Percutaneous laser disc decompression versus conventional microdiscectomy for patients with sciatica: Two-year results of a randomised controlled trial.

Background Percutaneous laser disc decompression is a minimally invasive treatment, for lumbar disc herniation and might serve as an alternative to surgical management of sciatica. In a randomised trial with two-year follow-up we assessed the clinical effectiveness of percutaneous laser disc decompression compared to conventional surgery. Materials and methods This multicentre randomised prospective trial with a non-inferiority design, was carried out according to an intent-to-treat protocol with full institutional review board approval.

Percutaneous laser disc decompression versus conventional microdiscectomy in sciatica: a randomized controlled trial.

Background Context: Percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) is a minimally invasive treatment for lumbar disc herniation, with Food and Drug Administration approval since 1991. However, no randomized trial comparing PLDD to conventional treatment has been performed.

Purpose: In this trial, we assessed the effectiveness of a strategy of PLDD as compared with conventional surgery.

The use of 4D-CTA in the diagnostic work-up of brain arteriovenous malformations.

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate the use of time-resolved whole-head CT angiography (4D-CTA) in patients with an untreated arteriovenous malformation of the brain (bAVM), as demonstrated by catheter angiography (DSA).

Methods: Seventeen patients with a DSA-proven bAVM were enrolled. These were subjected to 4D-CTA imaging using a 320 detector row CT scanner.

MR imaging predictors of local control of glottic squamous cell carcinoma treated with radiation alone.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the prognostic significance of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-determined tumor parameters, especially the presence of cartilage invasion, regarding local control of glottic squamous cell carcinoma treated with radiation therapy (RT) alone.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed with the approval of our institutional review board; direct patient consent was waived. Pretreatment MR images of 118 patients aged 41-86 years (110 men, eight women) with glottic carcinoma treated with RT alone were reviewed for tumor involvement of specific laryngeal anatomic subsites (including laryngeal cartilage), tumor volume, and extralaryngeal tumor spread; these findings were compared with local control.

Supraglottic carcinoma treated with curative radiation therapy: identification of prognostic groups with MR imaging.

Purpose: To retrospectively assess the prognostic meaning of tumor characteristics depicted on pretreatment magnetic resonance (MR) images for local outcome in supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma treated with definitive radiation therapy.

Materials And Methods: Pretreatment MR images acquired in 84 patients with supraglottic carcinoma treated with curative radiation therapy were reviewed for tumor involvement of laryngeal sites including glottis, subglottis, pre-epiglottic space, laryngeal cartilages, and hypopharynx, and for extralaryngeal extension. The volume of each tumor was estimated, and mean tumor volume was calculated for the group of tumors in each T staging category.