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We here describe the first case of a ruptured aneurysm located at a collateral artery that extended from the proximal A2 segment to the M1 segment, which was associated with an anomalous branch of the anterior choroidal artery and middle cerebral artery (MCA) hypoplasia. The aneurysm was revealed by angiograms and intraoperative findings. No previous accounts have been published of such an extremely rare vessel anomaly. In practice, this case highlights the urgent need to preoperatively recognize such vascular anomalies, as well as to better understand the collateral blood supply in cerebral ischemia associated with these MCA anomalies. Such knowledge will be helpful for planning optimal surgical procedures.

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis is an uncommon disorder that causes a localized or diffuse thickening of the dura mater. Recently, the possibility that IgG4-related sclerosing disease may underlie some cases of intracranial hypertrophic pachymeningitis has been suggested. We herein report the tenth case of IgG4-related intracranial hypertrophic pachymeningitis and review the previous literature. A 45-year-old male presented with left-sided focal seizures with generalization. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a diffuse thickening and enhancement of the right convexity dura matter and falx with focal nodularity. The surgically resected specimens exhibited the proliferation of fibroblast-like spindle cells and an infiltration of mononuclear cells, including predominantly plasma cells. The ratio of IgG4-positive plasma cells to the overall IgG-positive cells was 45% in the area containing the highest infiltration of plasma cells. On the basis of the above findings, IgG4-related sclerosing disease arising from the dura mater was suspected. IgG4-related sclerosing disease should be added to the pachymeningitis spectrum.

BACKGROUND We report a case of infratentorial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) associated with persistent primitive hypoglossal artery (PPHA). To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of these combined anomalies in the English literature. We discuss the embryological relationship between these two congenital vascular anomalies. CASE DESCRIPTION An 18-year-old girl, who suddenly developed severe headache and vomiting followed by loss of consciousness, was admitted to our hospital. A computed tomography scan showed intracerebellar hemorrhage with obstructive hydrocephalus. Digital subtraction angiography revealed an AVM in the left cerebellar hemisphere and an ipsilateral PPHA. After the intracranial pressure was stabilized, the AVM was surgically removed. AVMs develop during the 4(th) to 8(th) week of embryonic life. In contrast, carotid-basilar anastomoses (CBAs) including primitive hypoglossal arteries appear and close spontaneously by the 6(th) week of embryonic life. Thus, AVMs precede CBAs, and a large amount of blood flows into the adjoining AVM via ipsilateral CBAs. As a result, spontaneous closure of a CBA may be disturbed. CONCLUSION We speculate that coexistence of infratentorial AVMs and ipsilateral CBAs is not incidental but inevitable.

We herein describe a case of a solitary metastasis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the third ventricle, which was totally removed via an interhemispheric trans-callosal trans-choroidal approach. The histological examination revealed a solitary metastasis of RCC. The postoperative course was uneventful. A stereotactic cyber knife was additionally used for the tumor cavity. As of 2 years after surgery, the patient has been doing well without recurrence. This case highlights the urgent need for an early diagnosis and surgical treatment for solitary metastasis of RCC to the third ventricle due to its critical course.

Background Most of the results regarding hydrogen (H2) therapy for acute cerebral ischemia are derived from in vitro studies and animal experiments, with only a few obtained from human trials with a limited number of subjects. Thus, there is a paucity of information regarding both the beneficial therapeutic effects as well as the side effects of H2 on acute cerebral ischemia in humans. We designed a pilot study to investigate single dose intravenous H2-administration in combination with edaravone, aiming to provide an initial estimate of the possible risks and benefits in select patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke. Methods An open-label, prospective, non-randomized study of intravenous H2-administration was performed in 38 patients hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke. All patients received an H2-enriched intravenous solution in addition to edaravone immediately after the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke. Acute stroke patients within 3 h of onset received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) (0.6 mg/kg) treatment, and patients receiving t-PA had to commence the administration of the H2-enriched intravenous solution and edaravone before or at the same time as the t-PA was infused. Results Complications were observed in 2 patients (5.3%), which consisted of diarrhea in 1 patient (2.6%) and cardiac failure in 1 patient (2.6%). No deterioration in laboratory tests, urinary tests, ECG, or chest X-ray radiograms occurred in any patient in this study. In all patients, the mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at baseline, and 7, 30, and 90 d after admission were 8.2 ± 7.5, 5.6 ± 7.1, 4.9 ± 6.5, and 4.5 ± 6.3, respectively. The early recanalization was identified in 4 of 11 patients (36.4%) who received intravenous t-PA administration. Hemorrhagic transformation was observed in 2 patients (18.2%). None of the patients in this study that were treated with t-PA developed symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Conclusions Data from the current study indicate that an H2-enriched intravenous solution is safe for patients with acute cerebral infarction, including patients treated with t-PA.