Background: Why are intradural disc herniations (IDHs) (0.3% of all discs) so infrequent? One explanation has been the marked adherence of the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) to the ventral wall of the dura. Variability in symptoms and difficulty in interpreting magnetic resonance (MR) images with/without contrast make the diagnosis of an IDH difficult. Here, we reported a patient with an L1–L2 IDH and appropriately reviewed the relevant literature. Case Description: A 57-year-old male presented with chronic low back and 1 month’s duration of the left thigh pain. The lumbar MR with/without contrast demonstrated an IDH at the L1–L2 level, resulting in spinal cord compression. At surgery, the disc herniation was appropriately resected, the dura was closed, and an interbody fusion with pedicle screw fixation was performed. Postoperatively, the patient clinically improved. Conclusion: IDHs are rare, being seen in only 0.3% of all cases. MR findings, performed with/without contrast, may help signal the presence of an IDH. MR findings include a hypointense structure inside the dura; the “hawk beak” sign (e.g., beak-like mass with ring enhancement at the intervertebral disc space); the Y sign (e.g., ventral dura split into ventral dura and arachnoid by disc material); an abrupt loss of continuity of the PLL; a diffuse annular bulge with a large posterocentral extrusion; and an typical crumbled appearance of disc (e.g., “crumble disc sign”). At surgery, both the extradural and intradural components of the disc must be excised.

Resumo Objetivo: Estudar a gestão financeira da neurocirurgia no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) brasileiro no Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto. Métodos: Foram avaliados 246 AIH (Autorizações de Internações Hospitalares) dos pacientes internados no Hospital de base no período de dezembro de 2012 a junho de 2013, sendo catalogados o gasto total do paciente durante a internação, idade, dias de internação, local de origem, nome completo e registro hospitalar, e comparados os valores com os valores pagos pelo SUS de acordo com a legislação em atividade. Resultados: O total de gasto do hospital nas cirurgias eletivas foi de R$ 718.036,70, e o valor pago pelo SUS foi de R$ 321.607,45, evidenciando um déficit de R$ 395.329,17. Em contrapartida, o gasto pelo hospital nas cirurgias de urgência foi de R$ 707.698,28 e o valor pago pelo SUS, de R$ 199.599,94, evidenciando um déficit de R$ 508.098,34. Conclusão: A tabela de distribuição financeira de acordo com os procedimentos do SUS encontra-se desatualizada, principalmente nas subespecialidades que utilizam materiais, por exemplo, a neurocirurgia vascular e de coluna. Além disso, o valor pago pelo SUS nas cirurgias de trauma encontra-se, sobremaneira, inferior ao valor gasto pela instituição, necessitando, assim, de revisão dos gastos e reestudo dos valores pagos pelos procedimentos.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare neuroendocrine skin tumor. In our knowledge, only 30 cases of brain metastasis were reported in literature. The authors report a case of 57-year-old male with elevated intracranial pressure signs, which a frontal mass with pathological diagnosis of MCC. Case Description: A 57-year-old male was admitted with a 3-month history of progressive headache, associated with nausea and dizziness. The magnetic resonance imaging showed a left frontal lobe, parasagittal, and nodular lesion with perilesional edema. The patient underwent complete surgical resection with success. The adjuvant treatment was radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Conclusion: In our knowledge, there is a little number of cases of MCC reported in literature. Surgical management is considered in cases with intracranial hypertension or focal signs. The adjuvant treatment options are immunotherapy and radiotherapy.

Orbital schwannomas are rare, presenting a rate of incidence between 1 and 5% of all orbital lesions. Their most common clinical symptoms are promoted by mass effect, such as orbital pain and proptosis. The best complementary exam is the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which shows low signal in T1, high signal in T2, and heterogeneous contrast enhancement. The treatment of choice is surgical, with adjuvant radiotherapy if complete resection is not possible. We report the case of a 24-year-old male patient with orbital pain and proptosis, without previous history of disease. The MRI showed a superior orbital lesion compatible with schwannoma, which was confirmed by biopsy after complete resection using a fronto-orbital approach.

Introduction: Differential Pressure Shunts (DPS) for hydrocephalus work through a pressure differential between the proximal and the distal inlet. Neurosurgeon’s reference is extra-low, low, medium, normal or high-pressure valves, symbolizing the shunt’s resistance against the downstream flow. The Brazilian manufacturing process for all shunts is regulated by ISO 7195 version 2006, revised in 2016, and it allows a lot of flexibility in the determination of shunt resistance and flow characteristics. Methods: This article compares the pressure-flow characteristics of some hydrocephalus shunts available in Brazil based on their information brochures Results: Six shunt information brochures were compared regarding to CSF flow-control manufacturing graphs and/or pressure work range tables. Based on the data obtained of each valve, authors propose and introduce a comparative table that can be helpful if used as a guide to the neurosurgeon when one considers either a first time shunt implantation or a shunt revision Conclusion: There is no standardization regarding the pressure which defines the different models of shunts available in Brazil and neurosurgeon must be aware when choosing a specific shunt and even more when, in a shunt review, choose another manufacturer.