Exploring Regorafenib Responsiveness and Uncovering Molecular Mechanisms in Recurrent Glioblastoma Tumors through Longitudinal In Vitro Sampling.

Glioblastoma, a deadly brain tumor, shows limited response to standard therapies like temozolomide (TMZ). Recent findings from the REGOMA trial underscore a significant survival improvement offered by Regorafenib (REGO) in recurrent glioblastoma. Our study aimed to propose a 3D ex vivo drug response precision medicine approach to investigate recurrent glioblastoma sensitivity to REGO and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in tumor resistance or responsiveness to treatment.

O-(2-18F-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (18F-FET) PET as a potential selection tool for second surgery in glioblastoma patients.

Background: Treatment-related changes still represent a diagnostic challenge in the management of patients with suspect of recurrent glioblastoma. The specificity of conventional MRI in detecting recurrence remains limited. Brain PET imaging provides information on tumor metabolism and can contribute to improving the diagnostic accuracy of cerebral neoplasms.

Innovative Approach to Isolate and Characterize Glioblastoma Circulating Tumor Cells and Correlation with Tumor Mutational Status.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are one of the most important causes of tumor recurrence and distant metastases. Glioblastoma (GBM) has been considered restricted to the brain for many years. Nevertheless, in the past years, several pieces of evidence indicate that hematogenous dissemination is a reality, and this is also in the caseof GBM.

Surgical management of skull base meningiomas and vestibular schwannomas.

Purpose Of Review: The aim of this study is to discuss surgical management of meningiomas and schwannomas of skull base.

Recent Findings: Meningiomas and schwannomas are typically benign neoplasm with a good prognosis after surgery. Patients should be treated individually related to several features: size and localization of tumor and its proximity with deep critical neurovascular structures, neurological status, age and comorbidity.

Single-Cell Molecular Characterization to Partition the Human Glioblastoma Tumor Microenvironment Genetic Background.

Background: Glioblastoma (GB) is a devastating primary brain malignancy. The recurrence of GB is inevitable despite the standard treatment of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, and the median survival is limited to around 15 months. The barriers to treatment include the complex interactions among the different cellular components inhabiting the tumor microenvironment.

Impact of recurrence pattern in patients undergoing a second surgery for recurrent glioblastoma.

The impact of different patterns of glioblastoma (GBM) recurrence has not yet been fully established in patients suitable for a second surgery. Through the present observational study carried out at Pisa University Hospital, we aimed to investigate how different patterns of GBM failure influence second surgery outcomes. Overall survival (OS) and post-recurrence survival (PRS) were assessed according to clinical characteristics, including pattern of recurrence, in a prospective cohort of recurrent GBM patients.

Cage with anterior plating is advantageous over the stand-alone cage for segmental lordosis in the treatment of two-level cervical degenerative spondylopathy: A retrospective study.

Objectives: To compare retrospectively the clinical and radiological outcomes in cervical spinal alignment after two consecutive levels PEEK cage-assisted ACDF when performed with or without plate fixation PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight patients underwent two consecutive levels PEEK cage-assisted ACDF without plating (56 patients) or supplemented with plating (22 patients). The average clinical follow-up was 31.40±12.

A new quantitative method to assess disproportionately enlarged subarachnoid space (DESH) in patients with possible idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: The SILVER index.

Objectives: Preoperative diagnosis of idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) remains challenging. Recently, the presence of disproportionally enlarged subarachnoid spaces and hydrocephalus (DESH) on diagnostic images has been linked to clinical improvement after ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement. In this study we describe a new quantitative method to assess DESH on CT scans and to evaluate its prognostic value.

Intracranial aneurysms in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: prevalence, risk of rupture, and management. A systematic review.

Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a genetic disorder associated with high incidences of intracranial aneurysms. We performed a systematic review with the purpose of clarifying the prevalence, risk of rupture, and appropriate management of intracranial aneurysms in the ADPKD population.

Method: PRISMA guidelines were followed.

Aneurysm rebleeding after placement of external ventricular drainage: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The association between external ventricular drainage (EVD) and aneurysm rerupture is still a controversial issue. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published series reporting data of EVD placement in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with the aim to evaluate the relationship between ventricular drainage and aneurysm rebleeding.

Method: PRISMA/MOOSE guidelines were followed.

Survival outcomes following repeat surgery for recurrent glioblastoma: a single-center retrospective analysis.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the impact of extent of resection at initial and repeat craniotomy on overall survival of patients with recurrent glioblastoma. The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of all adults patients who underwent repeat resection of recurrent glioblastoma following radiation and chemotherapy at an academic tertiary-care institution between 2011 and 2015. We evaluated the survival outcomes with regard to extent of resection considering both the initial and repeat resections.

Surgical management of acute subdural haematomas in elderly: report of a single center experience.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcome of patients over 70 years old who have received surgical treatment for traumatic acute subdural haematoma (aSDH) in our Neurosurgical Department. We also disclose related surgical and medical costs.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed by analyzing the medical records of patients older than 70 who had undergone surgery for evacuation of traumatic aSDH between June 2011 and December 2014.

Subdural fluid collection and hydrocephalus following cervical schwannoma resection: hydrocephalus resolution after spinal pseudomeningocele repair: case report.

The authors report the case of a 31-year-old man who developed neck pain and headache 2 months after the uncomplicated resection of a cervical schwannoma. MR imaging revealed infratentorial subdural fluid collections and obstructive hydrocephalus associated with cervical pseudomeningocele. The clinical symptoms, subdural fluid collections, and ventricular dilation resolved after surgical correction of the pseudomeningocele.

Anterior cervical corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: Reconstruction with expandable cylindrical cage versus iliac crest autograft. A retrospective study.

Objectives: To compare retrospectively the clinical and radiographic outcomes between cervical reconstruction with expandable cylindrical cage (ECC) and iliac crest autograft after one- or two-level anterior cervical corpectomy for spondylotic myelopathy.

Patients And Methods: Forty-two patients underwent cervical reconstruction with either iliac crest autograft and plating (20 patients) or ECC and plating (22 patients). The average clinical and radiological follow-up period was 77.

Disseminated bone metastases from occult thyroid cancer effectively treated with debulking surgery and a single dosimetry-guided administration of radioiodine.

In this paper we report on a successful management of multiple bone metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer. In 2007, a 75-year-old female patient, previously referred for thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter, underwent surgical removal of a lumbar mass with histological findings of metastasis from well differentiated thyroid cancer. After surgery, serum thyroglobulin (sTg) was 204.