Primary Ewing's Sarcoma affecting the Central Nervous System: A single-center experience and Narrative review.

Background And Objectives: Ewing's sarcoma (EWS) is a malignant round-cell tumor arising from the bone and soft tissue. It is a disease of children and young adults. EWS affecting the central nervous system (cranial and spinal column) is relatively rare with an annual incidence of approximately one case per million in the Western population.

The Displacement Patterns of Petrous Internal Carotid Artery and Its Morphometric Relations with Vidian Canal in Petroclival Chondrosarcomas Relevant to Extended Endoscopic Endonasal Approaches: A Radiological Study.

Background: Extended endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs) to petroclival chondrosarcomas (PCs) require a thorough understanding of skullbase anatomy, especially the anatomy of petrous internal carotid artery (pICA), as ICA injury is the most dreaded complication of extended EEAs. We conducted this study to determine the displacement patterns of pICA in patients with PCs.

Methods: Contrast enhanced computed tomography scan and angiography images of patients with PCs were analyzed for following parameters-antero-posterior, cranio-caudal, medio-lateral, and direct distances between anterior genu of petrous internal carotid artery (AGpICA) and posterior end of Vidian canal (pVC).

A computed tomography (CT)-based morphometric study of various skull base parameters and their anatomical relationships relevant to endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery.

Background: Endoscopic skull base surgery requires a thorough understanding of skull base anatomy. Orientation to regional anatomy to avoid complications like internal carotid artery injury can be assisted by knowledge of certain bony landmarks. These landmarks are themselves highly variable structures.

Papillary Tumors of Pineal Region: A Single-Center Experience in Management of 11 Cases.

Background: Papillary tumors of pineal region (PTPR) comprise a very rare subset of pineal region tumors that have been recently described. Literature on the management and outcome of PTPR is scarce owing to the rarity of these tumors. To address this lacuna, we analyzed our experience in management of PTPR.

Non-chordomatous clival bony tumors: A rare experience and systematic literature review.

Background: Non-chordomatous bony tumors of the clivus are extremely rare. Site, extent, and aggressiveness of tumor limits the extent of resection. It poses challenge to the neurosurgeons due to the complexity of anatomy.

An assessment of the variation in the practice of lumbar discectomy and its role in axial back pain.

Background: Lumbar discectomy is performed for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation and is one of the most widely performed spinal surgical procedures worldwide in a variety of ways. This survey aimed at providing an overview/perspective of different practice patterns and the impact of lumbar discectomy on axial back pain with or without sciatica.

Methods: An online survey was performed using the application "Google Forms.

Posterior pedicle inferior turbinate flap for recurrent cerebrospinal fluid leak following endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery.

Background: Adequate reconstruction of skull base following endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery is the most crucial step in reducing postoperative morbidity and mortality. Although, the success rate of traditional nasoseptal flap is very high, specific surgical scenarios preclude its use. A variety of vascularised endonasal and tunnelled scalp flaps have been described in the literature to address such situations.

Tadpole Sign in Filum Terminale Paragangliomas.

Two normotensive male patients came with complaints of low back pain. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral spine revealed an enhancing intradural extramedullary lesion (at the L4-L5 vertebral level in the first patient and at the L2-L3 vertebral level in the second patient). The tumor resembled the head and caudal blood vessels the tail of a tadpole, thereby giving the "tadpole sign.

Comparison of Infection Rates Following Immediate and Delayed Cranioplasty for Postcraniotomy Surgical Site Infections: Results of a Meta-Analysis.

Postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs) in neurosurgery are rare. However, they pose a formidable challenge to the treating neurosurgeon and substantially worsen patient outcomes. These infections require prompt intervention in the form of débridement, including removal of craniotomy bone.

Management of Pediatric and Adolescent Traumatic Thoracolumbar Spondyloptosis.

