Glioma-related epilepsy following low-grade glioma surgery.

Background: Epileptic seizures commonly burden low-grade glioma (LGG) patients and negatively impact quality of life, neurocognition, and general patient health. Anti-seizure medications (ASMs) are used to manage seizures but can result in undesired side effects. Our aim was to report our experience in epilepsy in one of the largest case series of LGG patients (reclassified in accordance with the WHO 2021 classification).

Perioperative Means to Prevent Surgical Site Infections following Elective Craniotomies: A Single-Center Experience.

 Postoperative surgical site infections are a recognized complication following craniotomies with an associated increase in morbidity and mortality. Several studies have attempted to identify bundles of care to reduce the incidence of infections. Our study aims to clarify which perioperative measures play a role in reducing surgical infection rates further.

Awake brain surgery for autistic patients: Is it possible?

Background: Awake neurosurgery is currently the mainstay for eloquent brain lesions. Opting for an awake operation is affected by a number of patient-related factors. We present a case of a patient with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) that was successfully operated for a brain tumor through awake craniotomy.

Rapid early progression (REP) of glioblastoma is an independent negative prognostic factor: Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: In patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, rapid early progression (REP) refers to tumor regrowth between surgery and postoperative chemoradiotherapy. This systematic review and meta-analysis appraised previously published data on REP to better characterize and understand it.

Methods: Systematic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane database from inception to October 21, 2021.

Safety and feasibility of posterior fossa neurosurgery in the supine position - A UK series from a large centre.

Background: Posterior fossa surgery in the supine position remains a relatively underutilised approach, compared to the routinely performed prone, park-bench or sitting positions. This surgical approach may confer additional advantages over other modalities commonly restricted by patient co-morbidity and anaesthetic concerns. The purpose of this article is to highlight this approach as a potential viable, safe and alternative approach.

Does the Use of Surgical Adjuncts Affect Postoperative Infection Rates in Neuro-oncology Surgery?

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a significant cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality. As oncologic care advances, the use of surgical adjuncts such as intraoperative ultrasound (US), 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), and neurophysiologic monitoring has increased. This study set out to identify whether the use of surgical adjuncts in supratentorial tumor surgery lead to increased operative time or increased rates of SSI.

Multimodal mapping and monitoring is beneficial during awake craniotomy for intra-cranial tumours: results of a dual centre retrospective study.

Background: The combination of awake craniotomy with multimodal neurophysiological mapping and monitoring in intra-axial tumour resection is not well described, but may have theoretical benefits which we sought to investigate.

Methods: All patients undergoing awake craniotomy for tumour resection with cortical and/or subcortical stimulation together with one or more of electrocorticography (ECoG/EEG), motor or somatosensory evoked potentials were identified from the operative records of two surgeons at two centres over a 5 year period. Patient, operative and outcome data were collated.

Convexity meningioma associated with noncontiguous dural arteriovenous fistula.

Background: Concomitant dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) and meningiomas have been rarely described. DAVFs can be either continuous or at a distant location from the meningioma, with different pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in each situation.

Case Description: We report the case of a 74-year-old woman presenting with left-sided hemiparesis secondary to a large right convexity meningioma, associated with a noncontiguous Borden 3 DAVF.

Craniocervical junction arachnoid cyst.

We report the case of a 33-year-old patient who underwent fenestration of a large symptomatic cranio-cervical junction arachnoid cyst.

Minimally Invasive Resection of Brain Metastases.

Background: Minimally invasive resection of brain metastases aims to maximize resection while minimizing brain trauma.

Methods: Patients with 1 or more metastases that underwent resection following neuro-oncology multidisciplinary meeting discussion from September 2014 to October 2018, with pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging, were included. All patients including posterior fossa metastases or multiple metastases were positioned supine.

Intracranial aneurysms in patients with internal carotid artery occlusion: management and outcome in 22 cases.

Background: There is little information about clinical characteristics, management, and outcome of patients with intracranial aneurysms and internal carotid artery occlusion. We will describe clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome of patients with coexistent internal carotid artery occlusion and intracranial aneurysms.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 22 patients (eight males and 14 females) with coexistent internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion and intracranial aneurysms.

Extended endoscopic transplanum-transtuberculum approach for pituitary adenomas.

Few pituitary adenomas require removal through a transcranial route. This may be associated with more significant morbidity and mortality, compared to the transsphenoidal approach. An endoscopic, extended, transplanum-transtuberculum approach (ETTA) in selected pituitary adenomas may offer an alternative to the transcranial route.

Potential of anti-cancer therapy based on anti-miR-155 oligonucleotides in glioma and brain tumours.

MicroRNAs are aberrantly expressed in many cancers and can exert tumour-suppressive or oncogenic functions. As oncomirs promote growth of cancer cells and support survival during chemotherapy, thus microRNA-silencing therapies could be a valuable approach to be associated with anticancer drugs and chemotherapy treatments. miR-155 microRNA was found overexpressed in different types of cancer, such as leukaemias (PML, B-cell lymphomas), lung cancer and glioblastoma.

miR-155 is up-regulated in primary and secondary glioblastoma and promotes tumour growth by inhibiting GABA receptors.

An altered expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) contributes both to the development of cancer and to the progression of the disease. Malignant tumours and tumour cell lines have widespread deregulated expressions of miRNAs compared to normal tissues. In this study, we investigated the expression profiles of 340 mammalian miRNAs in 93 cases of multiform glioblastoma (primary and secondary glioblastoma tumours), by means of DNA microarrays.

Pontine extension of a tentorial schwannoma without cranial nerve involvement: a case report.

Introduction: Intracranial schwannomas unrelated to the cranial nerves are uncommon. We report a new case of tentorial schwannoma unrelated to the cranial nerves, with extension into the pons. A literature review with discussion of the most relevant pathogenetic aspects is also performed.

Onyx embolization of extradural spinal arteriovenous malformations with intradural venous drainage.

Background: Extradural arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are uncommon vascular malformations of the spine. They are characterized by an arteriovenous communication (localized in the paraspinal soft tissues and the epidural venous plexus) that may have retrograde intradural venous drainage. Surgical treatment of extradural AVMs can be challenging because of the common location ventral to the dural sac and the presence of arterialized venous lakes.

Seizures and anticonvulsants after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Seizures and seizure-like activity may occur in patients experiencing aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Treatment of these events with prophylactic antiepileptic drugs remains controversial. An electronic literature search was conducted for English language articles describing the incidence and treatment of seizures after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage from 1980 to October 2010.