Category: Oncology

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Deformable Anatomic Templates Improve Analysis of Gliomas With Minimal Mass Effect in Eloquent Areas

Deformable Anatomic Templates Improve Analysis of Gliomas With Minimal Mass Effect in Eloquent Areas

Neurosurgery 73:534–542, 2013

Despite improvements in advanced magnetic resonance imaging and intraoperative mapping, cases remain in which it is difficult to determine whether viable eloquent structures are involved by a glioma. A novel software program, deformable anatomic templates (DAT), rapidly embeds the normal location of eloquent cortex and functional tracts in the magnetic resonance images of glioma-bearing brain.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of the DAT technique in patients with gliomas related to eloquent brain.

METHODS: Forty cases of gliomas (grade II-IV) with minimal mass effect were referred for a prospective preoperative and postoperative DAT analysis. The DAT results were compared with the patient’s functional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, operative stimulation, and new postoperative clinical deficits.

RESULTS: Fifteen of the 40 glioma patients had overlap between tumor and eloquent structures. Immediate postoperative neurological deficits were seen in 9 cases in which the DAT showed the eloquent area both within the tumor and within or at the edge of the resection cavity. In 6 cases with no deficits, DAT placed the eloquent area in the tumor but outside the resection cavity.

CONCLUSION: This is proof of concept that DAT can improve the analysis of diffuse gliomas of any grade by efficiently alerting the surgeon to the possibility of eloquent area invasion. The technique is especially helpful in diffuse glioma because these tumors tend to infiltrate rather than displace eloquent structures. DAT is limited by tract displacement in gliomas that produces moderate to severe mass effect.

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Surgical management and outcomes of petroclival meningiomas: a single-center case series of 259 patients

Petroclival meningioma outcomes

Acta Neurochir (2013) 155:1367–1383

Surgical management of petroclival meningiomas is challenging. Various and inconsistent outcome and prognostic factors of the lesions have been evaluated previously. In the present study, the surgical outcome, philosophy, and experience of petroclival meningiomas are detailed based on a large patient series.

Methods A series of 259 patients with petroclival meningiomas (70 males and 189 females) were surgically treated. Clinical charts and radiographs were reviewed. Follow-up results were evaluated.

Results The preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score was 74.2±10.5. The mean tumor size was 4.3±1.0 cm. The gross total resection (GTR) rate was 52.5 %. During a mean follow-up period of 55.3 months, recurrence/progression (R/P) occurred in 11 patients. The recent KPS score was 78.4±22.7, it improved in 139 (57.2 %) patients and stabilized in 53 (21.8 %) patients, and 201 (82.7 %) patients lived independently. The risk factors affecting the KPS score included (but were not limited to) age≥60, preoperative KPS≤60, and brainstem edema. The adverse factors contributing to R/P-free survival included (but were not limited to) non-total resection and the absence of the subarachnoid space. The R/P-free survival rate was 94.5 % at 5 years and 91.2 % at 9 years. The overall survival rate was 94.7 % at 5 years and 94.7 % at 9 years.

Conclusions Favorable outcomes from petroclival meningiomas could be achieved by microsurgery. Neurological function and quality of life were prioritized, and GTR was attempted. Risk factors should be considered in surgical schemes, and tumor recurrence should be aggressively monitored and treated.

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Pathology of Spinal Ependymomas

Pathology of Spinal Ependymomas

Neurosurgery 73:247–255, 2013

Ependymomas constitute approximately 40% of primary intraspinal tumors. Current World Health Organization (WHO) grading may not correlate with observed progression-free survival (PFS).

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study of prospectively collected data examines whether PFS is influenced by the histological grade or by the extent of resection. It also analyzes the usage and effectiveness of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy.

