A controlled randomized study of endoscopic evacuation versus medical treatment was performed in 100 patients with spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral (subcortical, putaminal, and thalamic) hematomas. Patients with aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, brain tumors, or head injuries were excluded. Criteria for inclusion were as follows: patients' age between 30 and 80 years; a hematoma volume of more than 10 cu cm; the presence of neurological or consciousness impairment; the appropriateness of surgery from a medical and anesthesiological point of view; and the initiation of treatment within 48 hours after hemorrhage. The criteria of randomization were the location, size, and side of the hematoma as well as the patient's age, state of consciousness, and history of hypertension. Evaluation of outcome was performed 6 months after hemorrhage. Surgical patients with subcortical hematomas showed a significantly lower mortality rate (30%) than their medically treated counterparts (70%, p less than 0.05). Moreover, 40% of these patients had a good outcome with no or only a minimal deficit versus 25% in the medically treated group; the difference was statistically significant for operated patients with no postoperative deficit (p less than 0.01). Surgical patients with hematomas smaller than 50 cu cm made a significantly better functional recovery than did patients of the medically treated group, but had a comparable mortality rate. By contrast, patients with larger hematomas showed significantly lower mortality rates after operation but had no better functional recovery than the medically treated group. This effect from surgery was limited to patients in a preoperatively alert or somnolent state; stuporous or comatose patients had no better outcome after surgery. The outcome of surgical patients with putaminal or thalamic hemorrhage was no better than for those with medical treatment; however, there was a trend toward better quality of survival and chance of survival in the operated group.

Object. The authors undertook a retrospective analysis of the incidence and time course of pituitary insufficiency following gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) for pituitary adenomas. Methods. Pituitary adenomas in 92 patients were analyzed. There were 61 hormonally inactive tumors, 18 prolactinomas, and nine somatotropic and four adrenocorticotropic adenomas. The mean tumor volume was 3.8 cm3 (range 0.2–14.6 cm3). The mean prescription dose was 15 Gy. The mean prescription isodose was 50.7%. The mean follow-up time was 4.6 years (range 1.2–10 years). The following new or deteriorating insufficiencies that did not require treatment were recorded for the different pituitary axes: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) 19 (20.6%), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 32 (34.8%), adenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) 10 (10.9%), and growth hormone (GH) 26 (28.3%). For new insufficiencies or deterioration requiring replacement therapy, the figures were as follows: FSH/LH 20 (21.7%), TSH 22 (23.9%), ACTH eight (8.7%), and GH 12 (13%). Spot dosimetry was performed in 59 patients in the hypothalamic region, the pituitary gland, and pituitary stalk. The pituitary stalks in patients with deterioration of pituitary function received a statistically higher dosage of radiation, 7.7 ± 3.7 Gy compared with 5.5 ± 3 Gy (p = 0.03). Conclusions. The function of the residual normal pituitary gland is less affected following GKS of pituitary adenomas than after fractionated radiotherapy. Nonetheless, increased attention needs to be exercised to reduce the dose to the stalk and pituitary gland to minimize the incidence of these complications.

No abstract

Although technically challenging, the endoscopic approach to the orbit, even for intraconal lesions with medialization of the medial rectus muscle, can be safe and promising for well-selected cases. Good postoperative results and sufficient material acquisition for proper histological examination can be obtained. Advantages are good visualization of the surgical field and avoidance of external scars. Limitations to endoscopic techniques are tumors in the lateral superior and lateral inferior quadrant of the orbit.

In 138 patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms operated on within 48 to 72 hours after subarachnoid hemorrhage, an external ventricular drainage catheter was inserted before craniotomy and was used intermittently during the first week after surgery. In 51 patients, intracranial pressure (ICP) was measured intraoperatively. The majority of patients showed increased ICP intraoperatively irrespective of the preoperative Hunt and Hess grade and the amount of subarachnoid blood accumulation or intraventricular blood clot. Intraoperative drainage of cerebrospinal fluid allowed easy access for aneurysm dissection by making the brain slack in more than 90% of patients. Postoperative ICP measurements revealed that significant brain swelling did not occur in the majority of patients. In 7 patients, persistently elevated ICP (greater than 20 mm Hg) was recorded. Nine patients (8%) developed shunt-dependent hydrocephalus; all of these patients had suffered an intraventricular hemorrhage. Measurements of the volumes of cerebrospinal fluid drained did not allow prediction of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus.