The most important target of minimally invasive surgery is to obtain the best therapeutic effect with the least iatrogenic injury. In this background, a pivotal role in contemporary neurosurgery is ...played by the supraorbital key-hole approach proposed by Perneczky for anterior cranial base surgery. In this article, it is presented as a possible valid alternative to the traditional craniotomies in anterior cranial fossa meningiomas removal. From January 2008 to January 2012 at our department 56 patients underwent anterior cranial base meningiomas removal. Thirty-three patients were submitted to traditional approaches while 23 to supraorbital key-hole technique. A clinical and neuroradiological pre- and postoperative evaluation were performed, with attention to eventual complications, length of surgical procedure, and hospitalization. Compared to traditional approaches the supraorbital key-hole approach was associated neither to a greater range of postoperative complications nor to a longer surgical procedure and hospitalization while permitting the same lesion control. With this technique, minimization of brain exposition and manipulation with reduction of unwanted iatrogenic injuries, neurovascular structures preservation, and a better aesthetic result are possible. The supraorbital key-hole approach according to Perneckzy could represent a valid alternative to traditional approaches in anterior cranial base meningiomas surgery.
: Glioblastoma is the most common primary brain neoplasm in adults, with a poor prognosis despite a constant effort to improve patient survival. Some neuroradiological volumetric parameters seem to ...play a predictive role in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the volumetric areas of contrast-enhancing tumors and perineoplastic edema on the survival of patients treated for glioblastoma.
: A series of 87 patients who underwent surgery was retrospectively analyzed; OS and PFS were considered the end points of the study. For each patient, a multidisciplinary revision was conducted in collaboration with the Neuroradiology and Neuro-Oncology Board. Manual and semiautomatic measurements were adopted to perform the radiological evaluation, and the following quantitative parameters were retrospectively analyzed: contrast enhancement preoperative tumor volume (CE-PTV), contrast enhancement postoperative tumor volume (CE-RTV), edema/infiltration preoperative volume (T2/FLAIR-PV), edema/infiltration postoperative volume (T2/FLAIR-RV), necrosis volume inside the tumor (NV), and total tumor volume including necrosis (TV).
: The median OS value was 9 months, and the median PFS value was 4 months; the mean values were 12.3 and 6.9 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the OS-related factors were adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (
< 0.0001), CE-PTV < 15 cm
(
= 0.03), surgical resection > 95% (
= 0.004), and the presence of a "pseudocapsulated" radiological morphology (
= 0.04).
: Maximal safe resection is one of the most relevant predictive factors for patient survival. Semiautomatic preoperative MRI evaluation could play a key role in prognostically categorizing these tumors.
Meniere's disease (MD) is a disabling disease, especially in patients who are refractory to medical therapy. Moreover, selective vestibular neurectomy (VN), in these selected cases, can be considered ...a surgical alternative which preserves hearing function and facial nerve.
We retrospectively studied 23 patients with MD diagnosis and history of failed extradural endolymphatic sac surgery (ELSS) who underwent combined micro-endoscopic selective VN, between January 2019 and August 2023, via a presigmoid retrolabyrinthine approach. All patients were stratified according to clinical features, assessing preoperative and postoperative hearing levels and quality of life.
At the maximum present follow-up of 2 years, this procedure is characterized by a low rate of complications and about 90% vertigo control after surgery. No definitive facial palsy or hearing loss was described in this series. One patient required reintervention for a CSF fistula. Statistically significant (
= 0.001) difference was found between the preoperative and the postoperative performance in terms of physical, functional, and emotive scales assessed via the DHI questionnaire.
Selective VN via a presigmoid retrolabyrinthine approach is a safe procedure for intractable vertigo associated with MD, when residual hearing function still exists. The use of the endoscope and intraoperative neuromonitoring guaranteed a precise result, saving the cochlear fibers and facial nerve. The approach for VN is a familiar procedure to the otolaryngologist, as is lateral skull base anatomy to the neurosurgeon; therefore, the best results are obtained with multidisciplinary teamwork.