METHODS: We reviewed 134 consecutive patients with ependymomas of all grades. Pathology slides were re-reviewed and the histological grades were confirmed by a single neuropathologist. Postoperative residual or recurrence was evaluated with follow-up magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS: There were 85 male and 49 female patients, ranging from 10 to 79 (median 41) years of age. Thirty patients had WHO grade I tumors, 101 had grade II tumors, and 3 had grade III tumors. Kaplan-Meier analysis of PFS demonstrated a mean duration of 6 years for grade I, 14.9 years for grade II, and 3.7 years for grade III (P , .001). In grade II ependymomas, mean PFS was 11.2 years with subtotal resection and 17.8 years with gross total resection (P, .01). PFS of patients who underwent subtotal resection was not significantly changed by adjuvant radiotherapy (P , .36).

CONCLUSION: Patients with grade II ependymoma have significantly longer PFS than patients with grade I ependymoma. The extent of resection did not affect PFS in grade I ependymoma but it did in grade II. Contrary to its higher grade, WHO grade II ependymoma carries a better prognosis than WHO grade I ependymoma.

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Surgery for low-grade glioma infiltrating the central cerebral region

Surgery for low-grade glioma infiltrating the central cerebral region

J Neurosurg 119:318–323, 2013

A main concern with regard to surgery for low-grade glioma (LGG, WHO Grade II) is maintenance of the patient’s functional integrity. This concern is particularly relevant for gliomas in the central region, where damage can have grave repercussions. The authors evaluated postsurgical outcomes with regard to neurological deficits, seizures, and quality of life.

Methods. Outcomes were compared for 33 patients with central LGG (central cohort) and a control cohort of 31 patients with frontal LGG (frontal cohort), all of whom had had medically intractable seizures before undergoing surgery with mapping while awake. All surgeries were performed in the period from February 2007 through April 2010 at the same institution.

Results. For the central cohort, the median extent of resection was 92% (range 80%–97%), and for the frontal cohort, the median extent of resection was 93% (range 83%–98%; p = 1.0). Although the rate of mild neurological deficits was similar for both groups, seizure freedom (Engel Class I) was achieved for only 4 (12.1%) of 33 patients in the central cohort compared with 26 (83.9%) of 31 patients in the frontal cohort (p < 0.0001). The rate of return to work was lower for patients in the central cohort (4 [12.1%] of 33) than for the patients in the frontal cohort (28 [90.3%] of 31; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions. Resection of central LGG is feasible and safe when appropriate intraoperative mapping is used. However, seizure control for these patients remains poor, a finding that contrasts markedly with seizure control for patients in the frontal cohort and with that reported in the literature. For patients with central LGG, poor seizure control ultimately determines quality of life because most will not be able to return to work.

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Surgical techniques for the dissection of encased perforators in giant clinoidal meningiomas

Encased perforators in giant clinoidal meningiomas

Acta Neurochir (2013) 155:1409–1412

Surgical treatment of giant clinoidal meningiomas remains a challenging task for neurosurgeons. Here, we present details of the surgical techniques for the dissection of encased perforators.

Methods The dissection of encased perforators is summarized as follows: (1) split the tumor above the encased arteries and perforators; (2) find the entrance and exit points of the perforators, and estimate the running course of the perforators within the tumor; (3) dissect and expose the perforators along the estimated line.

Conclusions The surgical techniques described in this article will aid in achieving maximum tumor resection while preserving encased perforators.

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Tolerance of awake surgery for glioma: a prospective European Low Grade Glioma Network multicenter study

awake surgery for glioma

Acta Neurochir (2013) 155:1301–1308

Gross total removal of glioma is limited by proximity to eloquent brain. Awake surgery allows for intraoperative monitoring to safely identify eloquent regions. However, data on adverse psychological effects induced in these patients is limited.

Objective This study explored patients’ perception of awake surgery for glioma, with special focus on intraoperative pain and anxiety.

Methods This study was conducted at five neurosurgical centers within the European Low Grade Glioma Network. Patients underwent awake surgery for glioma according to the protocol of the individual center. Pain and discomfort were measured during the awake phase. Postoperatively, patients answered a questionnaire on aspects of their operation.