Background: Complete subluxation of >100% of one vertebral body with respect to the adjacent vertebra is defined as spondyloptosis. It is the severest form of injury caused by high-energy trauma. Pediatric patients with a traumatic spine injury, particularly spondyloptosis are surgically demanding as reduction and achieving realignment of the spinal column requires diligent planning and execution.

Evaluation of Dural Parameters at C1 Level in Patients with Chiari 1 Malformation Following Foramen Magnum and C1 Posterior Arch Removal: Introduction of a Novel Concept to Decompress without Affecting Stability.

Background: Chiari 1 malformation has crowding at craniovertebral junction (CVJ), treated by Foramen magnum decompression (FMD) but is associated with high failure rates, which is explained by recently introduced concept of central instability. So, we propose a new concept of relieving this crowding without affecting stability.

Objective: To derive a threshold for coring out of internal surface of C1 posterior arch instead of complete laminectomy accompanying FMD.

Single-Stage Posterior Only Approach for Unilateral Atlantoaxial Spondyloptosis with type-II odontoid Fracture in Pediatric Patients.

Objective: When there is a complete slippage of facet joints of C1 over C2 such that there is no contact between the articulating surfaces of C1 and C2, the condition is known as atlantoaxial spondyloptosis (AAS). AAS represents an extremely rare manifestation of atlantoaxial instability. This study was performed to highlight the presentation, radiological features, and management of unilateral AAS in pediatric patients.

Correction of pediatric cervical kyphosis with standalone posterior approach-a single-center experience of seven cases.

Purpose: To study clinical and radiological outcomes of pediatric cervical kyphosis correction with a standalone posterior cervical approach. Cervical spine kyphotic deformity in pediatric age group is a distinct entity and the management is challenging. Pediatric cervical kyphosis is less often encountered, and literature is sparse with only few case series.

Intraventricular Pilocytic Astrocytoma: A Single Centre Experience.

Background: Intraventricular pilocytic astrocytomas are a rare occurrence, accounting for approximately 4% -15.6% of all pilocytic astrocytomas .The aim of the study was to describe the radiology, surgical management and outcome in 15 patients with histopathologically proven intraventricular pilocytic astrocytoma(IVPA).

Suprameatal Extension of Retrosigmoid Approach in Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia with Petrous Endostosis: Case Report and Literature Review.

Petrous endostosis or prominent suprameatal tubercle is a rare entity which may prevent adequate microscopic exposure of the trigeminal nerve root entry zone during microvascular decompression (MVD) for trigeminal neuralgia. We present a rare case of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) with petrous endostosis, which was managed adequately by partial removal of the prominent suprameatal tubercle to improve the obscured site of neurovascular conflict and enabled complete MVD. Through this manuscript, we additionally discuss the nuances involved in this extension of the standard retrosigmoid approach in light of the published literature.

Use of Intraoperative Imaging to Preserve C1-C2 Mobility in Complex Atlas-Hangman Fractures.

Background: Combination fractures of the C1-C2 complex especially atlas and hangman are relatively uncommon and management usually compromises C1-C2 mobility.

Objective: To evaluate the treatment of combined C1- hangman's fracture with and without intraoperative O- arm based navigation system, and its outcome in terms of preserving C1-C2 mobility.

Methods: This was a case series of patients with combined C1 and hangman's fracture, managed at a tertiary care hospital during February 2009 to December 2016.

Determination of Availability of Safety Margin for Placement of C3-C6 Pedicle Screw on CT Angiography.

Background: Cervical pedicle screws (CPS) in the subaxial cervical spine (C3-C6) are faced with high incidence of perforating the lateral pedicular cortex endangering the vertebral artery (VA). The present study analyzes the pedicle width (PW) from C3 to C6 and defines the relation of VA with regard to pedicle and transverse foramen (TF) to determine the safety margin in cases of lateral pedicular breach.

Methods: Computed tomography angiograms of 500 patients were retrospectively studied to identify the pedicle width (PW), VA area, TF area, and the lateral pedicle to vertebral artery distance (LPVA).

Successful multimodality management of extrarenal extracranial malignant rhabdoid tumour of the left sciatic nerve mimicking a neurofibroma.

