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ABSTRACT: Despite the increasing interest in endoscopic techniques for pituitary surgery, little has been published on the endoscopic approach for recurrent and/or residual pituitary adenomas. We report the outcome of purely endoscopic endonasal surgery for a series of recurrent and/or residual pituitary tumors after a previous microscopic resection.
We reviewed all of the patients in our institution who underwent endoscopic resection for recurrent and/or residual pituitary tumors after previous microscopic resection. All patients had clinical and magnetic resonance imaging follow-up of at least 3 months postoperatively. Careful attention was given to the operative reports documenting the degree of previous microscopic exposure. Our results were compared with published reports of surgery for recurrent and residual pituitary tumors.
Thirty-nine patients met our inclusion criteria. The mean follow-up was 21 months. Tumors were comprised of 19 nonfunctional, 10 adrenocorticotropic hormone, 9 growth hormone, and 1 prolactin-secreting adenoma. The endoscopic procedure revealed limited previous exposure of the sphenoidal and sellar structures in 30 cases (76%). Sphenoidotomy and sellar opening, in terms of working area and angle of view, were significantly restricted in 64% and 61% of the cases, respectively. Gross total removal was achieved in 46% of cases. Seventeen patients had frank cavernous sinus invasion.
The restricted exposure of sphenoidal and sellar structures by the microscopic approach may be a contributing factor to incomplete tumor resection. The results observed in this setting make the endoscopic technique a valid option in recurrent and residual pituitary adenomas treated initially by microscopic surgery.
World Neurosurgery 11/2011; 77(3-4):540-7. · 0.68 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Standard endovascular therapy has shown little success in treatment of very large and giant ophthalmic segment aneurysms. We hypothesize that surgical treatment of these aneurysms yields better results in terms of visual function and aneurysm obliteration.
The Toronto Brain Vascular Malformation Study Group database was analyzed to retrieve patients treated surgically for very large (>15 mm) and giant aneurysms of the ophthalmic segment of the carotid artery. Preoperative data and postoperative long-term outcomes with specific consideration for visual function and aneurysm obliteration were evaluated.
Of the 257 patients with ophthalmic and paraophthalmic aneurysms, 38 patients had very large or giant aneurysms. Twenty-one underwent surgical treatment; 19 had direct clipping; 1 had trapping, and 1 underwent trapping and bypass. Fifteen patients had unruptured and six had ruptured aneurysms. The mean follow-up period was 88 months. Six (28%) aneurysms had a small residual neck remnant. Of the 12 patients with documented preoperative visual deficit, 9 (75%) improved, 2 (16%) remained stable, and 1 (8%) worsened. Two patients had mild to moderate new visual deficit. Thus, the surgery-related visual complications were 14%. Eighteen patients (86%) had a good or excellent outcome (GOS IV and V). Presentation with prior visual deficit and poor neurological function were predictors of worse visual and clinical outcome, respectively (P = 0.02 and 0.01).
There is considerable surgery-related risk for optic pathways during treatment of very large and giant ophthalmic segment aneurysms. Surgery, however, seems to be the treatment of choice in terms of overall visual outcome and aneurysm obliteration as compared to the current endovascular results in this subset of patients.
Acta Neurochirurgica 09/2011; 154(1):43-52. · 1.52 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Brainstem arteriovenous malformations are challenging lesions, and benefits of treatment are uncertain.
To study the clinical course of Brainstem arteriovenous malformations and the influence of treatments on outcome.
We reviewed a prospective series of 31 brainstem arteriovenous malformations. Demographic, morphological, and clinical characteristics were recorded. Factors determining initial and final outcomes (modified Rankin Scale), results of treatments (cure rates, complications), and disease course were analyzed.
Brainstem arteriovenous malformations were symptomatic and bled in 93% and 61% of cases, respectively. Examination was abnormal and initial modified Rankin Scale score was < 3 in 71% and 86% of patients, respectively. The average follow-up time was 6.2 years, and 26% of patients rebled (5.9 %/y). Treatment modalities included conservative, radiosurgical, endovascular, surgical, and multimodality treatment in 13%, 58%, 35%, 16%, and 26% of cases, respectively. The obliteration rate was 60% overall and 39% after radiosurgery, 40% after embolization, and 75% after microsurgery, with respective complication-free cure rates of 71%, 50%, and 0%. Overall procedural mortality and morbidity were 2.3% and 18.6%, respectively. Final modified Rankin Scale score was < 3 in 77% of cases. Neurological deterioration (35%) was related to treatment complications in 74% of cases with a negative impact of surgery (P = .04), palliative embolization (odds ratio = 16), and multimodality treatments (odds ratio = 24). Radiosurgery was inversely associated with worsening (odds ratio = 0.06).
