Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas (dAVFs) of the anterior cranial fossa (ACF) are uncommon but carry a high risk of hemorrhage and pose substantial treatment challenges. Recent advancements in endovascular treatment (EVT), including the introduction of novel liquid embolic agents, have markedly bolstered EVT\'s role in managing ACF-dAVFs, with notable series published in the last five years. We aimed to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of EVT for ACF-dAVFs. We searched Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases following PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies included those with ≥ 5 patients undergoing embolization of ACF-dAVFs, detailing both angiographic and clinical outcomes. We used single proportion analysis with 95% confidence intervals under a random-effects model, I2 to assess heterogeneity, and Baujat and sensitivity analysis to address high heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed by funnel-plot analysis and Egger\'s test. Outcomes included complete occlusion following embolization, unsuccessful endovascular embolization attempts, incomplete occlusion following embolization, symptom resolution or clinical improvement following embolization, recurrence; procedure-related complications, morbidity, and mortality. Additionally, a subanalysis for studies exclusively utilizing Onyx™ embolic system was done. Eighteen studies comprising 231 ACF-dAVF were included. Unsuccessful endovascular embolization attempts rate was 2%. Complete occlusion rate was 85%, with 4% of complications. Incomplete occlusion rate was 10%. Successfully embolized patients experienced either symptom resolution or clinical improvement in 94% of cases. Morbidity and mortality rates were 1% and 0%, respectively. Onyx subanalyses showed an overall rate of 0% for unsuccessful attempts, 95% for complete occlusion, and 5% for incomplete occlusion. Symptom resolution or clinical improvement was 98% and recurrence rate was 0%. EVT for ACF-dAVF is highly feasible, effective, and safe, with a low rate of complications, morbidity, and mortality. The subanalyses focusing on Onyx embolizations revealed superior efficacy and safety outcomes compared to the findings of the primary analyses involving all included studies.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal adenocarcinoma accounts for less than 0.1-4% of all malignancies in the region. It is common among woodworkers and leather workers. Sinonasal adenocarcinoma usually arises from the ethmoid sinus (40%) or nasal cavity (25%). Extension to nearby structures is common, but intracranial spread is very rare. These tumors are usually treated with surgery, with a reported 5-year survival rate of 59% to 80%.
METHODS: This is a 60-year-old Black African male patient who presented with globalized headache, nasal obstruction with snoring during sleep, anosmia, change in mentation, sometimes agitation and left-side visual loss of one-year duration with worsening his above symptoms over the last one month. He couldn\'t smell soap bilaterally; in his left eye he could see only hand movement at nearly 30 cm. On brain magnetic resonance imaging, there was a T1 hypo- and T2 hyper-intense anterior cranial fossa mass arising from the left ethmoid sinuses and sphenoid sinuses and compressing the left optic structures, and brain computed tomography demonstrated heterogeneous hypo- to isodense mass. Complete tumor excision achieved and discharged with significant improvement and linked to oncology unit for radiotherapy.
CONCLUSIONS: The management of these patients is multidisciplinary, involving neurosurgeons, otolaryngologists, oncologists, and maxillofacial surgeons. Surgical resection is the main treatment strategy, followed by radiotherapy, particularly intensity-modulated therapy. Chemotherapy is used in highly advanced, metastatic, and unresectable tumors.

Intracranial schwannomas not originating from cranial nerves are rare. In this paper, we report a case of a 50-year-old male who presented with worsening headaches, diplopia and nausea over two years. Radiological imaging revealed a large tumour arising from the olfactory groove region with a preoperative diagnosis of olfactory groove meningioma (OGM). Intraoperatively, the tumour originated from the region of the attachment of the falx to the crista galli. The patient recovered without complication and histopathology reported an unexpected diagnosis of WHO Grade 1 schwannoma. However, as olfactory groove schwannomas (OGSs) cannot be distinguished from olfactory ensheathing cell tumours (OECTs), it is possible that the tumour could have been either an OGS or an OECT. Distinguishing between OGSs, OECTs and OGMs preoperatively is difficult. OGMs exhibit distinct histopathological features from OGSs/OECTs, however, OGSs and OECTs currently cannot be distinguished from each other. Here, we review the literature to discuss the differentiating features and cellular origins of these three tumours.

