Stealth Autoguide as Robotic Holder for Cranial Endoscopic Surgery: Technical Note and Proof of Concept.

Background: The Stealth Autoguide (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) is a robotic auto-targeting device for stereotactic brain biopsy, placement of stereoelectroencephalography electrodes, and laser ablation therapy. This paper evaluates its off-label application as robotic endoscope holder in transnasal and intraventricular neurosurgery. The potential to enhance stability, reduce manual adjustments, and improve surgical precision is discussed, alongside cost-effectiveness and feasibility.

Endoscopic Ultrasonic Aspiration of Brain Abscess.

Brain abscess is a focal infection occurring within the brain parenchyma consisting of a pus collection surrounded by a vascularized capsule and a fibrinous-caseous layer between the pus and capsule. Surgery is indicated for lesions with a diameter >25 mm. Different surgical approaches have been described, including puncturing of the abscess (under neuronavigation, stereotactic or echographic guidance) with aspiration of the purulent fluid through a catheter and craniotomy with microsurgical removal of the purulent material and surrounding capsule.

Tumors of Choroid Plexus and Other Ventricular Tumors.

Tumors arising inside the ventricular system are rare but represent a difficult diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. They usually are diagnosed when reaching a big volume and tend to affect young children. There is a wide broad of differential diagnoses with significant variability in anatomical aspects and tumor type.

Endoscopic ultrasonic resection of calcified tumor of the third ventricle.

In this video, the authors present ultrasonic resection of calcified tumor of the third ventricle in a 12-year-old boy. He presented to the emergency department with a 1-week history of headache, drowsiness, and bilateral papilledema. Despite extensive calcification visible on a CT scan, a minimally invasive pure endoscopic approach was chosen.

Fourth ventricle to spinal subarachnoid space stenting in pediatric patients with refractory syringomyelia: case series and systematic review.

A series of 5 patients treated with the fourth ventricle to spinal subarachnoid space stent (FVSSS) is presented. Indication for surgery, surgical technique, pre-operative and post-operative images, and outcome are analyzed. A systematic review of the pertinent literature has also been performed.

Changes in venous drainage after posterior cranial vault distraction and foramen magnum decompression in syndromic craniosynostosis.

Objective: The authors' objective was to measure the effect of posterior cranial vault distraction (PCVD) plus foramen magnum decompression (FMD) on dural sinus volume and venous flow in patients with syndromic craniosynostosis.

Methods: The volumes of the sagittal, straight, transverse, and sigmoid sinuses of 5 consecutive patients with syndromic craniosynostosis who underwent PCVD+FMD were calculated in cubic centimeters with T2-weighted volumetric MRI sequences before surgery, immediately after surgery, and after the end of the distraction process. Tridimensional reconstructions of phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography (PC-MRA) images were obtained with multiplanar reconstruction (MPR).

Minimally invasive endoscopic fenestration of a spinal arachnoid cyst in a child with tetrasomy 18p: illustrative case.

Background: Spinal arachnoid cysts (SAC) are rare, especially in children. Patients can be asymptomatic or present symptoms of spinal cord compression. In this latter case, surgery is indicated to relieve the compression.

The effect of image-guided ventricular catheter placement on shunt failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion for the treatment of hydrocephalus is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures. Over the years, the development of the neuronavigation system has allowed the surgeon to be guided in real time during the procedures. Nevertheless, to date, the revision rate remains as high as 30-40%.

Endoscopic ultrasonic aspiration as alternative to more invasive surgery in initial management of optic pathway gliomas in children.

Introduction: Optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) presenting with acute hydrocephalus represent a true neurosurgical and neurooncological challenge. Two main strategies are currently used: microsurgical removal of the tumor, restoring CSF pathways, and endoscopic biopsy associated with ventriculo-peritoneal shunt implantation. Since the availability of an ultrasonic aspirator handpiece, that can be used inside the working channel of a neuroendoscope, a different less invasive surgical strategy can be used.

