andermann F, Guerrini R. The causes of epilepsy:
common and uncommon causes in adults and children.
5. Baker GA, Jacoby A, Buck D, Stalgis C, Monnet D. Quality of
life of people with epilepsy: a European study. Epilepsia.
1997;38(3):353–62.
6. Jennum P, Gyllenborg J, Kjellberg J. The social and economic
consequences of epilepsy: a controlled national study. Epilepsia.
2011;52(5):949–56.
7. Schmidek HH, Roberts DW. Operative neurosurgical tech-
niques: indications, methods and results. 5th ed. Saunders
Elsevier; 2006.
8. Kahane P, Depaulis A. Deep brain stimulation in epilepsy: what
is next? Curr Opin Neurol. 2010;23:177–82.
9. Chiaravalloti ND, Glosser G. Material-specific memory changes
after anterior temporal lobectomy as predicted by the intracarotid
amobarbital test. Epilepsia. 2001;42(7):902–11.
10. O’Brien TJ, et al. Temporal lobe epilepsy caused by mesial tem-
poral sclerosis and temporal neocortical lesions: a clinical and
electroencephalographic study of 46 pathologically proven cases.
Brain. 1996;119:2133–41.
11. Binder JR, et al. Determination of language dominance using
functional MRI: a comparison with the Wada test. Neurology.
1996;46:978–84.
12. Nowell M, Miserocchi A, McEvoy AW, Duncan JS. Advances in
epilepsy surgery. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2014;0:1–7.
13. Howland RH. Vagus nerve stimulation. Curr Behav Neurosci
Rep. 2014;1:64–73.
14. Chen XL, Xiong YY, Xu GL, Liu XF. Deep brain stimulation.
Intervent Neurol. 2012;1(3–4):200–12.
15. Bejjani GK. Surgical treatment for intractable epilepsy: chapter
68. Atlas of neurosurgical techniques, brain. Thieme; 2006 print.
16. Beier AD, Rutka JT. Hemispherectomy: historical review and
recent technical advances. J Neurosurg. 2013;34(6):E11.
doi:10.3171/2013.3.FOCUS1341.
Index
A rupture and bleeding

Acromegaly, 40 symptoms, 91
Adjuvant therapy stent reconstruction, 96
chemotherapy, 15 Antidiuretic hormone (ADH),
malignant brain tumors, 34 48, 49, 51
radiation, 14–15 Aphasia, 7
Adrenocorticotropic Arachnoid cysts, 68
hormone (ACTH), 40 Arteriovenous malformation
Allograft, 176 (AVM)
Aneurysms abnormal tangle of vessels,
bypass surgery, 98–100 104–105
compression symptoms, 91 capillaries, 104
conventional treatment, diagnosis
92–96 CT scans, 108–109
diagnosis DCA (see Diagnostic
cerebral angiogram, cerebral arteriogram
92–93, 96, 99 (DCA))
clip ligation, 94 magnetic resonance
coil embolization, 93 angiography, 108, 112
ophthalmic artery magnetic resonance
aneurysm, 98 imaging, 108, 110–111
ruptured giant carotid medical emergencies
aneurysm, 97 association, 118
subarachnoid symptoms and presenting
hemorrhage, 94, 95 features
epidemiology, 90 bruit, 108
flow diversion, hemorrhage, 104, 106
96–97 multiple locations brain,
pathophysiology, 90 106–107
prognosis, 100 seizure, 107–108
risk factors, 90–91 stroke, 108

