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We report here the regression of meningioma following treatment with the anti-estrogen agent mepitiostane in a series of cases. The first case was that of a 72-year-old woman who presented with coma status due to non-communicating hydrocephalus. A large presumed meningioma within the cerebello-pontine angle was detected on gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient recovered from the neurological deficit following endoscopic third ventriculostomy treatment, and was administered mepitiostane (10mg/day) orally. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI showed a marked regression (85%) of the meningioma following 60 months of oral medication. The second case was that of a 79-year-old woman with no neurological deficit; however, a presumed meningioma located in the frontal skull base was detected on gadolinium-enhanced MRI. Mepitiostane (10mg/day) was administered orally. Again, a marked regression (88%) of the meningioma was demonstrated after 115 months of oral medication. The third case was that of a 71-year-old woman who presented with right visual disturbance and a visual field defect. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI demonstrated a presumed meningioma located in the left sphenoidal bone. Mepitiostane (20mg/day) was administered orally. An 79% regression of the meningioma was observed after 21 months of oral medication. In these three cases, the marked reduction in meningioma following anti-estrogen agent (mepitiostane) administration suggested that this oral medication could be an effective therapeutic option in elderly patients.

We experienced 2 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from pneumonia after intervention for subarachnoidal hemorrhage. We applied lung protective ventilation strategy (LPVS) on both cases: a tidal volume less than 6 ml x kg(-1) ideal body weight and PEEP at 10-15 cmH2O. Although etiology and degree of hypoxia were very similar in two patients when ARDS was diagnosed, clinical course was quite different. The patient in whom LPVS had been started on the 5th day of ARDS required mechanical ventilation of 23 days. In contrast, another patient in whom LPVS had been started on the 16th day of ARDS required mechanical ventilation of 219 days. PaCO2 during LPVS with permissive hypercapnia in the latter patient increased up to 161 mmHg but no adverse effect was observed. These cases suggest that early application of the LPVS may be important to improve respiratory outcomes of ARDS patients.

This study examined the incidence and mechanism of restenosis after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in Japanese patients. To determine the optimal management for carotid restenosis, we retrospectively compared re-CEA with stent placement. One hundred and twenty-six patients who had received 135 CEA with primary suture were studied with angiography or duplex ultra-sonography as a follow-up study to detect restenosis (> 50% diameter reduction). Data was collected regarding demographics of the patients suffering restenosis, including age, sex, other risk factors. Recurrent carotid stenosis (more than 50% stenosis) developed in 9 CEA sites (6.7%) during a mean follow-up interval of 11.0 months (4.7-46.7 months). Recurrent carotid stenosis occurred to a significantly higher degree in women (p = 0.015). There was no significant difference in other risk factors. All patients who developed carotid restenosis were asymptomatic. Re-do CEA and carotid stenting were used to treat restenosis in 3 and 5 patients, respectively. No operative procedure was performed in the remaining one patient with milder restenosis (55%). The 30-day stroke morbidity-mortality rate was 33.3% in CEA and 0% in stent placement. In only one of 4 early restenosis patients, there was a bright lesion in diffusion weighted MR images after stent placement. To treat restenosis after CEA, stent placement is indicated because of a lower risk of distal emboli and there being no need to dissect the previous wound. To prevent restenosis, through plaque removal is necessary and patch closure may be needed especially in females.