Glioblastoma Recurrence Versus Treatment Effect in a Pathology-Documented Series.

Objective: Patients diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM) are treated with surgery followed by fractionated radiotherapy with concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide. Patients are monitored with serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, treatment-related changes frequently mimic disease progression.

Does patient selection account for the perceived cost savings in outpatient spine surgery? A meta-analysis of current evidence and analysis from an administrative database.

OBJECTIVEFrom 1994 to 2006 outpatient spinal surgery increased 5-fold. The perceived cost savings with outcomes comparable to or better than those achieved with inpatient admission for the same procedures are desirable in an era where health expenditures are scrutinized. The increase in outpatient spine surgery is also driven by the proliferation of ambulatory surgery centers.

Tarlov Cyst Causing Sacral Insufficiency Fracture.

Background And Importance: Tarlov cysts, also known as perineural cysts, have been described as meningeal dilations of the spinal nerve root sheath between the peri- and endoneurium at the dorsal root ganglion. Most often they are found in the sacrum involving the nerve roots. Normally asymptomatic, they have been reported to present with radiculopathy, paresthesias, and even urinary or bowel dysfunction.

Mild Carotid Stenosis with Recurrent Symptoms Triggered by Eating.

Background: Carotid atherosclerosis is a known risk factor for acute ischemic stroke. Although severe luminal narrowing is a well-established risk factor for future ischemic events, 10% of patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attacks are thought to have ischemic events secondary to vulnerable carotid plaques in the setting of mild to moderate carotid artery stenosis.

Case Description: A 78-year-old man presented with multiple recurrent strokes and transient ischemic attacks that consistently occurred with eating.

Understanding the Impact of Obesity on Short-term Outcomes and In-hospital Costs After Instrumented Spinal Fusion.

Background: Obesity rates continue to rise along with the number of obese patients undergoing elective spinal fusion.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of obesity on resource utilization and early complications in patients undergoing surgery for degenerative spine disease.

Methods: A single-institution retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with degenerative spine disease requiring instrumentation between 2008 and 2012.