Articles related to NEUROSURGERY

The mass in the young child’s head was a “malformed monochorionic diamniotic twin,” which means that the fetuses shared the same placenta but had separate amniotic sacs in the womb. The phenomenon of one fetus becoming enveloped by another is known as “fetus in fetu” (“parasitic twin”), and it occurs in approximately 1 in 500,000 live births. The malformed fetus usually appears as a mass in the abdomen of the other fetus, wedged behind the abdominal wall tissues. In this case, however, the mass appeared in the “host” fetus’s head and most likely arose very early in development.

Exablate Neuro from Insightec targets and removes a tiny part of the globus pallidus using precision MRI-guided focused ultrasound. This reduces activity and motor symptoms like tremor and stiffness. During the procedure, patients are awake, allowing doctors to detect immediate effects and adjust as needed. There is no need for anesthesia or a hospital stay following the procedure. Exablate Neuro, unlike deep brain stimulation, does not require any surgical incisions or brain implants. Additionally, the technique reduces the risk of serious infection or brain bleeding.

Patients with stroke due to occlusion of the internal carotid artery or the first segment of the middle cerebral artery were randomized 1:1 to medical therapy vs. endovascular thrombectomy within 24 hours after onset. The trial was stopped early for efficacy, with 20% of patients in the thrombectomy group vs. 7 in the medical therapy group achieving functional independence.