World Neurosurg
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The present study outlines the feasibility, safety, and short-term clinical outcomes of posterior lateral endoscopic cervical discectomy (PLECD) through a lateral mass approach for treating cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR). ⋯ PLECD through a lateral mass approach, as an alternative to conventional "keyhole" approaches, proves to be a novel and viable therapeutic option for CSR, demonstrating both high efficacy and safety.
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Oligosarcoma is a rare central nervous system (CNS) neoplasm that may arise following oligodendroglioma resection, which demonstrates a unique genetic profile and aggressive clinical phenotype. We present a systematic review and illustrative case example emphasizing the clinical and prognostic features of this unusual and unfavorable neuro-oncologic disease. ⋯ Oligosarcoma is a prognostically unfavorable CNS neoplasm with characteristic imaging and pathologic features, and a strong association with previously resected oligodendroglioma. Aggressive treatment is recommended, including gross total resection and adjuvant chemoradiation. Further study is required to define optimal treatment protocol for this CNS malignancy.
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Craniopharyngiomas are benign tumors of the anterior skull base arising from epithelial remnants of Rathke's pouch. They mainly occur in the suprasellar space, can be incredibly debilitating, and remain difficult to resect as they frequently involve critical neurovascular structures. Although it is embryologically possible for craniopharyngiomas to arise extracranially along the entire migrational path of Rathke's pouch, these remain exceedingly rare, especially among adults, and can be mistaken for nasopharyngeal cancer. As such, minimal data exists evaluating the management and outcomes of such lesions. We evaluated our institutional experience with purely infrasellar nasopharyngeal craniopharyngiomas and obtained individual patient data reported in the contemporary literature to better characterize the demographics, presentation, surgical management, and long-term outcomes of these lesions. ⋯ While uncommon, infrasellar nasopharyngeal craniopharyngiomas appear to have better perioperative and long-term surgical outcomes than their suprasellar counterparts.
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Comminuted fractures of the anterior skull base can easily cause dural damage, leading to cerebrospinal fluid leakage and retrograde infection. Skull base reconstruction is essential. This study aimed to present a novel and simple technique for repairing skull base defects using a self-made fascia-bone fragments-fascia "sandwich" structure made by fascia, fracture fragments, and sutures. ⋯ For patients with comminuted fracture of the anterior skull base, the fascia-bone fragments-fascia structure could repair the skull base and prevent the occurrence of cerebrospinal fluid.
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The COVID-19 pandemic ushered a paradigm shift in medical education, accelerating the transition to virtual learning in select cases. The Virtual Global Spine Conference (VGSC), launched at the height of the pandemic, is a testament to this evolution, providing an independent educational series for spine care professionals worldwide. This study assesses VGSC's three-year performance, focusing on accessibility, engagement, and educational value. ⋯ The Virtual Global Spine Conference has demonstrated significant value as a virtual educational tool in spine education. Its diverse content and ease of access will likely enable it to drive value well into the post-pandemic years. Maintaining and expanding engagement, beyond North America in particular, remains a priority.