Brainstem arteriovenous malformations require individualized treatment decisions. Single-modality treatments with a reasonable chance of complete cure and low complication rate (such as radiosurgery) should be favored.
Neurosurgery 05/2011; 70(1):155-61; discussion 161. · 2.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In this study, the authors evaluated how an appropriate allocation of patients with occipital arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) who were treated according to different strategies would affect nonhemorrhagic headache, visual function, and hemorrhage risk levels.
Of the 712 patients with brain AVMs in the Toronto Western Hospital prospective database, 135 had occipital AVMs. The treatment decision was based on patients' characteristics, presentation, and morphology of the AVM. The management modalities were correlated with their outcomes.
The mean follow-up period was 6.78 years. Nonhemorrhagic headache was the most frequent symptom (82 [61%] of 135 patients). Ninety-four patients underwent treatment with one or a combination of embolization, surgery, or radiosurgery, and 41 were simply observed. Of the 40 nontreated patients with nonhemorrhagic headache, only 12 (30%) showed improvement. In the observation group 2 patients (22%) had worsening of visual symptoms, and 2 experienced hemorrhage, for an annual hemorrhage rate of 0.7% per year; 1 patient died. In the treatment group, the improvement in nonhemorrhagic headache in 35 patients (83%) was significant (p < 0.0001). Visual deficit at presentation worsened in 2 (8%), and there were 8 new visual field deficits (9%). The visual worsening was not significantly different. There were 2 other neurological deficits (2%) and 2 deaths (2%) related to the AVM treatment. One AVM hemorrhaged. The annual hemorrhage rate was 0.1% per year. The hemorrhage risk in the observation and treatment groups was lower than the observed hemorrhage risk of all patients with AVMs (4.6%) at the authors' institution.
Appropriate selection of patients with occipital AVMs for one or a combination of treatment modalities yields a significant decrease in nonhemorrhagic headache without significant visual worsening. The multidisciplinary care of occipital AVMs can aim for an apparent decrease in hemorrhage risk.
Journal of Neurosurgery 10/2010; 113(4):742-8. · 2.96 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Multidetector computerized tomography angiography (MDCTA) is now a widely accepted technique for the management of intracranial aneurysms.
To evaluate its accuracy for the postoperative assessment of clipped intracranial aneurysms.
We analyzed a consecutive series of 31 patients that underwent direct surgical clipping procedures of 38 aneurysms. A 64 slice MDCT scanner (Aquilion 64, Toshiba) was used and results were compared with digital subtraction angiographies (DSA). Two independent neuroradiologists analyzed the following data: examination quality, artifacts, aneurysm remnant, and patency of collateral branches. Interobserver agreement, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated.
Seventy-nine percent of the aneurysms were located in the anterior circulation. Significant artifacts were found with multiple and cobalt-alloy clips. According to DSA, remnants >2 mm were found in 21% of the cases, and 2 patients had one collateral branch occluded. Sensitivity and specificity of 64-MDCTA for the detection of aneurysm remnants were 50% and 100%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of 64-MDCTA for the detection of a significant remnant (>2 mm) and the detection of the occlusion of a collateral branch were, respectively, 67% and 100% and 50% and 100%. No relationship was found with the location, type, shape, size, or number of clips, but missed remnants tended to be larger with cobalt-alloy clips.
64-MDCTA is a valuable technique to assess the presence of a significant postoperative remnant in single titanium clip application cases and might be useful for long-term follow-up. DSA remains the most accurate postoperative radiological examination.
Neurosurgery 09/2010; 67(3):844-53; discussion 853-4. · 2.79 Impact Factor
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The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques 07/2010; 37(4):532-4. · 0.97 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Gross intratumoral haemorrhage is rare in vestibular schwannomas. The authors describe the clinical features of this entity in 6 patients, the histopathologic findings in 5 of them, and discuss possible factors predisposing to haemorrhage in these tumors. Detailed radiological and histopathological evaluation identified two factors which may be associated with higher likelihood of haemorrhage, namely preoperative radiation therapy and vascular abnormalities. Tumor size may not be a major risk factor for haemorrhage. Good outcomes can be achieved with microsurgical management. The histological features presented here differ clearly from findings in previously published case reports.