BACKGROUND: Anterior skull base resection often results in large defects that need to be reconstructed. This can be done using loco-regional, free flaps or both.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the surgical outcomes (mortality, complication rates and functional outcomes) for patients undergoing anterior skull base reconstruction.
METHODS: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus) were systematically searched for relevant articles from 1974 to March 2018. A total of 41 studies were included in this systematic review. No randomized controlled trials were identified; therefore, a meta-analysis was not performed.
RESULTS: Mortality from anterior skull base reconstruction were about 0-4% for loco-regional flaps while free flaps were around 0-7%. Overall complications ranged from 0% to 43% in loco-regional flaps, while rate of complications for free flaps ranged from 25% to 66.7%. Flap complications ranged from 0% to 14% for free flaps and 0% to 35% for local flaps. Quality-of-life measures did not differ significantly depending on surgical approach but were worse for patients with malignancies.
CONCLUSIONS: Due to varying standards of reporting of outcomes, lack of a standardized classification system for anterior skull base defects and absence of clinical trials, we were unable to perform a meta-analysis in this systematic review. Recommendations to guide future studies are proposed.

We herein report a patient who was diagnosed as having olfactory groove schwannoma (OGS) which was negative for CD57 (Leu7) but positive for Schwann/2E and Sox10. A 13-year-old female with a chief complaint of headache was referred to our department due to a tumor lesion in the anterior skull base identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At the first visit, she did not exhibit altered consciousness, motor palsy, anosmia, seizures, or café au lait spots. On contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), a heterogeneously enhanced tumor, 50 × 45 × 50 mm in size, was observed at the anterior skull base. The left cribriform plate was thinner on bone window CT. The tumor exhibited strong, heterogeneous gadolinium enhancement on MRI as well. Slight tumor staining was observed by angiography of the left internal carotid artery but not the left external carotid artery. The patient was preoperatively diagnosed as having meningioma and underwent gross tumor resection via the basal interhemispheric approach. The tumor was strongly positive for S-100 protein and negative for epithelial membrane antigen and CD57 by immunostaining. The tumor was positive for both Schwann/2E and Sox10, which aided in the differential diagnosis between OGSs and olfactory ensheathing cell (OEC) tumors, and the definitive diagnosis was OGS. The assessment of immunoreactivities for Schwann/2E and Sox10 might be necessary to differentiate CD57-negative Schwannomas from OEC tumors.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery (ESBS) is a well-established management strategy for anterior cranial fossa (ACF) encephaloceles in adults. However, its application to the pediatric population has not been evaluated in large-scale studies. This study systematically reviews the safety of ESBS for pediatric ACF encephaloceles.
METHODS: Articles reporting on pediatric patients undergoing purely ESBS for encephaloceles were reviewed from three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library). Main outcomes were post-operative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and other surgical complications.
RESULTS: Twenty-three articles provided data on 110 eligible patients with a mean age of 4.3 years (range birth - 18 years). Intraoperative CSF leaks occurred in 18.5% of children while post-operative CSF leaks developed in 6.0% of cases. Rates of meningitis and hydrocephalus were each 3.7%. Other complications included alar collapse, nasal stenosis, transient diabetes insipidus, pneumonia, and neurologic injury, collectively occurring in 7.0% of cases. The rate of death was 4.8%. The average duration of follow-up was 25.3 months. Encephaloceles recurred in 5.2% of patients.
CONCLUSIONS: ESBS for pediatric ACF encephaloceles provides a relatively favorable risk-benefit profile, with a low rate of post-operative CSF leak, other surgical complications, and disease recurrence.

Anterior cranial fossa (ACF) dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVFs) are rare, and a systematic review of the literature is lacking. Such a review is necessary, however, so a systematic PubMed search of related studies was performed. Twenty-four studies were identified, reporting on 48 patients, of whom 39 had definite age and sex information and 33 (84.6%, 33/39) were male. The afflicted patients were between 37 and 80 years old (mean 55.6). Among the 48 patients, 28 (58.3%, 28/48) primarily presented with intracranial hemorrhage, 47 (97.9%, 47/48) had feeding arteries from the anterior ethmoidal artery (AEA) of the ophthalmic artery (OA), and 40 (83.3%, 40/48) had bilateral feeding arteries. All of the cases had high-grade Cognard classifications (III-IV). Among the 48 patients, 43 (89.6%, 43/48) had drainage into the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). In addition, 36 (75%, 36/48) patients were treated via transarterial embolization (TAE). Of these patients, 28 (77.8%, 28/36) were managed via the AEA of the OA. Another 12 (25%, 12/48) patients were treated via transvenous embolization (TVE), 11 of whom (91.7%, 11/12) were treated with the trans-SSS approach. Complete angiographic cure was achieved in 44 (91.7%, 44/48) patients, with 4 (8.3%, 4/48) patients suffering from postprocedural complications. All 48 patients had clear descriptions of follow-up outcomes, with 45 (93.8%, 45/48) patients having a good outcome. Thus, when treating ACF DAVFs, endovascular treatment (EVT) can completely obliterate the fistula point and correct the venous shunting. EVT is therefore an effective treatment for ACF DAVF. Although many complications can occur, this approach achieves good outcomes in most cases.

