Tag: Glioma

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A Neurosurgeon’s Guide to Cognitive Dysfunction in Adult Glioma

Neurosurgery 89:1–10, 2021

Cognitive decline is common among patients with low- and high-grade glioma and can significantly impact quality of life. Although cognitive outcomes have been studied after therapeutic interventions such as surgery and radiation, it is important to understand the impact of the disease process itself prior to any interventions.

Neurocognitive domains of interest in this disease context include intellectual function and premorbid ability, executive function, learning and memory, attention, language function, processing speed, visuospatial function, motor function, and emotional function.

Here, we review oncologic factors associated with more neurocognitive impairment, key neurocognitive tasks relevant to glioma patient assessment, as well as the relevance of the human neural connectome in understanding cognitive dysfunction in glioma patients.

A contextual understanding of glioma-functional network disruption and its impact on cognition is critical in the surgical management of eloquent area tumors.

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Triple motor mapping: transcranial, bipolar, and monopolar mapping for supratentorial glioma resection adjacent to motor pathways

J Neurosurg 134:1728–1737, 2021

Maximal safe resection of gliomas near motor pathways is facilitated by intraoperative mapping. The authors and other groups have described the use of bipolar or monopolar direct stimulation to identify functional tissue, as well as transcranial or transcortical motor evoked potentials (MEPs) to monitor motor pathways. Here, the authors describe their initial experience using all 3 modalities to identify, monitor, and preserve cortical and subcortical motor systems during glioma surgery.

METHODS Intraoperative mapping data were extracted from a prospective registry of glioma resections near motor pathways. Additional demographic, clinical, pathological, and imaging data were extracted from the electronic medical record. All patients with new or worsened postoperative motor deficits were followed for at least 6 months.

RESULTS Between January 2018 and August 2019, 59 operations were performed in 58 patients. Overall, patients in 6 cases (10.2%) had new or worse immediate postoperative deficits. Patients with temporary deficits all had at least Medical Research Council grade 4/5 power. Only 2 patients (3.4%) had permanently worsened deficits after 6 months, both of which were associated with diffusion restriction consistent with ischemia within the corticospinal tract. One patient’s deficit improved to 4/5 and the other to 4/5 proximally and 3/5 distally in the lower limb, allowing ambulation following rehabilitation. Subcortical motor pathways were identified in 51 cases (86.4%) with monopolar high-frequency stimulation, but only in 6 patients using bipolar stimulation. Transcranial or cortical MEPs were diminished in only 6 cases, 3 of which had new or worsened deficits, with 1 permanent deficit. Insula location (p = 0.001) and reduction in MEPs (p = 0.01) were the only univariate predictors of new or worsened postoperative deficits. Insula location was the only predictor of permanent deficits (p = 0.046). The median extent of resection was 98.0%.

CONCLUSIONS Asleep triple motor mapping is safe and resulted in a low rate of deficits without compromising the extent of resection.

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Gravity-assisted endoscopic cingulate gyrus glioma resection

Acta Neurochirurgica (2021) 163:1323–1326

The cingulate gyrus is part of the limbic systemwith extensive connectivity to different anatomical and functional areas. The traditional transcortical approach for a cingulate gyrus glioma contains high risk of transient or even irreversible postoperative hemiplegia.

Method We present a case of gravity-assisted, fully endoscopic resection of a cingulate gyrus glioma with improvement of motor dysfunction while preserving the paracentral lobule, corticospinal tracts, and supplementary motor area.

Conclusion This case demonstrates the value of gravity-assisted endoscopic resection in the dominant cingulate gyrus tumor which is surrounded by eloquent parenchyma.

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Mapping and anatomo-surgical techniques for SMA-cingulum-corpus callosum gliomas

Acta Neurochirurgica (2021) 163:1239–1246

Awake brain mapping paradigms are variable, particularly in SMA, and not personalised to each patient. In addition, subpial resections do not offer full protection to vascular injury, as the pia can be easily violated.

