BACKGROUND: The sphenoid wing dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is rare, and can manifest with severe symptoms, particularly in cases classified as greater sphenoid wing type. Endovascular therapy is generally employed, however, open surgical intervention could be warranted in cases with complex fistula.
METHODS: We present a case with ruptured greater sphenoid wing dural AVF (Cognard type IV), in which endovascular embolization using liquid material was performed, followed by open surgery to concurrently disconnect the fistula and evacuate the hematoma.
CONCLUSIONS: The sphenoid wing dural AVFs may be effectively cured by open surgery for fistula disconnection in conjunction with endovascular embolization.

Surgery stands as the primary treatment for spheno-orbital meningiomas, following a symptoms-oriented approach. We discussed the decision-making process behind surgical strategies through a review of medical records from 80 patients who underwent surgical resection at the University of Naples Federico II. Different surgical approaches were employed based on the tumor\'s location relative to the optic nerve\'s long axis, categorized into lateral (type I), medial (type II), and diffuse (type III). We examined clinical, neuroradiological, surgical, pathological, and outcome factors. Proptosis emerged as the most frequent symptom (97%), followed by visual impairment (59%) and ocular motility issues (35%). Type I represented 20%, type II 43%, and type III 17%. Growth primarily affected the optic canal (74%), superior orbital fissure (65%), anterior clinoid (60%), and orbital apex (59%). The resection outcomes varied, with Simpson grades I and II achieved in all type I cases, 67.5% of type II, and 18% of type III. Recurrence rates were highest in type II (41.8%) and type III (59%). Improvement was notable in proptosis (68%) and visual function (51%, predominantly type I). Surgery for spheno-orbital meningiomas should be tailored to each patient, considering individual characteristics and tumor features to improve quality of life by addressing primary symptoms like proptosis and visual deficits.

En plaque meningioma is a rare type of meningioma characterized by an infiltrative nature, sheet-like growth, and at times invading the bone. We report here a case of en plaque meningioma. The patient was a 66-year-old woman presenting with headache and painful bilateral proptosis. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging revealed a bilateral en plaque meningioma showed as a bilateral hyperostotic of greater wing sphenoid bone associated with bilateral thickening and enhancement of the dura in the anterior temporal area and the retroclival region invading bilaterally the cavernous sinus, the prechiasmatic portion of the optic nerve, and the lateral rectus muscle of the orbit through the superior orbital fissure causing bilateral exophthalmia. Due to invasion of the cavernous sinus and the orbital apex, a subtotal but extensive removal combined with bony decompression of the cranial nerves at the superior orbital fissure and optic canal followed by adjuvant radiotherapy frequently produces good functional and cosmetic results, and over a 3-year period, follow-up magnetic resonance imaging scans showed no obvious signs of recurrence.

UNASSIGNED: To report our experience with patient specific implants for one-step orbit reconstruction following hyperostotic SWM removal and to describe the evolution of the technique through three surgical cases. Methods: Three cases of one-step SWM removal and orbit reconstruction are described. All cases are given consecutively to describe the evolution of the technique. Hyperostotic bone resection was facilitated by electromagnetic navigation and cutting guides (templates). Based on a 3D model, silicone molds were made using CAD/CAM. Then PMMA implant was fabricated from these molds. The implant was adjusted and fixed to the cranium with titanium screws after tumor removal. Results: Following steps of the procedure changed over these series: hyperostotic bone resection, implant thickness control, implant overlay features, anatomic adjustments, implant fixation. The proptosis resolved in all cases. In one patient the progressive visual acuity deterioration was recognized during the follow-up. No oculomotor disturbances and no tumor regrowth were found at the follow-up.
UNASSIGNED: CAD/CAM technologies enable creation of implants of any size and configuration, and thereby, to increase the extent of bony resection and lower the risk of tumor progression. The procedure is performed in one step which decreases the risk of postoperative morbidity.

This case report discusses a unique instance of pulsatile tinnitus (PT) caused by a rare type of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) located in the sphenoid wing (SW) region, with PT being the sole presenting symptom. The patient initially received multiple misdiagnoses and sought medical attention at various hospitals before being correctly diagnosed. Imaging studies revealed the DAVF\'s presence in the SW region, which led to the patient\'s referral to interventional radiology/neurology, although she chose conservative observation without surgical intervention. Remarkably, the patient\'s PT spontaneously ceased after 30 months without any apparent cause, and follow-up imaging confirmed the absence of DAVF-related abnormalities. The case highlights the importance of considering DAVF as a potential cause of PT, even when there are no evident abnormalities in proximity to the auditory apparatus. It also emphasizes the need for otolaryngologists to extend their examination to include regions beyond the temporal bone, such as the sphenoid bone and orbital areas, when PT is the exclusive symptom. The case underscores the significance of early detection and intervention for DAVFs, as they can lead to debilitating complications, despite the rare occurrence of spontaneous symptom resolution in this case.