Results One hundred five patients were enrolled. Pain levels on a 10-cm visual analogue scale were 1.3 cm at the beginning, 1.9 cm the middle, and 2.1 cm at the end of awake phase. Levels of anxiety were 2.2 cm, 2.5 cm and 2.6 cm, respectively. Women and patients younger than 60 years exhibited highest mean anxiety levels. The patient questionnaire revealed that the majority of patients feel comfortable with the procedure. Discomfort resulted from head fixation or positioning on the operating table.

Conclusions We demonstrate that awake surgery is well tolerated, as neither intraoperative nor postoperative assessment revealed major disadvantages. Concerning practical lessons learned from this study, we emphasize the importance of minimizing pain and preparing patients thoroughly to reduce anxiety and maximize cooperation. Awake surgery is an excellent treatment modality for brain tumors with very positive perception by patients. Keywords

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Venous preservation–guided resection: a changing paradigm in parasagittal meningioma surgery

Venous preservation–guided resection- a changing paradigm in parasagittal meningioma surgery-1

J Neurosurg 119:74–81, 2013

Surgical treatment of parasagittal meningiomas is challenging. Preserving the venous outflow is the key point, but this may preclude radical resection. Different surgical strategies have been proposed. To contribute to the debate on the optimal strategy for treating these tumors, a single-institutional, single-surgeon series of patients with parasagittal meningiomas was analyzed and the available literature reviewed.

Methods. Clinical charts of patients with parasagittal meningioma, managed at the University of Messina between 1988 and 2008, were retrospectively reviewed. A microsurgical resection, the goal of which was to preserve the venous outflow, was performed. Only if the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) was angiographically occluded, but if alternative venous outflow was clearly recognized, was the tumor resected, together with the sinus without further flow restoration. A MEDLINE review of the literature published between 1955 and 2011 was performed.

Results. Long-term follow-up (mean 80 months) data obtained in 67 patients with meningiomas involving the SSS were analyzed. The recurrence rate was 10.4%; the morbidity and mortality rates were 10.4% and 4.5%, respectively. The authors identified in the literature 19 relevant studies on this issue, and based on their review of the literature, there is no evidence that aggressive management offers an advantage in terms of recurrence rate.

Conclusions. Analysis of the data obtained in the 67 patients confirmed good outcome and long-term tumor control following a surgical strategy aimed to preserve venous outflow. These findings and the results of the authors’ analysis of the literature emphasize that the goal of radical tumor resection should be balanced by an awareness of the increased surgical risk attendant on aggressive management of the SSS and bridging veins.

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Modern surgical outcomes following surgery for sphenoid wing meningiomas

Sphenoid wing meningioma

J Neurosurg 119:86–93, 2013

Cushing and Eisenhardt were the first to describe sphenoid wing meningiomas in detail, categorizing globoid tumors into 3 groups: 1) medial; 2) middle; and 3) lateral. The authors review their experience with resection of sphenoid wing meningiomas at a single center, to examine whether this classification predicts clinical presentation and postsurgical outcome.

Methods. All patients undergoing resection of sphenoid wing meningioma at the authors’ institution over a 9-year period were identified. Clinical data were compared from patients with tumors arising at different points along the sphenoid wing to determine if these tumors behaved differently in terms of symptoms, radiographic characteristics, and postsurgical outcome.

Results. A total of 56 patients underwent microsurgical resection for sphenoid wing meningioma during this period. The rates of optic canal invasion (medial 50% vs middle 5% vs lateral 0%; p < 0.0001, chi-square test), supraclinoid internal carotid artery encasement (medial 32% vs middle 5% vs lateral 0%; p < 0.01, chi-square test), and middle cerebral artery encasement (medial 45% vs middle 24% vs lateral 0%; p < 0.01, chi-square test) were all highest with medial-third tumors. New or worsened neurological deficits occurred in 10 (19%) of 56 patients. Of all the imaging characteristics studied, only location of the tumor along the medial third of the sphenoid wing significantly predicted an increased rate of new or worsened neurological deficit (OR 2.7, p < 0.05).

