Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2015
Observational StudyPredicting success of endoscopic third ventriculostomy: validation of the ETV Success Score in a mixed population of adult and pediatric patients.
Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has become the first line of treatment in obstructive hydrocephalus. The Toronto group (Kulkarni et al.) developed the ETV Success Score (ETVSS) to predict the clinical response following ETV based on age, previous shunt, and cause of hydrocephalus in a pediatric population. However, the use of the ETVSS has not been validated for a population comprising adults. The objective of this study was to validate the ETVSS in a "closed-skull" population, including patients 2 years of age and older. ⋯ The ETVSS did not show adequate discrimination but demonstrated excellent calibration in this population of patients 2 years and older. According to decision-curve analyses, the ETVSS is marginally useful in clinical scenarios in which 60% or 70% success rates are the thresholds for preferring ETV to CSF shunt. Previous history of CSF shunt and age were not associated with worse outcomes, whereas posthemorrhagic and postinfectious causes of the hydrocephalus were significantly associated with reduced success rates following ETV.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2015
Correlation of high delta-like ligand 4 expression with peritumoral brain edema and its prediction of poor prognosis in patients with primary high-grade gliomas.
Peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) is a common phenomenon associated with high-grade gliomas (HGGs). In this study, the authors investigated the expression of Notch delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) and its correlation with PTBE and prognosis in patients with an HGG. ⋯ DLL4 expression was correlated positively with the degree of PTBE and was an independent unfavorable prognostic indicator in patients with HGG.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2015
Case ReportsSpreading of multiple Listeria monocytogenes abscesses via central nervous system fiber tracts: case report.
Animal studies have shown that Listeria monocytogenes can probably access the brain through a peripheral intraneural route, and it has been suggested that a similar process may occur in humans. However, thus far, its spreading through the central nervous system (CNS) has not been completely elucidated. The authors present a case of multiple L. monocytogenes cerebral abscesses characterized by a pattern of distribution that suggested spread along white matter fiber tracts and reviewed the literature to identify other cases for analysis. ⋯ This report is the first description suggesting intraaxonal CNS spread of L. monocytogenes infection in humans following its entry into the brain. This distinct pattern is clearly seen on imaging and its recognition may be valuable in the diagnosis of listeriosis. This finding may allow for earlier diagnosis, which may improve outcome.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2015
Temporal lobe epilepsy in patients with nonlesional MRI and normal memory: an SEEG study.
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in the absence of MRI abnormalities and memory deficits is often presumed to have an extramesial or even extratemporal source. In this paper the authors report the results of a comprehensive stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) analysis in patients with TLE with normal MRI images and memory scores. ⋯ This study demonstrates 3 important findings: 1) normal memory does not preclude mesial temporal seizure onset; 2) onset of seizures exclusively from mesial temporal structures without early neocortical involvement is common, even in the absence of memory deficits; and 3) extratemporal seizure onset is rare when video EEG and semiology are consistent with focal TLE.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2015
Patency of the anterior choroidal artery covered with a flow-diverter stent.
The concept of the flow-diverter stent (FDS) is to induce aneurysmal thrombosis while preserving the patency of the parent vessel and any covered branches. In some circumstances, it is impossible to avoid dangerously covering small branches, such as the anterior choroidal artery (AChA), with the stent. In this paper, the authors describe the clinical and angiographic effects of covering the AChA with an FDS. ⋯ The results of this study suggest that when impossible to avoid, the AChA may be safely covered with a single FDS during intracranial aneurysm treatment, irrespective of anatomy and anastomoses.