We report our experience on the treatment of tuberculum sellae meningiomas (TSMs) regarding the involvement of the optic canal and clinical outcomes. We reviewed 23 patients who were operated on between January 1997 and December 2008. The surgical approach was unilateral subfrontal supraorbital osteotomy in one piece. Attempts were made to improve visual function via extra/intradural unroofing of the optic canal, which released the optic nerve. Visual symptoms were present preoperatively in 21 patients, and two patients were asymptomatic. Visual acuity remained intact in 6 patients, improved in 10, was unchanged in 5 patients, and worsened in 2 patients. The postoperative visual field was normal or improved in 17 patients, unchanged in four patients, and worsened in two patients. The optic canal and clinoid were drilled extradurally in eight patients and intradurally in nine patients. Total resection of TSMs was achieved in 19 patients. Incomplete resection occurred in two patients. Decompression of the optic canal seemed to increase the visual outcome. Key words: tuberculum sellae meningioma, optic canal, visual symptoms. Meningiomas do tuberculo selar: aspectos cirúrgicos resuMoApresentamos nossa experiência em 23 pacientes operados com meningiomas do tubérculo da sela, com enfoque na descompressão do nervo óptico e nos sintomas visuais do pós-operatório. Vinte e três pacientes com meningiomas do tubérculo da sela foram operados entre janeiro de 1997 e dezembro de 2008, através do acesso subfrontal via ostetomia supraorbital. Remoção do teto do canal óptico por via extra ou intradural foi realizada em 17 pacientes. Sintomas visuais no pré-operatório ocorreram em 21 pacientes, 2 eram assintomáticos. Melhora visual ocorreu em 10, permaneceu inalterada em 5 e piorou em 2 pacientes. No pós-operatório o campo visual normalizou-se em 17 pacientes, permaneceu inalterado em 4 e diminuiu em 2. Descompressão dos nervos ópticos foi realizada em 17 pacientes. Ressecção total dos meningiomas do tubérculo da sela foi possível em 19 pacientes. Abertura do canal óptico permitiu a manipulação do nervo óptico sem novos déficites. Palavras-chave: meningioma, tubérculo selar, nervo óptico, sintomas visuais.

IntroductionIntracranial saccular aneurysms, if untreated, carry a high risk of morbidity and mortality from intracranial bleeding. Embolization coils are the most common treatment. We describe the periprocedural safety and performance of the initial human experience with the next generation Medina Coil System.MethodsThe Medina Coil System is a layered three-dimensional coil made from a radiopaque, shape set core wire, and shape memory alloy outer coil filaments. Nine aneurysms in five patients were selected for treatment with the Medina Coil System.ResultsNine aneurysms in five patients, ranging from 5 to 17 mm in size in various locations, were treated with the Medina Coil System. No procedural or periprocedural complications were encountered. Procedure times, number of coils used to treat the aneurysm, and use of adjunctive devices were much less than anticipated if conventional coil technology had been used.ConclusionsThe Medina Coil System is a next generation coil that combines all of the familiar and expected procedural safety and technique concepts associated with conventional coils. We found improved circumferential aneurysm filling, which may lead to improved long term outcomes, with fewer devices and faster operating times.

Dementia implies the decline of intellectual abilities or cognitive function. It is also characterized by behavioral abnormalities and changes in personality 1 . One unusual cause of dementia, characterized mainly by amnestic syndrome, apathy, speech and language disturbances, hypersomnia, vigilance disorder and vertical gaze palsy, is due to thalamic lesion that led to the term "thalamic dementia" 2-4 . This is related to the known thalamic connections with cortical nucleus concerned with memory process, cognition and behavior, the thalamo-fronto-limbic loops 5,6 . Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) with venous drainage into internal cerebral veins and consequently venous hypertension is uncommon and may be associated with thalamic injury. Dural AVF consists of abnormal shunting of blood between the meningeal branches or rarely cortical branches of the external, internal carotid or vertebral arteries, and the venous system, embedded in the dural leaflets of a venous sinus to form the nidus 7-10 . Capillary beds usually interposed are lacking 7. Intracranial dural AVF represent approximately 10% to 15% of all intracranial vascular malformations 8,9,[11][12][13] . Since the posterior fossa dural AVF and subsequent venous hypertension is important to be considered in the different diagnosis of thalamic lesions 14 , we report an unique case of thalamic dementia associated with venous hypertension in the bilateral thalamus due to a dural AVF that was successfully treated by endovascular procedures. cASEA 43-year-old man, air professional, coursing political science master, presented subacute onset of apathy and memory deficit. Initially, the symptoms were stress misdiagnosed. Nevertheless, his symptoms worsened progressively. On admission, the patient was awake but confuse in time. There was neither headache, neither visual impairment nor vomits. The thorough neurological examination revealed critical sense mild compromised and amnesia, predominately of recent events. No significant medical history was related.The optic fundi were normal. There was no signal of intra-

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Introduction The endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EETA) is routinely used to treat sellar and suprasellar tumors. It provides safe and direct access to tumors in these locations, with wide visualization of anatomical landmarks and great surgical results. With the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the high risk of transmission involved, various surgical procedures cannot be postponed due to their emergency. Case Report A 62-year-old female presented in the previous two months with headaches, followed by bilateral severe visual loss. In 2016, she was submitted to subtotal resection of a non-secretory macroadenoma. Because of the progressive visual deficits, the EETA was used to the resect the pituitary adenoma. Technical Note We developed a low-cost adaptation to the surgical fields, covering the patient's head and superior trunk with a regular surgical microscope bag with a tiny slit to enable the endoscope and surgical instruments to enter the nose, thus protecting the personnel in the operating room from the aerosolization of particles. This makes surgery safer for the surgical team and for the patient. Conclusion In view of the lack of literature on this subject, except for some reports of experiences from some services around the world, we describe the way we have adjusted the EETA in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) are an uncommon pathology in current neurosurgical practice. Furthermore, they generally present a challenge to the neurosurgeon because of both their deep location and the major neurovascular structures that surround them. CCFs consist of a vascular anomaly in which blood flows from meningeal branches of the internal and external carotid arteries, or directly from the internal carotid artery, into the venous circulation around and in the cavernous sinus. Twelve patients with direct and indirect/dural CCFs who underwent examination and treatment between July 2003 and February 2006 are reported here. All patients of this retrospective evaluation were symptomatic at the time of diagnosis, which was confirmed by cerebral angiography. The patients were treated by endovascular approaches and the CCFs were occluded. From our evaluation, we concluded that the endovascular procedure is safe, effective and minimally invasive in patients with CCF.

RESUMO PALAVRAS-CHAVE KEY WORDSCarotid cavernous fistula. Cavernous sinus. Endovascular treatment.

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