British Journal of Neurosurgery 09/2009; 23(4):431-6. · 0.88 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report our experience with the treatment of tuberculum sellae meningiomas using the fronto-basal interhemispheric approach. A retrospective analysis was performed on a series of 24 patients with tuberculum sellae meningiomas who were operated between March 2000 and January 2007. Patients' presenting symptoms, radiological images, operative reports, and clinical follow-up data were reviewed with special consideration for visual outcome. Visual deterioration was the presenting symptom in all patients, followed by headache in 9 patients (37.5%). The average duration of visual symptoms was 17.6 months. The average tumor diameter was 2.63 cm; encasement of the carotid artery was identified in 7 patients (29%). Complete tumor removal was achieved in 21 patients (87.5%). Mean follow-up period was 52 months. Vision improved in 19 patients (79%), remained stable in 4 (17%) and deteriorated in 1 patient (4%). The degree of tumor removal or visual outcome were both unrelated to the tumor size (p = 0.2 and p = 0.6 respectively). While the degree of preoperative visual deficit did not affect the visual improvement rate in the whole group (p = 0.9), those patients with improvement to good functional vision (>20/40) after the surgery, had a less severe preoperative deficit (p < 0.001). The most common complication was anosmia (29.1%) and there was no mortality. The frontobasal interhemispheric approach is safe and provides a direct anatomical approach to tuberculum sellae meningiomas with relatively low incidence of complications. Patients with improved vision to good functional level had a better preoperative visual status.
British Journal of Neurosurgery 08/2009; 23(4):422-30. · 0.88 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate the feasibility of the direct visualization of the distal dural ring (DDR) and adjacent anatomic structures in patients with paraclinoid internal carotid artery aneurysms at 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Six consecutive patients (1 man, 5 women; mean age, 45.5 years; age range, 34-51 years) who underwent a 3-T MRI examination for the evaluation of 7 paraclinoid carotid artery aneurysms were reviewed retrospectively. MRI scans were acquired using a T2 turbo-spin echo sequence with 2-mm thickness without gap on the coronal plane perpendicular to the diaphragma sellae. Identifications of the DDR, adjacent regional anatomic landmarks, and paraclinoid aneurysms were analyzed. The locations of the paraclinoid aneurysms were categorized into intradural (aneurysm neck and sac located above the DDR), transdural (aneurysm neck or sac were straddling the DDR), and extradural (aneurysm neck and sac located below the DDR). Interstudy agreement between computed tomographic angiography and 3-T MRI for the anatomic location of the paraclinoid aneurysms was assessed in 6 patients who underwent both examinations.
In all cases, the DDR was clearly identified and the relationship between the DDR and the paraclinoid aneurysm was successfully determined on 3-T MRI. The aneurysm locations determined with 3-T MRI were 4 intradural and 3 extradural. A comparison between computed tomographic angiography and 3-T MRI revealed discordant anatomic locations in 3 aneurysms (3 of 6, 50%).
Direct visualization of the DDR as well as precise evaluation of paraclinoid aneurysm location with high-resolution 3-T MRI is possible. This study shows that high-resolution 3-T MRI is an important means to determine the appropriate management for patients with paraclinoid aneurysms.
Neurosurgery 07/2009; 64(6):1059-64; discussion 1064. · 2.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this review was to evaluate the imaging tools used in diagnosis and perioperative assessment of moyamoya disease, with particular attention to the last decade.
Neurosurgical FOCUS 05/2009; 26(4):E3. · 2.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The traditional boundaries of the transsphenoidal approach can be expanded to include the region from the cribriform plate of the anterior cranial fossa to the foramen magnum in the anteroposterior plane. The introduction of endoscopy to transsphenoidal surgery, with its improved illumination and wider field of view, has added significant further potential for the resection of a variety of cranial base lesions. We review our experience with the expanded endoscopic endonasal approach in a series of 22 patients with anterior cranial base and supradiaphragmatic lesions.
From June 2005 to June 2007, the expanded endoscopic endonasal approach was used in 22 patients with the following pathologies: 6 craniopharyngiomas; 4 esthesioneuroblastomas; 3 giant pituitary macroadenomas; 2 suprasellar Rathke's pouch cysts; 2 angiofibromas; and 1 each of suprasellar meningioma, germinoma, ethmoidal carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and large suprasellar arachnoid cyst. This study specifically focused on the surgical indications and approaches to these lesions and the surgical results, complications, and limitations associated with this technique.
