Unveiling the Hidden Burden: A Systematic Review on the Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Calcified Brain Metastases.

Background: Brain calcifications, found in various conditions, may be incidental or crucial for diagnosis. They occur in physiological changes, infections, genetic diseases, neurodegenerative conditions, vascular syndromes, metabolic disorders, endocrine disorders, and primary tumors like oligodendroglioma. While often incidental, their presence can be vital for accurate diagnosis.

A Systematic Review of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: A Potential Treatment for Glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is an extremely aggressive brain tumor that has few available treatment options and a dismal prognosis. Recent research has highlighted the potential of extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) produced from mesenchymal stem cells as a potential treatment approach for GBM. MSC-EVs, including exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, perform a significant function in cellular communication and have shown promise in mediating anti-tumor effects.

The oculomotor cistern and pituitary adenomas: anatomical and clinical study.

Objective: The oculomotor cistern (OMC) is a meningeal cuff filled with CSF that contains the oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve [CN] III) at the level of the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. Only a few studies have investigated the involvement of the OMC by pituitary adenomas (pituitary neuroendocrine tumors [PitNETs]), mainly with relatively small case series. The aim of this study was to perform a histomorphological description of the OMC and systematically analyze its involvement by PitNETs from radiological, clinical, and surgical perspectives.

Glioma Stem Cells as Promoter of Glioma Progression: A Systematic Review of Molecular Pathways and Targeted Therapies.

Gliomas' aggressive nature and resistance to therapy make them a major problem in oncology. Gliomas continue to have dismal prognoses despite significant advancements in medical science, and traditional treatments like surgery, radiation (RT), and chemotherapy (CT) frequently prove to be ineffective. After glioma stem cells (GSCs) were discovered, the traditional view of gliomas as homogeneous masses changed.

CAR-T Cells Therapy in Glioblastoma: A Systematic Review on Molecular Targets and Treatment Strategies.

The most common primary brain tumor is glioblastoma (GBM), yet the current therapeutic options for this disease are not promising. Although immunotherapeutic techniques have shown poor success in GBM thus far despite efforts, new developments provide optimism. One of these developments is chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell treatment, which includes removing and genetically modifying autologous T cells to produce a receptor that targets a GBM antigen before reintroducing the cells into the patient's body.

3D Printing for Customized Bone Reconstruction in Spheno-Orbital Meningiomas: A Systematic Literature Review and Institutional Experience.

: The treatment of spheno-orbital meningiomas (SOMs) requires extensive bone resections, creating significant defects in a complex geometrical space. Bone reconstruction represents a fundamental step that optimizes long-term aesthetic and functional outcomes. In recent years, 3D printing technology has also been exploited for complex skull base reconstructions, but reports remain scarce.

Role of glioma stem cells in promoting tumor chemo- and radioresistance: A systematic review of potential targeted treatments.

Background: Gliomas pose a significant challenge to effective treatment despite advancements in chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Glioma stem cells (GSCs), a subset within tumors, contribute to resistance, tumor heterogeneity, and plasticity. Recent studies reveal GSCs' role in therapeutic resistance, driven by DNA repair mechanisms and dynamic transitions between cellular states.

The Current Diagnostic Performance of MRI-Based Radiomics for Glioma Grading: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Multiple radiomics models have been proposed for grading glioma using different algorithms, features, and sequences of magnetic resonance imaging. The research seeks to assess the present overall performance of radiomics for grading glioma.

Methods: A systematic literature review of the databases Ovid MEDLINE PubMed, and Ovid EMBASE for publications published on radiomics for glioma grading between 2012 and 2023 was performed.

Pineal Apoplexy: Highlighting the Causes, Treatment, and Outcome.

Background:  Pineal apoplexy, alternatively referred to as pineal hemorrhage or pineal gland hemorrhagic stroke, is an infrequent pathologic condition characterized by bleeding within the pineal gland. In this review, we encompass the primary factors contributing to this uncommon ailment.

Methods:  The retrieval of pertinent research, including patients with pineal apoplexy, was conducted through PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases.

Chordoma Genetic Aberrations and Targeted Therapies Panorama: A Systematic Literature Review.

: Chordomas pose a challenge in treatment due to their local invasiveness, high recurrence, and potential lethality. Despite being slow-growing and rarely metastasizing, these tumors often resist conventional chemotherapies (CTs) and radiotherapies (RTs), making surgical resection a crucial intervention. However, achieving radical resection for chordomas is seldom possible, presenting therapeutic challenges.

Surgery versus endovascular treatment for spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas: a multicenter experience and systematic literature review.

Surgery and endovascular therapy are the primary treatment options for spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF). Due to the absence of a consensus regarding which therapy yields a superior outcome, we conducted a comparative analysis of the surgical and endovascular treatment of SDAVF through a multicenter case series and a systematic literature review. Patients with SDAVF, surgically or endovascularly treated at four neurosurgical centers from January 2001 to December 2021, were included in this study.

