Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2012
Risks of history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and other factors related to radiation-induced changes following Gamma Knife surgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformations.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension may be associated with complications following fractionated radiotherapy. To date no studies have determined the risk of radiation toxicity in patients with DM or hypertension who have undergone Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The goal of the present study was to determine associations between DM or hypertension and other factors in the development of radiotoxicity, as measured by radiation-induced changes (RICs) on MR images following radiosurgery for AVM. ⋯ Vascular factors such as hypertension, patient sex, and tobacco use did not convey additional risks of radiotoxicity, but DM remained a possible cardiovascular risk factor in the development of RICs.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2012
Are frequent dental x-ray examinations associated with increased risk of vestibular schwannoma?
The authors evaluated the potential role of environmental risk factors, including exposure to diagnostic or therapeutic radiation and to wireless phones that emit nonionizing radiation, in the etiology of vestibular schwannoma (VS). ⋯ Patients with acoustic neuromas reported significantly more exposure to dental x-rays than a matched cohort control group. Reducing the frequency of dental x-ray examinations may decrease the potential risk of VS.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2012
Biography Historical ArticleRaymond de Vieussens and his contribution to the study of white matter anatomy: historical vignette.
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the study of white matter anatomy, both with the use of postmortem dissections and diffusion tensor imaging tractography. One of the precursors in the study of white matter anatomy was Raymond de Vieussens (1641-1716), a French anatomist born in Le Vigan. He studied medicine at the University of Montpellier in southern France, one of the most ancient and lively schools of medicine in Europe. ⋯ Although neglected, Vieussens' contribution to the study of white matter is relevant. His pioneering work showed that the white matter is not a homogeneous substance, but rather a complex structure rich in fibers that are interconnected with different parts of the brain. These initial results paved the way to advancements observed in later centuries that eventually led to modern hodology.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2012
Role of Gamma Knife surgery in patients with 5 or more brain metastases.
The authors evaluated overall survival and factors predicting outcome in patients with ≥ 5 brain metastases who were treated with Gamma Knife surgery (GKS). ⋯ In this study, GKS was safe and effective for upfront and salvage treatment in patients with ≥ 5 brain metastases. Gamma Knife surgery should be considered as an additional treatment modality for these patients, especially in the subset of patients with favorable prognostic factors.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2012
Clinical TrialThe subthalamic nucleus at 3.0 Tesla: choice of optimal sequence and orientation for deep brain stimulation using a standard installation protocol: clinical article.
Reliable visualization of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is indispensable for accurate placement of electrodes in deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery for patients with Parkinson disease (PD). The aim of the study was to evaluate different promising new MRI methods at 3.0 T for preoperative visualization of the STN using a standard installation protocol. ⋯ For 3.0-T MRI, T2*-FLASH2D (particularly the coronal view) provides optimal delineation of the STN using a standard installation protocol.