Neurosurgical Conditions, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-10693-9,
202 Index
Astrocytomas Chemotherapy
malignant brain tumors, malignant brain tumors, 34
27–28 non-malignant brain tumors,
non-malignant brain 15
tumors, 2 pediatric brain tumors, 60
Atrial fibrillation, 140 Chiari II malformation (CMII),
Autograft, 176 80
AVM. See Arteriovenous Chiari I malformation (CMI)
malformation (AVM) cause, 80
cerebellar tonsils herniation,
80–81
B cerebellum/brainstem, 79
Biopsy, 32, 63 cerebrospinal fluid, 80
Bleeding. See Hemorrhagic characteristics, 79
stroke diagnosis, 83–85
Bone-grafting, 176 pathology, 80–81
Bone marrow aspirate (BMA), symptoms
176 nystagmus, 82
Bone morphogenic proteins syringomyelia, neurologic
(BMPs), 176 signs, 83, 84
Brain ischemia. See Stroke tussive headaches, 82
Bromocriptine, 42 syringomyelia, 81
Bruit, 108 treatment
Bypass surgery, 98–100 decompression surgery, 86
goals of surgery, 86
pain medications, 87
C patients indication, 86–87
Cabergoline, 42 Chiari malformations, 67–68
Capillaries, 104 Clotting. See Ischemic stroke
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation Coil embolization, 93
(CPR), 118 Computed tomography (CT)
Cauda equina syndrome, 173 arteriovenous malformation,
Cerebral angiogram, 8, 10 108–109
bilobed aneurysm, 95 non-malignant brain tumors,
cerebral arteries, 93 8–9
coil embolization, 96, 99 spinal alignment, 167
3D reconstruction, 95 spinal cord tumors, 187
giant ophthalmic artery Computed tomography
aneurysm, 98 angiography (CTa)
moyamoya disease, 125, 127 artery aneurysm, 94
pipeline-treated giant AVM nidus, 108–109
aneurysm, 99 moyamoya disease, 125, 127
Cervical spine Congenital neurosurgical
myelopathy, 170 problems
radiculopathy, 170 arachnoid cysts, 68
treatment, 170–171 chiari malformations, 67–68
Index 203
craniosynostosis, 68 corpus callosotomy, 199

encephaloceles, 68 cryptogenic, 190–191
hydrocephalus, 66–67 deep brain stimulation, 198
spina bifida and tethered definition, 189
cord syndrome, 65–66 depth electrodes, 194
Constipation, 160 electroencephalography, 193
Corpus callosotomy, 199 epileptogenic zone, 195
CPR. See Cardiopulmonary fluoroscopy, 193
resuscitation (CPR) hemispherectomy, 199
Craniosynostosis, 68 idiopathic, 189
Craniotomy, 43–44 intracarotid sodium
Cryptogenic epilepsy, 190–191 amobarbital
CT. See Computed tomography procedure, 192
(CT) neuroablation, 196
Cushing’s disease, 40 neuromodulation, 196–197
patients surgery, 191
provoked, 190
D symptomatic, 190
DCA. See Diagnostic cerebral temporal lobectomy,
arteriogram (DCA) 198–199
Deep brain stimulation, 198 vagus nerve stimulation,
Depression, 145–146 197–198
Diabetes insipidus, 45–47 Extradural tumors, 186
Diagnostic cerebral arteriogram
(DCA)
arteriovenous malformation F
cerebellum/hindbrain, 117 FLAIR sequence, 9
feeding arteries, 113 Flow diversion, aneurysms,
nidus, 116 96–97
uncontrolled seizures, 114 Fluoroscopy, epilepsy, 193
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), Fractures, 160–161
8, 11 Frontal lobe tumors, 31
E G
Electroencephalography, 193 Germ cell tumors and cysts, 58
Embryonal tumors, 57 Glioblastoma, 28
Emergency rooms, 138, 161 Gliomas, 57
Encephaloceles, 68
Encephalo-duro-synangiosis
(EDAS), 129 H
Endoscopic endonasal surgery, Hemicraniectomy, 140
44, 46 Hemispherectomy, 199
Epilepsy Hemorrhage, 104, 106
antiepileptic medications, 191 Hemorrhagic stroke,
complication, 195 91, 141–142
204 Index
Herniated discs, spine K

