DCE and DSC perfusion MRI diagnostic accuracy in the follow-up of primary and metastatic intra-axial brain tumors treated by radiosurgery with cyberknife.

Background: The differential diagnosis between radiation necrosis, tumor recurrence and tumor progression is crucial for the evaluation of treatment response and treatment planning. The appearance of treatment-induced tissue necrosis on conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is similar to brain tumor recurrence and it could be difficult to differentiate the two entities on follow-up MRI examinations. Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast-enhanced (DSC) and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced (DCE) are MRI perfusion techniques that use an exogenous, intravascular, non-diffusible gadolinium-based contrast agent.

Perfusion computed tomography of intracranial meningiomas: In vivo correlation of cerebral blood volume and vascular permeability.

Background: A noninvasive method to predict the grade of a meningioma would be desirable since it would anticipate information about tumour nature, recurrence and improve tumour management and outcomes. The aim of the present study was to assess the ability of perfusion computed tomography (PCT) technique in predicting the meningioma grade before surgery. Data from PCT, such as cerebral blood volume (CBV) and permeability surface (PS), were correlated with immunohistolopathological information.

Thoracic spinal cord cavernous angioma: a case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Cavernous angiomas of the spinal cord are rare vascular malformations, which account for approximately 5 to 12 percent of spinal cord vascular lesions. They usually originate in the vertebrae, with occasional extension into the extradural space, and intramedullary cavernomas, even if reported in the literature, are very rare.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 34-year-old Caucasian woman affected by a thoracic intramedullary cavernous angioma.

Cyberknife radiosurgery for cranial plasma cell tumor.

Cranial and intracranial involvement by myelomatous disease is relatively uncommon. Furthermore, systemic manifestations of multiple myeloma are present in the majority of these cases at the time of symptom onset. The authors report the case of a patient with serial appearance of multiple intracranial plasma cell tumor localizations as the first manifestations of a multiple myeloma.

Sporadic cerebral cavernous malformations: report of further mutations of CCM genes in 40 Italian patients.

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are vascular lesions characterized by abnormally enlarged capillary cavities, affecting the central nervous system. CCMs can occur sporadically or as a familial autosomal dominant condition with incomplete penetrance and variable clinical expression attributable to mutations in three different genes: CCM1 (K-Rev interaction trapped 1 (KRIT1)), CCM2 (MGC4607), and CCM3 (PDCD10). CCMs occur as a single or multiple malformations that can lead to seizures, focal neurological deficits, hemorrhagic stroke, and headache.

Interleukin-8 overexpression in astrocytomas is induced by prostaglandin E2 and is associated with the transcription factors CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-β and CCAAT/enhancer-binding homologous protein.

Background: The upregulation of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) and the overexpression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) have been separately linked to glioma malignancy.

Objective: To evaluate (1) the correlation between the mRNA levels of IL-8, mPGES-1, and the main transcription factors (TFs) activating the IL-8 promoter in human brain tumors of different grades; (2) the role of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on IL-8 activation and the expression of these TFs in tumor-derived cells; and (3) the biological impact of PGE2 treatment and mPGES-1 silencing on IL-8 synthesis and tumorigenesis.

Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, transfection experiments, and cell proliferation and apoptosis assays were performed.

Clinical presentation of trigeminal neuralgia and the rationale of microvascular decompression.

Among the facial pain syndromes, trigeminal neuralgia has a special position for many reasons. Already described in the Romans age, the specific features of its severe symptoms, the therapeutic debate and the recent curative possibilities, make this complex pain syndrome a unique entity. The clinical onset is predominantly unilateral and is described as an electric, lancinating, focal and sharp pain.