Gross total tumor removal, as assessed by postoperative magnetic resonance imaging, was possible in the majority of patients (73%), with the exception of the craniopharyngioma group, in which only 1 lesion was completely removed. There were no permanent neurological complications except for increased visual disturbance in 1 patient. Other complications included cerebrospinal fluid fistulae in 4 patients (18%) and meningitis in 1 patient (5%). There was no operative mortality. Large lesions, significant lateral extension, encasement of neurovascular structures, and brain invasion in malignant lesions are considered some of the contraindications for this technique.
The expanded endoscopic endonasal approach is a promising minimally invasive alternative to open transcranial approaches for selective lesions of the midline anterior cranial base. The avoidance of craniotomy and brain retraction and reduced neurovascular manipulation with less morbidity are potential advantages. Major complications have been few, but there are also limitations with this technique. This approach should be included in the armamentarium of cranial base surgeons and considered as an option in the management of selected patients with these complex pathologies.
Neurosurgery 05/2009; 64(4):677-87; discussion 687-9. · 2.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the authors' initial experience with the integration of high-resolution rotational and biplanar angiography during neurovascular operative procedures.
Eight patients with intracerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and aneurysms underwent surgical treatment of their lesions in a combined endovascular surgical suite. After initial head positioning, preoperative biplane and rotational angiography was performed. Resection of the AVM or clipping of the aneurysm was then performed. Further biplane and rotational 3D angiograms were obtained intraoperatively to confirm satisfactory treatment.
One small residual AVM identified intraoperatively necessitated further resection. One aneurysm was clipped during endovascular inflation of an intracarotid balloon for temporary proximal control. The completeness of treatment was confirmed on intraoperative 3D rotational angiography in all cases, and there were no procedure-related complications.
Intraoperative rotational angiography performed in an integrated biplane angiography/surgery suite is a safe and useful adjunct to surgery and may enable combining endovascular and surgical procedures for the treatment of complex vascular lesions.
Journal of Neurosurgery 04/2009; 111(1):188-92. · 2.96 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Dural arteriovenous fistulas are the most common vascular malformations of the spinal cord. These benign vascular lesions are considered straightforward targets of surgical treatment and possibly endovascular embolization, but the outcome in these cases depends mainly on the extent of clinical dysfunction at the time of the diagnosis. A timely diagnosis is an equally important factor, with early treatment regardless of the type more likely to yield significant improvements in neurological functioning. The outcomes after surgical and endovascular treatment are similar if complete obliteration of the fistulous site is obtained. In the present study, the authors evaluated the current role of each modality in the management of these interesting lesions.
Neurosurgical FOCUS 02/2009; 26(1):E8. · 2.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Spinal cord vascular malformations are rare, fascinating lesions. In this paper, the authors' goal was to demonstrate how these lesions, more specifically spinal cord arteriovenous malformations and dural arteriovenous fistulas, are assessed, classified, and managed at their institution. They also highlight some aspects of classification and management that may be different from the views of others.
The authors reviewed the 20-year experience at the senior author's institution regarding the management of spinal cord vascular malformations. They discuss the management, surgical and endovascular treatment results, and the classification that resulted from the combined experience of 3 major reference centers.
The accumulated knowledge on embryological and pathophysiological aspects in such a rare disease resulted in a more global, patient-oriented (and not radiologically oriented) approach to spinal cord shunts.
The multiple classifications proposed for spinal cord vascular malformations reflect the continuous advancement of the authors' understanding. They adopt a classification based on new physiological and genetic data that treats these lesions as expressions of more complex disease processes and not simply a morphological target, with direct impact on therapeutic options.
Neurosurgical FOCUS 02/2009; 26(1):E6. · 2.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Posterior fossa brain arteriovenous malformations (PFbAVMs) are rare lesions. Management is complicated by eloquence of adjacent neurological structures, multimodality treatment is often necessary, and obliteration is not always possible. We describe a 15-year experience in the management of posterior fossa brain AVMs with a focus on clinical outcome.
From 1989 to 2004, prospectively collected information on 106 patients with diagnosis of a PFbAVMs was obtained. Clinical and angioarchitectural characteristics, management options and complications are described and reviewed to evaluate their impact on final outcome as measured by the Modified Rankin Score (mRS).
