Taste dysfunction after endoscopic endonasal resection of olfactory groove meningioma: Case series and review of the literature.

Purpose: The incidence of ageusia and dysgeusia after endoscopic endonasal (EEA) resection of olfactory groove meningioma (OGM) is not well established despite recognized impairment in olfactory function.

Methods: We retrospectively administered a validated taste and smell survey to patients undergoing EEA for resection of OGM at two institutions. Demographics and clinical characteristics were collected and survey responses were analyzed.

Sporadic pituitary adenoma with somatic double-hit loss of MEN1.

Purpose: Pituitary adenomas commonly arise in patients with MEN1 syndrome, an autosomal dominant condition predisposing to neuroendocrine tumor formation, and typically diagnosed in patients with a relevant family cancer history. In these patients with existing germline loss of MEN1 on one allele, somatic loss of the second MEN1 allele leads to complete loss of the MEN1 protein, menin, and subsequent tumor formation.

Methods: Whole exome sequencing was performed on the tumor and matching blood under an institutional board approved protocol.

Portable MRI to assess optic chiasm decompression after endoscopic endonasal resection of sellar and suprasellar lesions.

Objective: Low-field portable MRI (pMRI) is a recent technological advancement with potential for broad applications. Compared with conventional MRI, pMRI is less resource-intensive with regard to operational costs and scan time. The application of pMRI in neurosurgical oncology has not been previously described.

Clinical and genomic differences in supratentorial versus infratentorial NF2 mutant meningiomas.

Objective: Mutations in NF2 are the most common somatic driver mutation in sporadic meningiomas. NF2 mutant meningiomas preferentially arise along the cerebral convexities-however, they can also be found in the posterior fossa. The authors investigated whether NF2 mutant meningiomas differ in clinical and genomic features based on their location relative to the tentorium.

3D printing for virtual surgical planning of nasoseptal flap skull-base reconstruction: A proof-of-concept study.

3D printing for virtual surgical planning of nasoseptal flap skull base reconstruction is a viable approach. Results indicate improved mucosal preservation but further research is needed to define impact on quality of life.

Subdural empyema secondary to pansinusitis after coronavirus disease 2019 infection in an immunocompetent patient: illustrative case.

Background: Superimposed intracranial infection is an uncommon but clinically significant complication in patients with active coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly in those with predisposing immunocompromising conditions.

Observations: The authors describe a case of subdural empyema, secondary to extension from pansinusitis, in a 20-year-old otherwise healthy immunocompetent male who was recently diagnosed with COVID-19. Despite his critical condition at time of presentation, he made a full clinical recovery with aggressive multidisciplinary surgical management between neurosurgery and otolaryngology, despite negative cultures to guide directed antimicrobial therapy.

Future of Neurology & Technology: Neuroimaging Made Accessible Using Low-Field, Portable MRI.

In the 20th century, the advent of neuroimaging dramatically altered the field of neurologic care. However, despite iterative advances since the invention of CT and MRI, little progress has been made to bring MR neuroimaging to the point of care. Recently, the emergence of a low-field (<1 T) portable MRI (pMRI) is setting the stage to revolutionize the landscape of accessible neuroimaging.

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery for the treatment of traumatic brain injury.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) impact the breadth of society and remain without any approved pharmacological treatments. Despite successful Phase II clinical trials, the failure of many Phase III clinical trials may be explained by insufficient drug targeting and retention, preventing the proper attainment of an observable dosage threshold. To address this challenge, nanoparticles can be functionalized to protect pharmacological payloads, improve targeted drug delivery to sites of injury, and can be combined with supportive scaffolding to improve secondary outcomes.

Quantitative epileptiform burden and electroencephalography background features predict post-traumatic epilepsy.

Background: Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) is a severe complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Electroencephalography aids early post-traumatic seizure diagnosis, but its optimal utility for PTE prediction remains unknown. We aim to evaluate the contribution of quantitative electroencephalograms to predict first-year PTE (PTE).

A Unique Subset: Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Presenting as Spontaneous CSF Leak of the Anterior Skull Base.

 Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks represent a unique clinical presentation of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), lacking classical features of IIH, including severe headaches, papilledema, and markedly elevated opening pressures.  Following a single-institution retrospective review of patients undergoing spontaneous CSF leak repair, we performed a literature review of spontaneous CSF leak in patients previously undiagnosed with IIH, querying PubMed.  Our literature review yielded 26 studies, comprising 716 patients.

The Role of Surgical Approaches in the Multi-Modal Management of Adult Craniopharyngiomas.