Conclusions. The authors report outcomes in a large series of sphenoid wing meningiomas that were treated using modern surgical techniques.

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Blood-based biomarkers for malignant gliomas

Blood-based biomarkers for malignant gliomas

J Neurooncol (2013) 113:345–352

Malignant gliomas remain incurable and present unique challenges to clinicians, radiologists and clinical and translational investigators. One of the major problems in treatment of these tumors is our limited ability to reliably assess tumor response or progression.

The most frequently used neuro-imaging studies (contrast-enhanced MRI and CT) rely on changes of blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, providing only an indirect assessment of tumor burden. In addition, the BBB can be altered by commonly used interventions including radiation, glucocorticoids and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, further complicating the interpretation of scans. Newer radiologic techniques including PET and magnetic resonance spectroscopy are theoretically promising but thus far have not meaningfully changed the assessment of patients with malignant gliomas. A tumor-specific, bloodbased biomarker would be of immediate use to clinicians and investigators if sufficiently sensitive and specific.

This review discusses the potential utility of such a biomarker, the general classes of tumor-derived blood-based biomarkers and it summarizes the currently available data on circulating tumor cells, circulating nucleic acids and circulating proteins in patients with malignant gliomas. It is unclear which marker or marker class appears to be the most promising for these tumors.

This article provides thoughts on how novel candidate blood-based markers could be discovered and tested in a more comprehensive way and why these efforts should be among the top priorities in neuro-oncologic research in the coming years.

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Risk factor analysis of the development of new neurological deficits following supplementary motor area resection

Supplementary motor area

J Neurosurg 119:7–14, 2013

Supplementary motor area (SMA) resection often induces postoperative contralateral hemiparesis or speech disturbance. This study was performed to assess the neurological impairments that often follow SMA resection and to assess the risk factors associated with these postoperative deficits.

Methods. The records for patients who had undergone SMA resection for pharmacologically intractable epilepsy between 1994 and 2010 were gleaned from an epilepsy surgery database and retrospectively reviewed in this study.

Results. Forty-three patients with pharmacologically intractable epilepsy underwent SMA resection with intraoperative cortical stimulation and mapping while under awake anesthesia. The mean patient age was 31.7 years (range 15–63 years), and the mean duration and frequency of seizures were 10.4 years (range 0.1–30 years) and 14.6 per month (range 0.1–150 per month), respectively. Pathological examination of the brain revealed cortical dysplasia in 18 patients (41.9%), tumors in 16 patients (37.2%), and other lesions in 9 patients (20.9%). The mean duration of the follow-up period was 84.0 months (range 24–169 months). After SMA resection, 23 patients (53.5%) experienced neurological deficits. Three patients (7.0%) experienced permanent deficits, and 20 (46.5%) experienced symptoms that were transient. All permanent deficits involved contralateral weakness, whereas the transient symptoms patients experienced were varied, including contralateral weaknesses in 15, apraxia in 1, sensory disturbances in 1, and dysphasia in 6. Thirteen patients recovered completely within 1 month. Univariate analysis revealed that resection of the SMA proper, a shorter lifetime seizure history (< 10 years), and resection of the cingulate gyrus in addition to the SMA were associated with the development of neurological deficits (p = 0.078, 0.069, and 0.023, respectively). Cingulate gyrus resection was the only risk factor identified on multivariate analysis (p = 0.027, OR 6.530, 95% CI 1.234–34.562).

Conclusions. Resection of the cingulate gyrus in addition to the SMA was significantly associated with the development of postoperative neurological impairment.

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Prognostic Value of Residual Fluorescent Tissue in Glioblastoma Patients After Gross Total Resection in 5-Aminolevulinic Acid-Guided Surgery

Prognostic_Value_of_Residual_Fluorescent_Tissue_in

Neurosurgery 72:915–921, 2013

There is evidence in the literature supporting that fluorescent tissue signal in fluorescence-guided surgery extends farther than tissue highlighted in gadolinium in T1 sequence magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is the standard to quantify the extent of resection.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether the presence of residual fluorescent tissue after surgery carries a different prognosis for glioblastoma (GBM) cases with complete resection confirmed by MRI.

