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Beucler N, Boissonneau S, Ruf A, Fuentes S, Carron R, Dufour H. Crossed brainstem syndrome revealing bleeding brainstem cavernous malformation: an illustrative case. BMC Neurol 2021; 21:204. [PMID: 34016062 PMCID: PMC8136125 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-021-02223-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the nineteenth century, a great variety of crossed brainstem syndromes (CBS) have been described in the medical literature. A CBS typically combines ipsilateral cranial nerves deficits to contralateral long tracts involvement such as hemiparesis or hemianesthesia. Classical CBS seem in fact not to be so clear-cut entities with up to 20% of patients showing different or unnamed combinations of crossed symptoms. In terms of etiologies, acute brainstem infarction predominates but CBS secondary to hemorrhage, neoplasm, abscess, and demyelination have been described. The aim of this study was to assess the proportion of CBS caused by a bleeding episode arising from a brainstem cavernous malformation (BCM) reported in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION We present the case of a typical Foville syndrome in a 65-year-old man that was caused by a pontine BCM with extralesional bleeding. Following the first bleeding episode, a conservative management was decided but the patient had eventually to be operated on soon after the second bleeding event. DISCUSSION A literature review was conducted focusing on the five most common CBS (Benedikt, Weber, Foville, Millard-Gubler, Wallenberg) on Medline database from inception to 2020. According to the literature, hemorrhagic BCM account for approximately 7 % of CBS. Microsurgical excision may be indicated after the second bleeding episode but needs to be carefully weighted up against the risks of the surgical procedure and openly discussed with the patient. CONCLUSIONS In the setting of a CBS, neuroimaging work-up may not infrequently reveal a BCM requiring complex multidisciplinary team management including neurosurgical advice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Beucler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Timone University Hospital, APHM, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005, Marseille, France. .,Ecole du Val-de-Grâce, French Military Health Service Academy, 1 place Alphonse Laveran, 75230, Paris Cedex 5, France.
| | - Sébastien Boissonneau
- Department of Neurosurgery, Timone University Hospital, APHM, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005, Marseille, France.,Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France
| | - Aurélia Ruf
- Emergency Department, Timone University Hospital, APHM, 264 Rue Saint-Pierre, 13005, Marseille, France
| | - Stéphane Fuentes
- Department of Neurosurgery, Timone University Hospital, APHM, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005, Marseille, France
| | - Romain Carron
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INS, Inst Neurosci Syst, Marseille, France.,Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Timone University Hospital, APHM, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005, Marseille, France
| | - Henry Dufour
- Department of Neurosurgery, Timone University Hospital, APHM, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, 13005, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, MMG, Marseille, France
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Yamgoue Tchameni YT, Messerer M, Zerlauth JB, Levivier M, Daniel RT. Isolated developmental venous anomaly of the pons with transpontine drainage: case report. Clin Neuroradiol 2013; 24:77-81. [PMID: 23397208 DOI: 10.1007/s00062-013-0206-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Y T Yamgoue Tchameni
- Service of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland,
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Choi H, Kim CH, Lee KY, Lee YJ, Koh SH. A probable cavernoma in the medulla oblongata presenting only as upbeat nystagmus. J Clin Neurosci 2011; 18:1567-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2011.02.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2010] [Revised: 02/24/2011] [Accepted: 02/28/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Wurm G, Schnizer M, Fellner FA. Cerebral Cavernous Malformations Associated with Venous Anomalies: Surgical Considerations. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2005; 57:42-58; discussion 42-58. [PMID: 15987569 DOI: 10.1227/01.neu.0000163482.15158.5a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2004] [Accepted: 01/06/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Once thought to be rare entities, mixed cerebrovascular malformations with pathological features of more than one type of malformation within the same lesion are now being recognized with increasing frequency. Their identification generates several hypotheses about common pathogenesis or causation-evolution among different types of lesions and leads to controversial discussion on therapeutic strategies.
METHODS:
Fifteen patients drawn from a consecutive series of 58 patients harboring cavernous malformations (25.9%) were found to have an associated venous malformation (VM). Three (33.3%) of the first 9 patients, in whom the large draining vein of the VM had been left untouched at previous interventions, developed recurrent and/or de novo lesions.
RESULTS:
Histopathological analysis, interestingly, revealed that the new lesions were different in nature (three arteriovenous angiomas in two patients, a capillary telangiectasia in one patient). During extirpation of the new malformation, the draining vein of the VM in these three patients could be coagulated without any adverse events. Coagulation and dissection of the draining vein of the associated VM was performed in six more patients of our series, and this has prevented development of new lesions up to now.
CONCLUSION:
Our results are in favor of the hypothesis that the draining vein of a VM is the actual underlying abnormality of mixed vascular malformations. Causing flow disturbances and having the potential for hemorrhages, the VM seems to promote the development of new adjacent malformations. Thus, permanent cure of associated malformations might depend on the surgical treatment of the VM. We present a preliminary personal series and a thorough review of the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Wurm
- Department of Neurosurgery, Landes-Nervenklinik Wagner-Jauregg, Linz, Austria.
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Clatterbuck RE, Elmací I, Rigamonti D. The juxtaposition of a capillary telangiectasia, cavernous malformation, and developmental venous anomaly in the brainstem of a single patient: case report. Neurosurgery 2001; 49:1246-50. [PMID: 11846920 DOI: 10.1097/00006123-200111000-00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2001] [Accepted: 06/29/2001] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE Capillary telangiectasias, cavernous malformations, and developmental venous anomalies are all vascular malformations that occur on the capillary-venous side of the cerebral circulation. The associations of capillary telangiectasias with venous malformations, cavernous malformations with venous malformations, and capillary telangiectasias with cavernous malformations have all been described; however, the association of all three lesions in a single patient is extremely rare. CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 52 year-old Caucasian woman presented to our clinic with an extended history of confusion, distorted visual perceptions, photophobia, neck pain, swallowing problems, and poor balance. The patient's examination was remarkable for difficulty concentrating, mild rotatory nystagmus, subtle decreased sensation over the left side of the face and body, and brisk reflexes. Review of the patient's magnetic resonance imaging examination demonstrated a cavernous malformation, a capillary telangiectasia, and a developmental venous anomaly located adjacent to one another in the brainstem. INTERVENTION Given the patient's complex constellation of symptoms and relatively mild neurological findings, it was difficult to ascribe any one of them to a specific vascular malformation. Conservative management of this patient's vascular malformations was decided upon. CONCLUSION Juxtaposition of these three different vascular lesions in the brainstem of an otherwise normal individual suggests a relationship among them. Although there are several theories that link similar associations through physiological mechanisms such as venous hypertension, we propose that a developmental event disrupting local capillary-venous pattern formation is a plausible alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Clatterbuck
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 North Wolfe Street, Meyer 5-181, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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Clatterbuck RE, Elmac İ, Rigamonti D. The Juxtaposition of a Capillary Telangiectasia, Cavernous Malformation, and Developmental Venous Anomaly in the Brainstem of a Single Patient: Case Report. Neurosurgery 2001. [DOI: 10.1227/00006123-200111000-00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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