Optimizing radiotherapy strategies for skull base chordoma: a comprehensive meta-analysis and systematic review of treatment modalities and outcomes.

Objective: In the treatment of skull base chordoma (SBC) surgery is considered the mainstay approach, and gross-total resection has an established relationship with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). However, the tumor's location often interferes with attempts at complete resection. In this case, surgery for maximal resection followed by high-dose radiotherapy has been demonstrated to be the standard treatment.

Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy in craniopharyngiomas: A systematic review and single arm meta-analysis.

Introduction: Numerous studies have demonstrated Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy's (FSRT) effectiveness in tumor control post-resection for craniopharyngiomas. Nevertheless, past literature has presented conflicting findings particularly regarding endocrine and visual function outcomes. This study aims to elucidate FSRT's efficacy and safety for this population.

Development of a "Geo-Tagged" tumor sample registry: intra-operative linkage of sample location to imaging.

Purpose: There is a growing body of literature documenting glioma heterogeneity in terms of radiographic, histologic, molecular, and genetic characteristics. Incomplete spatial specification of intraoperative tumor samples may contribute to variability in the results of pathological and biological investigations. We have developed a system, termed geo-tagging, for routine intraoperative linkage of each tumor sample to its location via neuronavigation.

Feasibility of robotic neuroendovascular surgery.

Background: Several recent reports of CorPath GRX vascular robot (Cordinus Vascular Robotics, Natick, MA) use intracranially suggest feasibility of neuroendovascular application. Further use and development is likely. During this progression it is important to understand endovascular robot feasibility principles established in cardiac and peripheral vascular literature which enabled extension intracranially.

Clinical and descriptive characteristics associated with high-grade meningioma in a large clinical series.

Purpose: We studied 571 patients with intracranial meningioma for clinical characteristics and tumor location associated with high grade meningioma (WHO II/III).

Materials And Methods: Patients were participants in a multicentre epidemiologic study of risk factors for primary brain tumors including meningioma recruited from September 2005 to November 2019. We included patients 18 or older with a recent diagnosis of a primary intracranial meningioma of any subtype (ICD9/10: 9530-0, 9531-0, 9532-0, 9537-0, 9533-0, 9534-0, 9530-0, 9538-1, 9538-3) who were enrolled at neuro-oncology and neuro-surgery clinics in the southeastern U.

Measuring pituitary tumor volume: a comparison of the simplified and non-simplified ellipsoid equation with the 3D planimetric volume assessment.

Purpose: The ellipsoid equation came in an attempt to facilitate the estimation of tumor volume, by measuring the height, width, and anteroposterior length of the lesion. The estimated tumor volume can sometimes be different between methods, thus, it is of extreme interest to evaluate if the methods are significantly different, as well as to discuss the main limitations of each one.

Methods: This is an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study.

Femoral access site complications following neurointerventional procedures: economic implications at a single center.

Objective: Transfemoral access (TFA) has been the traditional route of arterial access for neurointerventional procedures. Femoral access site complications may occur in 2%-6% of patients. Management of these complications often requires additional diagnostic tests or interventions, each of which may increase the cost of care.

Endoscopic Approaches to the Paramedian Skull Base: An Anatomic Comparison of Contralateral Endonasal and Transmaxillary Strategies.

Background: The expanded endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) is limited laterally by the internal carotid artery (ICA). The EEA to the paramedian skull base often requires complex maneuvers such as dissection of the Eustachian tube (ET) and foramen lacerum (FL), and ICA manipulation. An endoscopic contralateral transmaxillary approach (CTMA) has the potential to provide adequate exposure of the paramedian skull base while bypassing manipulation of the aforementioned anatomic structures.

Erratum: Skull Base Registries: A Roadmap.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/a-1934-9191.].

Patient satisfaction and cost savings analysis of the telemedicine program within a neuro-oncology department.

Purpose: Unique challenges exist in the utilization of telemedicine for neurological and surgical specialties. We examined the differences in patient satisfaction for telemedicine versus in-person visits within a Neuro-Oncology Program to assess whether there was a difference between surgical and medical specialties. We also examined the potential cost savings benefits of utilizing telemedicine.

The use of an endoscopic endonasal approach for a secondary intraorbital meningioma: illustrative case.