METHODS: A retrospective review in our center found 118 consecutive patients with high-grade gliomas operated on with the use of fluorescence-guided surgery with 5-aminolevulinic acid. Within that series, the 52 patients with newly diagnosed GBM and complete resection of enhancing tumor (CRET) in early MRI were selected for analysis. We studied the influence of residual fluorescence in the surgical field on overall survival and neurological complication rate. Multivariate analysis included potential relevant factors: age, Karnofsky Performance Scale, O6-methylguanine methyltransferase methylation promoter status, tumor eloquent location, preoperative tumor volume, and adjuvant therapy.

RESULTS: The median overall survival was 27.0 months (confidence interval = 22.4-31.6) in patients with nonresidual fluorescence (n = 25) and 17.5 months (confidence interval = 12.5-22.5) for the group with residual fluorescence (n = 27) (P = .015). The influence of residual fluorescence was maintained in the multivariate analysis with all covariables, hazard ratio = 2.5 (P = .041). The neurological complication rate was 18.5% in patients with nonresidual fluorescence and 8% for the group with residual fluorescence (P = .267).

CONCLUSION: GBM patients with CRET in early MRI and no fluorescent residual tissue had longer overall survival than patients with CRET and residual fluorescent tissue.

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Spontaneous and therapeutic prognostic factors in adult hemispheric World Health Organization Grade II gliomas

GIIG

J Neurosurg 118:1157–1168, 2013

The spontaneous prognostic factors and optimal therapeutic strategy for WHO Grade II gliomas (GIIGs) have yet to be unanimously defined. Specifically, the role of resection is still debated, most notably because the actual amount of resection has seldom been assessed.

Methods. Cases of GIIGs treated before December 2007 were extracted from a multicenter database retrospectively collected since January 1985 and prospectively collected since 1996. Inclusion criteria were a patient age ≥ 18 years at diagnosis, histological diagnosis of WHO GIIG, and MRI evaluation of tumor volume at diagnosis and after initial surgery. One thousand ninety-seven lesions were included in the analysis. The mean follow-up was 7.4 years since radiological diagnosis. Factors significant in a univariate analysis (with a p value ≤ 0.1) were included in the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis.

Results. At the time of radiological diagnosis, independent spontaneous factors of a poor prognosis were an age ≥ 55 years, an impaired functional status, a tumor location in a nonfrontal area, and, most of all, a larger tumor size. When the study starting point was set at the time of first treatment, independent favorable prognostic factors were limited to a smaller tumor size, an epileptic symptomatology, and a greater extent of resection.

Conclusions. This large series with its volumetric assessment refines the prognostic value of previously stressed clinical and radiological parameters and highlights the importance of tumor size and location. The results support additional arguments in favor of the predominant role of resection, in accordance with recently reported experiences.

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Contemporary Surgical Management of Vestibular Schwannomas

Vestibular-schwannoma

Neurosurgery 72[ONS Suppl 2]:ons103–ons115, 2013 

Despite advanced microsurgical techniques, more refined instrumentation, and expert team management, there is still a significant incidence of complications in vestibular schwannoma surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze complications from the microsurgical treatment of vestibular schwannoma by an expert surgical team and to propose strategies for minimizing such complications.

METHODS: Surgical outcomes and complications were evaluated in a consecutive series of 410 unilateral vestibular schwannomas treated from 2000 to 2009. Clinical status and complications were assessed postoperatively (within 7 days) and at the time of follow-up (range, 1-116 months; mean, 32.7 months).