Non-cavernous sinus (CS) dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) involving the sphenoid bone are rare entities that are easily confused with one another due to the complex structure and high variability of the venous system around the middle cranial fossa. We present a large retrospective study on middle cranial fossa non-CS DAVFs and review the literature on DAVF treatment in this location as well as relative anatomy. 15 patients had DAVFs involving the lesser sphenoid wing and 11 patients had DAVFs involving the greater sphenoid wing. Six patients presented with intracranial hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage (23.1%, 6/26). The most common symptoms were eye symptoms (38.5%, 10/26). Nineteen patients were treated with trans-arterial embolization (TAE) using liquid embolic agents and two patients were treated with transvenous embolization (TVE) using Onyx or in combination with coils. Surgical disconnection of the drainage veins was performed in five patients, with three cases experiencing unsuccessful TAE. Anatomic cure was achieved in 92.3% of the patients (24/26). Twelve patients had DSA and clinical follow-up from 3 to 27 months. There was one recurrence (8.3%) of the fistula in the patient two months after the initial complete occlusion. The majority of patients can be cured endovascularly. Laterocavernous sinus DAVFs may not be embolized by transvenous approach via the cavernous sinus because there is often no connection between them in most patients. A small percentage of patients may require surgical ligation to be cured.

Skull base meningiomas are among the most challenging meningiomas to treat clinically due to their deep location, involvement or encasement of adjacent essential neurovascular structures (such as key arteries, cranial nerves, veins, and venous sinuses), and their often-large size prior to diagnosis. Although multimodal treatment strategies continue to evolve with advances in stereotactic and fractionated radiotherapy, surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment for these tumors. Resection of these tumors however is challenging from a technical standpoint, and requires expertise in several skull-base surgical approaches that rely on adequate bony removal, minimization of brain retraction, and respect for nearby neurovascular structures. These skull base meningiomas originate from a variety of different structures including, but are not limited to: the clinoid processes, tuberculum sellae, dorsum sellae, sphenoid wing, petrous/petroclival area, falcotentorial region, cerebellopontine angle, and foramen magnum. In this chapter, we will cover the common anatomical areas in the skull base from which these tumors arise, and the specific or optimal surgical approaches and other treatment modalities for meningiomas in these such locations.

A 9-year-old female mixed-breed dog presented for treatment of a presumed sphenoid-wing meningioma. Clinical signs included tonic-clonic seizures lasting <1 min, which had started 3 months previously. The physical examination results were unremarkable. An eccentrically located neoplastic cystic structure in the right sphenoid bone region suggestive of a meningioma and peritumoural brain oedema was observed in pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Prior to surgery, a three-dimensional (3D) patient-specific pointer (PSP) was designed using computed tomography (CT) images and computer-aided 3D design software. After a targeted approach and exposure of the lateral part of the right temporal lobe by a craniectomy guided by the 3D-PSP, complete macroscopic piecemeal resection of the meningioma could be performed using endoscopy-assisted brain surgery. Post-operative MRI confirmed complete excision of the tumor. Anticonvulsive therapy was discontinued after 90 days, and the dosage of anticonvulsants was tapered 2 weeks after surgery. At a follow-up examination 225 days post-operatively, recurrence of seizures was not observed, and the absence of tumor recurrence was confirmed by a repeat MRI examination. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in veterinary medicine describing a successful resection of a sphenoid-wing meningioma using a 3D-PSP. 3D-PSP-assisted craniectomy may be a surgical option for some canine skull-based tumors, such as sphenoid wing meningiomas.

We present a-49-year old female presenting headache and progressive right eye visual loss in the last 6 months. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large clinoidal meningioma on the right side, invading the superior, lateral and medial aspects of the cavernous sinus, the optic canal, and the clinoidal segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA). A cranio-orbital approach was performed. The anterior clinoid process was removed extradurally to achieve devascularization of the anterior clinoidal meningioma, followed by the peeling of the middle fossa to decompress V2 and open the superior orbital fissure. We open the dura in a standard fronto-temporal flap to access the lower portion of the skull base allowing retractorless dissection. We complete the removal of the anterior clinoid process and optic strut through an intradural approach. It allows safer dissection of the clinoidal segment of the ICA and avoids its injury by adherent and hard consistency tumor. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, sharp dissection, and avoiding the use of bipolar coagulation when dissecting the cavernous sinus are essential to minimize the risk of cranial nerve injury. We also like to point that cranial nerve deficit caused by surgical manipulation without primary lesion of the nerve can be recovered postoperatively. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/ozUCsnUGxyM .

UNASSIGNED: To report a case of multilayered intraocular hemorrhage at the posterior pole as a complication of transorbital neuroendoscopic surgery.
UNASSIGNED: Our patient underwent an uncomplicated endoscopic transorbital resection of a left sphenoid wing meningioma. In the immediate post-operative period, the patient reported blurred vision of her left eye, and dilated fundus examination demonstrated multilayered hemorrhages at the posterior pole. No intracranial hemorrhage was identified on post-operative imaging. Due to persistent subnormal visual acuity and non-clearing hemorrhage over several weeks of follow-up, a pars plana vitrectomy with peeling of the internal limiting membrane was performed to clear the hemorrhagic component obscuring the macula.
UNASSIGNED: We report the first case of multilayered intraocular hemorrhages at the posterior pole, mimicking Terson syndrome, in the absence of intracranial hemorrhage or elevated intracranial pressure as a complication of transorbital surgery.