This study aimed to evaluate the effect of brain atrophy on the functional outcome of patients with moderate-volume basal ganglia hemorrhage. Of 1003 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, 124 with moderate-volume basal ganglia hemorrhage (hematoma volume of 20–50 mL) were enrolled. The intercaudate distance (ICD) and sylvian fissure ratio (SFR) were used as linear brain atrophy parameters. The patients were divided into groups with favorable and unfavorable outcomes, according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale score, 90 days after symptom onset. Demographic and radiographic features, including the ICD and SFR, were compared between the two groups. Among the 124 patients, 74 (59.7%) exhibited a favorable outcome. The ICD and SFR values were significantly greater for the favorable group than for the unfavorable group. Multivariate analysis indicated that young age, high Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission, small hematoma volume, and increased ICD (odds ratio [OR], 1.207; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.004–1.451) and SFR (OR, 1.046; 95% CI, 1.007–1.086, per 0.001) values had a beneficial effect on functional outcome. In conclusion, brain atrophy exhibits protective effects in patients with moderate-volume basal ganglia hemorrhage, and is an important factor for predicting functional outcome.

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P urpose: P eritumoral brain edema (P TBE ) is a serious causative factor that contributes the morbidity or mortality of brain tumors. The development of P TBE is influenced by many factors, including such tight junction proteins as occludin. W e evaluated the P TBE volume and survival time with respect to the occludin expression in various pathological types of brain tumors.M aterials and M ethods: Fresh-frozen specimens from sixty patients who had brain tumors were obtained during surgery and the tumors were confirmed pathologically. The occludin expression was investigated by W estern blot analysis. The P TBE volume was measured by using preoperative magnetic resonance (M R ) imaging, and the survival time in each patient was estimated retrospectively.

Primary central nervous system (CNS) sarcomas are exceedingly rare, and, to the best of our knowledge, there has not yet been a report of intramedullary sarcoma. Here, we report a primary intradural intramedullary sarcoma of the spinal cord in a four-year-old boy who presented with low back pain and a radiculopathy involving both lower extremities. The tumor showed significant enhancement on magnetic resonance (MR) images due to its extreme vascularity. Gross total tumor removal was performed with microelectrical pulse recording, and the patient also received adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After the operation, the patient's sensory deficits were improved. Because CNS dissemination is common, entire neuraxis evaluation is essential, although there was no evidence of dissemination in this case. The prognosis of primary CNS sarcoma is poor due to infiltrative nature and early CNS dissemination is common, and the treatment of choice is radical surgical resection. Adjuvant therapy is also beneficial with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Background: Atlantoaxial fusion has been widely used for the treatment of atlantoaxial instability (AAI). However, atlantoaxial fusion sacrifices the motion of atlantoaxial articulation, and postoperative loss of cervical lordosis and aggravation of cervical kyphosis are observed. We investigated various factors under the hypothesis that the atlantodental interval (ADI) and T1 slope may be associated with sagittal alignment after atlantoaxial fusion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods: We retrospectively investigated 64 patients with RA who underwent atlantoaxial fusion due to AAI. Radiological factors, including the ADI, T1 slope, Oc-C2 angle, cervical sagittal vertical axis, and C2-C7 angle, were measured before and after surgery.Results: The various factors associated with atlantoaxial fusion before and after surgery were compared according to the upper and lower preoperative ADIs. There was a significant difference in the T1 slope 1 year after surgery (p=0.044) among the patients with lower preoperative ADI values. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the preoperative ADI (>7.92 mm) defined in the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was an independent predictive factor for the increase in the T1 slope 1 year after atlantoaxial fusion (odds ratio, 4.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-15.73; p=0.015).Conclusion: We found an association between the preoperative ADI and difference in the T1 slope after atlantoaxial fusion in the patients with RA. A preoperative ADI (>7.92 mm) was an independent predictor for the increase in the T1 slope after atlantoaxial fusion. Therefore, performing surgical treatment when the ADI is low would lead to better cervical sagittal alignment.