anatomy, 169 Kyphosis, 166–167
cervical spine, 170–171
lumbar spine, 172–174
thoracic spine, 171–172 L
High blood pressure, 146 Li-Fraumeni syndrome, 5
Hydrocephalus Low-grade gliomas
congenital neurosurgical diffuse astrocytoma, 3
problems, 66–67 incidence, 2
definition, 71 oligodendrogliomas, 3–4
diagnosis, 73 Lumbar spine
full-term infants, 72 cauda equina syndrome, 173
incidence, 71 neurogenic
older children, 72–73 pseudoclaudication,
pediatric brain tumors, 54 173
premature infants, 72 radiculopathy, 172–173
signs and symptoms of, 73 treatment, 173–174
treatment Lumbar stenosis. See
non-shunting options, 74 Pseudoclaudication
non-surgical options, 74
ventricular shunt
placement, 75–77 M
Magnetic resonance angiography
(MRa), 108, 112
I Magnetic resonance imaging
Idiopathic epilepsy, 189 (MRI)
Intra arterial (IA) therapy, arteriovenous malformation,
153–154 108, 110–111
Intracarotid sodium chiari I malformation, 83–85
amobarbital procedure extradural tumors, 186
(ISAP), 192 intradural extramedullary
Intradural extramedullary tumors, 185
tumors, 185 intramedullary tumors, 184
Intramedullary tumors, 184–185 non-malignant brain tumors,
Intravenous tissue plasminogen 9–11
activator (IV tPA), spinal alignment, 167
152–153 Malignant brain tumors
Ischemic stroke clinical presentation, 28–31
atrial fibrillation, 140 clinical symptoms, 31
endovascular procedure, diagnosis, 31–32
139–140 neuroepithelial, 28
hemicraniectomy, 140 prognosis, 35
treatment with alteplace, treatment
138–139 adjuvant therapy, 34
Isocitrate dehydrogenase complications and risk, 33
(IDH), 5 medical therapy, 32
Index 205
postoperative phase, 33–34 Neuroablation, 196

surgery, 33 Neuroepithelial tumors, 28
Medical therapy, malignant brain Neurofibromatosis type 1, 5
tumors, 32 Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2),
Meningiomas 5–6, 183
non-malignant brain tumors, Neuromodulation, 196–197
4, 5 Non-malignant brain tumors
prognosis, 16 astrocytomas, 2
spinal, 185 diagnosis
Moyamoya disease common presenting
diagnosis symptoms, 6–7
cerebral angiogram, imaging, 8–9
125, 127 physical findings, 7
CT angiogram, 125, 127 symptomatic vs.
NOVA MRI, 125, 126 asymptomatic, 7–8
preoperative MRI head histology, 2
scan, 125 low-grade gliomas
Xenon CT scan, 126, 128 diffuse astrocytoma, 3
disorders association, 122, 123 oligodendrogliomas, 3–4
ethnicity, 121–122 meningiomas, 4, 5
gender, 122, 124 prognosis and long-term
lifestyle implications, 131–133 outcome, 15–17
natural history, 123–124 risk factors
postoperative incision, staples, isocitrate dehydrogenase,
131, 132 5
presenting symptoms, 121, 122 neurofibromatosis type 2,
superficial temporal/scalp 5–6
artery, 133 treatment
treatment adjuvant therapies, 14–15
antiplatelet/ surgical resection, 11–13
anticoagulation NOVA MRI, moyamoya disease,
therapy, 129 125, 126
direct and indirect bypass, Nystagmus, 82
129–130
omental revascularization,
131 O
MRa. See Magnetic resonance Occipital lobe tumors, 31
angiography (MRa) Oligodendrogliomas, 3–4, 9, 14
MRI. See Magnetic resonance Ophthalmic artery aneurysm, 98
imaging (MRI)
Myelomeningocele, 65–66
Myelopathy, cervical, 170 P
Papilledema, 7
Parietal lobe tumors, 31
N Patient Controlled Anesthesia
Nasal drainage, 48–49 (PCA) system, 177–178
206 Index
Pediatric brain tumors nasal drainage, 48–49