Craniopharyngiomas are rare, benign primary brain tumors that arise from remnants of the craniopharyngeal duct epithelium within the sellar and suprasellar region. Despite their benign biology, they may cause significant morbidity, secondary to involvement of nearby eloquent neural structures, such as the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, and optic apparatus. Historically, aggressive surgical resection was the treatment goal to minimize risk of tumor recurrence via open transcranial midline, anterolateral, and lateral approaches, but could lead to clinical sequela of visual, endocrine, and hypothalamic dysfunction.

Clinical outcomes, Kadish-INSICA staging and therapeutic targeting of somatostatin receptor 2 in olfactory neuroblastoma.

Introduction: Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare cancer of the sinonasal region. We provide a comprehensive analysis of this malignancy with molecular and clinical trial data on a subset of our cohort to report on the potential efficacy of somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2)-targeting imaging and therapy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 404 primary, locally recurrent, and metastatic olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) patients from 12 institutions in the United States of America, United Kingdom and Europe.

Sinonasal Glomangiopericytoma: Review of Imaging Appearance and Clinical Management Update for a Rare Sinonasal Neoplasm.

: Glomangiopericytoma (GPC) is a rare tumor in the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses with low malignant potential. Initially deemed a hemangiopericytoma, in 2005 it was classified as a distinct entity by the World Health Organization (WHO). : A male patient in his early 60s presented with new-onset right arm and leg weakness/numbness, who was incidentally found to have a left ethmoid sinus mass with extension in the olfactory fossa.

mutation in a case of -mutant sinonasal glomangiopericytoma.

Glomangiopericytomas are rare, primary sinonasal tumors. The existing literature is mostly limited to reports describing the clinicopathologic characteristics of these tumors. Comprehensive genetic characterization of glomangiopericytomas remains lacking.

Clinical Significance of PDCD4 in Melanoma by Subcellular Expression and in Tumor-Associated Immune Cells.

Little is known about the subcellular localization and function of programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) in melanoma. Our past studies suggest PDCD4 interacts with Pleckstrin Homology Domain Containing A5 (PLEKHA5) to influence melanoma brain metastasis outcomes, as high intracranial PDCD4 expression leads to improved survival. We aimed to define the subcellular distribution of PDCD4 in melanoma and in the tumor microenvironment during neoplastic progression and its impact on clinical outcomes.

Genomic Characterization of Radiation-Induced Intracranial Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma.

Intracranial undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma remains a rare pathology within the sarcoma literature that may arise primarily or secondary after radiation therapy. Despite first-line treatment with maximal surgical resection, followed by nonstandardized adjuvant chemotherapy/radiation regimens, clinical prognosis remains exceedingly poor. Furthermore, there is a lack of genetic or molecular characterization to guide potential for targeted therapies.

Case Report: Suprasellar Pituitary Adenoma Presenting With Temporal Lobe Seizures.

Seizures in patients with pituitary pathology are uncommon and typically secondary to electrolyte disturbances. Rarely, seizures have been described from mass effect related to large prolactinomas undergoing medical treatment. We describe a 54 year-old male who presented with a first-time generalized seizure, secondary to a pituitary macroadenoma compressing the left temporal lobe.

Genetic characterization of a case of sellar metastasis from bronchial carcinoid neuroendocrine tumor.

Background: Metastasis to the pituitary gland from neuroendocrine tumors is a rare occurrence that may originate from primary tumors the lung, gastrointestinal tract, thyroid, and pancreas, among others. Patients may present with signs of endocrine dysfunction secondary to pituitary involvement, as well as mass effect-related symptoms including headaches and visual deficits. Despite a small but accumulating body of literature describing the clinical and histopathological correlates for pituitary metastases from neuroendocrine tumors, the genetic basis underlying this presentation remains poorly characterized.

Association of race and ethnicity to incident epilepsy, or epileptogenesis, after subdural hematoma.

Objective: To determine whether race is associated with the development of epilepsy after subdural hematoma (SDH), we identified adult survivors of SDH in a statewide administrative dataset and followed them up for at least 1 year for revisits associated with epilepsy.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using claims data on all discharges from emergency departments (EDs) and hospitals in California. We identified adults (age ≥18 years) admitted from 2005 to 2011 with first-time traumatic and nontraumatic SDH.

Large-scale second-hit AIP deletion causing a pediatric growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma: Case report and review of literature.

Gigantism (early-onset acromegaly) is a rare pediatric disorder caused by a growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenoma. Approximately 50% patients of gigantism have a germline mutation, most commonly an inactivating mutation in the aryl-hydrocarbon interacting receptor protein (AIP) gene on chromosome 11q13.2.