BACKGROUND: Hydatid disease is one of the common zoonotic diseases caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. It is endemic in sheep-raising and cattle-raising areas worldwide and humans are an accidental intermediate host following the ingestion of the larvae. Head and neck involvement of echinococcosis is a rare entity and involvement of the infratemporal region is extremely rare even in endemic areas. Only a few cases of hydatid cysts located in the infratemporal fossa have been reported in the literature. Moreover, extension of the hydatid cyst into the intraorbital region and infiltrating into the surrounding orbital bone is even rarer.
METHODS: We present a case of a 65-year-old Gurung Nepalese woman with painless proptosis of her left eyeball of 2 months\' duration with recent progressive diminution of vision for 15 days. Radiological findings showed a cystic mass in the left infratemporal fossa extending into the left orbit and involving the surrounding orbital bone. Surgical removal was carried out. On histopathological evaluation, it was reported as hydatid cyst infiltrating into the bone. She was prescribed albendazole and discharged after surgery. However, she was lost to follow up and returned after 15 months with recurrence and proptosis of the same eye. Repeat excision of the lesion was carried out and postoperatively she was administered tablet albendazole. She was found to be disease free after 6 months of follow up.
CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and radiological findings are important but may not be sufficient in the preoperative diagnosis of hydatid disease especially if rare sites are involved. Proptosis may be seen in several conditions and orbital or infratemporal hydatidosis, although rare, should be considered a differential diagnosis.

Nasal liquorrhea is a serious problem in surgery of skull base tumors, which is associated with a high risk of purulent-septic complications. This paper presents a case of successful repair of a cerebrospinal fluid fistula with an autologous platelet gel in the postoperative period after removal of meningioma of the anterior cranial fossa base, which was accompanied by a purulent-inflammatory complication in the surgical wound area.
Назальная ликворея в хирургии опухолей основания черепа является серьезной проблемой, которая сопряжена с высоким риском развития гнойно-септических осложнений. В данной работе представлен пример успешной пластики ликворной фистулы аутологичным тромбоцитарным гелем в послеоперационном периоде после удаления менингиомы основания передней черепной ямки при гнойно-воспалительном осложнении в области операционной раны.

Ethmoidal dural arteriovenous fistulae are rare vascular malformations associated with a high risk of bleeding. We present a multicenter contemporary series of patients treated with microsurgical and endovascular techniques. Sixteen consecutive patients were evaluated and/or treated between 2008 and 2015 at four centers with large experience in the endovascular and surgical treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. We analyzed demographic and clinical data, risk factors for dural fistulas, treatment type, peri- and post-operative morbidity, clinical and radiological outcomes, rates of occlusion, and long-term neurological outcome. Sixteen patients (81 % men, mean age of 58 years) with ethmoidal dural fistulas were included in the analysis. Seven patients had suffered an intracranial hemorrhage; the remaining presenting with neurological signs and symptoms or the fistula was an incidental finding. Three patients were managed conservatively. Among patients who underwent intervention (n = 13), 46.1 % were treated with endovascular therapy and 53.9 % were treated surgically. Complete angiographic obliteration was achieved in 100 % immediately after treatment and at last follow-up evaluation. All patients experienced a favorable neurological recovery (mRS 0-2) at the last follow-up visit (12 months). Ethmoidal dural AVFs are found mostly in male patients. Nowadays, due to wider use of non-invasive imaging, AVFs are discovered with increasing frequency in patients with minimal or no symptoms. Traditionally, these fistulas were considered \"surgical.\" However, in the modern endovascular era, selected patients can be effectively and safely treated with embolization although surgical ligation continues to have an important role in their management.