Methods Mapping paradigms developed by a multidisciplinary brain mapping team. During resection, a combined subpial/ interhemispheric approach allowed early identification and arterial skeletonization. Precise anatomo-surgical dissection of the affected cingulum and corpus callosum was achieved.

Conclusions In SMA-cingulum-CC tumours, a combined subpial/interhemispheric approach reduces risk of vascular injury allowing precise anatomo-surgical dissections. Knowledge of cognitive functions of affected parcels is likely to offer best outcomes.

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Anatomical multifocal high-grade glioma resection

Acta Neurochirurgica (2021) 163:953–957

If an awake surgery is somehow not available for gliomas at the language area, understanding the anatomy and well designed surgical strategy are important.

Method We present a case with left hemispheric multifocal high-grade gliomas located deeply at the left temporal pole, the Wernicke’s area, and mesial temporal region. Because the patient could not endure the awake surgery and obtain practicable functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for eloquent cortex evaluation, we removed the lesions following the anatomical resection strategy guided by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Conclusion This case demonstrates the value of DTI and the importance of anatomical resection strategies in glioma surgeries.

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Alterations in Functional Connectomics Associated With Neurocognitive Changes Following Glioma Resection

Neurosurgery 88,(3)2021: 544–551

Decline in neurocognitive functioning (NCF) often occurs following brain tumor resection. Functional connectomics have shown how neurologic insults disrupt cerebral networks underlying NCF, though studies involving patients with brain tumors are lacking.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of brain tumor resection upon the connectome and relationships with NCF outcome in the early postoperative period.

METHODS: A total of 15 right-handed adults with left perisylvian glioma underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and neuropsychological assessment before and after awake tumor resection. Graph theoretical analysiswas applied to rs-fMRI connectivity matrices to calculate network properties. Network properties and NCF measures were compared across the pre- to postoperative periods with matched pairs Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.Associations between pre- to postoperative change in network and NCF measures were determined with Spearman rank-order correlations (ρ).

RESULTS: A majority of the sample showed postoperative decline on 1 or more NCF measures. Significant postoperative NCF decline was found across measures of verbal memory, processing speed, executive functioning, receptive language, and a composite index. Regarding connectomic properties, betweenness centrality and assortativity were significantly smaller postoperatively, and reductions in these measures were associated with better NCF outcomes. Significant inverse associations (ρ = −.51 to −.78, all P < .05) were observed between change in language, executive functioning, and learning and memory, and alterations in segregation, centrality, and resilience network properties.

CONCLUSION: Decline in NCF was common shortly following resection of glioma involving eloquent brain regions, most frequently in verbal learning/memory and executive functioning. Better postoperative outcomes accompanied reductions in centrality and resilience connectomic measures.

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Predictors of early postoperative epileptic seizures after awake surgery in supratentorial diffuse gliomas

J Neurosurg 134:683–692, 2021

Functional-based resection under awake conditions had been associated with a nonnegligible rate of intraoperative and postoperative epileptic seizures. The authors assessed the incidence of intraoperative and early postoperative epileptic seizures after functional-based resection under awake conditions.

METHODS The authors prospectively assessed intraoperative and postoperative seizures (within 1 month) together with clinical, imaging, surgical, histopathological, and follow-up data for 202 consecutive diffuse glioma adult patients who underwent a functional-based resection under awake conditions.