RESULTS: Follow-up data were available for 357 of the 410 patients (87.1%). Microsurgical tumor resection was performed through a retrosigmoid approach in 70.7% of cases. Thirty-three patients (8%) had intrameatal tumors and 204 (49.8%) had tumors that were ,20 mm. Gross total resection was performed in 306 patients (74.6%). Hearing preservation surgery was attempted in 170 patients with tumors ,20 mm, and good hearing was preserved in 74.1%. The main neurological complication was facial palsy (House-Brackmann grade III-VI), observed in 14% of patients (56 cases) postoperatively; however, 59% of them improved during the follow-up period. Other neurological complications were disequilibrium in 6.3%, facial numbness in 2.2%, and lower cranial nerve deficit in 0.5%. Nonneurological complications included cerebrospinal fluid leaks in 7.6%, wound infection in 2.2%, and meningitis in 1.7%.

CONCLUSION: Many of these complications are avoidable through further refinement of operative technique, and strategies for avoiding complications are proposed.

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5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) fluorescence guided surgery of high-grade gliomas in eloquent areas assisted by functional mapping

5ALA and functional mapping

Acta Neurochir (2013) 155:965–972

Only few data are available on the specific topic of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) guided surgery of high-grade gliomas (HGG) located in eloquent areas. Studies focusing specifically on the post-operative clinical outcome of such patients are yet not available, and it has not been so far explored whether such approach could be more suitable for some particular subgroups of patients.

Methods Patients affected by HGG in eloquent areas who underwent surgery assisted by 5-ALA fluorescence and intra-operative monitoring were prospectively recruited in our Department between June 2011 and August 2012. Resection rate was reported as complete resection of enhancing tumor (CRET), gross total resection (GTR) >98 % and GTR>90 %. Clinical outcome was evaluated at 7, 30, and 90 days after surgery.

Results Thirty-one patients were enrolled. Resection was complete (CRET) in 74 % of patients. Tumor removal was stopped to avoid neurological impairment in 26 % of cases. GTR>98 % and GTR>90 % was achieved in 93 % and 100 % of cases, respectively. First surgery and awake surgery had a CRET rate of 80 % and 83 %, respectively. Even though at the first-week assessment 64 % of patients presented neurological impairment, there was a 3 % rate of severe morbidity at the 90th day assessment. Newly diagnosed patients had a significantly lower morbidity (0 %) and post-operative higher median KPS. Both pre-operative neurological condition and improvement after corticosteroids resulted significantly predictive of post-operative functional outcome.

Conclusions 5-ALA surgery assisted by functional mapping makes high HGG resection in eloquent areas feasible , through a reasonable rate of late morbidity. This emerges even more remarkably for selected patients.

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Stereotactic Biopsy for Brainstem Tumors

stereotactic biopsy for brainstem tumors

Neurosurgery 72:873–882, 2013

The feasibility and safety of stereotactic biopsy for brainstem tumors (BSTs) are controversial. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been reported as the preferred diagnostic tool, histopathological analysis is frequently necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis. Recent advances in molecular characterization of brainstem gliomas—accounting for the majority of BSTs—have revealed several potential targets for molecular-based therapies. Hence, a molecular stereotactic biopsy that combines histopathological diagnosis withmolecular-genetic analysis will become increasingly important for patients with BSTs.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systemic review and meta-analysis to determine the risks and benefits of stereotactic biopsy for BSTs.

METHODS: A systematic search in PubMed, Embase, and the Web of Science yielded 3766 potentially eligible abstracts. Meta-analysis was conducted on 38 studies describing 1480 biopsy procedures for BSTs. Primary outcome measures were diagnostic success and procedure-related complications. Data were analyzed according to standard meta-analytic techniques.

RESULTS: The weighted average proportions across the analyzed studies were: 96.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 94.5%-97.6%) for diagnostic success, 7.8% (95% CI: 5.6%- 10.2%) for overall morbidity, 1.7% (95% CI: 0.9%-2.7%) for permanent morbidity, and 0.9% (95% CI: 0.5%-1.4%) for mortality. Meta-regression revealed a significant correlation between diagnostic success rates and the number of biopsy procedures performed annually in each center (P = .011). Other factors did not affect the outcome measures.

