Tag: Dural

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Spinal Anterior Dural Dissection: Moving From Differential to Unifying Diagnosis

Neurosurgery 95:207–214, 2024

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collections extending longitudinally at the anterior aspect of the spinal dura have been reported in association with various conditions and under multiple names. The aim of this study was to report cases associated with brachial amyotrophy (BA) and examine its relationship with other clinical variants.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including patients who presented with a motor deficit of the upper limbs and an anterior interdural CSF collection on spinal MRI. We performed a systematic review of the literature to include cases revealed by BA.

RESULTS: Seven patients presenting with BA and a confirmed dural dissection on spinal MRI were included. All patients were male with a slowly progressing history of asymmetrical and proximal motor deficit of the upper limbs. Chronic denervation affecting mostly C5 and C6 roots was found on electroneuromyography. Spinal MRI demonstrated an anterior CSF collection dissecting the interdural space and exerting a traction on cervical motor roots. Dynamic computed tomography myelogram localized the dural defect every time it was performed (4/7 cases), and surgical closure was possible for 3 patients, leading to resolution of the collection. Literature review yielded 18 other published cases of spinal dural dissections revealed by BA, including 4 in association with spontaneous intracranial hypotension and 4 others in association with superficial siderosis.

CONCLUSION: We propose a unifying diagnosis termed “spinal anterior dural dissection” (SADD) to encompass spinal dural CSF collections revealed by BA (SADD-BA), spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SADD-SIH), or superficial siderosis (SADD-SS).

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Cavernous venous malformations in and around the central nervous system. Part 1: Dural and extradural

J Neurosurg 140:735–745, 2024

Cavernous-type malformations are venous lesions that occur in multiple locations throughout the body, and when present in the CNS, they have canonically been referred to as cavernomas, cavernous angiomas, and cerebral cavernous malformations. Herein all these lesions are referred to as “cavernous venous malformations” (CavVMs), which is congruent with the current International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies classification system.

Even though histologically similar, depending on their location relative to the dura mater, these malformations can have different features. In Part 1 of this review, the authors discuss and review pertinent clinical knowledge with regard to CavVMs as influenced by anatomical location, starting with the dural and extradural malformations. They particularly emphasize dural CavVMs (including those in the cavernous sinus), orbital CavVMs, and spinal CavVMs. The genetic and histopathological features of CavVMs in these locations are reviewed, and commonalities in their presumed mechanisms of pathogenesis support the authors’ conceptualization of a spectrum of a single disease entity. Illustrative cases for each subtype are presented, and the pathophysiological and genetic features linking dural and extradural to intradural CavVMs are examined.

A new classification is proposed to segregate CavVMs based on the location from which they arise, which guides their natural history and treatment.

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Cranial dural arteriovenous shunts: selection of the ideal lesion for surgical occlusion according to the classification system

Acta Neurochirurgica (2019) 161:1775–1781 

The types of cranial dural arteriovenous fistulae (cDAVFs) that constitute good surgical candidates are unclear despite the use of classifications. We aimed to compare the DES classification with other classification schemes in identifying “ideal lesions for surgery.” The DES scheme is based on two features: the level of the shunt (BVS, bridging vein shunt; DSS, dural sinus shunt; ISS, isolated sinus shunt; EVS, emissary vein shunt) and the type of leptomeningeal venous reflux (LVR) (direct, exclusive, strained).

In this observational cohort study, the angiographies of 20 consecutive patients treated over 1 year were analyzed retrospectively. We defined cDAVFs as ideal for surgery, if cure may be achieved by disconnecting the arterialized draining vein through a single craniotomy. To evaluate the performance of each classification scheme in identifying the “ideal lesion for surgery,” we carried out a sensitivity analysis of the Borden, Cognard, and DES schemes.

Eight lesions were Borden type 3 and 1 type 2, and 11 type 1. According to Cognard, 2 lesions were type IV, 2 type III, 1 type IIa+b, 11 type I, and 4 lesions could not be clearly classified. According to the DES scheme, 8 lesions were DSS, 4 BVS, 3 ISS, and 5 EVS. All 4 lesions classified as BVS in the DES were ideal lesions for surgery (sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV 100%). Not all high-grade lesions according to Borden were good surgical candidates.

Conclusion The DES scheme, as opposed to other classifications, facilitates the therapeutic decision-making especially for selecting candidates for surgery.

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