Journal of neurosurgery
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2016
Multicenter StudyGamma Knife radiosurgery for brain metastases from pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: a Japanese multi-institutional cooperative study (JLGK1401).
OBJECTIVE In 1999, the World Health Organization categorized large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the lung as a variant of large cell carcinoma, and LCNEC now accounts for 3% of all lung cancers. Although LCNEC is categorized among the non-small cell lung cancers, its biological behavior has recently been suggested to be very similar to that of a small cell pulmonary malignancy. The clinical outcome for patients with LCNEC is generally poor, and the optimal treatment for this malignancy has not yet been established. ⋯ Follow-up imaging studies were available in 78 patients. The tumor control rate was 86% at 12 months after GKRS. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that GKRS is an effective treatment for LCNEC patients with brain METs, particularly in terms of maintaining neurological status.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2016
Quality of life in patients with intracranial tumors: does tumor laterality matter?
OBJECTIVE Traditionally, the dominant (usually left) cerebral hemisphere is regarded as the more important one, and everyday clinical decisions are influenced by this view. However, reported results on the impact of lesion laterality are inconsistent in the scarce literature on quality of life (QOL) in patients with brain tumors. The authors aimed to study which cerebral hemisphere is the most important to patients with intracranial tumors with respect to health-related QOL (HRQOL). ⋯ In the analysis of longitudinal data, no association was found between tumor laterality and postoperative EQ-5D-3L index scores (p = 0.957) or clinically significant change in HRQOL following surgery (p = 0.793). CONCLUSIONS In an overall patient-reported QOL perspective, tumor laterality does not appear to be of significant importance for generic HRQOL in patients with intracranial tumors. This may imply that right-sided cerebral functions are underestimated by clinicians.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2016
Follow-up results of brain metastasis patients undergoing repeat Gamma Knife radiosurgery.
OBJECTIVE Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) without upfront whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has influenced recent treatment recommendations for brain metastasis patients. However, in brain metastasis patients who undergo SRS alone, new brain metastases inevitably appear with relatively high incidences during post-SRS follow-up. However, little is known about the second SRS results. ⋯ SRS-induced complications occurred in 25 patients (2.9%) after a median post-second SRS period of 16.8 months (range 0.6-95.0 months; interquartile range 5.6-29.3 months). The cumulative incidences of complications were 1.4%, 2.0%, 2.4%, 3.0%, and 3.0% at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after the second SRS, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Carefully selected patients with recurrent tumors-either new or locally recurrent-are favorable candidates for a second SRS, particularly in terms of neurological status maintenance and the safety of this treatment strategy.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2016
Cost-effectiveness of stereotactic radiosurgery versus whole-brain radiation therapy for up to 10 brain metastases.
OBJECTIVE The JLGK0901 study found that stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a safe and effective treatment option for treating up to 10 brain metastases. The purpose of this study is to determine the cost-effectiveness of treating up to 10 brain metastases with SRS, whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT), or SRS and immediate WBRT (SRS+WBRT). METHODS A Markov model was developed to evaluate the cost effectiveness of SRS, WBRT, and SRS+WBRT in patients with 1 or 2-10 brain metastases. ⋯ SRS versus WBRT was also cost effective at a WTP of $200,000 per QALY on the probabilistic sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS The most cost-effective strategy for patients with up to 10 brain metastases is SRS alone relative to SRS+WBRT. SRS alone may also be cost-effective relative to WBRT alone, but this depends on WTP, the cost of SRS, and patient preferences.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2016
Snare technique for the remodeling of the redundant arachnoid pouch to prevent cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and hematoma collection during transsphenoidal surgery for suprasellar-extended pituitary tumors.
OBJECTIVE Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) is considered a most effective treatment for pituitary tumors with huge suprasellar extension. However, the chance of developing CSF leakage is relatively high, because tearing of the arachnoid membrane is common and there could be multiple tear points during the dissection of suprasellar tumors from the overlying arachnoid membrane. If there are multiple leaking points in the arachnoid membrane packing methods such as using fat or multilayered fascia graft may not be sufficient to seal off the leaking points. ⋯ Magnetic resonance imaging studies performed 24 hours after surgery revealed a remarkable reduction in the height of the diaphragm in all cases. Visual deficits improved in all patients immediately after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Remodeling of the arachnoid pouch using the snare technique is simple and effective for completely sealing off the CSF leak point and preventing hematoma collection in the tumor resection cavity after TSS for huge pituitary tumors with suprasellar extension.