Long-Term Results After Endoscopic Resection of Colloid Cysts.

Background: Endoscopic resection of colloid cysts is a widely accepted treatment option instead of microsurgery. However, there is still a debate about a potentially higher rate of incomplete resections and recurrence.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate long-term results after endoscopic removal of colloid cysts.

Long-Term Reliability of Neuroendoscopic Aqueductoplasty in Idiopathic Aqueductal Stenosis-Related Hydrocephalus.

Background: During the 1990s, endoscopic aqueductoplasty (AP) was considered to be a valuable alternative to endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in treating hydrocephalus related to idiopathic aqueductal stenosis (iAS), with promising short-term outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term outcome of AP in the treatment of iAS.

Methods: Long-term follow-up clinical examinations and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were performed for patients treated by an AP for iAS in our department.

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy before Posterior Fossa Tumor Surgery in Adult Patients.

Objective:  Obstructive hydrocephalus in patients with posterior fossa tumors is frequently seen. Treatment options include immediate tumor removal or prior cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion procedures. The necessity and feasibility of an ETV in these situations has not yet been proven in adult patients.

The endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach to sellar lesions allows a high radicality: The benefit of angled optics.

Objective: The endonasal endoscopic approach is currently under investigation for perisellar tumour surgery. A higher resection rate is to be expected, and nasal complications should be minimized. Here, the authors report their technique of transnasal endoscopic neurosurgery with a special reference to the impact of the use of angled optics.

Neuroendoscopic stent placement for cerebrospinal fluid pathway obstructions in adults.

OBJECTIVE Since its revival in the early 1990s, neuroendoscopy has become an integral component of modern neurosurgery. Endoscopic stent placement for treatment of CSF pathway obstruction is a rarely used and underestimated procedure. The authors present the first series of neuroendoscopic intracranial stenting for CSF pathway obstruction in adults with associated results and complications spanning a long-term follow-up of 20 years.

Endoscopic Biopsy for Intra- and Paraventricular Tumors: Rates of Complications, Mortality, and Tumor Cell Dissemination.

Background And Study Aim: Intra- and paraventricular tumors are frequently associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathway obstruction. Thus the aim of an endoscopic approach is to restore patency of the CSF pathways and to obtain a tumor biopsy. Because endoscopic tumor biopsy may increase tumor cell dissemination, this study sought to evaluate this risk.

Mononostril endoscopic transsphenoidal approach to sellar and peri-sellar lesions: Personal experience and literature review.

Objective: The endonasal endoscopic approach to skull base is still under investigation. The main goal is the minimal invasive approach to pathologies with a better rate of resection without retraction of the brain tissue. Here, the authors report their technique of transnasal endoscopic neurosurgery using a mononostril approach and its development.

Prognostic significance of immunohistochemical expression of VEGFR2 and iNOS in spinal chordoma.

Purpose: To clarify whether vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are involved in the angiogenesis and recurrence of spinal chordoma tissues and influence the overall survival.

Methods: All patients affected by a spinal chordoma surgically treated between 1986 and 2007 were reviewed. We examined the expression of VEGFR2 and iNOS with immunohistochemistry using a tissue microarray containing 120 chordoma samples.

Expression of PDGFR-α, EGFR and c-MET in spinal chordoma: a series of 52 patients.

Aim: To investigate the expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor-A (PDGFRα), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c-Met in spinal chordoma. To the authors' knowledge, little is known regarding the prognostic significance of receptor tyrosine kinase in spinal chordoma.

Materials And Methods: Using immunohistochemical techniques, the authors investigated PDGFR-α, EGFR and c-MET expression in 52 primary and 104 recurrent lesions, and compared these data with clinicopathological parameters.

Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach to sellar lesions: a detailed account of our mononostril technique.

Objective The endonasal endoscopic approach is currently under investigation for perisellar tumor surgery. A higher resection rate is to be expected and nasal complications should be minimized. Here, the authors report their technique of transnasal endoscopic neurosurgery after 218 procedures.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy: preoperative considerations and intraoperative strategy based on 300 procedures.

Purpose: Although successful endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has been reported for many indications, peculiarities of the surgical technique in each separate indication require particular respect.

Methods: A detailed account of the authors' surgical technique, their presurgical considerations, and their intraoperative strategies to perform ETV is presented. Surgery of representative obstructive hydrocephalus cases in posterior fossa lesions (cerebellar infarction, posterior fossa tumor), in distortion of the ventricular system (intracranial hemorrhage, basilar artery aneurysm) and in membranous obstruction (aqueductal stenosis, posterior fossa malformation), is illustrated in detail.

Endoscopic temporal ventriculocisternostomy: an option for the treatment of trapped temporal horns.

Entrapment of the temporal horn is a rare form of isolated hydrocephalus. Standard treatment has not yet been established for this condition, and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. The authors reviewed their prospectively maintained database to report their experience with endoscopic temporal ventriculocisternostomy.

Why does endoscopic aqueductoplasty fail so frequently? Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid flow after endoscopic third ventriculostomy and aqueductoplasty using cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging.

Object: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare CSF flow after endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and endoscopic aqueductoplasty (EAP) in patients presenting with obstructive hydrocephalus caused by aqueductal stenosis.

Methods: In patients harboring aqueductal stenosis who underwent EAP (n=8), ETV (n=8), and both ETV and EAP (n=6), CSF flow through the restored aqueduct and through the ventriculostomy was investigated using cine cardiac-gated phase-contrast MRI. For qualitative evaluation of CSF flow, an in-plane phase-contrast sequence in the midsagittal plane was used.

Instrumentation: endoscopes and equipment.

Objective: The technology and instrumentation for neuroendoscopy are described: endoscopes (principles, designs, applications), light sources, instruments, accessories, holders, and navigation. Procedures for cleaning, sterilizing, and storing are included.

Methods: The description is based on the author's own technical development and neuroendoscopic experience, published technology and devices, and publications on endoscopic surgery.

Waterjet dissection of peripheral nerves: an experimental study of the sciatic nerve of rats.

Background: Although waterjet dissection has been well evaluated in intracranial pathologies, little is known of its qualities in peripheral nerve surgery. Theoretically, the precise dissection qualities could support the separation of nerves from adjacent tissues and improve the preservation of nerve integrity in peripheral nerve surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the potential of the new waterjet dissector in peripheral nerve surgery.