RESULTS Intraoperative seizures occurred in 3.5% of patients during cortical stimulation; all resolved without any procedure being discontinued. No predictor of intraoperative seizures was identified. Early postoperative seizures occurred in 7.9% of patients at a mean of 5.1 ± 2.9 days. They increased the duration of hospital stay (p = 0.018), did not impact the 6-month (median 95 vs 100, p = 0.740) or the 2-year (median 100 vs 100, p = 0.243) postoperative Karnofsky Performance Status score and did not impact the 6-month (100% vs 91.4%, p = 0.252) or the 2-year (91.7 vs 89.4%, p = 0.857) postoperative seizure control. The time to treatment of at least 3 months (adjusted OR [aOR] 4.76 [95% CI 1.38–16.36], p = 0.013), frontal lobe involvement (aOR 4.88 [95% CI 1.25–19.03], p = 0.023), current intensity for intraoperative mapping of at least 3 mA (aOR 4.11 [95% CI 1.17–14.49], p = 0.028), and supratotal resection (aOR 6.24 [95% CI 1.43–27.29], p = 0.015) were independently associated with early postoperative seizures.

CONCLUSIONS Functional-based resection under awake conditions can be safely performed with a very low rate of intraoperative and early postoperative seizures and good 6-month and 2-year postoperative seizure outcomes. Intraoperatively, the use of the lowest current threshold producing reproducible responses is mandatory to reduce seizure occurrence intraoperatively and in the early postoperative period.

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Clinical Pearls and Methods for Intraoperative Motor Mapping

Neurosurgery 88:457–467, 2021

Resection of brain tumors involving motor areas and pathways requires the identification and preservation of various cortical and subcortical structures involved in motor control at the time of the procedure, in order to maintain the patient’s full motor capacities. The use of brain mapping techniques has now been integrated into clinical practice for many years, as they help the surgeon to identify the neural structures involved in motor functions. A common definition of motor function, as well as knowledge of its neural organization, has been continuously evolving, underlining the need for implementing intraoperative strategies at the time of the procedure. Similarly, mapping strategies have been subjected to continuous changes, enhancing the likelihood of preservation of full motor capacities. As a general rule, the motor mapping strategy should be as flexible as possible and adapted strictly to the individual patient and clinical context of the tumor.

In this work, we present an overview of current knowledge of motor organization, indications for motor mapping, available motor mapping, and monitoring strategies, as well as their advantages and limitations. The use of motor mapping improves resection and outcomes in patients harboring tumors involving motor areas and pathways, and should be considered the gold standard in the resection of this type of tumor.

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Intraoperative MRI–based elastic fusion for anatomically accurate tractography of the corticospinal tract

Neurosurg Focus 50 (1):E9, 2021

Tractography is a useful technique that is standardly applied to visualize subcortical pathways. However, brain shift hampers tractography use during the course of surgery. While intraoperative MRI (ioMRI) has been shown to be beneficial for use in oncology, intraoperative tractography can rarely be performed due to scanner, protocol, or head clamp limitations. Elastic fusion (EF), however, enables adjustment for brain shift of preoperative imaging and even tractography based on intraoperative images. The authors tested the hypothesis that adjustment of tractography by ioMRI-based EF (IBEF) correlates with the results of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) and clinical outcome and is therefore a reliable method.

METHODS In 304 consecutive patients treated between June 2018 and March 2020, 8 patients, who made up the basic study cohort, showed an intraoperative loss of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) during motor-eloquent glioma resection for a subcortical lesion within the corticospinal tract (CST) as shown by ioMRI. The authors preoperatively visualized the CST using tractography. Also, IBEFs of pre- and intraoperative images were obtained and the location of the CST was compared in relation to a subcortical lesion. In 11 patients (8 patients with intraoperative loss of MEPs, one of whom also showed loss of MEPs on IBEF evaluation, plus 3 additional patients with loss of MEPs on IBEF evaluation), the authors examined the location of the CST by direct subcortical stimulation (DSCS). The authors defined the IONM results and the functional outcome data as ground truth for analysis.

RESULTS The maximum mean ± SD correction was 8.8 ± 2.9 (range 3.8–12.0) mm for the whole brain and 5.3 ± 2.4 (range 1.2–8.7) mm for the CST. The CST was located within the lesion before IBEF in 3 cases and after IBEF in all cases (p = 0.0256). All patients with intraoperative loss of MEPs suffered from surgery-related permanent motor deficits. By approximation, the location of the CST after IBEF could be verified by DSCS in 4 cases.

CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that tractography after IBEF accurately correlates with IONM and patient outcomes and thus demonstrates reliability in this initial study.

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The Glioma-Network Interface: A Review of the Relationship Between Glioma Molecular Subtype and Intratumoral Function

 

Neurosurgery 87:1078–1084, 2020

Gliomas are a major cause of morbidity. Direct cortical stimulation mapping offers the ability to identify functional areas within the broader neural network both cortically and subcortically. Since the World Health Organization (WHO) 2016 classification categorized gliomas into molecular subgroups with varied molecular signatures and clinical behavior, it is possible that gliomas may demonstrate rates of functional network integration.

We therefore retrospectively reviewed a data registry of 181 patients with dominant hemisphere frontal, parietal, insular, or temporal gliomas. Our goal was to test the hypothesis that WHO glioma histopathology and molecular subtype influences functional language or motor sites identified within the tumor.

Intratumoral function as determined by direct cortical and subcortical stimulation mapping was identified at the highest rate in isocitrate dehydrogenase mutant astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. Finally, we reviewed the emerging literature exploring the interface between functional neural networks and gliomas. These data shed light on glioma molecular and histological characteristics most commonly associated within intratumoral function.

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Avoiding New Biopsies by Identification of IDH1 and TERT Promoter Mutation in Nondiagnostic Biopsies From Glioma Patients

Neurosurgery (87): E513–E519

Biopsies in patients with a suspected glioma are occasionally nondiagnostic.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the utility of molecular testing in this setting by determining whether IDH1 and TERT promoter (pTERT) mutations could be detected in nondiagnostic biopsies from glioma patients. METHODS: Using SNaPshot polymerase chain reaction, we retrospectively assessed IDH1 and pTERT mutation status in nondiagnostic biopsies from 28 glioma patients.

RESULTS: The nondiagnostic biopsy (needle biopsy n = 25, open or endoscopic biopsy n = 3) consisted of slight glial cell hypercellularity, hemorrhage, and/or necrosis. After another biopsy (n = 23) or a subsequent surgical resection (n = 5) the diagnosis was an IDH1-wildtype (WT) pTERT-mutant glioma (glioblastoma n = 16, astrocytoma n = 4), an IDH1-mutant pTERT-mutant oligodendroglioma (n = 1), an IDH1-mutant pTERT-WT astrocytoma (n = 1), and an IDH1-WT pTERT-WT glioblastoma (n = 6). An IDH1 mutation was identified in the nondiagnostic biopsies of the 2 IDH-mutant gliomas, and a pTERT mutation in the nondiagnostic biopsies of 16 out of the 21 of pTERTmutant-gliomas (76%). Overall, an IDH1 and/or a pTERT mutation were detected in 17 out of 28 (61%) of nondiagnostic biopsies. Retrospective analysis of the nondiagnostic biopsies based on these results and on imaging characteristics suggested that a new biopsy could have been avoided in 6 patients in whom a diagnosis of “molecular glioblastoma” could have been done with a high level of confidence.

CONCLUSION: In the present series, IDH1 and pTERT mutations could be detected in a high proportion of nondiagnostic biopsies from glioma patients. Molecular testing may facilitate the interpretation of nondiagnostic biopsies in patients with a suspected glioma.

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Impact of Extent of Resection on Incidence of Postoperative Complications in PatientsWith Glioblastoma

Neurosurgery 86:625–630, 2020

Extent of resection (EOR) is well established as correlating with overall survival in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). The impact of EOR on reported quality metrics such as patient safety indicators (PSIs) and hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) is unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a retrospective study to evaluate possible associations between EOR and the incidence of PSIs and HACs.

METHODS: We queried all patients diagnosed with GBM who underwent surgical resection at our institution between January 2011 and May 2017. Pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance imageswere analyzed for EOR. Each chart was reviewed to determine the incidence of PSIs and HACs.

