Background: Neuroendocrine tumor (NET) brain metastases (BM) are rare malignancies which frequently bear a poor prognosis and have the potential to secrete hormones. The optimal treatment approach for these metastases remains unclear, with significant heterogeneity occurring both across and within primary tumor types, and outcome data are limited. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET) BM may be particularly aggressive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Choriocarcinoma (CC) is a rare and aggressive form of germ cell tumor. There is limited evidence describing clinical outcomes in patients with primary CC and brain metastases (BM). Only a few single case reports have documented the use of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for CC BM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: While genetic testing of tumors is commonly used to inform the selection of systemic therapies, there is limited evidence for the application of radiotherapy for brain cancer. Recent studies have shown that Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), a key regulator of cellular responses to oxidative and electrophilic stress, is associated with radioresistance in multiple cancer types. Several studies have reported the clinical significance of KEAP1 mutation in brain metastasis; however, the effect of KEAP1 mutations on radioresponse in meningioma has never been reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for pain relief in patients with painful spinal bone metastases (SBMs) and to identify key factors contributing to treatment outcomes.
Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of adult patients who underwent SBRT for painful solid tumor SBMs between March 2012 and January 2023. During this period, SBRT was performed adhering to the International Spine Radiosurgery Consortium guidelines and international consensus recommendations for target volume delineation.
J Neurosurg Case Lessons
July 2024
Background: Choroid plexus carcinomas (CPCs) are rare malignant brain tumors primarily affecting children younger than 2 years old. These tumors originate from the choroid plexus epithelium and are a subtype of choroid plexus tumors, which account for 1%-4% of pediatric brain tumors. Although CPCs often show a notably high recurrence rate after surgery, the standard treatment approach remains gross-total resection (GTR) of the tumor, given the lack of clinical data supporting the effectiveness of adjunct treatment options such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: This study aimed to assess the results of primary stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for spinal bone metastases (SBM) originating from lung adenocarcinoma (ADC). We considered the revised Tokuhashi score (rTS), Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS), and genetic characteristics.
Methods: We examined adult patients with lung ADC who underwent primary SBRT (using the CyberKnife System) for SBM between March 2012 and January 2023.
Background: Facial nerve hemangiomas (FNHs) are rare tumors that primarily occur near the geniculate ganglion in the temporal bone. Despite their rarity, they can cause significant facial nerve dysfunction. The optimal management approach for FNHs remains uncertain, with surgery being the mainstay but subject to debate regarding the extent of resection and preservation of the facial nerve.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objectives: Ependymoma is commonly classified as World Health Organization grade 2 with the anaplastic variant categorized as grade 3. Incomplete resection or anaplastic features can result in unfavorable outcomes. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) provides a minimally invasive approach for recurrent ependymomas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare, aggressive soft-tissue sarcoma that seldom spreads to the bone. The spine can be either the site of LMS osseous metastases or the primary tumor site. The optimal treatment option for spinal LMS is still unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Patchy alopecia is a common adverse effect of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) on the calvarium and/or scalp, yet no guidelines exist for its prevention. This study aims to investigate the incidence and outcomes of patchy alopecia following SRS for patients with calvarial or scalp lesions and establish preventive guidelines.
Methods: The study included 20 patients who underwent CyberKnife SRS for calvarial or scalp lesions, resulting in a total of 30 treated lesions.
Introduction Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant adult brain tumor and is invariably fatal. The standard treatment for GBM involves resection where possible, followed by chemoradiation per Stupp's protocol. We frequently use stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) as a single-fraction treatment for small (volume ≤ 1cc) nodular recurrent GBM to the contrast-enhancing target on T1 MRI scan.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOBJECTIVE Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been an attractive treatment option for hemangioblastomas, especially for lesions that are surgically inaccessible and in patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease and multiple lesions. Although there has been a multitude of studies examining the utility of SRS in intracranial hemangioblastomas, SRS has only recently been used for spinal hemangioblastomas due to technical limitations. The purpose of this study is to provide a long-term evaluation of the effectiveness of image-guided radiosurgery in halting tumor progression and providing symptomatic relief for spinal hemangioblastomas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This study sought to examine trends in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and in-hospital patient outcomes on a national level by utilizing national administrative data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.
Methods And Materials: Using the NIS database, all discharges where patients underwent inpatient SRS were included in our study from 1998 - 2011 as designated by the ICD9-CM procedural codes. Trends in the utilization of primary and adjuvant SRS, in-hospital complications and mortality, and resource utilization were identified and analyzed.
Non-vestibular cranial nerve schwannomas (NVCNS) are rare lesions, representing <10 % of cranial nerve schwannomas. The optimal treatment for NVCNS is often derived from vestibular schwannomas experience. Surgical resection has been referred to as the first line treatment for those benign tumors, but significant complication rates are reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for large vestibular schwannomas (VS) remains controversial. We studied the tumor local control and toxicity rates after hypofractionated SRS for VS > 3 cm.
Methods: A total of 587 patients with VS treated with SRS between 1998 and 2014 were reviewed retrospectively, and 30 Koos grade IV VSs were identified.
Objective: Recurrent World Health Organization (WHO) grade II and III meningiomas have traditionally been treated by surgery alone, but early literature suggests that adjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery may greatly improve outcomes. We present the long-term tumor control and safety of a hypofractionated stereotactic radiosurgery regimen.
Methods: Prospectively collected data of 44 WHO grade II and 9 WHO grade III meningiomas treated by CyberKnife for adjuvant or salvage therapy were reviewed.
Spinal cord arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are rare lesions associated with recurrent hemorrhage and progressive ischemia. Occasionally a favorable location, size or vascular anatomy may allow management with endovascular embolization and/or microsurgical resection. For most, however, there is no good treatment option.
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