Delineation of Grade II and III Gliomas Investigated by 7T MRI: An Inter-Observer Pilot Study.

Purpose: Diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGGs) are low-malignancy brain tumors originating from the glial cells of the brain growing continuously and infiltratively along the neural axons and infiltrating the surrounding brain tissue. DLGGs usually transform into higher malignancy, causing progressive disability and premature death. MRI scans are valuable when assessing soft tissue abnormalities, but, due to the infiltrative properties of DLGGs, delineating the tumor borders is a challenging task.

Awake Laser Ablation with Continuous Neuropsychological Testing During Treatment of Brain Tumors and Epilepsy.

MR-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is feasible and safe in the awake patient. Awake LITT may be performed with analgesics for head fixation in a head-ring, no sedation during laser ablation, and with continuous neurological testing in patients with brain tumors and epilepsy. In the LITT treatment of lesions near eloquent areas and subcortical fiber tracts, neurological function can potentially be preserved by monitoring the patient during laser ablation.

Right temporal lobe epilepsy surgery activates suppressed post-traumatic stress disorder 31 years after a robbery.

Hippocampus and amygdala play central roles in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Changes in neurological structures due to surgery leading to PTSD have previously been reported. In this case, we present a patient that develops PTSD right after epilepsy surgery in the right temporal lobe.

Glioma surgery with intraoperative mapping-balancing the onco-functional choice.

Background: Balancing survival versus risk of inducing functional deficits is a challenge when resecting gliomas in or near eloquent areas. Our objectives were to assess deficits prior to and at 6 and 12 months after awake craniotomies with cortical and subcortical mapping in patients with suspected grade 2 gliomas in eloquent areas. We analyzed whether pre- and intraoperative factors were linked to an increased risk of postoperative deficits.

Primo non nocere or maximum survival in grade 2 gliomas? A medical ethical question.

Background: Maximum safe resection is the "gold standard" in surgical treatment of grade 2 gliomas (G2Gs), aiming to achieve maximal survival benefit with minimal risk of functional deficit.

Objective: To investigate the attitude of patients and experts towards more extensive surgery with a trade-off between neurological function and survival time.

Methods: Eight patients and seven experts participated in semi-structured focus group interviews.

[Cognitive disturbances following severe traumatic brain injury].

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) very often has extensive effects of cognitive character such as changes in recognition, thought, memory, language and perception. The purpose of this paper is to give a short status of cognitive impairment after severe traumatic brain injury and to illustrate that cognitive impairment varies according to levels of consciousness. The article shortly describes typical observed behaviour in the patient when waking up after severe TBI, including post-traumatic amnesia.