Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Sep 2003
Relative survival rates and patterns of diagnosis analyzed by time period for individuals with primary malignant brain tumor, 1973-1997.
The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of diagnosis and relative survival rates in individuals in whom a primary malignant brain tumor was diagnosed between 1973 and 1997; follow-up review of these patients continued through the end of 1999. ⋯ Over time, the relative survival rate of individuals with primary malignant brain tumor has improved and differences in survival are seen by examining the race of the patients.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Sep 2003
Prevention of postoperative posterior tethering of spinal cord after resection of ependymoma.
The authors evaluated an alternative method to avoid postoperative posterior tethering of the spinal cord following resection of spinal ependymomas. ⋯ This new technique for closure of the surgical wound is effective in preventing of postoperative posterior spinal cord tethering after excision of spinal ependymoma.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Sep 2003
Prediction and monitoring of cerebral hyperperfusion after carotid endarterectomy by using single-photon emission computerized tomography scanning.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the preoperative measurement of acetazolamide-induced changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF), which is performed using single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scanning, can be used to identify patients at risk for hyperperfusion following carotid endarterectomy (CEA). In addition, the authors investigated whether monitoring of CBF with SPECT scanning after CEA can be used to identify patients at risk for hyperperfusion syndrome. ⋯ Preoperative measurement of acetazolamide-induced changes in CBF, which is performed using SPECT scanning, can be used to identify patients at risk for hyperperfusion after CEA. In addition, post-CEA monitoring of CBF performed using SPECT scanning results in the timely and reliable identification of patients at risk for hyperperfusion syndrome.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Sep 2003
Review Case ReportsSpontaneous regression of symptomatic lumbar synovial cysts. Report of three cases.
Synovial cysts emanating from the lumbar facet joints may compromise the spinal canal and produce symptoms of radiculopathy or stenosis. Good results have been reported after excision of the symptomatic lesions. There are limited data, however, on the natural history involving nonoperative management and little information to suggest that these lesions ever regress spontaneously. The authors report on three patients in whom symptomatic lumbar synovial cysts spontaneously resolved and review the relevant literature.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Sep 2003
Comparative StudyUse of 18F-choline and 11C-choline as contrast agents in positron emission tomography imaging-guided stereotactic biopsy sampling of gliomas.
Neuroimaging-guided stereotactic biopsy procedures are commonly used for diagnosis of gliomas. A number of the imaging modalities currently in use are not reliable enough in depicting these tumors. The authors developed 18F-choline and 11C-choline as tumor imaging agents for positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, and used them to visualize gliomas prior to stereotactic biopsy procedures. ⋯ The uptake of contrast agents was always low in low-grade gliomas, and the uptake in high-grade glioma was always high. The tumor/normal (T/N) ratio of 18F-choline was 10.5:12 in anaplastic astrocytoma and 13.2:21 in glioblastoma. The 18F-choline yielded slightly superior results compared with 11C-choline with regard to the T/N ratio. In one case of oligodendroglioma the tumor showed no uptake of 18F- and 11C-choline. With this exception, the PET scans of gliomas in which 18F- and 11C-choline contrast agents were added would guide the approach to the most malignant areas for stereotactic biopsy sampling.