The role of messaging services in day-to-day practice in pediatric neurosurgery, advantages of a bubble network, and an international survey.

Introduction: Messaging services (MS) are used widely worldwide. The implications of MS usage in daily hospital patient care have not been investigated. In this study, we discuss the extensive usage of MS in our Pediatric Neurosurgical Department, introduce our bubble algorithm, and provide additional input from an international survey.

Slow-Closing Clip for the Treatment of Nonsaccular Vertebrobasilar Aneurysms: A Retrospective Case Series.

Objective: Vertebrobasilar artery nonsaccular aneurysms (VBANSAs) are associated with a 13% annual mortality. Revascularization and flow diversion are life-saving options in select cases; technical failures and rapid hemodynamic changes may contribute to unwanted outcomes. We describe a technique and report clinical outcomes of patients treated with an experimental slow-closing clip (SCC).

Use of Intraoperative Neuronavigation to Identify Transdural Collaterals in Moyamoya Vasculopathy: A Simple Way to Make It Safer.

Introduction: Transdural collaterals (TC) from the external carotid artery must be preserved when operating on patients with moyamoya vasculopathy. Several techniques have been used to identify the superficial temporal artery (STA) and middle meningeal artery (MMA) during surgery and prevent their damage. However, the use of neuronavigation for this specific purpose has never been described in the literature.

Pediatric colloid cysts: a multinational, multicenter study. An IFNE-ISPN-ESPN collaboration.

Objective: Colloid cysts (CCs) are rare at all ages, and particularly among children. The current literature on pediatric CC is limited, and often included in mixed adult/pediatric series. The goal of this multinational, multicenter study was to combine forces among centers and investigate the clinical course of pediatric CCs.

Anatomic Risk Factors for S1 Segment Superior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysm Rupture: A Radiologic Study on 81 Consecutive Patients.

Background: Due to treatment associated risks, it is still debatable which unruptured aneurysm should be treated. Anatomic and morphologic characteristics may aid to predict the rupture risk of superior cerebellar artery (SCA) aneurysm and possibly support in decision- making during treatment.

Objectives: To identify morphologic characteristics that could predict the rupture of SCA aneurysms.

Surgical treatment and outcome of posterior fossa arachnoid cysts in infants.

Objective: The aim of this cohort study was to describe and analyze the surgical treatment and outcome of posterior fossa arachnoid cysts (PFACs) in infants.

Methods: Patients presenting with a PFAC at infancy or prenatally, between the years 2000 and 2019, and who were surgically treated before the age of 2 years, were included in this study. Patient data were retrospectively collected including baseline characteristics and surgical variables.

Pediatric thalamic incidentalomas: an international retrospective multicenter study.

Objective: Widespread use of modern neuroimaging has led to a surge in diagnosing pediatric brain incidentalomas. Thalamic lesions have unique characteristics such as deep location, surgical complexity, and proximity to eloquent neuronal structures. Currently, the natural course of incidental thalamic lesions is unknown.

Incidental Findings on Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in Pediatric Endocrine Patients.

Objective: To explore incidental findings on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of pediatric patients referred due to endocrine disorders.

Methods: A retrospective, observational study conducted in a tertiary referral center. The neuroimaging database of 17,445 brain MRI studies of 11,011 pediatric patients were searched for cases with endocrine referrals and without medical history of malignancy, genetic syndromes, and/or neurologic comorbidities.

Automatic segmentation, classification, and follow-up of optic pathway gliomas using deep learning and fuzzy c-means clustering based on MRI.

Purpose: Optic pathway gliomas (OPG) are low-grade pilocytic astrocytomas accounting for 3-5% of pediatric intracranial tumors. Accurate and quantitative follow-up of OPG using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for therapeutic decision making, yet is challenging due to the complex shape and heterogeneous tissue pattern which characterizes these tumors. The aim of this study was to implement automatic methods for segmentation and classification of OPG and its components, based on MRI.

Pineal region tumors: an entity with crucial anatomical nuances.

Purpose: Intra-axial "pineal region" tumors include pineal, tectal, and aqueductal tumors. All three tumor subgroups cause obstruction of the aqueduct; however, they differ in radiological nuances, pathology, differential diagnosis, and treatment. The goal of this manuscript is to describe the radiological, clinical, and pathological nuances that differentiate between these subgroups.

Management of incidental brain tumors in children: a systematic review.

Background: Due to technical advancements and availability of neuroimaging, detection of incidental pediatric brain tumors (IPBT) is growing rapidly. The management of these asymptomatic lesions remains unclear; radiological, pathological, and clinical risk factors for further growth and malignant transformation (MT) are not well defined.

Methods: We systematically reviewed the literature on the dilemmas and management of IPBT suggestive of a low-grade brain tumor (LGBT).

Illustrated dynamic stories behind pediatric neurosurgery.

Background: The aim of this paper is to provide a depiction of the surgical technique and dynamic story behind the procedures in pediatric neurosurgery.

Methods: Five standard common pediatric neurosurgeries: endoscopic third ventriculostomy, fronto-orbital advancement for metopic and coronal craniosynostoses, posterior fossa craniotomy, strip craniectomy for sagittal craniosynostosis, and ventriculoperitoneal shunting were chosen to be exampled in illustrations.

Results: Surgical techniques were depicted in a step-by-step fashion with comic-like style of images.

Pediatric posterior fossa incidentalomas.

Purpose: Pediatric brain incidentalomas are increasingly being diagnosed. As the posterior fossa (PF) is the location of most brain tumors in children, lesions of this region are of special interest. Currently, the natural history of incidental lesions in the PF is unknown.

Mature teratoma splitting the brainstem in a newborn: case report.

Mature teratomas (MTs) of the posterior fossa are extremely rare. The authors present a case of a prenatal diagnosis of an MT splitting the brainstem. Representative images as well as the clinical and surgical course are presented.

Value of Cerebrospinal Fluid Lactate Levels in Diagnosing Shunt Infections in Pediatric Patients.

Objective: The diagnosis and timely treatment of shunt infections (SI) in children is of paramount importance. In some cases, the standard cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) variables will not be sufficient for an accurate diagnosis of SI. CSF lactate (LCSF) has been found to assist in differentiating bacterial from nonbacterial meningitis in non-neurosurgical patients.

The value of cerebrospinal fluid lactate levels in diagnosing CSF infections in pediatric neurosurgical patients.

Purpose: Diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infections in patients following neurosurgical procedures can be challenging. CSF lactate (LCSF) has been shown to assist in differentiating bacterial from non-bacterial meningitis in non-neurosurgical patients. The use of lactate in diagnosing CSF-related infections following neurosurgical procedures has been described in adults.

E-bike-related cranial injuries in pediatric population.

Purpose: E-bikes are being used increasingly by all age groups. Children riding e-bikes often do not use safety equipment such as helmets, and are at increased risk for injuries requiring neurosurgery. The most common type of injury among pediatric e-bikers is head and neck trauma.

Are Fetal-Type Posterior Cerebral Arteries Associated With an Increased Risk of Posterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms?

Background: Fetal-type posterior cerebral arteries (F-PCAs) might result in alterations in hemodynamic flow patterns and may predispose an individual to an increased risk of posterior communicating artery aneurysms (PCoAAs).

Objective: To determine the association between PCoAAs and the presence of ipsilateral F-PCAs.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the radiographic findings from 185 patients harboring 199 PCoAAs that were treated at our institution between 2005 and 2015.