Interhemispheric transcallosal transchoroidal approach to a pineal teratoma in a 15-year-old boy.

In this video, the authors present an interhemispheric transcallosal transchoroidal approach to a pineal mass in a 15-year-old boy. He received emergency endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), then an endoscopic biopsy that revealed an immature teratoma. Surgical removal was selected.

Occipital interhemispheric transtentorial approach to a pineoblastoma in a 4-year-old child.

The authors present a pediatric case of a pineoblastoma treated with gross-total removal through an occipital interhemispheric transtentorial approach (OITA). The child presented with acute hydrocephalus that was treated by endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and tumor biopsy through a single burr hole. Histology revealed a pineoblastoma.

Cavum trigeminale cephalocele associated with intracranial hypertension in an 18-month-old child: illustrative case.

Background: Cavum trigeminale cephaloceles (CTCs) are characterized by a cystic appearance and extension of the posterolateral aspect of Meckel's cave into the superomedial portion of the petrous apex. A possible mechanism is a transient or sustained increase of intracranial pressure transmitted to Meckel's cave, leading to its secondary herniation, in the presence of predisposing local factors. The majority of CTCs are incidental findings.

Desmoplastic infantile astrocytoma and ganglioglioma: a series of 12 patients treated at a single institution.

Background: Desmoplastic infantile astrocytomas and gangliogliomas (DIA/DIG) usually present with a large size, large cystic component, large dural implant, encasement of big vessels, clinical presentation within 18 months of life, high incidence of seizures and overall good prognosis, even if tumour surgery can be very challenging at first procedure.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical and radiological data of patients diagnosed with desmoplastic infantile tumours who were surgically treated between 2008 and 2019.

Results: The series included 12 patients.

Endoscopic aqueductoplasty and stenting in the treatment of isolated fourth ventricle in children: 20-year institutional experience.

Background: Endoscopic aqueductoplasty with aqueductal stenting is an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of isolated fourth ventricle (IFV). Due to the rarity of the underlying pathology, it can be considered a rare procedure that can be performed with different surgical techniques and approaches.

Objectives: To assess long-term functioning of permanent aqueductal stents implanted in children affected by hydrocephalus and IFV and to describe some variations of the same procedure.

Fourth Ventricle Outlet Obstruction and Diverticular Enlargement of Luschka Foramina in a Child with Down Syndrome.

Introduction: Hydrocephalus is not usually part of Down syndrome (DS). Fourth ventricle outlet obstruction is a rare cause of obstructive hydrocephalus, difficult to diagnose, because tetraventricular dilatation may suggest a communicant/nonobstructive hydrocephalus.

Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 6-year-old boy with obstructive tetraventricular hydrocephalus, caused by Luschka and Magen-die foramina obstruction and diverticular enlargement of Luschka foramina (the so-called fourth ventricle outlet obstruction) associated with DS.

Endoscopic needle biopsy of thalamic tumors: technical note.

Introduction: Neuroendoscopic biopsy represents the procedure of choice for pure intraventricular lesions. Instead, in case of deep-seated paraventricular tumors, with intact ependyma, the advantage of neuroendoscopy over stereotactic biopsy is not so evident, because the lesion is not under direct vision; the tissue sample may be limited to more superficial ependymal layer, and bleeding may obscurate vision. Also, stereotactic biopsy may reserve additional problems for these lesions: inaccuracy caused by leak of cerebrospinal fluid and increased risk of severe hemorrhage due to damage of the ependymal vessels.

Brain Herniation into the Subdural Space: Rare Iatrogenic Complication of Treatment of a Giant Calcified Subdural Hematoma.

Background: Chronic subdural hematoma associated with dural calcifications in previously pediatric shunted patients is a rare condition. The inner dural membrane opening can lead to progressive brain herniation into the subdural space due to brain reexpansion.

Case Description: A 15-year-old boy, previously shunted at birth for congenital hydrocephalus, presented with a giant chronic right hemispheric subdural hematoma.

Spinal epidural abscess in children: a case-based review.