causes, 53–54 observation without
children, 53 treatment, 42
clinical trials, 62 pain after surgery, 49
diagnosis, 55–56 prolactinoma, 40
hospital records, 62–63 surgery
nutrition/dietary diabetes insipidus, 45–47
requirements, 61 endoscopic endonasal
physical education class surgery, 44, 46
participation, 62 transsphenoidal approach,
psychiatric consequences, 62 44, 45
radiation, 61 transsphenoidal operation,
symptoms 47–48
hydrocephalus, 54 treatment options, 41
tumors location, 54, 55 treatment with drugs, 42–43
treatment process Pneumonia, 160
chemotherapy, 60 Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus
family accommodations, (PHH), 72
59 Premature infants,
integrative team, 58–59 hydrocephalus, 72
medications, 60–61 Procarbizine, carmustine, and
monitoring symptoms, 61 vincristine (PCV), 15
radiation therapy, 60 Prolactinoma, 40, 42–43
surgery, 59–60 Provoked epilepsy, 190
types Pseudoclaudication, 173
embryonal tumors, 57
germ cell tumors and
cysts, 58 R
gliomas, 57 Radiation therapy
sellar region tumors, 58 malignant brain tumors, 34
Pituitary tumors non-malignant brain tumors,
acromegaly, 40 14–15
antidiuretic hormone, 49 pediatric brain tumors, 60
Cushing’s disease, 40 pituitary tumors, 43
discharge instructions, 51 Radiculopathy
effect and regulation, 37–38 cervical, 170
fluid and electrolyte balance, lumbar, 172–173
49–50 thoracic, 171
fluid balance monitoring, 48 Rupture, aneurysms, 91
focused radiation therapy/
stereotactic
radiosurgery, 43 S
follow-up care, 51–52 Sagittal plane, 164
hormones functions and Scoliosis, 166
effects, 37, 39 Seizure
loss of peripheral vision, arteriovenous malformation,
40–41 107–108
Index 207
non-malignant brain tumors, Spinal fusion

6–7 indications, 175
Sellar region tumors, 58 postoperative considerations
Skin breakdown, 159 cervical fusions, 178
Smoking, 147 complex fusions, 178–179
Spina bifida, 65–66, 80 PCA, 177–178
Spinal alignment preoperative considerations,
cervical segment, 163 177
diagnosis, 167 success determination, 179
evaluation, 168 surgical techniques
kyphosis, 166–167 bone-grafting, 176
malalignment, 165 spinal hardware, 176–177
sagittal plane, 164 Stent reconstruction, 96
scoliosis, 166 Stent retrievers, 154
traumatic injuries, 165 Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS),
Spinal anomaly. 14–15, 43
See Congenital Stroke, 108
neurosurgical medical management
problems antiplatelet agents, 147
Spinal cord damage, 161 complications, 144–146
Spinal cord injury (SCI) definition, 137
acute hospital, 158 evaluation and treatment,
complications 138, 139
constipation, 160 hemorrhagic, 141–142
fractures, 160–161 high blood pressure, 146
pneumonia, 160 high cholesterol, 146–147
skin breakdown, 159 ischemic (see Ischemic
spinal cord damage, 161 stroke)
urine infection, 159–160 recovery and
comprehensive rehabilitation rehabilitation,
center, 158–159 142–144
emergency rooms, 161 signs and symptoms, 138
loss of movement, 157 smoking, 147
research evaluation, 161 neuro-interventional
traveling, 162 management
Spinal cord tumors incidence, 151
definition, 181 patient evaluation, 152
extradural tumors, 186 restore blood flow,
imaging, 187 154–155
intradural extramedullary symptoms, 152
tumors, 185 treatment option, 152–154
intramedullary tumors, Subarachnoid hemorrhage
184–185 internal carotid artery
laboratory findings, 184 aneurysms, 95
management, 187 ruptured anterior
risk factors, 183 communicating
symptoms, 182–183 aneurysm, 94
208 Index
Superficial temporal artery V