Comparative Efficacy of Transsphenoidal and Transcranial Approaches for Treating Tuberculum Sellae Meningiomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: Tuberculum sellae meningiomas (TSMs) constitute 5-10% of intracranial meningiomas, often causing visual impairment. Traditional microsurgical transcranial approaches (MTAs) have been effective, but the emergence of innovative surgical trajectories, such as endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs), has sparked debate. While EEAs offer advantages like reduced brain retraction, they are linked to higher cerebrospinal fluid leak (CSF leak) risk.

Current status and future perspectives on stem cell transplantation for spinal cord injury.

Background: Previous assessments of stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries (SCI) have encountered challenges and constraints. Current research primarily emphasizes safety in early-phase clinical trials, while systematic reviews prioritize effectiveness, often overlooking safety and translational feasibility. This situation prompts inquiries regarding the readiness for clinical adoption.

Navigating the Nose-to-Brain Route: A Systematic Review on Lipid-Based Nanocarriers for Central Nervous System Disorders.

Background: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) regulates brain substance entry, posing challenges for treating brain diseases. Traditional methods face limitations, leading to the exploration of non-invasive intranasal drug delivery. This approach exploits the direct nose-to-brain connection, overcoming BBB restrictions.

Advancing the Management of Skull Base Chondrosarcomas: A Systematic Review of Targeted Therapies.

Background: Chondrosarcomas rank as the second most common primary bone malignancy. Characterized by the production of a cartilaginous matrix, these tumors typically exhibit resistance to both radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT), resulting in overall poor outcomes: a high rate of mortality, especially among children and adolescents. Due to the considerable resistance to current conventional therapies such as surgery, CT, and RT, there is an urgent need to identify factors contributing to resistance and discover new strategies for optimal treatment.

Radiomics for differentiation of gliomas from primary central nervous system lymphomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: Numerous radiomics-based models have been proposed to discriminate between central nervous system (CNS) gliomas and primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs). Given the heterogeneity of the existing models, we aimed to define their overall performance and identify the most critical variables to pilot future algorithms.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis were conducted, encompassing 12 studies and a total of 1779 patients, focusing on radiomics to differentiate gliomas from PCNSLs.

Hydrocephalus and the First Report of an External Ventriculostomy: The Contributions of Fabrici d'Acquapendente in the Italian Renaissance.

In our historical study, we are unveiling one of the very first surgical treatments of hydrocephalus originally scripted in Latin by Fabrici d'Acquapendente and then transcribed into the French language by Chez Pierre Ravaud. During the European Renaissance, Italian pioneering surgeon Fabricid'Acquapendente illustrated the technique performed at that time. Fabrici described the drainage of fluid for hydrocephalus using the insertion of a cannula.

A Systematic Review of the Metabolism of High-Grade Gliomas: Current Targeted Therapies and Future Perspectives.

High-grade glial tumors (HGGs) exhibit aggressive growth patterns and high recurrence rates. The prevailing treatment approach comprises radiation therapy (RT), chemotherapy (CMT), and surgical resection. Despite the progress made in traditional treatments, the outlook for patients with HGGs remains bleak.

Advancing Craniopharyngioma Management: A Systematic Review of Current Targeted Therapies and Future Perspectives.

Craniopharyngiomas present unique challenges in surgical management due to their proximity to critical neurovascular structures. This systematic review investigates genetic and immunological markers as potential targets for therapy in craniopharyngiomas, assessing their involvement in tumorigenesis, and their influence on prognosis and treatment strategies. The systematic review adhered to PRISMA guidelines, with a thorough literature search conducted on PubMed, Ovid MED-LINE, and Ovid EMBASE.

Radiomics for Differentiation of Pediatric Posterior Fossa Tumors: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of the Literature.

Purpose: To better define the overall performance of the current radiomics-based models for the discrimination of pediatric posterior fossa tumors.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search of the databases PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus was designed and conducted by an experienced librarian. We estimated overall sensitivity (SEN) and specificity (SPE).

Non-surgical management of chronic subdural hematoma: insights and future perspectives from an international survey including neurosurgeons from 90 countries worldwide.

Background: Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is one of the most common neurosurgical conditions. Although surgical evacuation is still the gold standard for treatment, recent advances have led to the development of other management strategies, such as medical therapies and endovascular middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization. Through this international survey, we investigated the global trends in cSDH management, focusing on medical and endovascular treatments.

Quantitative Anatomical Comparison of Surgical Approaches to Meckel's Cave.

Background: Meckel's cave is a challenging surgical target due to its deep location and proximity to vital neurovascular structures. Surgeons have developed various microsurgical transcranial approaches (MTAs) to access it, but there is no consensus on the best method. Newer endoscopic approaches have also emerged.