RESULTS: A total of 284 patients met the inclusion criteria. EOR ranged from 39.00 to 100%, with a median of 99.84% and a mean of 95.7%. There were 16 PSI, and 13 HAC, events. There were no significant differences in the rates of PSIs or HACs when compared between patients stratified by gross total resection (EOR ≥ 95%) and subtotal resection (EOR < 95%). The odds of encountering a PSI or HAC were 2.5 times more likely in the subtotal resection group compared to the gross total resection group (P = .58). After adjusting for confounders, the odds of encountering a PSI or HAC in the subtotal resection group were 3.9 times greater than for the gross total resection group (P < .05).

CONCLUSION: Gross total resection of GBM is associated with a decreased incidence of PSIs and HACs, as compared to subtotal resection.

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Awake craniotomy with transcortical motor evoked potential monitoring for resection of gliomas in the precentral gyrus

J Neurosurg 132:987–997, 2020

Resection of gliomas in the precentral gyrus carries a risk of severe motor dysfunction. To prevent permanent, severe postoperative motor dysfunction, reliable intraoperative predictors of postoperative function are required. Since 2005, the authors have removed gliomas in the precentral gyrus with combined functional mapping and estimation of intraoperative voluntary movement (IVM) during awake craniotomy and transcortical motor evoked potentials (MEPs). The purpose of the current study was to evaluate whether intraoperative findings of combined monitoring of IVM during awake craniotomy and transcortical MEP monitoring were useful for predicting postoperative motor function of patients with gliomas in the precentral gyrus.

METHODS The current study included 30 patients who underwent resection of precentral gyrus gliomas during awake craniotomy from April 2000 to January 2018. All tumors were removed with monitoring of IVM during awake craniotomy and transcortical MEPs. Postoperative motor function was classified as stable or declined, with the extent of decline categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. We defined moderate and severe deficits were those that hindered daily life.

RESULTS In 28 of 30 cases, available waveforms were obtained with transcortical MEPs. The mean extent of resection (EOR) was 93%. Relative to preoperative status, motor function 6 months after surgery was considered stable in 20 patients and was considered to show mild decline in 7, moderate decline in 2, and severe decline in 1. Motor function 6 months after surgery was significantly correlated with IVM (p = 0.0096), changes in transcortical MEPs (decline ≤ or > 50%) (p = 0.0163), EOR, and ischemic lesions on postoperative MRI. Six patients with no change in IVM showed stable motor function 6 months after surgery. Only 2 patients with a decline in IVM and a decline in MEPs ≤ 50% had a decline in motor function 6 months after surgery (18%; 2/11 patients), whereas 11 patients with a decline in IVM and a decline in MEPs > 50% had such a decline in motor function (73%; 8/11 patients) including 2 patients with moderate and 1 with severe deficits. Three patients with moderate or severe motor deficits showed the lowest MEP values (< 100 μV).

CONCLUSIONS Combined judgment from monitoring of IVM during awake craniotomy and transcortical MEPs is useful for predicting postoperative motor function during removal of gliomas in the precentral gyrus. Maximum resection was achieved with an acceptable morbidity rate. Thus, these tumors should not be considered unresectable.

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Ependymal fluorescence in fluorescence-guided resection of malignant glioma: a systematic review

Acta Neurochirurgica (2020) 162:365–372

Fluorescence in the ventricular wall or the ependyma during fluorescence-guided resection (FGR) of malignant glioma is commonly observed when malignant gliomas infiltrate the ventricles. However, the underlying pathophysiology and clinical importance are largely unknown but may play a role in deciding whether to continue resection into the ventricles or not. Here, we systematically review available data regarding ependymal fluorescence in FGR using five aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and sodium fluorescein (SF).