Ninety-eight patients were followed for an average of 3.3 years (1-14.6). The male-to-female ratio was 1:1. Ninety-five out of 98 patients (96.9%) were symptomatic at presentation, with 61 (62.2%) intracranial haemorrhages. Sixty-two patients were treated (46 cerebellar, 16 brainstem). Ten haemorrhages occurred in follow-up (4.1%/year). The mRS was obtained in 62 patients and was classified as low (good, mRS<or=2) or high (poor, mRS>or=3). Haemorrhage was the only predictor of poor mRS at presentation (p = 0.0229). A poor clinical outcome was correlated with the presence of AA (p = 0.0276), a poor initial mRS (p<0.0001) and the number of treatments needed (p = 0.0434). Patients were significantly more likely to improve than to deteriorate over time (p = 0.0201).
The final clinical outcome in PFbAVMs relates directly with the presence of associated aneurysms, number of treatments needed to obliterate the AVM and mRS at presentation. Despite the fact that patients tend to improve after brain AVM haemorrhage, the relationship of MRS at presentation and final outcome suggests that an expedited, more definitive treatment is probably a better choice, especially in patients with good grades after the initial bleeding.
Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry 12/2008; 80(4):376-9. · 4.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report our recent experience with an expanded purely endoscopic endonasal approach for the treatment of clival chordomas.
Twelve patients underwent an expanded endoscopic approach for excision of cranial base chordomas at Toronto Western Hospital. Two patients had undergone a previous craniotomy for excision of a significant lateral intracranial extension of the tumor. All other patients had mainly centrally located lesions. Three patients had recurrent tumors. This study focused on the surgical approach, results, and complications associated with this approach.
Diplopia caused by VIth nerve palsy was the most common presenting symptom and was observed in seven patients. Gross total resection of the tumor was achieved in seven patients (58%). Four patients had complete recovery of their preoperative diplopia. One patient (8%) presented with new hemiparesis postoperatively. Four patients (33%) had a cerebrospinal fluid leak postoperatively; two were treated by lumbar drainage, and two required a secondary surgical repair. All newly diagnosed patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. There was no mortality. The short-term outcome was excellent in all but one patient. No recurrence was observed at the median follow-up period of 16 months.
The expanded endoscopic endonasal approach is a valid minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of centrally located clival chordomas or as an adjunct for the central part of chordomas with lateral extension. The early results of this technique indicate at least equivalency to more extensive open approaches, and its versatility may widen the horizon of surgical management of these aggressive lesions. The challenge with the cerebrospinal fluid leakage is being addressed with novel local flap repair techniques. This approach should be in the armamentarium of cranial base surgeons as an option in the management of clival chordomas.
Neurosurgery 09/2008; 63(2):299-307; discussion 307-9. · 2.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to report the results of a consecutive series of patients undergoing pituitary surgery using a pure endoscopic endonasal approach and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this procedure.
We reviewed 200 consecutive patients with pituitary adenoma who underwent purely endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of their lesions. The patients' clinical outcomes, including remission rates, degrees of tumor removal, and complications, were evaluated and compared with a previous microscopic series.
There were 111 nonfunctioning adenomas and 34 growth hormone-secreting, 27 adrenocorticotropin hormone-secreting, 25 prolactin-secreting, and 3 thyroid-stimulating hormone-secreting adenomas. The degree of gross total removal for tumors with suprasellar or parasellar extension and without cavernous sinus involvement was 96% and for intrasellar lesions was 98%. After a median follow-up period of 19 months, the remission results for patients with functioning adenomas were 71% for growth hormone-secreting, 81% for adrenocorticotropin hormone-secreting, and 88% for prolactin-secreting adenomas, with no recurrence at the time of the last follow-up. This compares with similar results reported from series using a standard microsurgical approach (growth hormone-secreting adenomas, 67%; adrenocorticotropin hormone-secreting adenomas, 78%; and prolactin-secreting adenomas, 62%). Endoscopic surgery for recurrent or residual nonfunctioning adenomas that had been previously treated using a microscopic approach revealed in the majority of cases a more limited exposure during the initial surgery, frequently with incomplete tumor removal. Complication rates have been low, and the average length of hospital stay was reduced.
A purely endoscopic approach for pituitary adenoma treatment is a safe and effective alternative to the traditional microscopic procedure. Although our results reveal excellent tumor-removal rates, comparable remission rates in functioning tumors, and a very low rate of complications, additional studies with longer follow-up periods are required to confirm whether this approach should be considered the preferred procedure for pituitary surgery.
