World Neurosurg
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The landscape of microneurosurgery has changed considerably over the past 2 decades, with a decline in indications for open surgery on cerebrovascular pathology and ever-increasing indications for open resection of brain tumors. This study investigated how these trends in case volume affected residents' training experiences in microsurgery and, specifically, Sylvian fissure dissection. ⋯ Residents are seeing an increasing proportion of their Sylvian fissure dissection experience during tumor operations. The distribution of this experience will continue to evolve as surgical indications change but suggests a growing role for tumor surgeons in resident training in microsurgery.
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Contrast enhancement in a brain tumor on magnetic resonance imaging is typically indicative of a high-grade glioma. However, a significant proportion of nonenhancing gliomas can be either grade II or III. While gross total resection remains the primary goal, imaging biomarkers may guide management when surgery is not possible, especially for nonenhancing gliomas. The utility of diffusion tensor imaging and dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging was evaluated in differentiating nonenhancing gliomas. ⋯ Diffusion tensor imaging and dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging can aid in differentiation of nonenhancing grade II and III gliomas and between histologic subtypes.
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Posterior fossa hemangioblastomas usually consist of a small solid nodule with a large cyst, while more rarely they present as a large solid mass with a small or absent cyst, which can be surgically challenging. We sought to investigate the potential existence of multiple distinct hemangioblastoma populations using tumor volumetric data as an indicator. ⋯ This study has shown preliminary evidence that large solid hemangioblastomas may constitute a completely distinct population, rather than a variant of one large group of hemangioblastomas.
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Infraoccipital Supratentorial Approach Resection of a Left Mesiotemporal and Atrium Epidermoid Cyst.
Classically mesiotemporal lesions are approached from the lateral temporal approach, which frequently injures the visual and language tracts. We present the posterior approach through which the language tracts and visual tracts at the roof and lateral wall of the temporal horn (Meyer loop) can be avoided, minimizing the risk of neurologic injury. The patient, a 32-year-old man, presented with the chief complaint of experiencing seizures for 6 years with rare, generalized, tonic-clonic seizures. ⋯ Pathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of epidermoid cyst. Cognitive evaluation results showed no postoperative deficiencies and his visual field was also not affected by the surgery. Informed patient content was obtained (Video 1).
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An indentation, designating a furrowed hole on the facial nerve, has been used in many studies for locating pathophysiology and assessing relevant clinical outcomes after microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm (HFS). In this study, we sought to elucidate the contributing factors forming indentation on the facial nerve and the consequent effect of having indentation on the clinical course. ⋯ The indentation on the facial nerve was associated with longer duration of symptoms, the presence of compression in the proximal segment of the root exit zone, and loop-type pattern of compression. More patients with indentation experienced the HFS reappearance phenomenon, which lasted longer than in those who had no indentation.