Methods A literature search on MEDLINE, EMBASE, and WEB OF SCIENCE was performed using the following headings and search operators: ependy* fluorescence AND (5-ALA OR five aminolevulinic acid), ventric* wall fluorescence AND (5- ALA OR five aminolevulinic acid), ependy* fluorescence AND fluorescein, and ventric* wall fluorescence AND fluorescein. Both authors analyzed abstracts independently. Included articles were further reviewed for prevalence of ependymal fluorescence, patterns of fluorescence, and histopathological characteristics of sampled tissues as well as radiological signs of ependymal fluorescence. Results are reported according to the PRISMA statement.

Results Of 202 records identified, 6 studies were included compiling a total number of 198 patients treated with FGR using 5- ALA. No study on ependymal fluorescence after administration of SF was found. Overall prevalence of ependymal fluorescence was 61.4%. A total of 54.5% of cases were found to be positive for tumor cells. A total of 25.5% of patients with ependymal fluorescence were related to contrast enhancement in ventricular walls.

Conclusions The phenomenon of ventricular wall fluorescence in 5-ALA-derived fluorescence-guided resection of malignant glioma is poorly understood and not always may fluorescence represent tumor infiltration. A larger scale prospective sampling study with molecular analyses is currently ongoing and will hopefully provide further insight into pathophysiology and clinical implications of ependymal fluorescence.

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Disruption of Frontal Aslant Tract Is Not Associated with Long-Term Postoperative Language Deficits

World Neurosurg. (2020) 133:192-195

The frontal aslant tract (FAT) is a white matter fiber pathway connecting the superior frontal gyrus to the Broca area. This tract in the dominant hemisphere has been shown to play a role in speech initiation and production, and direct subcortical stimulation can induce stuttering and speech arrest in a patient. However, controversy remains as to whether disruption of this pathway will lead to a permanent language deficit and if it is even necessary to map this tract during tumor resections of the dominant frontal lobe.

CASE DESCRIPTION: Here, we report a case of a patient with a lower-grade diffuse glioma invading the dominant FAT that was removed with an asleep craniotomy. In the immediate postoperative state, the patient had a transcortical motor dysphasia and was unable to initiate speech. These immediate language deficits quickly recovered, and the patient was neurologically intact at the time of discharge a few days after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: Given the high likelihood for a complete neurologic recovery including transient aphasia, we propose that awake mapping for the purpose of identifying the dominant FAT is unnecessary during tumor resection and that disruption of this tract is not associated with any long-term language deficits.

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Comparative Analysis of Subventricular Zone Glioblastoma Contact and Ventricular Entry During Resection in Predicting Dissemination, Hydrocephalus, and Survival

Neurosurgery, Volume 85, Issue 5, November 2019, Pages E924–E932

Ventricular entry during glioblastoma resection and tumor contact with the subventricular zone (SVZ) have both been shown to associate with development of hydrocephalus, leptomeningeal dissemination, distant parenchymal recurrence, and decreased survival. However, prior studies did not analyze these variables together in a single-patient population; therefore, it is unknown which is an independent predictor of these outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a comparative outcome analysis of surgical ventricular entry and SVZ contact by glioblastoma in a retrospective cohort of 232 patients.

METHODS: Outcomes studied included hydrocephalus, leptomeningeal dissemination, distant tumor recurrences, and progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival. The Cox proportional regression analyses were adjusted for age at diagnosis, preoperative Karnofsky performance status score, extent of resection, temozolomide and radiation treatments, and tumor molecular status (specifically, IDH1/2 mutation and MGMT promoter methylation).

RESULTS: Surgical ventricular entry, SVZ-contacting glioblastoma, hydrocephalus, leptomeningeal dissemination, and distant recurrences were observed in 85 (36.6%), 114 (49.1%), 19 (8.2%), 78 (33.6%), and 59 (25.4%) patients, respectively. Multivariate, adjusted analysis revealed SVZ tumor contact—but not ventricular entry—associated with hydrocephalus (hazard ratio, HR, 4.20 [1.13-15.7], P = .03), leptomeningeal dissemination (HR 1.93 [1.14-3.28], P = .01), PFS (HR 2.10 [1.53-2.88], P < .001), and OS (HR 1.90 [1.35-2.67], P < .001). Distant recurrences were not associated with either. No interaction between the 2 variables was statistically noted.

