Atypical transformation in sacral drop metastasis from posterior fossa choroid plexus papilloma.

Choroid plexus papillomas (CPP) are rare tumours and spinal metastases of CPP are even less common. We report a 50-year-old woman with spinal drop metastases at Th9 and S1-2 6 years after total resection of a posterior fossa CPP. The metastasis at S1-2 was resected and histological examination showed transformation to an atypical CPP.

Stereotactic radiation therapy for large vestibular schwannomas.

Background And Purpose: To evaluate the morbidity and tumor-control rate in the treatment of large vestibular schwannomas (VS) after stereotactic radiation therapy in our institution.

Material And Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients (17 men, 8 women) with large VS (diameter 3.0 cm or larger), treated with stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) between 1992 and 2007, were retrospectively studied after a mean follow-up period of three years with respect to tumor-control rate and complications.

A basic model for practice of intracranial microsurgery.

Background: Intracranial microsurgical procedures often take place in a deep location, with a limited access space, necessitating the use of long knee-bend instruments and limiting the degree of movement. We devised an easily accessible model that allows the neurosurgical trainee to gain familiarity with intracranial microsurgical techniques.

Methods: The model consists of a pedestal, on which 2 movable vices are placed.

Repeated surgery for glioblastoma multiforme: only in combination with other salvage therapy.

Background: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects, frequency, and complications of repeated surgical resection for GBM relapse.

Methods: A group of 32 patients with tumor recurrence, derived from a total of 126 consecutive patients with prior GBM, treated between 1999 and 2005 in the VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands, were retrospectively studied. Survival, functional status, morbidity, and mortality after starting salvage therapy for recurrent GBM were studied.