A 58-year-old patient presented with a severe neurological deficit due to a stroke caused by an occlusion of the left internal carotid artery siphon. Standard treatment failed and neurosurgical consult was delayed. Because of a favorable perfusion imaging finding, microsurgical revascularization via an extra-intracranial bypass (left superficial temporal artery - left middle cerebral artery) was performed 36 hours after the onset of the symptoms. The outcome of the patient was favorable. The authors want to emphasize the need to actively seek patients with a severe neurological deficit and still viable brain tissue. The time window and treatment alternatives are discussed.
- MeSH
- arteria carotis interna chirurgie MeSH
- cévní mozková příhoda * diagnostické zobrazování etiologie chirurgie MeSH
- ischemická cévní mozková příhoda * komplikace MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- perfuze škodlivé účinky MeSH
- revaskularizace mozku * metody MeSH
- výsledek terapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- kazuistiky MeSH
BACKGROUND: Pineal apoplexy is a rare condition, with unknown incidence and clinical significance. To elucidate this clinical condition, we analyzed our own case series and performed a review of the literature. METHODS: We enrolled all patients with a hemorrhagic pineal apoplexy who were referred to our department between January 2000 and January 2020. Hemorrhagic pineal apoplexy was defined as the presence of fluid-fluid levels inside the pineal cyst (PC) on an axial or sagittal magnetic resonance scan. In one patient, after PC apoplexy, we performed a circadian melatonin sampling from peripheral blood to determine the function of the pineal gland. The PubMed database was searched for publications using the terms "pineal" and "apoplexy." RESULTS: Eight patients were enrolled, of which three patients underwent surgical treatment and five patients were managed conservatively. One patient was tested for circadian melatonin secretion. Results confirmed melatonin secretion with preserved physiologic circadian rhythm.Our search of the literature led us to 31 studies that comprised 30 patients with apoplectic PC, 9 with apoplectic pineal tumor, and 1 with bleeding into the normal pineal gland. Most patients presented with headache, nausea, and vomiting, less frequently with acute hydrocephalus and gaze palsy. Twenty patients with a PC underwent resection or aspiration. Two patients underwent shunt placement as the only procedure and five received both shunt and surgical removal. Six patients with a PC were observed without surgical treatment. All the nine patients with a pineal tumor were operated on. In indicated cases, four patients received radiation therapy and one received chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Clinical significance of hemorrhagic pineal apoplexy ranges from an asymptomatic course to rapid deterioration and death. In patients with mild symptoms, observation is indicated, whereas surgical treatment is reserved for severe cases presenting with obstructive hydrocephalus and includes cerebrospinal fluid diversion, resection of apoplectic pineal lesions, or both.