CONCLUSION: SVZ contact by glioblastoma was independently associated with the development of hydrocephalus, leptomeningeal dissemination, and decreased survival. SVZ tumor contact was associated with ventricular entry during surgical resections, which did not independently correlate with these outcomes.

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Transcortical insular glioma resection: clinical outcome and predictors

J Neurosurg 131:706–716, 2019

Insular lobe gliomas continue to challenge neurosurgeons due to their complex anatomical position. Transcortical and transsylvian corridors remain the primary approaches for reaching the insula, but the adoption of one technique over the other remains controversial. The authors analyzed the transcortical approach of resecting insular gliomas in the context of patient tumor location based on the Berger-Sinai classification, achievable extents of resection (EORs), overall survival (OS), and postsurgical neurological outcome.

METHODS The authors studied 255 consecutive cases of insular gliomas that underwent transcortical tumor resection in their division. Tumor molecular pathology, location, EOR, postoperative neurological outcome for each insular zone, and the accompanying OS were incorporated into the analysis to determine the value of this surgical approach.

RESULTS Lower-grade insular gliomas (LGGs) were more prevalent (63.14%). Regarding location, giant tumors (involving all insular zones) were most prevalent (58.82%) followed by zone I+IV (anterior) tumors (20.39%). In LGGs, tumor location was an independent predictor of survival (p = 0.003), with giant tumors demonstrating shortest patient survival (p = 0.003). Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation was more likely to be associated with giant tumors (p < 0.001) than focal tumors located in a regional zone. EOR correlated with survival in both LGG (p = 0.001) and higher-grade glioma (HGG) patients (p = 0.008). The highest EORs were achieved in anterior-zone LGGs (p = 0.024). In terms of developing postoperative neurological deficits, patients with giant tumors were more susceptible (p = 0.038). Postoperative transient neurological deficit was recorded in 12.79%, and permanent deficit in 15.70% of patients. Patients who developed either transient or permanent postsurgical neurological deficits exhibited poorer survival (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS The transcortical surgical approach can achieve maximal tumor resection in all insular zones. In addition, the incorporation of adjunct technologies such as multimodal brain imaging and mapping of cortical and subcortical eloquent brain regions into the transcortical approach favors postoperative neurological outcomes, and prolongs patient survival.

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Transcortical insular glioma resection: clinical outcome and predictors

J Neurosurg 131:706–716, 2019

OBJECTIVE Insular lobe gliomas continue to challenge neurosurgeons due to their complex anatomical position. Transcortical and transsylvian corridors remain the primary approaches for reaching the insula, but the adoption of one technique over the other remains controversial. The authors analyzed the transcortical approach of resecting insular gliomas in the context of patient tumor location based on the Berger-Sinai classification, achievable extents of resection (EORs), overall survival (OS), and postsurgical neurological outcome.

METHODS The authors studied 255 consecutive cases of insular gliomas that underwent transcortical tumor resection in their division. Tumor molecular pathology, location, EOR, postoperative neurological outcome for each insular zone, and the accompanying OS were incorporated into the analysis to determine the value of this surgical approach.