Background: Pediatric spinal epidural abscess is a major suppurative infection of the central nervous system. It is an extremely rare pathology carrying serious risk of permanent neurological sequelae if is not properly treated.

Methods And Results: All the pertinent literature was analyzed, focused on pediatric cases of spinal epidural abscess and its peculiar features.

Ultrasound-based real-time neuronavigated fluorescence-guided surgery for high-grade gliomas: technical note and preliminary experience.

Background: The extent of resection (EOR) plays a fundamental role in the prognosis of patients with high-grade gliomas (HGG). One of the main challenges in achieving a complete resection is the distinction between tumor and normal brain. Nowadays, several technologies are employed to obtain a higher tumor removal rate and respect the normal tissue in glioma surgery and in the last decades, fluorescein sodium (FS) and intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) have been widely used.

Surgical Treatment in Symptomatic Chiari Malformation Type I: A Series of 25 Adult Patients Treated with Cerebellar Tonsil Shrinkage.

Background: The variety of symptoms and radiological findings in patients with Chiari malformation type I makes both the indication for surgery and the technical modality controversial. We report our 5-year experience, describing our technique and critically evaluating the clinical results.

Methods: Between 2012 and 2016, 25 patients (15 female and 10 male; mean age 39.

New Hope in Brain Glioma Surgery: The Role of Intraoperative Ultrasound. A Review.

Maximal safe resection represents the gold standard for surgery of malignant brain tumors. As regards gross-total resection, accurate localization and precise delineation of the tumor margins are required. Intraoperative diagnostic imaging (Intra-Operative Magnetic Resonance-IOMR, Intra-Operative Computed Tomography-IOCT, Intra-Operative Ultrasound-IOUS) and dyes (fluorescence) have become relevant in brain tumor surgery, allowing for a more radical and safer tumor resection.

With a Little Help from My Friends: The Role of Intraoperative Fluorescent Dyes in the Surgical Management of High-Grade Gliomas.

High-grade gliomas (HGGs) are the most frequent primary malignant brain tumors in adults, which lead to death within two years of diagnosis. Maximal safe resection of malignant gliomas as the first step of multimodal therapy is an accepted goal in malignant glioma surgery. Gross total resection has an important role in improving overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), but identification of tumor borders is particularly difficult in HGGS.

Initial experience with endoscopic ultrasonic aspirator in purely neuroendoscopic removal of intraventricular tumors.

OBJECTIVE Neuroendoscopic removal of intraventricular tumors is difficult and time consuming because of the lack of an effective decompression system that can be used through the working channel of the endoscope. The authors report on the utilization of an endoscopic ultrasonic aspirator in the resection of intraventricular tumors. METHODS Twelve pediatric patients (10 male, 2 female), ages 1-15 years old, underwent surgery via a purely endoscopic approach using a Gaab rigid endoscope and endoscopic ultrasonic aspirator.

Primary Hydatid Cyst of the Brain in a Child: A Case Report.

Background: Primary intracranial hydatid cyst is a rare location of human echinococcosis whose spontaneous, traumatic or even iatrogenic rupture, as in case of misdiagnosis, may cause anaphylactic reactions and dissemination.

Case Report: We discuss the management of a 9-year-old boy who was admitted to our Emergency Department with an intracranial hypertension syndrome. Head CT scan and brain MRI showed a huge intra-axial right temporo-parieto-occipital cyst with a marginal calcification, associated with left ventricular uncompensated hydrocephalus.

Surgical results of cranioplasty with a polymethylmethacrylate customized cranial implant in pediatric patients: a single-center experience.

OBJECTIVE Cranioplasty is a reconstructive procedure used to restore skull anatomy and repair skull defects. Optimal skull reconstruction is a challenge for neurosurgeons, and the strategy used to achieve the best result remains a topic of debate, especially in pediatric patients for whom the continuing skull growth makes the choice of material more difficult. When the native bone flap, which is universally accepted as the preferred option in pediatric patients, is unavailable, the authors' choice of prosthetic material is a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) implant designed using a custom-made technique.