Neurosurgery clinics of North America
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Neurosurg. Clin. N. Am. · Oct 2013
ReviewStereotactic radiosurgery of intracranial chordomas, chondrosarcomas, and glomus tumors.
Chordomas and chondrosarcomas are rare, slow-glowing, locally aggressive tumors with high recurrence rates. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an important management option for patients with recurrent or residual chordomas and chondrosarcomas. ⋯ Because of their highly vascular nature and surgically formidable anatomic location, curative resection often proves challenging. SRS can be used as an up-front treatment or as an additional treatment for patients with recurrent or residual glomus jugulare tumor after surgical resection.
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The goal of pituitary adenoma radiosurgery is to halt tumor growth, normalize hormonal hypersecretion if present, maintain normal pituitary function, and preserve important structures around the sella. The radiation dose necessary to stop tumor growth is lower than the dose necessary to achieve normalization of hormonal hypersecretion. The minimum distance required between the irradiated target and the optic pathway should be 2 mm for secreting adenomas, but in cases of nonsecreting adenomas this distance is even lower. The current role of radiosurgery in most cases is as an adjuvant treatment of residual or recurrent adenomas after previous microsurgery.
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Neurosurg. Clin. N. Am. · Jul 2013
ReviewParenchymal brain oxygen monitoring in the neurocritical care unit.
Patients admitted to the neurocritical care unit (NCCU) often have serious conditions that can be associated with high morbidity and mortality. Pharmacologic agents or neuroprotectants have disappointed in the clinical environment. ⋯ This strategy is based on a variety of monitoring techniques including use of intraparenchymal monitors. This article reviews parenchymal brain oxygen monitors, including the available technologies, practical aspects of use, the physiologic rationale behind their use, and patient management based on brain oxygen.
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Effective monitoring is critical for neurologically compromised patients, and several techniques are available. One of these tools, cerebral microdialysis (MD), was designed to detect derangements in cerebral metabolism. ⋯ Combined with other brain monitoring techniques, MD can be used to estimate cerebral vulnerability, to assess tissue outcome, and possibly to prevent secondary ischemic injury by guiding therapy. This article reviews the literature regarding the past, present, and future uses of MD along with its advantages and disadvantages in the intensive care unit setting.