CONCLUSION: Stereotactic biopsy of BSTs is safe. It allows exact histopathological diagnosis as a prerequisite for adequate treatment and opens new perspectives for the molecular characterization of these tumors as a crucial first step toward more individualized treatment concepts.

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Results of the NeuroBlate System first-in-humans Phase I clinical trial for recurrent glioblastoma

 

NeuroBlate

J Neurosurg 118:1202–1219, 2013

Laser interstitial thermal therapy has been used as an ablative treatment for glioma; however, its development was limited due to technical issues. The NeuroBlate System incorporates several technological advances to overcome these drawbacks. The authors report a Phase I, thermal dose–escalation trial assessing the safety and efficacy of NeuroBlate in recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (rGBM).

Methods. Adults with suspected supratentorial rGBM of 15- to 40-mm dimension and a Karnofsky Performance Status score of ≥ 60 were eligible. After confirmatory biopsy, treatment was delivered using a rigid, gas-cooled, sidefiring laser probe. Treatment was monitored using real-time MRI thermometry, and proprietary software providing predictive thermal damage feedback was used by the surgeon, along with control of probe rotation and depth, to tailor tissue coagulation. An external data safety monitoring board determined if toxicity at lower levels justified dose escalation.

Results. Ten patients were treated at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals–Case Medical Center). Their average age was 55 years (range 34–69 years) and the median preoperative Karnofsky Performance Status score was 80 (range 70–90). The mean tumor volume was 6.8 ± 5 cm3 (range 2.6–19 cm3), the percentage of tumor treated was 78% ± 12% (range 57%–90%), and the conformality index was 1.21 ± 0.33 (range 1.00–2.04). Treatment-related necrosis was evident on MRI studies at 24 and 48 hours. The median survival was 316 days (range 62–767 days). Three patients improved neurologically, 6 remained stable, and 1 worsened. Steroid-responsive treatment-related edema occurred in all patients but one. Three had Grade 3 adverse events at the highest dose.

Conclusions. NeuroBlate represents new technology for delivering laser interstitial thermal therapy, allowing controlled thermal ablation of deep hemispheric rGBM. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT00747253 (ClinicalTrials. gov).

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The “onco-functional balance” in surgery for diffuse low-grade glioma

LGG

Acta Neurochir (2013) 155:951–957

Diffuse low-grade glioma (DLGG) is a growing pre-cancerous tumor, often diagnosed in patients with no or only mild deficit. Maximal and early surgical resection is currently the first therapeutic option, in order to delay the malignant transformation and thus increase the overall survival. Preserving the quality of life (QoL) is nonetheless another priority. Here, our purpose is to weight the value of the extent of resection versus the neurological worsening that could be voluntarily generated by a radical resection; that is, to study the “onco-functional balance” at the individual level.

To this end, we will examine DLGG involving the supplementary motor area and DLGG involving visual pathways. We will consider the benefit-risk ratio of different strategies of resection, according to the brain structures actually invaded and their plastic potential. The aim is to increase both the quantity of life and the time with a normal QoL, on the basis of strong interactions between the tumor course, brain reorganization and multistage surgical approach adapted to each patient over time.

To this end, beyond the conceptual and technical issues, the most important point remains the honest and unique relationship between the surgical oncologist and the patient, based on clear and complete information about the behavior of DLGG versus the expected medical and social consequences of a resection over years. In other words, in the era of “evidence-based medicine”, it is crucial to not forget “individual-based medicine” by offering tailored resections adapted to each patient.

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Prognostic factors of Grade II gliomas

neuronBig

J Neurosurg 118:1157–1168, 2013

The spontaneous prognostic factors and optimal therapeutic strategy for WHO Grade II gliomas (GIIGs) have yet to be unanimously defined. Specifically, the role of resection is still debated, most notably because the actual amount of resection has seldom been assessed.

