Diabetic microangiopathy and its accumulated effects significantly related to subclinical LV dysfunction are characterized by impaired longitudinal shortening.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was introduced as a good technique to evaluate structural abnormalities in the white matter. In this study, we used DTI to examine anisotropic changes of the pyramidal tracts displaced by chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH).

BACKGROUND Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the most effective procedure for the long-term management of trigeminal neuralgia (TGN). However, retrospective and single-center studies are inherently biased, and there are currently no prospective, multicenter studies. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes and complications in patients with TGN who underwent MVD at specialized Japanese institutions. METHODS We enrolled patients with TGN who underwent MVD between April 2012 and March 2015. We recorded their facial pain grade and complications at 7 d (short term), 1 yr (mid-term), and 3 yr (long term) postoperatively. RESULTS There were 166 patients, comprising 60 men and 106 women (mean age 62.7 yr). Furthermore, 105 patients were aged over 60 yr. We conducted neuromonitoring in 84.3% of the cases. The complete pain relief, mortality, and complication rates at the short-term follow-up were 78.9%, 0%, and 16.3%, respectively. Overall, 155 patients (93.4%) completed the long-term follow-up, with the complete pain relief and complication rates of 80.0% and 5.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION In the hands of experienced neurosurgeons, MVD for TGN can achieve high long-term curative effects. In addition, complications are uncommon and usually transient. Our results indicate that MVD is an effective and safe treatment for patients with TGN, including elderly patients.

Although the PTA variant is frequently associated with intracranial aneurysms, it is extremely rare for the variant to lead to trigeminal neuralgia. During microvascular decompression surgery, surgeons should be careful to prevent injury of the perforating arteries arising from the PTA variant.

Although the PTA variant is frequently associated with intracranial aneurysms, it is extremely rare for the variant to lead to trigeminal neuralgia. During microvascular decompression surgery, surgeons should be careful to prevent injury of the perforating arteries arising from the PTA variant.