Background Glial tumours are the most common central nervous system (CNS) neoplastic lesions. They occur in 7 per 100,000 individuals in the United Kingdom (UK) and are categorized into astrocytomas, ...oligodendrogliomas, and glioblastomas in the adult population. The World Health Organization (WHO) has created a classification system in order to better categorise these lesions, placing them in a range from grade I to grade IV. The higher the grade, the poorer the prognosis. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom recommends that all surgical resections of glial brain tumours are followed by a postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan within a 72-hour to establish a baseline for further management. Objective We present a retrospective analysis that assessed the compliance rate with NICE guidelines among patients who underwent surgical resection of glial lesions at the Department of Neurosurgery, Queens Hospital Romford, between January 2022 and September 2023. Materials and methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 136 glial tumour resections that were performed during the period between January 2022 and September 2023. The total time between the end of the operation and the MRI scan was calculated in hours for each procedure. This was analyzed into two groups with respect to compliance with the NICE guidelines, which are within 72 hours and after 72 hours. The non-compliant group was then further investigated regarding the reason for the delay. The cost related to delays was also determined by discussion with the hospital's finance department. Results All of the procedures were followed by a post-operative MRI scan but only 88% were within the timeframe recommended by NICE guidelines. The amount of delay was calculated in hours and the reasons for these delays were identified. We created two categories for delay: requesting delays and radiology department-related delays with an almost equivalent number of delays resulting from each category. This delay has resulted in approximately £19,845 of extra costs for inpatient stays. Conclusion A retrospective analysis at Queens Hospital, Romford, found good compliance with NICE guidelines for post-operative MRI scans in glial lesion resections from January 2022 to September 2023. Eighty-eight per cent of patients received scans within 72 hours, crucial for baseline assessment. A 12% non-compliance rate revealed areas for improvement, causing £19,845 in extra costs due to longer inpatient stays. Expediting scans to 36 hours could save around £30,876 annually and reduce complications like infections and thromboembolism. Proposed strategies include dedicated MRI slots and policy adjustments for MRI requests.
IntroductionEarly diagnosis and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can improve outcomes. HIV prevalence in brain tumor patients and the impact of an HIV diagnosis on patient outcomes are ...poorly understood.Materials and methodsThis was a prospective study of 100 consecutive brain tumor patients admitted to a Greater London Tertiary Neurosurgical center for surgery between January 2021 and October 2021. All brain tumors were included. All patients have appropriately consented. Blood was tested to detect HIV antibodies and p24 antigen. Outcomes were noted at 30-day postoperative follow-up.ResultsIn 100 patients, there was one case of a known HIV-positive, seronegative patient, and no new diagnosis was made, giving a prevalence of 1%. The mean age of patients included was 61.7 ± 13.3, with 57% female. The patient with HIV suffered a postoperative pseudomonas infection, requiring intensive care, additional surgery, and antibiotics. This resulted in an inpatient stay of 55 days - an increase of 274% compared to patients without HIV.ConclusionLiterature regarding the prevalence of HIV in glioma patients is inconclusive, of low quality, and primarily out-of-date. Our literature search found no similar study of rates of HIV in brain tumor patients in the United Kingdom. The incidence of both HIV and brain tumors, particularly glioblastomas, is low.
Scrotal migration of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) catheter is a rare complication of VPS. Scrotal migrations usually manifest in the first year post-operatively, usually in the pediatric ...population, due to processus vaginalis patency and increased abdominal pressure.
To review cases of scrotal migration of a VPS catheter that occur in the adult population, and its recommended management.
A case report and review of the literature.
A 75-year-old male with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for normal pressure hydrocephalus, presented with testicular swelling. Imaging revealed that the distal shunt catheter had migrated into his scrotum. He required an emergency shunt revision, with a truncation of the catheter, and involvement of the general surgical team for hernia management. He remained well at one year follow-up.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the fifth case in an adult. This case serves as a reminder to take a thorough clinical history, imaging of the entire VPS pathway, and to consider unusual reasons for VPS failures. Emergency intervention for distal shunt revision is required to prevent further neurological or urological morbidity. Treatment includes not only catheter revision and reinsertion, but the catheter should be truncated, to avoid testicular migration recurrence. Hernia repair can be done either as an emergency or elective case, depending on the patient's clinical status and presentation.
•Ventriculoperitoneal catheter migration to the scrotum can occur in adults, as well as more commonly in paediatrics.•This is the fifth adult case of scrotal distal cather shunt migration.•This can cause a hydrocele and result in shunt failure.•This can necessitate shunt revision and involvement of the general surgical team.•In shunt failure, or scrotal swelling, thorough work-up must be done to diagnose rare, potentially fatal, conditions.
Abstract
Aims
Glioblastoma (GBM) is currently an incurable malignancy with a very poor prognosis for the majority of patients. Many patients undergo debulking surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy ...however therapeutic options are limited, and this can lead to patients sourcing their own treatments. There is some evidence that cannabinoids have the effect of inhibiting GBM tumour growth through a variety of pathways, some of which include CB2 cannabinoid receptor pathway activation. We undertook a patient questionnaire to understand what alternative therapies patients are accessing and why, with a focus on cannabinoid use.
