Immunohistochemistry or Molecular Analysis: Which Method Is Better for Subtyping Craniopharyngioma?

Craniopharyngioma (CP) is mainly classified into two pathological subtypes: adamantinomatous (ACP) and papillary (PCP). CTNNB1 (β-catenin) mutations are detected in ACPs, and the BRAF V600E mutation is detected in PCPs. However, genetic analysis is not always possible in general medical practice.

Microvascular Decompression for Oculomotor Nerve Palsy Due to Compression by Infundibular Dilatation of Posterior Communicating Artery.

Background: Oculomotor nerve palsy is occasionally a key indicator of an internal carotid posterior communicating (ICPC) artery bifurcation aneurysm. The interval between the onset of palsy and the time of surgery is considered to be the most important factor affecting recovery from oculomotor nerve palsy. We encountered a rare case of oculomotor nerve palsy due to compression by the infundibular dilatation of the posterior communicating artery (PcomA) rather than by an ICPC aneurysm.

Pathologic Findings and Clinical Course of Midline Paraventricular Gliomas Diagnosed Using a Neuroendoscope.

Introduction: Removal of midline paraventricular gliomas is difficult because of their deep localization and invasive character, requiring biopsy for pathologic diagnosis. This study aimed to assess the pathologic findings and clinical course of midline paraventricular gliomas diagnosed using a neuroendoscope.

Methods: This study was performed as a retrospective investigation using a neuroendoscope of 26 patients whose tumors were diagnosed as midline paraventricular gliomas.

Perifascial Areolar Tissue Graft for Spinal Dural Repair with Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: Case Report of Novel Graft Material, Radiological Assessment Technique, and Rare Postoperative Hydrocephalus.

Background: Incidental durotomy is a relatively common complication in spinal surgeries, and treatment of persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is still challenging, especially in cases for which "watertight" suturing is inapplicable. The usefulness of a nonvascularized perifascial areolar tissue (PAT) graft recently was emphasized for plastic and skull base surgeries. Its hypervascularity allows for early engraftment and long-term survival, and its flexibility is advantageous in fixing defects of complex shapes in limited surgical spaces.

Clinicopathological analysis in patients with neuroendocrine tumors that metastasized to the brain.

Background: A neuroendocrine tumor (NET) can develop anywhere in the body, but is mainly found in the pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs. This report is a retrospective study of the clinicopathological features of NET patients with brain metastasis whose tissue diagnosis was made at our hospital.

Methods: Patients with brain metastasis evidenced by clinical records and images were accumulated among 302 patients in whom tissue diagnosis of NETs was made at our hospital between 2008 and 2013.

Disseminated cerebellar hemangioblastoma in two patients without von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Background: Two patients who had received a total resection of cerebellar hemangioblastoma developed cerebrospinal fluid dissemination during a long-term follow-up period. We present this rare disease with discussion based on the literature.

Case Description: The patients were two women aged 45 and 57 years.

Improvement of transduction efficiency of recombinant adenovirus vector conjugated with cationic liposome for human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

Adenovirus (Ad) vectors are commonly used in gene therapy trials because of their efficiency in gene transfer. However, their use is limited by immune responses that reduce transgene expression and decrease the efficiency of repeated vector administration. In this study, the efficacy of gene transduction and the tumor-cell killing effect on four human oral (SAS, HSC-2, HSC-3, HSC-4) and one murine squamous cell carcinoma cell (SCC-7, a kind gift of Dr.