RESULTS Lower-grade insular gliomas (LGGs) were more prevalent (63.14%). Regarding location, giant tumors (involving all insular zones) were most prevalent (58.82%) followed by zone I+IV (anterior) tumors (20.39%). In LGGs, tumor location was an independent predictor of survival (p = 0.003), with giant tumors demonstrating shortest patient survival (p = 0.003). Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation was more likely to be associated with giant tumors (p < 0.001) than focal tumors located in a regional zone. EOR correlated with survival in both LGG (p = 0.001) and higher-grade glioma (HGG) patients (p = 0.008). The highest EORs were achieved in anterior-zone LGGs (p = 0.024). In terms of developing postoperative neurological deficits, patients with giant tumors were more susceptible (p = 0.038). Postoperative transient neurological deficit was recorded in 12.79%, and permanent deficit in 15.70% of patients. Patients who developed either transient or permanent postsurgical neurological deficits exhibited poorer survival (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS The transcortical surgical approach can achieve maximal tumor resection in all insular zones. In addition, the incorporation of adjunct technologies such as multimodal brain imaging and mapping of cortical and subcortical eloquent brain regions into the transcortical approach favors postoperative neurological outcomes, and prolongs patient survival.

 

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MRI combined with PET-CT of different tracers to improve the accuracy of glioma diagnosis

Neurosurg Rev (2019) 42:185–195

Based on studies focusing on positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of glioma, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the pros and cons and the accuracy of different examinations. PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched. The search was conducted until April 2017. Two reviewers independently conducted the literature search according to the criteria set initially. Based on the exclusion criteria, 15 articles are included in this study.

Of all studies that used MRI examination, there are five involving 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose- PET, five involving 11C-methionine-PET, five involving 18F-fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine-PET, and three involving 18Ffluorothymidine- PET. Due to the limitations such as lack of data, small sample size, and unrepresentative studies, we use a non-quantitative methodology.

MRI examination can provide the anatomy information of glioma more clearly. PET-CT examinations based on tumor metabolism using different tracers have more advantages in determining the degree of glioma malignancy and boundaries. However, information provided by PET-Craneotomía of different tracers is not the same. With respect to the novel hybrid MRI/PET examination equipment proposed in recent years, the combination of MRI and PET-CT can definitively improve the diagnostic accuracy of glioma.

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The transcortical equatorial approach for gliomas of the mesial temporal lobe

J Neurosurg 130:822–830, 2019

Many surgical approaches have been described for lesions within the mesial temporal lobe (MTL), but there are limited reports on the transcortical approach for the resection of tumors within this region. Here, the authors describe the technical considerations and functional outcomes in patients undergoing transcortical resection of gliomas of the MTL.

METHODS Patients with a glioma (WHO grades I–IV) located within the MTL who had undergone the transcortical approach in the period between 1998 and 2016 were identified through the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) tumor registry and were classified according to tumor location: preuncus, uncus, hippocampus/parahippocampus, and various combinations of the former groups. Patient and tumor characteristics and outcomes were determined from operative, radiology, pathology, and other clinical reports that were available through the UCSF electronic medical record.

RESULTS Fifty patients with low- or high-grade glioma were identified. The mean patient age was 46.8 years, and the mean follow-up was 3 years. Seizures were the presenting symptom in 82% of cases. Schramm types A, C, and D represented 34%, 28%, and 38% of the tumors, and the majority of lesions were located at least in part within the hippocampus/ parahippocampus. For preuncus and preuncus/uncus tumors, a transcortical approach through the temporal pole allowed for resection. For most tumors of the uncus and those extending into the hippocampus/parahippocampus, a corticectomy was performed within the middle and/or inferior temporal gyri to approach the lesion. To locate the safest corridor for the corticectomy, language mapping was performed in 96.9% of the left-sided tumor cases, and subcortical motor mapping was performed in 52% of all cases. The mean volumetric extent of resection of low- and high-grade tumors was 89.5% and 96.0%, respectively, and did not differ by tumor location or Schramm type. By 3 months’ followup, 12 patients (24%) had residual deficits, most of which were visual field deficits. Three patients with left-sided tumors (9.4% of dominant-cortex lesions) experienced word-finding difficulty at 3 months after resection, but 2 of these patients demonstrated complete resolution of symptoms by 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS Mesial temporal lobe gliomas, including larger Schramm type C and D tumors, can be safely and aggressively resected via a transcortical equatorial approach when used in conjunction with cortical and subcortical mapping.

 

 

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