(STA), 133 Vagus nerve stimulation
Superficial temporal artery (VNS), 197–198
to middle cerebral Vanillylmandelic acid
artery (STA-MCA) (VMA), 184
bypass, 129–130 Ventricular shunts
Syringomyelia. See Chiari I complications, 76
malformation (CMI) components, 75–76
infection, 76
obstruction, 77
T Von Hippel-Lindau
Temozolomide, 34 disease, 183
Temporal lobectomy, 198–199
Temporal lobe tumors, 31
Tethered cord syndrome, 65–66 W
Thoracic spine, 171–172 Wada test. See Intracarotid
Transsphenoidal surgery, sodium amobarbital
44, 45, 47–48 procedure (ISAP)
Traumatic injuries, 165
Treatment with alteplace
(tPA), 138–139 X
Xenon CT scan, 126, 128
U
Urine infection, 159–160

Emergency Approaches To Neurosurgical Conditions

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What are some of the common neurosurgical conditions discussed in the document?

What are some of the common neurosurgical conditions discussed in the document?

What are some of the treatment options mentioned for brain and spinal cord conditions?

What are some of the treatment options mentioned for brain and spinal cord conditions?

Abhishek Agrawal

Gavin Britz Editors

ISBN 978-3-319-10692-2 ISBN 978-3-319-10693-9 (eBook)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014958084

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015

Printed on acid-free paper

Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)

Patients with neurosurgical conditions are almost always

paramedics, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, health

Boston, MA, USA Abhishek Agrawal

The key to success of any project depends upon the inputs

1 Non-malignant Brain Tumors ................................... 1

11 Medical Management of a Stroke ............................ 137

Vijay Agarwal, MD Division of Neurological Surgery,

Susan Chioffi, RN, MSN, ACNP-BC Department of

Shawn L. Hervey-Jumper, MD Department of Neurological

Robert F. Spetzler, MD Division of Neurological Surgery,

S.L. Hervey-Jumper, MD • M.S. Berger, MD ()

A. Agrawal, G. Britz (eds.), Emergency Approaches to 1

and mixed tumors (oligoastrocytomas). Meningiomas arise

Low-grade gliomas represent 15 % of all newly diagnosed

Figure 1.1 (a) Diffuse astrocytoma demonstrating increased cellu-

1,800 new low-grade gliomas are diagnosed in the United

round nuclei with perinuclear halos displaying a classic “fried

Meningiomas are typically benign, slow-growing extra-axial

Figure 1.2 WHO grade II meningiomas show (a) densely packed

gliomas is prior exposure to ionizing radiation [10]. Though

tion associated with meningiomas. Loss of one copy of the

Making the Diagnosis

Common Presenting Symptoms

Evaluating patients with non-malignant brain tumors begins

practice to offer perioperative anticonvulsant medications to

The majority of people with non-malignant brain tumors have

Symptomatic Versus Asymptomatic Tumors

Non-malignant brain tumors with no clinical symptoms have

observation period, reserving surgical intervention for

Due to its wide availability, speed, and affordability, non-

alongside patient age, tumor histology, tumor performance sta-

Surgical Considerations and the Value

105]. While some advocate initial tumor biopsy followed by

Naming site preserved

Figure 1.6 (a) Intraoperative stimulation testing allows for the

pathways is the gold standard for preserving language and

Although surgical resection is the foundation of brain tumor

Radiation therapy can be used for select patients with recur-

of 79–98 %, 68–93 %, and 92 %, respectively, and low mor-

The role of chemotherapy for non-malignant brain tumors

Prognosis and Long-Term Outcome

astrocytoma or oligoastrocytoma histology, tumors crossing

biopsies (grades 4 and 5) offer 10-year recurrences of greater

5. Berger MS. Lesions in functional (“eloquent”) cortex and sub-

17. Claus EB, Black PM, Bondy ML, Calvocoressi L, Schildkraut

resection with quality of life. Acta Neurochir.

42. Houillier C, Wang X, Kaloshi G, Mokhtari K, Guillevin R,

therapy of low-grade cerebral glioma: European Organization