Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2013
Comparative StudyTumor shrinkage after transsphenoidal surgery for nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma.
Volume reduction of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas has been described, for example, after radiotherapy and pituitary tumor apoplexy. Even when considerable remnants remain after surgery, spontaneous shrinkage and relief of mass lesion symptoms can sometimes occur. The aim of this study was to assess shrinkage of tumor residues after transsphenoidal surgery and to identify predictors of tumor shrinkage. ⋯ Spontaneous volume reduction of nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma remnants can occur within 3 months after surgery. Predictors of shrinkage are smaller tumor remnant volume and no history of previous pituitary surgery.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2013
Results of acoustic neuroma radiosurgery: an analysis of 5 years' experience using current methods.
The goal of this study was to define tumor control and complications of radiosurgery encountered using current treatment methods for the initial management of patients with unilateral acoustic neuroma. ⋯ Radiosurgery for acoustic neuroma performed using current procedures is associated with a continued high rate of tumor control and lower rates of posttreatment morbidity than those published in earlier reports.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2013
The prevalence of patient safety indicators and hospital-acquired conditions in patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms: establishing standard performance measures using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) patient safety indicators (PSIs) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) are publicly reported metrics used to gauge the quality of health care provided by health care institutions. To better understand the prevalence of these events in hospitalized patients treated for ruptured cerebral aneurysms, the authors determined the incidence rates of PSIs and HACs among patients with a diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage and procedure codes for either coiling or clipping in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. ⋯ These results estimate baseline national rates of PSIs and HACs in patients treated for ruptured cerebral aneurysms. These data may be used to gauge individual institutional quality of care and patient safety metrics in comparison with national data.