Sodium Fluorescein as Intraoperative Visualization Tool During Peripheral Nerve Biopsies.

Objective: Owing to technical development of specific fluorophore filters, the neurosurgical application of sodium fluorescein (SF) has regained value in brain tumor surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of SF during nerve biopsies.

Methods: This single-center study included 5 cases of nerve biopsies performed under microscope-based fluorescence with SF performed between March 2016 and February 2017.

Sodium Fluorescein-Guided Surgery in Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors: First Experience in 10 Cases of Schwannoma.

Background: The intravenous application of sodium fluorescein (SF) for brain tumor surgery goes back to the late 1940s. The development of specific fluorophore filters significantly reduced the required dosage of SF and therefore diminished possible side effects. This study investigates the application of SF in benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs), concentrating on its feasibility during microsurgical removal.

Intraoperative high-resolution ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound of peripheral nerve tumors and tumorlike lesions.

The diagnostic workup and surgical therapy for peripheral nerve tumors and tumorlike lesions are challenging. Magnetic resonance imaging is the standard diagnostic tool in the preoperative workup. However, even with advanced pulse sequences such as diffusion tensor imaging for MR neurography, the ability to differentiate tumor entities based on histological features remains limited.

Intraoperative high-resolution ultrasound: a new technique in the management of peripheral nerve disorders.

Object: Surgical treatment of nerve lesions in continuity remains difficult, even in the most experienced hands. The regenerative potential of those injuries can be evaluated by intraoperative electrophysiological studies and/or intraneural dissection. The present study examines the value of intraoperative high-frequency ultrasound as an imaging tool for decision making in the management of traumatic nerve lesions in continuity.

High-resolution ultrasonography in evaluating peripheral nerve entrapment and trauma.

High-resolution ultrasonography is a noninvasive, readily applicable imaging modality, capable of depicting real-time static and dynamic morphological information concerning the peripheral nerves and their surrounding tissues. Continuous progress in ultrasonographic technology results in highly improved spatial and contrast resolution. Therefore, nerve imaging is possible to a fascicular level, and most peripheral nerves can now be depicted along their entire anatomical course.

Surgical treatment of traumatic peroneal nerve lesions.

Objective: In this study, we compare different surgical procedures regarding the functional outcome of traumatic peroneal nerve lesions.

Methods: In a retrospective study, 48 patients with traumatic lesions (17 iatrogenic) of the peroneal nerve were evaluated. Twenty-two patients presented with lesions in continuity displaying regenerative potential by nerve action potential recording.

The influence of prophylactic vasoactive treatment on cochlear and facial nerve functions after vestibular schwannoma surgery: a prospective and open-label randomized pilot study.

Objective: Facial nerve paresis and hearing loss are common complications after vestibular schwannoma surgery. Experiments with facial nerves of the rat and retrospectively analyzed clinical studies showed a beneficial effect of vasoactive treatment on the preservation of facial and cochlear nerve functions. This prospective and open-label randomized pilot study is the first study of a prophylactic vasoactive treatment in vestibular schwannoma surgery.

Nerve sheath tumor surgery: case-guided discussion of ambiguous findings, appropriateness of removal, repeated surgery, and nerve repairs.

In this article the authors attempt to raise awareness of the pitfalls and controversial issues in nerve tumor surgery. In a case-guided format, examples of ambiguous findings, inappropriate tumor removal, repeated surgery, and nerve repairs are provided. The authors also discuss the need to establish a correct diagnosis preoperatively and to avoid the erroneous identification of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs).