Telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutation- and O-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation-mediated sensitivity to temozolomide in isocitrate dehydrogenase-wild-type glioblastoma: is there a link?

Aim Of The Study: Benefit from temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy in the treatment of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild-type glioblastoma is essentially limited to patients with O-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter-methylated tumours. Recent studies suggested that telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter hotspot mutations may have an impact on the prognostic role of the MGMT status in patients with glioblastoma.

Methods: MGMT promoter methylation and TERT promoter mutation status were retrospectively assessed in a prospective cohort of patients with IDH-wild-type glioblastoma of the German Glioma Network (GGN) (n = 298) and an independent retrospective cohort from Düsseldorf, Germany, and Zurich, Switzerland (n = 302).

Improved risk stratification in younger wild-type glioblastoma patients by combining a 4-miRNA signature with promoter methylation status.

Background: The potential benefit of risk stratification using a 4-miRNA signature in combination with promoter methylation in wild-type glioblastoma patients was assessed.

Methods: Primary tumors from 102 patients with comparable treatment from the LMU Munich ( = 37), the University Hospital Düsseldorf ( = 33), and The Cancer Genome Atlas ( = 32) were included. Risk groups were built using expressions of hsa-let-7a-5p, hsa-let-7b-5p, hsa-miR-615-5p, and hsa-miR-125a-5p to assess prognostic performance in overall survival (OS).

Calcifying Pseudoneoplasm of Neuraxis (CAPNON) in the Posterior Third Ventricle-Challenge for Neuroendoscopy.

Background: We report the first case of a purely intraventricular calcifying pseudoneoplasm of neuraxis (CAPNON) in the posterior third ventricle.

Case Description: A 63-year-old male without any previous medical history presented with Hakim triad. Imaging showed a calcified lesion of the posterior third ventricle with hydrocephalus.

Natural History of De Novo Aneurysm Formation in Patients with Treated Aneurysmatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Ten-Year Follow-Up.

Background: De novo aneurysm formation after completely occluded aneurysms via clipping or coiling has not been well studied. Although known to occur several years after initial aneurysm management, the natural history of de novo aneurysms is obscure. We investigated the formation of new aneurysms in patients who had previously undergone treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

Contrast enhancement of vascular walls of intracranial high flow malformations in black blood MRI indicates high inflammatory activity.

Background: There are controversies concerning the natural history of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in literature and it is not clear which AVMs should be treated and which should be just observed. Objective criteria beyond growth in serial MRIs or angiographies are needed. The use of black blood MRI is currently under investigation for evaluating the rupture risk of cerebral aneurysms, however its use for assessment of AVMs has yet to be evaluated.

Cavernous brain malformations and their relation to black blood MRI in respect to vessel wall contrast enhancement.

Background: Inflammatory responses are implicated as crucial patho-mechanisms of vascular brain malformations. Inflammation is suggested to be a key contributor to aneurysm rupture; however it is unclear whether inflammation contributes similarly to bleeding of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs). Black blood MRI is a sequence which identifies inflammation in blood vessel walls and in the present study is used to detect inflammatory response in CCMs.