Background: Meningiomas are the most frequent primary tumors in the central nervous system (CNS), but intraorbital location is uncommon and accounts for only 0.2% to 4% of all CNS meningiomas. Lesions in this compartment could be classified as primary, secondary, or ectopic.

Molecular determinants of outcomes in meningiomas.

Meningiomas are the most common intracranial primary tumor in adults. Surgery is the predominant therapeutic modality for symptomatic meningiomas. Although the majority of meningiomas are benign, there exists a subset of meningiomas that are clinically aggressive.

Surgical and anatomic factors predict development of leptomeningeal disease in patients with melanoma brain metastases.

Background: Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is a devastating complication of systemic malignancy, of which there is an unclear etiology. The aim of this study is to determine if surgical or anatomic factors can predict LMD in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of 1162 patients treated at single institution for melanoma brain metastases (MBM).

Endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke in patients with cancer: a propensity-matched analysis.

Background: There is a paucity of data and a belief that endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has low efficacy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in patients with cancer. We aimed to critically compare the clinical outcomes of EVT for AIS in patients with and without cancer.

Methods: Records of all patients undergoing EVT for AIS between January 2015 and 2020 were screened for cancer at the time of EVT.

Transvenous Onyx Embolization of Carotid-Cavernous Fistulas: Mid- and Long-Term Outcomes.

 Endovascular treatment of carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) has been consistently shown to give excellent results and is currently the mainstay of treatment of these complex vascular pathologies. Onyx is currently the most widely used agent, but there has been concern over high rates of cranial nerve (CN) deficits seen in patients with CCF treated with Onyx and paucity of data on long-term outcomes.  This is a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent transvenous Onyx embolization between 2011 and 2018.

Endoscope-Assisted Middle Fossa Approach: Optimizing the Surgical Corridor for the Resection of Multicompartmental Chordomas.

 Skull base chordomas are a major therapeutic challenge. The surgical management involves selecting an approach that will offer the patient the best chance of largest/complete removal while minimizing morbidity and mortality.  Medical records and imaging review of two skull base chordomas involving the middle fossa and posterior fossa that were successfully treated with an endoscope-assisted middle fossa approach.

Dural Venous Sinus Thrombosis after Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery: The Anticoagulation Dilemma.

 Dural venous sinus thrombosis (DVST) is a relatively understudied complication of vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery. Several studies have examined this topic; however, there is limited data on the incidence, clinical progression, and proper management of this patient population.  A retrospective review was performed for patients undergoing surgery for VS at a single institution.

Mechanical thrombectomy beyond the circle of Willis: efficacy and safety of different techniques for M2 occlusions.

Background: M2 segment occlusions represent approximately one-third of non-lacunar ischemic stroke and can lead to permanent neurological deficits. Various techniques are available for mechanical thrombectomy beyond the circle of Willis, but data evaluating their effectiveness and safety are lacking.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with ischemic stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for M2 occlusions from 13 centers in North American and Europe was performed.

Decline in subarachnoid haemorrhage volumes associated with the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, decreased volumes of stroke admissions and mechanical thrombectomy were reported. The study's objective was to examine whether subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) hospitalisations and ruptured aneurysm coiling interventions demonstrated similar declines.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study across 6 continents, 37 countries and 140 comprehensive stroke centres.

Pre-operative embolization followed by clipping of Cognard type V dural arteriovenous fistula.

This article has been retracted because it describes the use of an investigative agent that has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Petrous Apex Cephaloceles: Radiology Features and Surgical Management of a Rare Entity.

Objective: To characterize the radiologic findings of petrous apex cephalocele (PAC) in a patient cohort, and report the surgical management for three symptomatic PAC patients and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak via the middle cranial fossa approach.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: Academic center.

Carotid artery stenting in a patient with an anomalous vertebral artery origin from the external carotid artery.

The existence of carotid basilar anastomoses has been well documented embryologically, anatomically, and, in the case of the persistent trigeminal and hypoglossal arteries, angiographically. Conversely, anomalous origins of the vertebral arteries (VA) are not very common with an incidence ranging from 3% to 8%. Multiple variations of the VA origin have been reported in the literature, including arising from the aortic arch, from the common, internal, or external carotid arteries and subclavian branches.