Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has now become an accepted mode of hydrocephalus treatment in children. Varying degrees of success for the procedure have been reported depending on the type and etiology of hydrocephalus, age of the patient and certain technical parameters. Review of these factors for predictability of success, complications and validation of success score is presented.

Intraoperative imaging has become one of the most important adjuncts in neurosurgery, especially in the surgical treatment of intra-axial tumors. Navigation and intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging have limitations, and intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) has emerged as a versatile and multifaceted alternative. With technological advances in ultrasound scanners and newer multifunctional probes, the potential of IOUS is increasingly being utilized in the resection of tumors. The addition of image guidance to IOUS has exponentially increased the power of this technique. Navigated ultrasonography (nUS) can now overcome many of the limitations of conventional standalone two-dimensional ultrasonography. In this pictorial essay, we outline our nUS technique (both two-and three-dimensional) for the resection of intra-axial tumors with illustrated examples highlighting the various steps and corresponding benefits of the technique.

Objectives Craniovertebral junction (CVJ) is a unique, mobile and complicated component of our spine which necessitates specific study pertaining to its structure as well as pathologies. This study aims to report the normative data detailing the CVJ anatomy among the rural population of Central India which would help us in understanding the joint dynamics. Materials and Methods A retrospective observational study was undertaken in the Department of Neurosurgery and Radiology, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram, Maharashtra, from December 2018 to May 2019. A total of 255 head injury patients with a normal CT brain cervical spine were included in this study. Anterior and posterior atlantodental interval (AADI/PADI), clivus length (CL), foramen magnum diameter (FMD), Boogard’s and basal angle (BOO & BA) were measured and analyzed. Statistical Analysis Statistical analysis was done using Microsoft Excel 2016. A web-based, open source application known as OpenEpi.com (version 3.01) was used for applying unpaired t-test. Results This study had a mean age of 42.9 years. The difference in mean value of AADI between male and female population was not found to be statistically significant, while in case of PADI, CL, FMD, BOO and BA, it was found to be significant (p < 0.05). On comparison of cases with age ≤ 20 years and > 20 years, we found the difference in values of ADI, CL and FMD to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion Although there are some similarities, namely, AADI measurements as compared with other studies, there are differences in cutoff values of other parameters. Being a major draining reference center for rural population in India, this data can be extrapolated to a similar population for reference.

A 24-year-old female presented with weakness of left upper limb and an episode of generalised seizure. She had a history of right parieto-occipital Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) which was embolised in four settings with different embolic agents (glue, polyvinyl alcohol). She had received Gamma Knife Surgery (GKS) for residual AVM. Post radiosurgical procedure, there was complete obliteration of AVM which was confirmed on angiography. However, she had developed an intracranial Space Occupying Lesion (SOL) at the site of AVM with atypical imaging features [Table/ Fig-1]. Surgical excision of this lesion was carried out and histological examination of the specimen showed a foreign body reaction.She then came to our institute with weakness of left upper limb and an episode of generalised seizure. Gadolinium contrast MRI showed multiple conglomerate ring enhancing lesion at right parieto-occipital region with mass effect [Table/ Fig-2]. Computed Tomography (CT) scan showed artefacts due to the presence of onyx . We proceeded to do a re-exploration of the previous craniotomy and microsurgical excision of the contrast enhancing lesion. It was a firm mass which was excised completely in piecemeal fashion. Histopathological examination showed an AVM nidus with necrotising granulomatous inflammation with predominant foreign body giant cell reaction. The patient made a good postoperative recovery and has had an uneventful follow-up for the last one year. ABSTRACTOnyx is a liquid embolic agent presently gaining wide acceptance for embolisation of multiple vascular cranial pathologies like Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) and Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF). Onyx stays in the nidus of vascular pathology and initiates inflammatory response leading to thrombosis and subsequently resulting in occlusion of vascular nidus. However, if onyx spills into the surrounding brain tissue, reaction occurs in the form of foreign body inflammatory reaction. This is one of the very few cases in literature whereby embolisation of AVM with onyx lead to granuloma formation which needed surgical excision. It presented with limb weakness and seizure episodes.[

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Objectives The aim of this study was to analyze the demographics, clinical presentation, and surgical outcome of intracranial arachnoid cysts and to review the surgical options. Methods This is a retrospective observational study of 56 cases of symptomatic arachnoid cysts among all age groups treated between 2004 and 2020 at the Bombay Hospital, Mumbai. Endoscopic fenestration, microsurgical cyst excision, and shunt insertion were the interventions performed. Clinical presentation, cyst reduction post-intervention, and complications were studied. The follow-up period varied from 1 month to 16 years. Statistical analysis was done for 43 patients with a minimum of 3 years' follow-up. Results In all, 75% of patients were <18 years of age. Of these, the majority were between the age of 1 and 10 years. There were 14 cases of temporal, 13 cases of retrocerebellar, 10 cases of quadrigeminal cistern, and 7 cases each of interhemispheric and suprasellar arachnoid cysts. The most common clinical presentation was headache and vomiting. Concomitant hydrocephalus was seen on imaging in 24 cases. Endoscopic fenestration of cyst was the most routinely performed procedure (35 cases). Four patients of endoscopic fenestration underwent a redo endoscopic procedure on follow-up. Post-operative reduction in cyst size was found to be significantly better after endoscopic fenestration (p < 0.05). Conclusion Though the best available treatment for arachnoid cysts remains controversial, surgery has been found to be beneficial in symptomatic cases. Endoscopic fenestration is considered the first-line surgical option and it may be followed by shunt, if necessary. Shunts may be preferred in very young children where there is associated hydrocephalus/macrocephaly.

Combined endoscopic approach thus gives a unique opportunity to remove these lesions more radically with less morbidity.

BACKGROUND Obstructive jaundice is a surgical condition that occurs when there is an obstruction to the passage of conjugated bilirubin from the liver cells to the intestine. This study has studied five clinical and nine laboratory parameters in patients presenting with malignant obstructive jaundice along with their radiological findings. By studying these parameters, the prognosis of patients with malignant obstructive jaundice and the best possible intervention could be predicted. AIM To study the various aetiopathological aspects associated with obstructive jaundice and investigative parameters of these patients thereby evaluating the prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS This observational study has been conducted in a tertiary institute by collecting data of 50 cases of malignant obstructive jaundice admitted to the surgical wards of BYL Nair Hospital from August 2011 to August 2014 with followup of 3 months to obtain mortality data. Male and female patients above 18 years and below 80 years of age with histologically proven malignant obstructive jaundice were included as part of this study. Data of retrospective cases were obtained from Medical Record section without disclosing the address or identification of the patient. RESULTS In this study, a total of 50 cases of histologically proven malignant obstructive jaundice were evaluated. 50 patients were studied out of which 33 were male and 17 were female. Majority of the patients were in the age group of 61-70 years i.e. 21 of them. 11 patients were between 41-50 years of age, 10 were less than 40 years of age and 8 were between 51-60 years. The most common presentation of the patients was with yellowish discolouration of sclera and urine (YDS/YDU) seen in 44 patients followed by pruritus seen in 38 patients. Dilated Common Bile Duct with/without pancreatic duct dilatation was the most common finding on sonography followed by a mass seen in the head of the pancreas. Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma was the most common finding on histopathology followed by well-differentiated adenocarcinoma.