Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Apr 2019
Characterizing tumor invasiveness of glioblastoma using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging.
The objective of this study was to characterize the abnormalities revealed by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) using MR spectroscopy (MRS) and perfusion imaging, and to evaluate the prognostic value of a proposed quantitative measure of tumor invasiveness by combining contrast-enhancing (CE) and DTI abnormalities in patients with glioblastoma. ⋯ DTI-q abnormalities displayed higher tumor load and hypoxic signatures compared with CE abnormalities, whereas CE regions potentially represented the tumor proliferation edge. Integrating the extents of invasion visualized by DTI-q and CE images into clinical practice may lead to improved treatment efficacy.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Apr 2019
Dual labeling with 5-aminolevulinic acid and fluorescein in high-grade glioma surgery with a prototype filter system built into a neurosurgical microscope: technical note.
Recent efforts to improve visualization of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-induced protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) fluorescence resulted in a dual-labeling technique, combining it with fluorescein sodium in a prototype setup. Fluorescein identifies regions with blood-brain barrier breakdown in gliomas. However, normally perfused and edematous brain fluoresces unselectively, with strong background enhancement. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of a novel, integrated filter combination using porphyrins for selective tumor identification and fluorescein for background enhancement. ⋯ The novel filter system improved general tissue brightness and background visualization, enhancing fluorescence-guided tumor resection. Furthermore, it appears promising from a scientific perspective, enabling the simultaneous and direct observation of areas with blood-brain barrier breakdown and PPIX fluorescence.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Apr 2019
Analysis of human acellular nerve allograft combined with contralateral C7 nerve root transfer for restoration of shoulder abduction and elbow flexion in brachial plexus injury: a mean 4-year follow-up.
Human acellular nerve allograft applications have increased in clinical practice, but no studies have quantified their influence on reconstruction outcomes for high-level, greater, and mixed nerves, especially the brachial plexus. The authors investigated the functional outcomes of human acellular nerve allograft reconstruction for nerve gaps in patients with brachial plexus injury (BPI) undergoing contralateral C7 (CC7) nerve root transfer to innervate the upper trunk, and they determined the independent predictors of recovery in shoulder abduction and elbow flexion. ⋯ Human acellular nerve allografts offered safe reconstruction for 20- to 50-mm nerve gaps in procedures for CC7 nerve root transfer to repair the upper trunk after BPI. The group in which allograft lengths were ≤ 30 mm achieved better functional outcome than others, and the recommended length of allograft in this procedure was less than 30 mm. Age, interval between injury and surgery, and allograft length were independent predictors of functional outcomes after human acellular nerve allograft reconstruction.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Apr 2019
Tailored multilobar disconnective epilepsy surgery in the posterior quadrant.
Surgical treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy originating from the posterior quadrant (PQ) of the brain often requires large multilobar resections, and disconnective techniques have been advocated to limit the risks associated with extensive tissue removal. Few previous studies have described a tailored temporoparietooccipital (TPO) disconnective approach; only small series with short postoperative follow-ups have been reported. The aim of the present study was to present a tailored approach to multilobar PQ disconnections (MPQDs) for epilepsy and to provide details about selection of patients, presurgical investigations, surgical technique, treatment safety profile, and seizure and cognitive outcome in a large, single-center series of patients with a long-term follow-up. ⋯ The presented data indicate that the use of careful anatomo-electro-clinical criteria in the presurgical evaluation allows for customizing the extent of surgical disconnections in PQ epilepsies, with excellent results on seizures and an acceptable safety profile.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Apr 2019
Predictive factors of incomplete aneurysm occlusion after endovascular treatment with the Pipeline embolization device.
The Pipeline embolization device (PED) is a routine choice for the endovascular treatment of select intracranial aneurysms. Its success is based on the high rates of aneurysm occlusion, followed by near-zero recanalization probability once occlusion has occurred. Therefore, identification of patient factors predictive of incomplete occlusion on the last angiographic follow-up is critical to its success. ⋯ Incomplete aneurysm occlusion following placement of a PED was independently associated with age > 70 years, aneurysm diameter ≥ 15 mm, and fusiform morphology. Such predictive factors can be used to guide individualized treatment selection and counseling in patients undergoing cerebrovascular neurosurgery.