Method
We undertook a prospective observational questionnaire based qualitative study of 50 … consecutive patients undergoing treatment for glioblastoma at our centre.
Results
43 patients responded to our questionnaire. 33% of patients were taking some kind of supplementary therapy with 25% taking cannabis derivatives, mainly CBD oil. There were no clear discriminators amongst our cohort including age or sex when considering the likelihood of taking cannabis derivatives. 6 out of 11 (55%) patients taking cannabis derivatives reported some positive effects with improved sleep and general wellbeing being most commonly reported. Patients reported spending between £10-£300 per month with an average of £42 per month. Cannabis products were obtained via the internet or from friends.
Conclusion
This small cohort of patients indicates that a significant proportion of glioblastoma patients investigate and use alternative therapies, in particular cannabis oil. NICE guidance for clinicians simply notes there is insufficient evidence to support the use of cannabis oil in the treatment of this disease. Given the publicity and interest in the utility of cannabis oil to treat cancers this leaves patients to research the use of these agents without access to robust clinical data to guide their use or indeed to conclude they are not beneficial. The accessing of these compounds, potentially by a sizeable number of patients, leaves them vulnerable to unregulated perhaps unscrupulous drug sources. This small study has further highlighted the unmet need for information and guidance on supplementary treatments for glioma patients and this poses a challenge to all those treating this group of patients to answer a question our patients are clearly wanting answered.
A 65-year-old woman presented with a 2-month progressive history of forgetfulness, headaches, and decline in mobility. Imaging showed a large, enhancing pineal region tumor with triventricular ...hydrocephalus. She underwent an endoscopic third ventriculostomy and biopsy after appropriate consent was gained. Video 1 demonstrates the endoscopic procedure during which 2 aberrant arteries were identified at the floor of the third ventricle. The endoscopic third ventriculostomy was performed between these 2 arteries with great care to preserve them. The patient improved postoperatively with resolution of the hydrocephalus. Histology showed a metastatic malignant melanoma.
To the best of our knowledge, no similar anatomy has been shown in an endoscopic procedure. We speculate that these are perforating arteries from the posterior communicating artery (premamillary artery) or a branch from the first part of the posterior cerebral artery P1 (thalamoperforators). Other options include perforators from the ophthalmic segment of the internal carotid artery, the communicating segment of the internal carotid artery, the superior hypophyseal artery, or a branch of the medial posterior choroidal arteries. We look at each in turn.
Abstract
Introduction
Fluorescence Guided Surgery (FGS) using 5-ALA is recommended for patients undergoing resection of suspected high grade glioma and this type of surgery is increasingly being used ...in more units throughout the UK. We report on our experience of introducing 5-ALA guided surgery for suspected HGG in a regional neurosciences unit.
Methods
Consecutive series of the first 24 patients in our unit to receive 5-ALA guided surgery for suspected HGG from June 2017 to October 2018. Data was prospectively collected.
Results
5-ALA fluorescence guided surgery was used for a range of histologically confirmed WHO grade III-IV gliomas. All but 1 tumour (GBM) fluoresced with 5-ALA, with strong fluorescence in recurrent GBM and anaplastic foci of grade 3 tumours. EOR varied according to the eloquence of the lesion with 70% of cases achieving gross total resection. 40% of cases used awake mapping or intraoperative neurophysiology. 5 patients (20.8%) had temporary neurological deficits which resolved in all cases. Individual surgeon learning curves resulted in 2 styles of practice- complete FGS with fluorescence used throughout the case, and intermittent use of fluorescence as an adjunct often at the end of debulking under white light.
Conclusions
Adopting 5-ALA use comes with specific challenges in terms of service organisation, learning curves and complication avoidance. Our experience is that it is useful both to improve EOR and as an adjunct to identify tumour tissue in eloquent region tumours with monitoring of function. This is possible through a day admission pathway in line with GIRFT.
ObjectivesTo determine the potential costs and health benefits of a serum-based spectroscopic triage tool for brain tumours, which could be developed to reduce diagnostic delays in the current ...clinical pathway.DesignA model-based health pre-trial economic assessment. Decision tree models were constructed based on simplified diagnostic pathways. Models were populated with parameters identified from rapid reviews of the literature and clinical expert opinion.SettingExplored as a test in both primary and secondary care (neuroimaging) in the UK health service, as well as application to the USA.ParticipantsCalculations based on an initial cohort of 10 000 patients. In primary care, it is estimated that the volume of tests would approach 75 000 per annum. The volume of tests in secondary care is estimated at 53 000 per annum.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome measure was quality-adjusted life-years (QALY), which were employed to derive incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) in a cost-effectiveness analysis.ResultsResults indicate that using a blood-based spectroscopic test in both scenarios has the potential to be highly cost-effective in a health technology assessment agency decision-making process, as ICERs were well below standard threshold values of £20 000–£30 000 per QALY. This test may be cost-effective in both scenarios with test sensitivities and specificities as low as 80%; however, the price of the test would need to be lower (less than approximately £40).ConclusionUse of this test as triage tool in primary care has the potential to be both more effective and cost saving for the health service. In secondary care, this test would also be deemed more effective than the current diagnostic pathway.
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