Extrarenal extracranial malignant rhabdoid tumour (MRT) is a rare and highly aggressive tumour representing <1% of paediatric soft tissue malignancies. Only a few cases of MRT of the thigh arising from the sciatic nerve have been reported in medical literature to date. A 5-year-old girl presented with progressively increasing painless lump in the posterior aspect of the left thigh.

Management of Myelopathy due to Anterior Soft-Tissue Compression in Vertebral Hemangioma.

Objective: Vertebral hemangiomas are benign but highly vascular lesions and are one of the most common lesions of the vertebral column. Anterior soft-tissue compression of spinal cord due to vertebral body hemangioma is challenging to manage. Our objective was to assess long-term clinical and radiologic effects of direct transpedicular absolute alcohol embolization, laminectomy, and short-segment instrumented fusion on resolution of extraosseous epidural soft tissue and improvement in myelopathy in cases of vertebral hemangioma causing anterior soft-tissue compression.

Transpedicular Approach for Corpectomy and Circumferential Arthrodesis in Traumatic Lumbar Vertebral Body Burst Fractures: A Retrospective Analysis of Outcome in 35 Patients.

Background: Traumatic vertebral burst fractures can be surgically approached via different approaches (anterior/posterior, or combined). Transpedicular approach (TA) is a posterior approach that has the advantage of achieving circumferential arthrodesis via single posterior only approach. The purpose of this study was to analyze our experience with TA in management of traumatic lumbar burst fractures (TLBFs).

Evolution to Pedicle Reformation Technique in Surgical Management of Hangman's Fracture.

Background: Opinions vary regarding optimal treatment of unstable hangman's fractures. Recent technological advances have allowed short segment, motion preserving fixation, even in complex cases. The aim of the study was to demonstrate C1-C2 motion-preserving short-segment fusion in hangman's fracture and the evolution of technique from pedicle realignment to pedicle reformation in complex fractures with resorbed/destroyed C2 pedicles.

Feasibility of Double Anterior Odontoid Screw: A CT-Based Morphometric Analysis of the Axis in Adult Indian Population.

Background: The fractures of the odontoid process constitute 10% of all cervical spine injuries. Odontoid screw placement, although technically challenging, in indicated cases is the ideal treatment. Hence, a thorough knowledge of the odontoid dimensions is necessary prior to the surgical endeavor, more so for planning double odontoid screws.

C19MC amplification and expression of Lin28A and Olig2 in the classification of embryonal tumors of the central nervous system: A 14-year retrospective study from a tertiary care center.

Introduction: CNS embryonal tumors (CET) other than medulloblastomas (MB) and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RTs), previously designated as 'central nervous system primitive neuroectodermal tumors' ('CNS PNETs'), are a heterogenous subset of tumors with poorly defined diagnostic criteria. Other than the subset of embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes (ETMR) defined by C19MC amplification, most CETs are diagnosed by exclusion of other molecularly defined entities and histological mimics including MB, AT/RTs, and high-grade gliomas, and termed as CET, not otherwise specified (NOS) in the 2016 WHO classification.

Aim: To reclassify 'CNS PNETs' as per WHO 2016, and estimate the true proportion of CET, NOS in a tertiary healthcare setting, and to evaluate the diagnostic utility of C19MC amplification, Lin28A and Olig2 expression in the subclassification of CETs.

Long-Term Outcome of Surgical Management in Symptomatic Pediatric Vertebral Hemangiomas Presenting With Myelopathy.

Background: Vertebral hemangiomas are benign, highly vascular lesions of the vertebra, rarely seen in the pediatric age group.

Objective: To analyze the long-term (>3 yr) outcome of patients of pediatric vertebral hemangioma presenting with myelopathy and to describe our surgical strategy to treat such cases.

Methods: All patients up to 18 yr of age with a symptomatic vertebral hemangioma treated at our hospital from May 2003 to August 2016, with at least 3-yr follow-up were included.