Giant Cell Tumour of Bone (GCT) is a locally aggressive primary bone tumour that usually occurs at the epiphyses of the long bones of the appendicular skeleton with a tendency to recurrence. ...Recurrent somatic H3F3A mutations have been described in 92% of GCT cases. GCTs involving the Clivus are extremely rare lesions and less than 15 cases are described in the literature. They represent a surgery challenge and are easily misdiagnosed. Our aim was to reveal if the genetic bases underlying Clival GCTs were the same of GCTs of long bones to improve the diagnosis and treatment.
The targeted somatic sequencing of GCT-related genes (H3F3A, H3F3B, IDH1, IDH2 and ZNF687) was performed on Clival GCT biopsies of two different cases. Histological analyses on the same tissues were used to detect the neoplastic population and its expression profile.
Sanger sequencing revealed that both patients were positive for the p.Gly34Trp mutation in the H3F3A gene. Immunofluorescence assay using monoclonal antibody, specifically detecting the mutant H3.3, highlighted that the mutation only involved the mononuclear cell population and not the multinucleated giant cells. Moreover, immunohistochemistry assay showed that RANKL was highly expressed by the stromal cells within Clival GCT, mimicking what happens in GCT of the long bones. In addition, systematic literature review allowed us to generate a histology-based diagnostic algorithm of the most common clival lesions.
We conclude that the Clival GCT is genetically defined by somatic mutation in the H3F3A gene, linking it to the GCT of long bones. The similarity with GCTs of long bones let us to hypothesize the utility of Denosumab therapy (already effective for GCTs) in these surgically challenging cases. Moreover, H3F3A genetic screening can be combined to the histological analysis to differentiate GCTs from morphologically similar giant cell-rich sarcomas, while the histological diagnostic algorithm could help the differential diagnosis of other clival lesions.
Abstract Objective To evaluate the long term C1-C2 fusion rates, fracture healing and functional outcomes in geriatric patients with type II odontoid fracture treated with posterior fixation with ...polyaxial C1 lateral mass screws and C2 pars screws. Methods Twenty-one consecutive patients between 2005 and 2011 with Anderson and D’Alonzo type II odontoid fracture underwent a posterior atlanto-axial fixation with polyaxial C1 lateral mass screws and C2 pars screws. A long-term clinical and radiological follow-up was achieved in all patients with a mean follow-up period of 53.28 ± 15.41 months (range 38-91 months). Results All 21 patients had bilateral C1 lateral mass screws and bilateral C2 pars screws. Correct positioning of the C1 lateral mass screws and C2 pars screws was observed in all 42 placements by postoperative CT-scans. No vascular or neurological complication was noted. At the last follow-up, 20 patients (95.24 %) had a solid fusion (defined as Lenke fusion grade of A or B) while 1 patient (4.76 %) had a partial fusion (Lenke fusion grade of C). Overall no hardware failures occurred in any patient. Odontoid fracture healing was achieved in 18 patients out of 21 (85.71 %). The mean postoperative neck disability index (NDI) score was 12.73 % and neck motion was within normal physiologic limits at 12 months. Conclusions This study adds to the evidence that posterior atlantoaxial fixation with polyaxial C1 lateral mass screws and C2 pars screws is a safe and effective surgical option in the treatment of odontoid fractures including long-term stability.
Purpose
Anterior decompression of the craniovertebral junction is reserved to patients with irreducible ventral bulbo-medullary lesions and rapidly deteriorating neurological functions. Classically ...performed through the transoral approach, the exposure of this region can be now achieved by a minimally invasive endonasal endoscopic approach (EEA).
Methods
Four patients with irreducible, anterior bulbo-medullary compression due to rheumatoid pannus and basilar invagination were enrolled. The imaged-guided EEA was used to resect the odontoid process, trying to preserve the C1 anterior arch.
Results
Neurological improvement and adequate bulbo-medullary decompression were obtained in all patients. In two cases, anterior C1 ring was preserved. These patients did not required a posterior fusion.
Conclusions
Compared with the standard transoral technique, the EEA provides the same good exposure but with potentially less complications. The preservation of the anterior C1 arch can contribute to avoid cranial settling and posterior fusion with its related risk of subaxial instability.
