The third ventricle has historically represented one of the most challenging areas to access surgically, so that lesions directly harboring into the ventricular chamber or secondarily extending into ...it from adjacent areas have been approached by means of different transcranial routes. The aim of this work is to report our experience with the endoscopic endonasal approach in the management of a series of patients affected by craniopharyngiomas, extending into or arising from the third ventricle, evaluating pros and cons of this technique, also in regards of the anatomy and the pathology dealt with. During the period between January 2001 and February 2011, 12 patients, 9 male and 3 female (mean age 50.4 years; range 12-68) underwent an endoscopic endonasal approach for the treatment of a craniopharyngioma involving or arising from the third ventricle. According to the grade of involvement of the third ventricle, we identified three main ventricular growth patterns: (1) stalk–infundibulum; (2) infundibulum–ventricular chamber; (3) stalk–infundibulum–ventricular chamber. Though gross total removal was achieved in eight patients (66.7 %), in three patients (25 %) was possible a near total removal (>95 %) and only in one case (8.3 %) tumor removal has been partial (<50 %). The overall analysis revealed a rate of 77.8 % improvement of post-operative visual defects. Concerning the complications, we reported an overall CSF rate of 16.7 %; two patients developed a subdural hematoma that has been treated with a surgical drainage. One patient died after the occurrence of a brainstem hemorrhage. The endoscopic endonasal route provides a good exposure, especially of the sub- and retro-chiasmatic areas, as well as of the stalk–infundibulum axis, which represents, when directly involved by a lesion, a gate to access the third ventricle chamber. Despite this study reporting only a preliminary experience, it seems that in properly selected cases—namely tumors growing mostly along the pituitary stem–infundibulum–third ventricle axis—this approach could be advocated as a valid route among the wide kaleidoscope of surgical approaches to the third ventricle.
The extended transsphenoidal approach to the suprasellar region has the advantages of minimal invasiveness and brain manipulation in the surgical treatment of small to medium lesions. At the same ...time, however, it carries a higher risk of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and related complications than those for the standard transsphenoidal approach. Effective reconstruction of large skull base defects is a major concern in such extended approaches and remains challenging.
Between January 2004 and April 2006, 21 patients affected by different suprasellar lesions underwent the extended endoscopic endonasal transtuberculum-transplanum approach. Three different techniques were used for the skull base reconstructions. In all cases, dehydrated human pericardium (Tutoplast) for dural reconstruction and a copolymer of L-lactic acid and glycolic acid (LactoSorb) as a bone substitute were used. Collagen sponges, fibrin glue, and an inflated Foley balloon catheter were also used to fill the sphenoid sinus cavity.
Two cases of postoperative CSF leaks (9.5%) and one case of mycotic sinusitis (4.8%) occurred following the intradural (inlay) and intraextradural (inlay-overlay) graft positioning. No cases of postoperative CSF leakage occurred in cases in which the extradural-only reconstruction procedure was applied. No meningitis or other complications related to the closure were noticed.
The rate of postoperative CSF leakage after an extended approach to the suprasellar area is higher compared with that following standard pituitary surgery. Reconstruction after craniopharyngioma surgery exposes patients to an increased risk of postoperative CSF leaks. The extradural (overlay) technique was found to be the most effective in assuring a watertight closure.
Aim: To investigate the potential association among Craniopharyngioma (CP), chronotypes and metabolic risk profile. Subjects and Methods: The study population included 28 patients (46.4% males; 42.6 ...± 15.8 years) and 28 controls, age, gender and BMI matched (46.4% males; 46.5 ± 12.9 years). In this study sample, we evaluated: anthropometric measurements (waist circumference, WC; BMI), plasma glucose, lipid profile, and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure. Morningness-Eveningness was measured with the Horne-Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), which included 19 questions about preferred sleep time and daily performance. Results: in both patients and controls grade I obesity was detected in 15 subjects (53.6%), grade II obesity in 13 subjects (46.4%). In the patient group, the mean score of chronotype was 47.8 ± 12.6. In particular, 9 patients (32.1%) exhibited the morning chronotype, 6 (21.4%) the intermediate chronotype and 13 (46.4.%) the evening chronotype. No significant difference was found in gender and age among the chronotype categories. Patients with the evening chronotype had higher blood pressure values and worse metabolic parameters than those with the morning chronotype. In the control group, the mean score of the chronotype was 57.6 ± 9.5. In particular, 16 (57.1%) subjects exhibited the morning chronotype, 10 (35.7%) the intermediate chronotype and only 2 (7.1.%) the evening chronotype. The prevalence of intermediate and evening chronotypes was higher in females than males (p = 0.021), while males have a higher prevalence of the morning chronotype. Subjects with intermediate and evening chronotypes had worse metabolic parameters than those with the morning chronotype. In patients, the chronotype score was inversely correlated to WC, BMI, SBP, DBP, plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and positively correlated with HDL cholesterol. No correlation was found between age and chronotype. In controls, the chronotype score was inversely correlated to WC, BMI, plasma glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol. No correlation was found among chronotype and age, blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol. Considering the whole population of the study (patients and controls), at logistic regression the chronotype score was significantly associated with the presence of CP. Conclusions: for the first time thus far, our study puts the light on the association of the CP with chronotypes and metabolic alterations in this disease, which are the main determinants of the reduced quality of life, higher morbidity and mortality in this setting of patients. This finding suggests that alterations of chronotype might represent an adjunctive risk for CP patients and a possible target for their integrate management.
