Preoperative embolization of vascular metastatic tumors of the spine, particularly carcinomas of renal and thyroid origin, is an adjuvant technique that significantly decreases the intraoperative blood loss and resultant surgical morbidity. Surgical decompression was achieved in 24 spinal vascular metastatic lesions, 20 of which were treated with preoperative embolization and four of which were not. The embolic materials used were gelatin sponge, polyvinyl alcohol foams, and metallic coils. In patients who underwent adequate embolization, an average of 1,850 mL of estimated blood loss was reported; in those who underwent inadequate or no embolization, greater than 3,500 mL of estimated blood loss occurred. When gelatin sponge is used, surgery should be performed within 24 hours to prevent preoperative recanalization.

No abstract

Twenty-one patients with acute neurologic deficits following cervical spine trauma were evaluated with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (n = 21), computed tomography enhanced with intrathecal contrast material (CT myelography) (n = 18), myelography (n = 13), cervical spine radiography (n = 21), and intraoperative sonography (n = 7). MR imaging proved superior to other modalities in demonstrating parenchymal spinal cord injuries and cervical intervertebral disk herniation. Although both T1- and T2-weighted studies appear necessary to evaluate the anatomic relationship of the spinal cord, thecal space, intervertebral disks, and surrounding osseous and ligamentous structures, T2-weighted sequences were more sensitive than T1-weighted studies for detection of spinal cord injury. CT myelography was superior to MR imaging in demonstrating cervical spine fractures. In most cases, myelography revealed no information that was not apparent from both CT and MR imaging studies. Preliminary experience with MR imaging of acute cervical spine trauma suggests that it should be the study of choice in symptomatic patients who are otherwise clinically stable. CT may still be required in selected patients to evaluate complex fractures.

These results suggest that structural changes in the prefrontal region are not responsible for deficit symptoms. The caudate, particularly the right caudate, may be associated with the production of these symptoms.