The prognostic relevance of epilepsy at glioblastoma (GBMs) onset is still under debate. In this study, we analyzed the value of epilepsy and other prognostic factors on GBMs survival. We ...retrospectively analyzed the clinical, radiological, surgical and histological data in 139 GBMs. Seizures were the presenting symptoms in 50 patients out of 139 (35.9%). 123 patients (88%) were treated with craniotomy and tumor resection while 16 (12%) with biopsy. The median overall survival was 9.9 months from surgery. At univariable Cox regression, the factors that significantly improved survival were age less than 65 years (P = 0.0015), focal without impairment of consciousness seizures at presentation (P = 0.043), complete surgical resection (P < 0.001), pre-operative Karnofsky performance status (KPS) > 70 (P = 0.015), frontal location (P < 0.001), radiotherapy (XRT) plus concomitant and adjuvant TMZ (P < 0.001). A multivariable Cox regression showed that the complete surgical resection (P < 0.0001), age less than 65 years (P = 0.008), frontal location (P = 0.0001) and XRT adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) (P < 0.0001) were independent factors on longer survival. In our series epilepsy at presentation is not an independent prognostic factor for longer survival in GBM patients. Only in the subgroup of patients with focal seizures without impairment of consciousness, epilepsy was associated with an increased significant overall survival at univariate analysis (P = 0.043). Main independent factors for relatively favorable GBMs outcome are complete tumor resection plus combined XRT-TMZ, frontal location and patient age below 65 years old.
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults; despite advances in the understanding of GBM pathogenesis, significant achievements in treating this disease are ...still lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the extent of surgical resection (EOR), beyond the neoplastic mass, on the overall survival (OS).
A retrospective review of a single-institution glioblastoma patient database (January 2012-September 2021) was undertaken. The series is composed of 64 patients who underwent surgery at the University Department of Neurosurgery of Ancona; the series was divided into four groups based on the amount of tumor mass excision with the fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) abnormalities (SUPr-supratotal resection, GTR-gross total resection, STR-subtotal resection, BIOPSY). The hypothesis was that the maximal resection of FLAIR abnormalities may improve the overall survival compared to the resection of the visible T1 contrast-enhanced neoplastic area only.
In the univariate analysis, SUPr and GTR are correlated with the overall survival (
= 0.001); the percentage of total neoplastic removal threshold conditioning outcome was 90% (
= 0.027). These results were confirmed by the multivariate analysis.
Maximal surgical resection, when feasible, involving areas of FLAIR abnormalities represents an advantageous approach for the OS in GBM patients.
The development or expansion of a cerebral hemorrhagic contusion after decompressive craniectomy (DC) for traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs commonly and it can result in an unfavorable outcome. ...However, risk factors predicting contusion expansion after DC are still uncertain. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with the growth or expansion of hemorrhagic contusion after DC in TBI. Then we evaluated the impact of contusion progression on outcome.
We collected the data of patients treated with DC for TBI in our Center. Then we analyzed the risk factors associated with the growth or expansion of a hemorrhagic contusion after DC.
182 patients (149 males and 41 females) were included in this study. Hemorrhagic contusions were detected on the initial CT scan or in the last CT scan before surgery in 103 out of 182 patients. New or blossoming hemorrhagic contusions were registered after DC in 47 patients out of 182 (25.82%). At multivariate analysis, only the presence of an acute subdural hematoma (
= 0.0076) and a total volume of contusions >20 cc before DC (
= < 0.0001) were significantly associated with blossoming contusions. The total volume of contusions before DC resulted to have higher accuracy and ability to predict postoperative blossoming of contusion with strong statistical significance rather than the presence of acute subdural hematoma (these risk factors presented respectively an area under the curve AUC of 0.896 vs. 0.595;
< 0.001). Patients with blossoming contusions presented an unfavorable outcome compared to patients without contusion progression (
< 0.0185).
The presence of an acute subdural hematoma was associated with an increasing rate of new or expanded hemorrhagic contusions after DC. The total volume of hemorrhagic contusions > 20 cc before surgery was an independent and extremely accurate predictive radiological sign of contusion blossoming in decompressed patients for severe TBI. After DC, the patients who develop new or expanding contusions presented an increased risk for unfavorable outcome.
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