We assessed the applicability of a new multidirectional videoendoscope (digiCAMeleon, Karl Storz GmbH, Tuttlingen, Germany) in various neuroendoscopic procedures.
A 4-mm-diameter rigid videoendoscope ...(digiCAMeleon, Karl Storz GmbH, Tuttlingen, Germany) with 1 sensor and an internal LED light source was tested. The device offers a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and weighs ≈ 215 g. The prototype was tested on three cadaveric heads using three different approaches: a) endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal; b) frontal transcortical intraventricular; c) supraorbital.
We identified several major benefits of the integrated system as applied to endoscopic endonasal, transcortical intraventricular, and endoscopic supraorbital keyhole approaches. These included improved maneuverability of the scope on account of reduced bulk and integration of the camera and fiberoptic light components, a variable angle of view from 0-70 degrees, and a novel feature that can be activated to maintain orientation of the surgical horizon. Our preliminary report highlights the potential for handling the videoendoscope in one hand, as one would a microsurgical instrument. The videoendoscope harbors all its electronic and lighting data into a unique and thin cable, thus resembling a modern "all-in-one" computer technology. Because of its reduced weight and ergonomic shape, controlling its movements is very easy and comfortable, even in the microsurgical environment. Furthermore, the videoendoscope offers the unique feature of orienting the horizon of vision, thanks to the possibility of offering angled views while working; this helps the surgeons to stay oriented with direct visualization and improved control of the instruments over a specific area of interest.
The videoendoscope prototype represents an HD-image quality versatile tool in a neurosurgical environment, thanks to its reduced weight and dimensions; in these preliminary simulations, we have identified optimized visibility and maneuverability as major benefits of this novel surgical adjunct.
Background Craniopharyngiomas represent one of the major challenges of neurosurgery. Surgical management of craniopharyngiomas classically required various transcranial approaches with the ...transsphenoidal route reserved for very selected cases. With the widespread use of endoscopes in endonasal surgery in the past decade, the extended endoscopic endonasal transtuberculum and transplanum approaches have been proposed as an alternative surgical route for removal of different types of suprasellar tumors, including solid craniopharyngiomas in patients with normal pituitary function and small sella. Methods A detailed report is presented of the technique used by the authors for the endoscopic endonasal approach for the resection of craniopharyngiomas. For each type of craniopharyngioma, hints and anatomic “main landmarks” are provided throughout each step of the procedure. Conclusions The endoscopic endonasal approach offers advantages in the management of craniopharyngiomas that historically have been approached via the transsphenoidal route (i.e., purely intrasellar or intra-suprasellar infradiaphragmatic, preferably cystic lesions in patients with panhypopituitarism). Use of the “extended” endoscopic endonasal approach overcomes the limits of the transsphenoidal route to the sella enabling the management of different purely suprasellar and retrosellar cystic/solid craniopharyngiomas, regardless of the sellar size or pituitary function.
Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor is a rare lesion that occurs mainly in children can be supratentorial or infratentorial and it accounts for 1-2% of pediatric brain tumors and over 10% of central ...nervous system (CNS) tumors in infants, with a male preponderance up to 3 years of age, more than 50% of these occur in the cerebellum. In this report we describe four new cases of sellar AT/RTs underwent endoscopic endonasal approach and different adjuvant therapies. Our aim is to report the clinical, radiological and pathological features of these rare lesions, focusing on the possibility to perform an early diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic strategy.
Objective
Starting from an anatomic study describing the possibility of reaching the temporal region through an endoscopic transorbital approach, many clinical reports have now demonstrated the ...applicability of this strategy when dealing with intra-axial lesions. The study aimed to provide both a qualitative anatomic description of the temporal region, as seen through a transorbital perspective, and a quantitative analysis of the amount of temporal lobe resection achievable via this route.
