World Neurosurg
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Subependymomas are infrequent, low-grade gliomas associated with the ventricular system and the spinal cord. Little is known about the origin and natural history of these slow-growing lesions. ⋯ Subependymomas demonstrate mixed populations of cells expressing glial lineage markers as well as putative stem cell markers, suggesting these tumors may arise from multipotent glial progenitors that reside in the subventricular zone. Definitive diagnosis requires surgical sampling. Although the clinical course of subependymomas appears benign, the inability to radiographically diagnose these lesions, and the possibility of an alternative malignant lesion support a low threshold for early and safe maximal resection.
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A subarachnoid clot is the strongest predictor of cerebral vasospasm. Our purpose was to analyze the relationship between the number of postoperative cisternal clots and cerebral vasospasm and to assess the efficacy of surgical clot removal. ⋯ Surgically removing as many clots as possible in the acute stage can decrease SCV and reduce AVS severity. Irrigation should be performed on all approachable cisterns.
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The origin of chronic subdural hematomas (CSDH) and the pathophysiology of its enlargement remain unknown. The chemical fluid composition of CSDH, the contribution of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to its enlargement, and the relationship to its appearance on computed tomography (CT) also are not entirely clear. ⋯ Our study confirms that the origin and enlargement of CSDH is multifactorial, but the contribution of individual factors and condition under which it occurs still remains unclear. CT scan findings do not correlate with the chemical composition or the presence of CSF in the CSDH.
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A retrospective study was conducted to clarify the risk factors of postoperative low back pain (LBP) for low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis. ⋯ LM IMAT and symptom duration were risk factors for postoperative LBP. Patients with severe LM IMAT reported more severe LBP before the operation. Postoperative LBP disappeared more often in patients with shorter symptom duration.
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Direct surgical resection remains the standard treatment for patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) with a large subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA). Rapamycin or everolimus is seldom used in these patients because of the risk of increased intracranial pressure and possibility of sudden death. ⋯ Preoperative mTOR inhibitors could be a potentially novel treatment modality in large TSC-SEGA with hydrocephalus. In this series, mTOR inhibitors were not only safe and well tolerated, but also beneficial for tumor resection.