Neurosurgery 06/2008; 62(5):1006-15; discussion 1015-7. · 2.79 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Clival lesions pose significant challenges with regard to their surgical management. The expanded endoscopic endonasal (EEE) approach is a promising minimally invasive technique for lesions of the central skull base. The authors' aim in the current paper was to discuss the surgical treatment of clival lesions and to present the technical details, indications, and limitations of the EEE approach. Data from a recent endoscopically treated group will be compared with findings in a previous cohort of patients treated via classic open anterior and lateral approaches.
Since June 2005, 17 patients with clival lesions underwent surgery via the EEE approach. Suitable candidates were chosen according to lesion characteristics, clinical parameters, and surgical goals. Neurological outcomes, Karnofsky Performance Scale scores, the extent of lesion resection, and complications were evaluated among these patients. Eighteen percent of the patients in the endoscopic group presented with recurrent disease. Another series of 43 patients, who had undergone resection of clival lesions via an anterior (rhinotomy, maxillectomy, microscopic transsphenoidal surgery, or transoral surgery) or lateral (pterional, frontoorbitozygomatic, or combined suprainfratentorial retrosigmoid) approach, was similarly reviewed. Twenty-three of these patients (53%) presented with recurrent disease and thus had undergone prior surgery.
Following the EEE approach, 11 (79%) of 14 patients who had presented with neurological symptoms experienced improvement, and gross-total resection was achieved in 59% of the patients and subtotal removal in 41%. Complications included CSF leakage (24%), tension pneumocephalus (6%), and intracranial hematoma (6%). The patient with the latter complication was the only one who experienced permanent neurological worsening. In the open resection group, neurological worsening occurred in 33% of the patients (14 of 43). Total and grosstotal removals were achieved in 84% of patients and subtotal removal in 14%.
The EEE approach has been shown to be a safe and effective technique for the resection of clival lesions with limited lateral extension. The choice of surgical approach must be tailored according to both patient and tumor characteristics. Although the 2 patient series featured in this paper are not comparable-because of a selection bias-higher rates of neurological morbidity and total and gross-total resections were observed in the open resection group. Given the long survival of some patients, the EEE approach should be favored whenever reasonable.
Neurosurgical FOCUS 02/2008; 25(6):E7. · 2.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Very long term survival after diagnosis of malignant glioma has been described in individual case reports. Survival of more than 10 years is extremely rare, especially when identified in 3 out of 71 patients assigned to one arm of a randomized controlled trial.
Three patients survived 11, 16, and 18 years following the diagnosis of glioblastoma and treatment with surgery, conventional fractionated radiation, and high-activity iodine-125 boost brachytherapy as part of a randomized controlled trial.
Despite this apparent cause and effect relationship, statistical analysis shows no relationship between these cures and treatment with brachytherapy. Cure of glioblastoma remains rare.
The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques 09/2007; 34(3):339-42. · 0.97 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is the primary therapy for Cushing disease because of its potential to produce lasting remission without the need for long-term drug or hormone replacement therapy. The authors evaluated the current role of pure endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery in the treatment of Cushing disease.
Twenty-five patients underwent pure endoscopic surgery for confirmed Cushing disease. Thirteen patients had microadenomas and seven had macroadenomas; magnetic resonance images obtained in five patients were only suspicious or nondiagnostic, and thus they underwent inferior petrosal sinus sampling. Two patients had evidence of cavernous sinus involvement. Final histological results were consistent with adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH)-secreting adenoma in 20 patients.
Twenty patients (80%) had clinical remission and laboratory confirmation of hypocortisolemia (serum cortisol < 100 nmol/L requiring substitution therapy), suppression to low-dose dexamethasone, and normal 24-hour urinary free cortisol. The median follow-up period was 17 months (range 3-32 months). There was no recurrence at the time of the last follow-up. Three patients presented with new anterior pituitary deficiency, but no one had permanent diabetes insipidus. In one patient a cerebrospinal fluid leak developed but later resolved following lumbar drainage. Treatment failure was attributable to involvement of the cavernous sinus in two patients, incomplete tumor removal in one, negative exploration in one, and nodular corticotroph hyperplasia of the pituitary gland in one.
Early results indicated that endoscopic endonasal surgery is a safe and effective treatment for ACTH-producing adenomas. The rate of remission in this study is comparable to those in previous series, and the rate of major postoperative complications is extremely low. Further studies with a larger number of patients and longer follow-ups are required to determine whether this more minimally invasive pure endoscopic approach should become the standard of care for the surgical treatment of Cushing disease.
Neurosurgical FOCUS 01/2007; 23(3):E9. · 2.87 Impact Factor