Material and methods
A total of four cadaveric heads (eight sides) were dissected at the Laboratory of Surgical Neuroanatomy (LSNA) of the University of Barcelona, Spain. A stepwise description of the resection of the temporal lobe through a transorbital perspective is provided. Qualitative anatomical descriptions and quantitative analysis of the amount of the resection were evaluated by means of pre- and post-dissection CT and MRI scans, and three-dimensional reconstructions were made by means of BrainLab
®
Software.
Results
The transorbital route gives easy access to the temporal region, without the need for extensive bone removal. The resection of the temporal lobe proceeded in a subpial fashion, mimicking what happens in a surgical scenario. According to our quantitative analysis, the mean volume removed was 51.26%, with the most superior and lateral portion of the temporal lobe being the most difficult to reach.
Conclusion
This anatomic study provides qualitative and quantitative details about the resection of the temporal lobe via an endoscopic transorbital approach. Our results showed that the resection of more than half of the temporal lobe is possible through this surgical corridor. While the anterior, inferior, and mesial portions of the temporal lobe were easily accessible, the most superior and lateral segment was more difficult to reach and resect. Our study serves as an integration to the current anatomic knowledge and clinical practice knowledge highlighting and also as a starting point for further anatomic studies addressing more selected segments of the temporal lobe, i.e., the mesial temporal region.
Patients with craniopharyngioma often have comorbidities, such as obesity and hypopituitarism. These two conditions affect each other and worsen the quality of life of patients, which lead to a ...higher risk of morbidity and mortality. In addition, abdominal obesity, measured as waist circumference (WC), is together with other parameters arterial hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, one of the components of metabolic syndrome (MS). Each one of these morbidities occurs in patients with craniopharyngioma more frequently than in the remaining population. On these bases, we evaluated metabolic parameters in patients with craniopharyngioma at the time of diagnosis and after a 5-year follow-up, which compares these data with those of age-, gender-, WC-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls. In addition, we evaluated the prevalence of MS according to IDF criteria (MS-IDF) and the prevalence of MS according to ATP III (MS-ATPIII) criteria in patients and controls at baseline and after 5 years. We recruited 20 patients with craniopharyngioma (age 38.5 ± 15 years, 10 M) and 20 age-, gender-, WC- and BMI-matched controls (age 34.16 ± 13.19 years, 10 M). In all patients and controls, we evaluated the following: anthropometric features height, weight, BMI, WC, hip circumference (HC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), lipid profile total cholesterol (TC), HDL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), and blood glucose at baseline and after 5 years. The prevalence of MS, according to IDF and ATPIII criteria, was calculated in the two groups at baseline and after 5 years. According to our results, at baseline, patients with craniopharyngioma had a worse metabolic profile than controls and a higher prevalence of MS. Besides, at a 5-year follow-up, patients still had impaired metabolic characteristics and more frequent MS (according to IDF and ATPIII criteria) when compared to controls. These data confirm that MS in patients with craniopharyngioma is unresponsive to life-changing interventions and to a common pharmacological approach. Other factors may be involved in the evolution of these conditions; so, further studies are needed to establish the correct management of these patients.
The aim of the study was to assess incidence rate, hormonal activity, and local invasiveness and evaluate outcomes of so-diagnosed atypical pituitary adenomas that underwent endoscopic endonasal ...surgery at the Division of Neurosurgery of Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II. According to the 2004 WHO classification, atypical pituitary adenomas are defined by an invasive growth, Ki-67/MIB-1 proliferative index greater than 3 %, high p53 immunoreactivity, and increased mitotic activity. A retrospective analysis of a series of 434 pituitary adenomas that underwent endoscopic endonasal surgery at our department between March 2007 and February 2013 was performed. Fifty adenomas (11.5 %) met the criteria of diagnosis of atypical lesions; 10 (21.6 %) of the 50 patients were recurrent tumors with a previous transsphenoidal surgery. Forty-one (82 %) were macroadenomas, and 21/50 (42 %) showed a clear invasion of the cavernous sinus. Histotype of atypical adenomas figured out to be nonfunctioning in 23 cases (46 %), PRL secreting in 10 cases (20 %), ACTH secreting and GH secreting each apart in 8 patients (16 %), and in a single case a GH/PRL secreting adenoma (2 %). The Ki-67 labeling index ranged from 3.5 to 22.5 % (mean 5.6 %). Tumor recurrence was observed in six cases (12 %) after a mean time of 18 months (range 9–24 months). Mean follow-up was 36.5 months (range 2–80 months). Atypical pituitary adenomas account for ca. 10 % of all pituitary adenomas; these lesions have peculiar features. It should be considered that a strong immunopositivity of p53 and higher Ki-67 LI could predict an increased risk of tumor recurrence, but more studies and larger series are expected to confirm and enlarge the diagnostic and therapeutic management process of these lesions.
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