Sonolucent Cranial Implants: A Window into the Future of Management of Neurosurgical Patients? A Systematic Review and Cost Analysis.

Background: Computeed tomography (CT) is a cornerstone of the identification and management of acute changes in neurosurgery patients. In addition to the monetary expense of CT scans, further costs are incurred due to the time of patient transport and radiation exposure. Ultrasounds (USs)offer a safe, inexpensive, and bedside alternative to CT but obstacles remain due to decreased penetrance in the adult skull.

The Evolution of Laser-Induced Thermal Therapy for the Treatment of Gliomas.

Laser-induced thermal therapy (LITT) has evolved over the past two decades to treat a number of intracranial pathologies. Although it initially emerged as a salvage treatment of surgically inoperable tumors or recurrent lesions that had exhausted more conventional treatments, it is now being used as a primary, first-line treatment in certain instances with outcomes comparable to traditional surgical resection. The authors discuss the evolution of LITT in the treatment of gliomas and future directions, which may further enhance the efficacy of this procedure.

Magnetic Resonance-Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Brainstem Pathologies.

Objective: Magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) is a minimally invasive and effective treatment option that can potentially treat deep-seated pathologies in cases without safe open surgical corridors. In the present report, we have described our experience using MRgLITT for brainstem pathologies.

Methods: A retrospective medical record review and analysis were conducted for all patients who had undergone MRgLITT for pathologies within or closely surrounding the brainstem between 2011 and 2020.

Outcomes and Spectrum of Major Neurovascular Events Among COVID-19 Patients: A 3-Center Experience.

Background: Preliminary data suggest that Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is associated with hypercoagulability and neurovascular events, but data on outcomes is limited.

Objective: To report the clinical course and outcomes of a case series of COVID-19 patients with a variety of cerebrovascular events.

Methods: We performed a multicentric, retrospective chart review at our three academic tertiary care hospitals, and identified all COVID-19 patients with cerebrovascular events requiring neuro-intensive care and/or neurosurgical consultation.

Real-time navigation guidance with intraoperative CT imaging for pedicle screw placement using an augmented reality head-mounted display: a proof-of-concept study.

Objective: Augmented reality (AR) has the potential to improve the accuracy and efficiency of instrumentation placement in spinal fusion surgery, increasing patient safety and outcomes, optimizing ergonomics in the surgical suite, and ultimately lowering procedural costs. The authors sought to describe the use of a commercial prototype Spine AR platform (SpineAR) that provides a commercial AR head-mounted display (ARHMD) user interface for navigation-guided spine surgery incorporating real-time navigation images from intraoperative imaging with a 3D-reconstructed model in the surgeon's field of view, and to assess screw placement accuracy via this method.

Methods: Pedicle screw placement accuracy was assessed and compared with literature-reported data of the freehand (FH) technique.

Endoscope-Assisted Retromastoid Intradural Suprameatal Approach for Trigeminal Schwannoma.

Background And Introduction: Dumbbell trigeminal schwannoma is the second most common type of intracranial schwannomas.

Objective: Herein, we are describing and presenting a video of left trigeminal dumbbell schwannoma with a predominant posterior fossa component (modified Samii's grade C1), operated through left Retromastoid Intradural Suprameatal Approach (RISA). We demonstrate a step by step technique of a previously defined procedure for educational purpose.

Cognard Grade IV Tentorial Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Presenting as Trigeminal Neuralgia: Endovascular Management.

Tentorial dural arteriovenous fistulas have an increased risk of rupture and hemorrhage, and therefore require urgent treatment to occlude the fistula and proximal venous drainage. This is usually accomplished via endovascular treatment. We present a case of a Cognard grade IV dural arteriovenous fistula that presented as trigeminal neuralgia.

Rapid Recovery of Cranial Nerve Deficits After Anterior Petrosal (Kawase) Approach for Medically Refractory Petrous Apicitis.

Background: The mainstay treatment for petrous apicitis (Gradenigo's syndrome) is medical management with antibiotics, steroids, and placement of pressure equalization tubes. The role for surgery is limited as second-line treatment if conservative methods have failed.

Case Description: We report 2 cases of medically refractory petrous apicitis presenting with progressive cranial neuropathies who underwent petrous apex resection and debridement via an anterior petrosal (Kawase) approach.

Parasitic infections of the spine: case series and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVEAlthough parasitic infections are endemic to parts of the developing world and are more common in areas with developing economies and poor sanitary conditions, rare cases may occur in developed regions of the world.METHODSArticles eligible for the authors' literature review were initially searched using PubMed with the phrases "parasitic infections" and "spine." After the authors developed a list of parasites associated with spinal cord infections from the initial search, they expanded it to include individual diagnoses, using search terms including "neurocysticercosis," "schistosomiasis," "echinococcosis," and "toxoplasmosis.

Volumetric trends of progressive in-field recurrences after stereotactic radiosurgery of metastatic intracranial tumors.

Objective: Local recurrence after stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastasis is a well-known problem. We analyzed volumetric trends from the time of radiosurgery to time of treatment to understand progression behavior.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent treatment for post-radiation progressive lesions was performed.

Magnetic Resonance-Guided Laser-Induced Thermal Therapy for the Treatment of Progressive Enhancing Inflammatory Reactions Following Stereotactic Radiosurgery, or PEIRs, for Metastatic Brain Disease.

Background: In patients who have previously undergone maximum radiation for metastatic brain tumors, a progressive enhancing inflammatory reaction (PEIR) that represents either tumor recurrence or radiation necrosis, or a combination of both, can occur. Magnetic resonance-guided laser-induced thermal therapy (LITT) offers a minimally invasive treatment option for this problem.

Objective: To report our single-center experience using LITT to treat PEIRs after radiosurgery for brain metastases.

Low Yield of Cerebral Angiography in Adequately Occluded Aneurysms After Flow Diversion.

Background: Flow diversion has emerged as a highly effective treatment for intracranial aneurysms.

Objective: To assess the yield of further angiographic follow-up in aneurysms that have achieved adequate occlusion after treatment with the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED; Medtronic Inc, Dublin, Ireland).

Methods: This is a single-institution, retrospective study.

Off-label uses of the Pipeline embolization device: a review of the literature.

The Pipeline embolization device (PED) is the most widely used flow diverter in endovascular neurosurgery. In 2011, the device received FDA approval for the treatment of large and giant aneurysms in the internal carotid artery extending from the petrous to the superior hypophyseal segments. However, as popularity of the device grew and neurosurgeons gained more experience, its use has extended to several other indications.

The Role of MRgLITT in Overcoming the Challenges in Managing Infield Recurrence After Radiation for Brain Metastasis.

Unlabelled: Radiation necrosis and tumor recurrence are common sequelae after radiation therapy for brain metastasis. The differentiation of radiation necrosis and recurrent brain metastases continues to remain a difficult task despite a number of diagnostic methods. Techniques including magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, nuclear studies, and the gold standard of biopsy have all been studied for their effectiveness in accurately diagnosing the postradiation condition.

Intracranial MR-guided laser-induced thermal therapy: single-center experience with the Visualase thermal therapy system.

OBJECTIVE MR-guided laser-induced thermal therapy (MRgLITT) can be used to treat intracranial tumors, epilepsy, and chronic pain syndromes. Here, the authors report their single-center experience with 102 patients, the largest series to date in which the Visualase thermal therapy system was used. METHODS A retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent MRgLITT between 2010 and 2014 was performed.