Introduction: First-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fg-SRLs) are the cornerstone of acromegaly treatment. Additional benefits were shown using high dose (HD) or high frequency (HF), relatively short-term regimens. Although several predictors of response to standard dose (SD)-fg-SRLs were reported, outcome biomarkers for HF administration are not yet available.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe temporoparietal fascia flap (TPFF) has recently emerged as an option for skull base reconstruction in endoscopic transnasal surgery when vascularized nasal flaps are not available. This study provides a systematic literature review of its use in skull base surgery and describes a novel cohort of patients. PRISMA guidelines were used for the review.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurrent rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatments do not restore immune tolerance. Investigating dendritic cell (DC) populations in human synovial tissue (ST) may reveal pathways to reinstate tolerance in RA. Using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics of ST biopsies, as well as co-culture systems, we identified condition- and niche-specific DC clusters with distinct functions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This study explores the potential for hidden variations within seemingly uniform regions of growth hormone-secreting pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (GH-PitNETs). We employed archived tissue samples using Laser Capture Microdissection Sequencing (LCM-RNAseq) to probe the molecular landscape of these tumors at a deeper level.
Methods: A customized protocol was developed to extract, process, and sequence small amounts of RNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues derived from five patients with GH-secreting PitNETs and long-term follow-up (≥10 years).
Background: The management of recurrent Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs) remains challenging. The off-label application of steroid-eluting bioabsorbable or nonabsorbable intracystic stents has been recently described. Early outcomes and complications of this treatment have been described as well, but long-term data are lacking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Neurosurg Case Lessons
September 2024
Background: Pancreatoblastoma is a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas, occurring usually in children and rarely in adults. Treatment consists of surgery with a variable combination of adjuvant therapies. Liver metastases are common, whereas brain diffusion is exceptionally rare.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The Multidisciplinary Tumor Board (MTB) is a collaborative platform involving specialists in oncology, surgery, radiology, pathology, and radiotherapy, and aims to optimize diagnostics and treatments. Despite MTB's widespread benefits, limited literature addresses its application in pediatric neuro-oncology. After a literature revision on pediatric neuro-oncology MTB, our study describes our institute's pediatric neuro-oncology MTB, focuses on evaluating its impact and the neuroradiologist's role in patient-centric approaches, considering recent genetic insights into pediatric brain tumors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrimary spinal cord diffuse gliomas (SpDG) are rare tumors that may harbor, like diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), H3 mutations. According to the WHO (2021), SpDGs are included in diffuse midline H3K27-altered gliomas, which occur more frequently in adults and show unusual clinical presentation, neuroradiological features, and clinical behavior, which differ from H3 G34-mutant diffuse hemispheric glioma. Currently, homogeneous adult-only case series of SpDG, with complete data and adequate follow-up, are still lacking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Intramedullary melanocytomas are exceedingly rare, with only twenty-four cases reported up to now. They present as local invasive tumors despite their benign biological behavior. Attempting a complete safe resection often results in severe post-operative neurological deficits, as in our case presented here.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: The primary treatment for glioblastoma (GBM) is removing the tumor mass as defined by MRI. However, MRI has limited diagnostic and predictive value. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are abundant in GBM tumor microenvironment (TME) and are found in peripheral blood (PB).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To develop an intensive training programme for ultrasound (US)-guided synovial tissue (ST) biopsy on knees and wrists in inflammatory arthritis and to assess the learning curve, patient tolerability, sample quality and trainees' expectations.
Methods: Active or remission rheumatoid arthritis patients were enrolled. Nine trainees joined the 4-month programme in a centre experienced in performing US-guided ST biopsies consisting of four sequential phases: (1) observation, (2) performance of guided step-by-step phases, (3) execution of the whole procedure on paired joints (knees or wrists) of the same patient in parallel with the trainer and (4) performance of the procedure autonomously.
Background: We aim to assess the role of a multidisciplinary approach in pituitary adenomas (PitNETs) classification, evaluate criteria concordance, and compare intraoperative assessments with post-operative MRIs for tumor remnants.
Methods: Clinical, radiological, histological, and intra- and post-operative data of the treated PitNETs were extracted from prospectively created records. PitNETs were graded according to Trouillas, and the evaluation of the tumor remnants was recorded.
: calvarial capillary hemangiomas are vascular tumors rarely seen in newborns. Differential diagnosis may be not straightforward on imaging studies and the management depends on patient and lesion characteristics. : we present the case of a large congenital intracranial extra-axial lesion detected by routine prenatal US screening, a giant calvarial congenital hemangioma, treated with a multimodal strategy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpinal atypical meningiomas are rare, and those whose main extension is in the epidural space are anecdotal. Here, we report a case of a young woman presenting with sensory disturbances and a radiological diagnosis of a dorsal epidural sleeve-like mass. The surgical resection of the lesion allowed the decompression of the spinal cord and led to the histopathological diagnosis of atypical meningioma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Intracranial mesenchymal tumors are a rare type of neoplasm (0.3% of all soft tissue tumors) characterized by a fusion of a family gene (usually , rarely ) to family genes (, and ) with a slow-growing and favorable prognosis. Mesenchymal tumors are most frequently localized in the subcutaneous tissue (typically in the limbs and hands) of young adults and have rarely been diagnosed in the central nervous system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas, tumor topographical categories, cystic component volume, and magnetic resonance signal intensity may impact prognosis.
Objective: To identify magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) variables associated with pituitary-hypothalamic axis dysfunction and predictive of outcome in children with cystic adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas.
Materials And Methods: We evaluated 40 preoperative MRIs of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas to classify tumor topography, volume, and signal intensity of the cystic components and peritumoral edema.
Context: The prompt control of acromegaly is a primary treatment aim for reducing related disease morbidity and mortality. First-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fg-SRLs) are the cornerstone of medical therapies. A non-negligible number of patients do not respond to this treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecently, advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics have allowed a more thorough understanding of tumorigenesis in aggressive PitNETs (pituitary neuroendocrine tumors) through the identification of specific essential genes, crucial molecular pathways, regulators, and effects of the tumoral microenvironment. Target therapies have been developed to cure oncology patients refractory to traditional treatments, introducing the concept of precision medicine. Preliminary data on PitNETs are derived from preclinical studies conducted on cell cultures, animal models, and a few case reports or small case series.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF