Shorter survival time of adolescents and young adult patients than older adults with spinal cord glioblastoma: a multicenter study.

Objective: Cancers in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) (age 15-39 years) often present with unique characteristics and poor outcomes. To date, spinal cord glioblastoma, a rare tumor, remains poorly understood across all age groups, including AYAs. This comparative study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of spinal cord glioblastoma in AYAs and older adults (age 40-74 years), given the limited availability of studies focusing on AYAs.

Clinical Characteristics and Long-term Outcomes of Spinal Pilocytic Astrocytomas: A Multicenter Retrospective Study by the Neurospinal Society of Japan.

Objective: The characteristics, imaging features, long-term surgical outcomes, and recurrence rates of primary spinal pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs) have not been clarified owing to their rarity and limited reports. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the clinical presentation, radiological features, pathological findings, and long-term outcomes of spinal PAs.

Methods: Eighteen patients with spinal PAs who were surgically treated between 2009 and 2020 at 58 institutions were included in this retrospective multicenter study.

The Impact of Adjuvant Radiotherapy on Clinical Performance Status in Patients With Grade II Spinal Cord Astrocytoma - A Nationwide Analysis by the Neurospinal Society of Japan.

Objective: The impact of adjuvant radiotherapy on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with grade II spinal cord astrocytomas remains controversial. Additionally, the relationship between progression and clinical deterioration after radiotherapy has not been well investigated.

Methods: This study included 53 patients with grade II intramedullary spinal cord astrocytomas treated by either subtotal, partial resection or open biopsy.

Identification of CD44 as a Reliable Biomarker for Glioblastoma Invasion: Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopic Analysis of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Fluorescence.

Recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is largely attributed to peritumoral infiltration of tumor cells. As higher CD44 expression in the tumor periphery correlates with higher risk of GBM invasion, the present study analyzed the relationship between CD44 expression and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based invasiveness of GBM on a large scale. We also quantitatively evaluated GBM invasion using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) spectroscopy to investigate the relationship between CD44 expression and tumor invasiveness as evaluated by intraoperative 5-ALA intensity.

Usefulness of cyst-subarachnoid shunt using syringo-subarachnoid shunt tube for symptomatic enlarging ventriculus terminalis: A case report and review of the literature.

Background: The ventriculus terminalis (VT) is a cystic embryological remnant of the conus medullaris that usually regresses after birth. This structure rarely persists into adulthood and may produce neurological symptoms. We recently encountered three cases of symptomatic enlarging VT.

What is the Best Preoperative Quantitative Indicator to Differentiate Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma from Glioblastoma?

Background: The role of surgery in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is to allow pathological diagnosis from tumor biopsy. However, PCNSL is often difficult to distinguish from other tumors, particularly glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Quantitative evaluations to facilitate differentiation between PCNSL and GBM would be useful.

Usefulness of intraoperative rapid immunohistochemistry in the surgical treatment of brain tumors.

In the treatment of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), intraoperative rapid pathological diagnosis can dramatically change the surgical strategy, and more accurate diagnostic methods are required. In April 2020, we adopted intraoperative rapid immunohistochemistry (IHC) in addition to conventional rapid intraoperative diagnosis based on morphological assessment, mainly for patients with PCNSL. Here, we investigate the usefulness and significance of intraoperative rapid IHC based on our initial experience.

Utility of surgical tumor resection for normal-pressure hydrocephalus associated with spinal schwannoma in the cauda equina: A case report and review of the literature.

Introduction And Importance: Generally, schwannoma increases the concentration of protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and causes normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) due to absorption disorders of CSF. Cases of NPH caused by spinal schwannoma in the cauda equina are very rare. Here, we report a case of spinal schwannoma-related NPH in the cauda equina successfully treated by surgical resection alone.

Use of uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery combined with a posterior approach to resect a dumbbell-shaped mediastinal granular cell tumor: A case report.

Introduction: A dumbbell-shaped mediastinal granular cell tumor has never been reported, and there have been no reports of dumbbell-shaped tumors resected with a combination of uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery and the posterior approach.

Presentation Of Case: An 18-year-old woman was diagnosed with a mediastinal dumbbell-shaped granular cell tumor by computed tomography. Complete resection was achieved via a posterior approach combined with the uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery.

Utility of O-arm navigation for atlantoaxial fusion with Bow Hunter's syndrome.

Background: In spinal instrumentation surgery, safe and accurate placement of implants such as lateral mass screws and pedicle screws should be a top priority. In particular, C2 stabilization can be challenging due to the complex anatomy of the upper cervical spine. Here, we present a case of Bow Hunter's syndrome (BHS) successfully treated by an O-arm-navigated atlantoaxial fusion.

Utility of targeted balloon protection of the venous sinus for endovascular treatment of dural arteriovenous fistula by transarterial embolization with Onyx: A case report and literature review.

Background: Onyx has already been reported as an effective and safe agent in transarterial embolization of cranial dural arteriovenous fistula (d-AVF). However, successful treatment is related to not only complete shunt obliteration but also preservation of a normal route of venous drainage. Here, we present a case of transverse sigmoid d-AVF in which successful treatment was achieved by transarterial Onyx embolization with targeted balloon protection of the venous drainage.

A rare case of neurosarcoidosis occurred only in the medulla oblongata mimicking malignant brain tumor.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disorder characterized by noncaseating epithelioid granulomas. However, neurosarcoidosis occurring only in the medulla oblongata is very rare and lacks specific imaging and clinical features. We report a rare case of neurosarcoidosis arising from the medulla oblongata alone, suggesting the significance of pathological findings for accurate diagnosis.

Prediction of Glioma Stemlike Cell Infiltration in the Non-Contrast-Enhancing Area by Quantitative Measurement of Lactate on Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Glioblastoma.

Background: We previously reported that glioma stemlike cells (GSCs) exist in the area of the tumor periphery showing no gadolinium enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging. In the present work, we analyzed glucose metabolism to investigate whether lactate could be predictive of tumor invasiveness and of use in detection of the tumor invasion area in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Methods: The expression of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH-A) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) was investigated in 20 patients.