Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2013
Role of resection of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive sarcomas that often arise from major peripheral nerves. Approximately half of MPNSTs arise in patients with neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) who, in comparison with patients without NF1, present at younger ages and with larger tumors that are commonly associated with extensive plexiform neurofibromas. These tumors therefore pose a particularly difficult treatment challenge because of the morbidity often associated with attempted gross-total resection (GTR). Here, the authors aim to examine what role the extent of resection and other covariates play in the long-term survival of patients with NF1 in the setting of MPNST. ⋯ These findings suggest that GTR offers significant long-term benefit on survival in patients with NF1. Benefit on survival occurred independently of all other covariates, suggesting that complete resection should be the principal goal of treatment in this patient population.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2013
Motor evoked potential monitoring of the vagus nerve with transcranial electrical stimulation during skull base surgeries.
Dysphasia is one of the most serious complications of skull base surgeries and results from damage to the brainstem and/or cranial nerves involved in swallowing. Here, the authors propose a method to monitor the function of the vagus nerve using endotracheal tube surface electrodes and transcranial electrical stimulation during skull base surgeries. ⋯ Vagal MEP monitoring with transcranial electrical stimulation and endotracheal tube electrode recording was a safe and effective method to provide continuous real-time information on the integrity of both the supranuclear and infranuclear vagal pathway. This method is useful to prevent intraoperative injury of the brainstem corticobulbar tract or the vagal rootlets and to avoid the postoperative dysphagia that is often associated with brainstem or skull base surgeries.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2013
Radiation-induced imaging changes following Gamma Knife surgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformations.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence, severity, clinical manifestations, and risk factors of radiation-induced imaging changes (RIICs) following Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). ⋯ Radiation-induced imaging changes are the most common adverse effects following GKS. Fortunately, few of the RIICs are symptomatic and most of the symptoms are reversible. Patients with a relatively healthy brain and nidi that are large, or with a single draining vein, are more likely to develop RIICs.
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The authors have developed a technique for the treatment of facial paralysis that utilizes anastomosis of the split hypoglossal and facial nerve. Here, they document improvements in the procedure and experimental evidence supporting the approach. ⋯ The split hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis procedure consistently leads to good facial reanimation, and the use of either half of the split hypoglossal nerve results in facial reanimation and moderate tongue atrophy.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2013
Potentiation of response to low doses of levodopa in MPTP-injected monkeys by chemical unilateral subthalamotomy.
Subthalamotomy is a stereotactic surgery performed in patients with disabling dyskinesias due to Parkinson disease. The authors set out to model this human condition in MPTP monkeys and determine if subthalamotomy allowed a reduction of levodopa for similar benefit. ⋯ Subthalamotomy potentiated the response to suboptimal doses of levodopa. Thus, levodopa can be reduced by 40% after surgery for similar beneficial antiparkinsonian response and less dyskinesia than with an optimal dose before surgery.