Resection of an osteosarcoma in the atlas is very difficult because of the complex and important anatomic structures that surround it, and secure reconstruction of the atlas is difficult as well.\n\nMethods. A 48-year-old man was referred to our institute with a 10-month history of a palpable painful mass on the right posterior

neck. His neck mass was diagnosed as chondroblastic osteosarcoma by open bone biopsy. The plain radiograph of the lateral cervical spine revealed the osteoblastic lesion of the vertebra and an extraosseous mass formation from the C1 to C3 selleck chemical vertebrae. Computed tomography of the cervical spine revealed approximately a 7 x 3 x 7 cm(3)-sized extraosseous calcified mass that originated from the right lateral mass of the atlas. The magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine did not show any spinal cord compression.\n\nResults. The patient underwent excision of this tumor using the direct lateral approach and reconstruction of the lateral mass of the atlas. On gross examination of the mass, there was a reactive thin membrane (“pseudomembrane”) between soft tissue and tumor. At 3 months after surgery, the computed tomographic scan showed the solid fusion state of the occipitocervical joint. He rarely complained of any problems except for mild limitation of neck motion.\n\nConclusion. We report a rare case

of complete excision of Salubrinal in vitro an osteosarcoma of the C1 lateral mass in our patient via a direct lateral and posterior approach to secure additional fixation of occipitocervical

joint. We describe our technique for reconstructing the lateral mass of the atlas. This reconstruction technique will also be applicable to other resection surgeries involving the occipitocervical junction.”
“Purpose of review\n\nA comprehensive review of the main concepts about patent foramen ovale (PFO) management is offered.\n\nRecent findings\n\nPFO MI-503 clinical trial is a common, usually benign, anatomical variant that in the presence of a discrete right-to-left shunt and other predisposing factors (Eustachian valve/Chiari network, atrial septal aneurysm, and coagulation cascade abnormalities) may play an important role in the patho-phyisiology of paradoxical embolism at different levels (cryptogenic stroke, peripheral embolism, coronary embolism, etc.). Therapy is a controversial issue, since data on these patients are variable and accepted guidelines are missing. Recurrent strokes are the most diffuse and accepted indication for transcatheter closure of PFO, but severe refractory migraine with aura, unexplained oxygen desaturation, orthodeoxia-platypnea, and other conditions have been suggested to benefit from PFO closure. Different devices and techniques have been proposed for this procedure, mainly depending on operator experience and preferences, which have contributed to this intervention becoming a well tolerated and effective procedure with very low morbidity and virtually absent mortality.