Methods. Cases of GIIGs treated before December 2007 were extracted from a multicenter database retrospectively collected since January 1985 and prospectively collected since 1996. Inclusion criteria were a patient age ≥ 18 years at diagnosis, histological diagnosis of WHO GIIG, and MRI evaluation of tumor volume at diagnosis and after initial surgery. One thousand ninety-seven lesions were included in the analysis. The mean follow-up was 7.4 years since radiological diagnosis. Factors significant in a univariate analysis (with a p value ≤ 0.1) were included in the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis.

Results. At the time of radiological diagnosis, independent spontaneous factors of a poor prognosis were an age ≥ 55 years, an impaired functional status, a tumor location in a nonfrontal area, and, most of all, a larger tumor size. When the study starting point was set at the time of first treatment, independent favorable prognostic factors were limited to a smaller tumor size, an epileptic symptomatology, and a greater extent of resection.

Conclusions. This large series with its volumetric assessment refines the prognostic value of previously stressed clinical and radiological parameters and highlights the importance of tumor size and location. The results support additional arguments in favor of the predominant role of resection, in accordance with recently reported experiences.

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Optimizing Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characterization of Brain Metastases: Relevance to Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Optimizing_Contrast_Enhanced_Magnetic_Resonance

Neurosurgery 72:691–701, 2013

Intracranial metastases are the most common form of intra-axial brain tumor. Management approaches to brain metastases include surgical resection, whole-brain radiotherapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The management approach that is selected is based typically on algorithms that incorporate the number, size, and location of lesions.

SRS is the treatment of choice when metastases detected on imaging are few (maximum, 3-5) and/or of small size (#30 mm) and offers the advantages of noninvasiveness and the ability to treat inaccessible lesions compared with surgical resection.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the standard imaging technique for determining the number, size, and location of metastatic lesions. In SRS, the capability of MRI to delineate lesion borders precisely in 3 dimensions helps reduce recurrence rates and minimize radiation necrosis in surrounding tissue.

Optimization of the MRI protocol, including selection of the appropriate gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA), is paramount for accurate lesion imaging. GBCAs differ in their safety, tolerability, and efficacy because of their diverse physicochemical properties. Gadobutrol and gadobenate dimeglumine are high-relaxivity GBCAs that demonstrate superior efficacy for imaging metastatic lesions compared with other GBCAs, whereas gadobutrol additionally provides macrocyclic stability.

This article reviews recent comparative trials of GBCAs and discusses their relevance for optimizing MRI protocols in the management of brain metastases, with particular relevance to SRS.

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Postoperative ischemic changes following resection of newly diagnosed and recurrent gliomas and their clinical relevance

Postoperative ischemic changes following resection of newly diagnosed and recurrent gliomas and their clinical relevance

J Neurosurg 118:801–808, 2013

The aim of surgical treatment of glioma is the complete resection of tumor tissue with preservation of neurological function. Inclusion of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the postoperative MRI protocol could improve the delineation of ischemia-associated postoperative neurological deficits. The present study aims to assess the incidence of infarctions following resection of newly diagnosed gliomas in comparison with recurrent gliomas and the influence on neurological function.

Methods. Patients who underwent glioma resection for newly diagnosed or recurrent gliomas had early postoperative MRI, including DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. Postoperative areas of restricted diffusion were classified as arterial territorial infarctions, terminal branch infarctions, or venous infarctions. Tumor entity, location, and neurological function were recorded.

Results. New postoperative ischemic lesions were identified in 26 (31%) of 84 patients with newly diagnosed gliomas and 20 (80%) of 25 patients with recurrent gliomas (p < 0.01). New permanent and transient neurological deficits were more frequent in patients with recurrent gliomas than in patients with newly diagnosed tumors. Patients with neurological deficits had a significantly higher rate of ischemic lesions.

Conclusions. Postoperative infarctions occur frequently in patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent gliomas and do have an impact on postoperative neurological function. In this patient cohort there was a higher risk for ischemic lesions and for deterioration of neurological function after resection of recurrent tumors. Radiogenic and postoperative tissue changes could contribute to the higher risk of an ischemic infarction in patients with recurrent tumors.

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